Craignish
Craignish | |
|---|---|
Peninsula | |
 Thrift, Craignish Point | |
  Craignish | |
| Coordinates:56°11′35″N5°33′0″W/ 56.19306°N 5.55000°W | |
| Grid position | NM 79844 05722 |
| Location | Argyll and Bute, Scotland |
Craignish(Scottish Gaelic,Creiginis) is apeninsulainArgyll and Bute,on the west coast ofScotland.It lies around 25 miles (40 km) south ofOban,and 10 miles (16 km) north-west ofLochgilphead.The peninsula is around 5.5 miles (8.9 km) long, and is aligned along a north-east to south-west orientation, in common with much of the landform of coastal Argyll. To the south isLoch Craignish,which contains several small islands. To the north are theSlate Islands,with the island ofShunaclosest.Jurais only 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Craignish Point, the southern tip of Craignish.
There are two main settlements on Craignish,Ardfernon the south coast, and the modern village ofCraobh Haven,established in 1983 as a holiday resort and marina, on the north. A single-track road, the B8002, runs along the south shore of the peninsula. In October 2023 alandslipblocked the A816, which feeds the B8002, cutting-off the village from the south. Heavy rain caused 6,000 tonnes of earth to fall, blocking the road. The road was still blocked in November 2023.[1]
Historic monuments
[edit]There are a number of ruineddunson Craignish, as well ascup and ring markedrocks. One such site isDunan Aula,acistsaid to commemorate aVikingprince so-named, who fell in battle against the native Scots. At Kirkton, the remains of the early 13th-century chapel of Kilmarie still stand. A chapel on this site is said to have been founded by StMáel Ruba,from whom the modern name is derived. The chapel was repaired in the 19th century, and again in 1926, and now houses a collection of 14th- and 15th-century sculptured grave slabs.[citation needed]
Near the chapel isCraignish Castle,originally home of theCampbells of Craignishcastle was established here in the early 12th century, although the extant tower house dates from the late 14th century at the earliest. The castle withstood a siege byAlasdair "Colkitto" MacDonaldin the 1640s. A new wing was added between 1698 and 1710, and offices and stables were added around 1770. In 1800 the estate was sold to Campbell of Jura, and in 1837 a new mansion was built on the side of the tower house, replacing the earlier extensions. Design of the new mansion has been attributed to eitherWilliam BurnorJoseph Gordon Davis.In 1850 the estate was sold again to the Gascoignes ofParlington Hall,Yorkshire, who made yet more changes. Half of the 1837 mansion has since been demolished, and a stair tower added on the new gable.[2][3]
Close to Craobh Haven is Lunga, a 16th-centurytower houseoriginally known as Daill. This too was built by the Campbells of Craignish, before it was sold to the MacDougalls in around 1785. It has been in the MacDougall of Lunga family ever since, and is now partially run as bed and breakfast accommodation. A memorial to two of the MacDougalls of Lunga, father and son, who died in theFirst World War,stands at the edge of Craobh Haven.[citation needed]
The early 19th century paddle steamerPSCometsank off Craignish Point on 13 December 1820.[citation needed]
In literature
[edit]Naomi Mitchisonwrote of a visit to Craignish with her family: "We are up here in an incredibly beautiful place thirty miles from a station, all very Celtic, islands and sunsets and sea lochs of blue paint. The gentry are rather alarming - those narrow cruel Highland faces, mouths and eyes a little twisted and arrogant and something too delicate and inbred about their hands and skin. But the farmers are capital red heads and very jolly to talk to, rather less dour than my own coast".[4]
In Film
[edit]The Area has also featured in films
- Loch Craignish got a last minute role in the bond filmFrom Russia With Lovedoubling asYugoslavia.The scene was originally set to be filmed inTurkeybut was moved due to production issues[5]
- The old Jura ferry pier at Craignish point was shown in The End We Start From[6]
Sources
[edit]- A Visitor's Guide to Craignish,n.d.
- Coventry, MartinThe Castles of Scotland;3rd ed., Goblinshead, 2001
- Walker, Frank ArneilThe Buildings of Scotland: Argyll and Bute,Penguin, 2000
References
[edit]- ^Ferguson, Donna (2 November 2023)."Remote Scottish community still cut off a month after 6,000-tonne landslip".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved3 November2023.
- ^"Craignish Castle | Canmore".canmore.org.uk.
- ^"Parlington Hall:: Gascoigne Houses, Craignish Castle, Argyleshire, Scotland, page one".parlington.co.uk.
- ^Naomi Mitchison,"You may well ask", London, 1979, Part II, Chap. 14, (quoting a letter sent from Craignish toStella Bensonin the late 1920s).
- ^AI (15 November 2023)."Bond's Scotland".James Bond 007.Retrieved22 July2024.
- ^"The End We Start From Filming Locations (2023)".5 December 2023.Retrieved22 July2024.
External links
[edit]- Map sourcesfor Craignish
