Friday 21 January 2011

Kilmory

Kilmory is a small, crofting village on the north shore of Ardnamurchan, with a year-round resident population of nine (map here). It had two churches: one is now ruined, the other (at top right in the picture) has been converted into a holiday home. Kilmory also had a post office, housed in a small shed, but this closed when the Post Office brought in computerised accounting. The only public services in the village today are a notice board and an old, red telephone box which no longer takes cash and which BT is doing its best to neglect. There isn't even a public water supply.

Below the village is a shallow bay which forms a fine anchorage for pleasure and fishing boats, and has a beach safe for children. Nearer the road stands a walled graveyard (top picture), a silent, peaceful place with both ancient and modern burials, including two of unknown sailors washed ashore during the 1939-45 war.

In this photograph, Kilmory is arrowed, with Achateny to its left, Branault to its right, the wide waters of the Minch beyond and, in the distance, the hills of Moidart. The picture was taken in winter, looking northeast from the slopes of Cathair Mhic Dhiarmaid (MacDiarmid's Throne).

These photographs show the village as it is today....

....and as it was in the days when it was busier, and many more of its fields and buildings in use.

Kilmory is a wonderfully peaceful place, ideal for a holiday in beautiful scenery with miles of walking around it. Some of the cottages available are here.

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