A roofless T-plan church retaining crow-stepped gables and a small belfry.
Quick facts
- Date
- Traditionally 1619; north aisle 1692; possible earlier fabric
- Architect / designer
- Builders not established
- Type
- Church ruin and burial ground
- OS grid reference
- NC 39109 68649
The building
Rubble walls survive to wall-head level. A north aisle projects from the main rectangle; the east gable carries the belfry and doorways at different levels.
Its story
The surviving church is believed to date from 1619, with its north aisle added in 1692. It remained in use until about 1814. Medieval references establish an earlier church at Durness, but the amount of earlier masonry retained here is uncertain.
Why it is included
The ruin allows the relationship between the main church, aisle and upper-level access to be read without a roof concealing the plan.
What to look for
- Crow-stepped gables and belfry
- The aisle’s window and moulded entrance
Reading the surroundings
The old burial ground and adjacent house form a historic group beside Balnakeil Bay.
Timeline
- 1619 Traditional date of the surviving church.
- 1692 North aisle added.
- About 1814 Use as the parish church ended.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
An early foundation by St Maelrubba is traditional, not proof of the date of surviving walls. The former Category B listing LB486 was removed in 2016; scheduled protection remains.
Sources & further reading
- HES: Durness Old Church, SM1894 — Current designation, dimensions, phases and gallery doorway.
- Highland HER: Balnakeil Church, MHG9482 — Survey history and removal of the duplicate listing.
Location
OS grid reference NC 39109 68649 · Location confidence: High: HES National Grid reference converted to WGS84; catalogue point, not an entrance. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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