Discover Knockbain

Church architecture, historic wall remains and a sheltered sea bay give Knockbain an unusual range of attractions. The sights tell of different building periods and forms of sacred architecture; Munlochy Bay opens up views of the coastal landscape on the Moray Firth. This gives you two distinct focuses for planning your trip: cultural history and nature.

Churches with their own building histories

Knockbain Munlochy Parish Church is a good example of a Free Church of Scotland building. Its exterior and interior feature numerous high-quality Gothic architectural elements. The church opened in August 1886. The combination of a clearly dated construction event and Gothic details makes it a notable stop for anyone interested in church architecture.

Bogallan Free Church is also a building from the late 19th century; it was designed by John Rhind and is a Category C listed building. Its history includes an earlier building: the church replaced a previous building that stood about 200 metres to the south-southeast. Exploring Bogallan is therefore not just about the present building, but also the succession of two church sites.

Surviving gables and archaeological remains

At St. John’s Chapel in Allangrange, only the east gable with a three-part lancet window and sections of the side walls remain. The chapel is designated a Scheduled Monument. The state of preservation is different at St. Duthac’s Church in Easter Suddie: it is also a Scheduled Monument, and its east gable is almost completely intact. The church was dedicated to St. Duthac of Tain. Together, these two buildings illustrate how varied the surviving remains of historic churches can be today—from just a few sections of wall to an almost completely intact gable.

Kilmuir Old Parish Church is also a Scheduled Monument. It was probably built in the 15th century. Its graveyard contains stones with Late Celtic decoration. These details link the history of church construction with the design of the gravestones and give the site another cultural-historical dimension.

Archaeological traces complement the church sites: Craigie Howe is a hut circle in the Parish of Knockbain designated a Scheduled Monument. It lies 360 metres east-northeast of The Kennels. Culnacraigh Hut Circle is located in a clearing on the wooded Drumderfit Hill.

Munlochy Bay and the John o’ Groats Trail

Munlochy Bay SSSI is a small, enclosed sea bay on the Moray Firth. Those particularly interested in coastal landscapes will find a different focus here from the churches and archaeological sites. The John o’ Groats Trail passes the bay. A section of the trail there can be flooded at the highest high tide. Check the latest trail information before setting out, as conditions can vary.

Find a holiday apartment to suit your interests

When looking for a holiday apartment in Knockbain, you can first consider which themes you want your trip to focus on: churches and historic sites, or the coastal landscape and the trail. This will help you tailor your choice to your planned interests.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Beauly, Kyleakin, Aultbea, Bonar Bridge, Nethy Bridge, Farr, Isleornsay and Dalchreichart.

Back to the main travel overview: Highland.