Heritage Path of the Month.
Bunavullin Coffin Road is our Heritage Path of the Month for December 2024, click here to view the details
More about Bunavullin Coffin Road:
From Bunavullin take the track to Mungosdail, then continue through the forest for 1500m. Just after crossing a burn, take a small path NE from NM583533 to the edge of the forest. Continue NE over the hill (no path) keeping to the E of Lochan Chrois Bheinn as far as NM601550 then over a stile into Barr Forest. Follow a path then a track to Ardantiobairt where the school (no longer used) can be seen just short of the public road at Kinlochteacuis.
From NM658548, Kinloch/Rahoy road junction, take the track to the NW around Loch Teacuis as far as NM646557 near Carnliath. Here follow a waymarked route ENE up the Allt an Inbhire which joins the path at Bealach Sloc an Eich (pass of the hollow of the horses), to the west of Beinn Ghormaig (452m). From the cairn, follow the path down the burn to a forest road and waymarkers at NM663591.
Cross the bridge over the Glencripesdale Burn at NM661592, then take the good hill track to the east which gradually rises through the forest to Lochan Dhonnachaidh (Duncan’s Loch) at a height of 300m. On this section of the route, there are stone seats every 800m or so, possibly sited to allow the ladies of the house to rest while on their way to watch the men fishing. There are first class views to the west and north from the track near the lochan. The track then drops down through the forest to join the shore track at NM734603.
OS Landranger 47 (Tobermory & North Mull) and 49 (Oban & East Mull)
This route from Laudale is one of two in Morvern with the reputation of having been a coffin road, the other is that from Doirlinn; more information about the other can be found via the link above. The medieval parish church of Killlintag (Cill Leuntaig), dedicated to St Fintan, was located near Mungosdail just to the east of Bunavullin. The burial ground is still marked on current OS maps, but the church is reduced to its foundations.
St Columba’s Stone (NM 5945 5428) provides evidence for the former use of the track from Loch Teacuis as a coffin or kirk road. It is said to have been one of a series of stones marking this hill track, and it lies on the highest point of the route giving its name to the hill to the north – Crois Bheinn (Cross Peak). The stone has a cross on each side and measures 0.61m by 0.51m. Its site is marked on the OS 1:25,000 Explorer 383.
Further evidence for a series of stones marking the route has been found on a 1:10000 map with two stones marked near where the right of way leaves the forest before reaching St Columba’s Stone and another two stones marked beside fords (NM591541 and NM585534) within the forest. This route between Drimnin and Barr is also said to have seen use as a post-track – the post being left beneath a rock at the pass between the forest and Coire Buidhe. So whether the stones in the forestry date from the track’s use as a coffin route or were placed to aid the postal service we are not certain. Any photos or further information relating to the stones would be much appreciated.
More about Heritage Paths:
Learn about the history of some of the oldest transport routes in Scotland. Heritage Paths records the history of over 400 routes that criss-cross the Scottish landscape. From Roman Roads to Military Roads, find out how the route you are following came into being.
As well as historical information, you’ll find a modern-day route description along with start and finish details. Change the background mapping in our interactive viewer and time travel along your favourite Heritage Path from 1843 to today.