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Balnakeil Church

Photo of Balnakeil Church, a church near Durness, Highland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Balnakeil Church

© Graham Hogg / Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

© Graham Hogg / Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Balnakeil Church

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The ruin of Balnakeil Church stands above the pale sands of Balnakeil Bay, just west of Durness. It’s a 17th-century kirk, roofless now and open to wander, and the burial place of Rob Donn, the great Gaelic bard of Sutherland. Cocoa Mountain and the craft village are a short walk back towards the road.

More places to visit near Balnakeil Church

Photo of Balnakeil Beach, a beach near Durness, Highland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.Highlight

Balnakeil Beach

Beach near Durness

Wide sweep of white sand and tall dunes beside Balnakeil, running north to Faraid Head.

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Photo of Balnakeil Craft Village, a visitor attraction near Durness, Highland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.Highlight

Balnakeil Craft Village

Attraction near Durness

Artists' community in a former Cold War radar station near Durness, home to studios, galleries and Cocoa Mountain.

0.7 km S

Photo of Durness, a village in Highland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.Highlight

Durness

Village

The most north-westerly village in mainland Britain, a scatter of crofting townships above Sango Bay with Smoo Cave, Balnakeil and Cape Wrath nearby.

1.3 km SE · Highland

Photo of Ceannabeinne Beach, a beach near Durness, Highland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.Highlight

Ceannabeinne Beach

Beach near Durness

Small golden-sand cove east of Durness with clear water and views to Eilean Hoan, plus a zip line above it.

1.8 km SE

Photo of Sango Sands, a beach near Durness, Highland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.Highlight

Sango Sands

Beach near Durness

Golden beach of sea stacks and hidden coves right beside Durness village.

1.9 km SE

Photo of Smoo Cave, a cave near Durness, Highland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.Iconic

Smoo Cave

Cave near Durness

The largest sea-cave entrance in Britain, with a burn falling twenty metres through the roof of its inner chamber — half sea-carved, half dissolved.

3.2 km SE