Applecross Coffin Roads Show path on map

Start location: Clachan Church ( NG 713 458 )

End location: Unclassified road at Camas an Eilgan, Kenmore ( NG 754 576 )

Geographical area: Ross and Cromarty

Path distance: 15km

Accessibility info: Suitable for bikes, Suitable for pedestrians

Route Description

Clachan Church is situated next to the Applecross Heritage Centre near the head of Applecross Bay. From here head southeast, then turn northeast up the private road, a public right of way, which follows the northwest side of the River Applecross past Hartfield. Follow the road past two plantations to its end at NG748492 and continue along the left-hand path, which turns north and goes in an almost straight line across the desolate interior of the Applecross peninsula to Kenmore.

An alternative finish to this walk, which is 2km shorter, is to instead go northeast to Inverbain. Take the right-hand path from the road end (NG748492), crossing a bridge and heading northeast from NG755494 to a gate in a deer fence at NG763506. Two cairns at NG764507 mark the path. Continue northeast on the west side of the burn to a cairn at NG768512 and thence on an indistinct path to another cairn at NG775524. Continue across rough and boggy moorland, through a gate in the deer fence at NG779535, on into woodland and down to Inverbain (NG786551).

This old route from Kenmore to Applecross Bay featured in BBC Alba’s 2018 series Kerry is Kirsty in which two cycling sisters explore Scotland. Look out for repeats on the iPlayer, but for those considering mountain-biking the route, this clip from Kerry is Kirsty gives an idea of what to expect.

OS Landranger 24 (Raasay, Applecross & Loch Torridon)

Heritage Information

Both these paths are old coffin routes which were used in time past by burial parties going to Clachan Church at Applecross Bay. There are several cairns along the route which indicate where the procession would have rested and possibly drank to the deceased. They are both very long coffin roads, so it is entirely understandable that people would need frequent rests along the way. The Applecross Heritage Centre has a bier in its collection, which was used to carry the coffins.

The coffin route was long the access to Applecross Bay from the north, before the coastal route was developed. The Applecross Landscape Partnership scheme helped repair the route from Kenmore to Applecross route, as well as conserve and renovate features of the coffin roads such as wrought iron kissing gates and stone waymarkers.