Mybster – Moorland and Stone Testimonies of History

Mybster combines extensive moorland and peatland with an unusually dense sequence of stone and architectural testimonies. Those looking for more than just scenery for a family holiday, and who also want tangible history, will find various points of interest here: a preserved cist, an Iron Age broch, historic longhouses and the route of the Northern Pilgrims’ Way. The individual themes can be explored independently while also helping you determine the focus you would like for planning your trip.

Stones with a History of Their Own

The preserved cist at Mybster is a fragmentary structure measuring 2 × 1 metres. At its centre is an area enclosed by stones, while a 0.8-metre-wide stone ring runs around the outside. The cist was discovered in 1867 while Mr Sutherland of Mybster Inn was ploughing. Thus, alongside its form, a specific historical moment is also associated with this monument.

The cultural picture also includes Grey Stone, formerly known as “Clach Ghlaise”. The stone appears to be natural; at the same time, it is said to be one of the standing stones marking the site of a grave. Some years before 1872, Grey Stone was split by blasting. These differing traditions make it a particularly thought-provoking detail for anyone interested in landscape, memory and prehistoric traces.

Broch, Longhouses and Traces of Earlier Life

Ballone, Mybster, is an Iron Age broch protected as Scheduled Monument 521. This indication of early settlement is complemented by several documented longhouses. One separate longhouse was approximately 22.25 metres long and 5.9 metres wide and was divided into two areas. Longhouse MHG19792 had additions on its north, south and west sides. Another longhouse was 11.1 metres long and 5.6 metres wide and had no internal division.

Smaller architectural details have also been recorded. At the western end of longhouse MHG19790 was a semicircular structure with a diameter of 2.5 metres, which may have been a kiln. Mybster farmstead also includes a 27 × 5-metre longhouse oriented from northeast to southwest. The farmstead’s longhouse mill is a rectangular building measuring 21 × 6 metres. An enclosure measuring 17 × 17 metres was formed from upright stone slabs.

Further details illustrate the later use of the buildings. The building at Mybster Farm contained a wheel pit for a mill, which has since been filled in. The western area contained a fireplace and was converted into a byre by the installation of cattle stalls. For trip planning, this means that you can get to know Mybster both through its prehistoric monuments and through the development of a farming-oriented settlement, without equating the two perspectives.

Routes and Orientation

The B870 meets the A9 at Mybster. A section of the Northern Pilgrims’ Way runs along it: on Braid 1, the section from Mybster to Spittal follows the busy A9 and requires caution. If you include this section of the route in your plans, you should explicitly take the described traffic situation into account.

The former marketplaces of Spittal, Sordale and Backlass also form part of the historical context. They were located a short distance north and east of the Mybster junction. When looking for holiday accommodation in Mybster, you can therefore consider whether your holiday should be shaped primarily by moorland scenery, cultural traces or following part of a historic route.

Compare Other Destinations

For further travel comparisons, you can also view Staffin, Whitefield, Lairg, Onich, Lybster, Plockton, Muir Of Ord and Ardersier.

For the higher-level travel overview: Highland.