Beul a' Bhealaich Coffin Road, Barra

Start location: Baile na Creige / Craigston (NF 664 015)
End location: A888, north of Earsairidh / Earsary (NF 706 002)
Geographical area: Western Isles
Path Type: Coffin Road
Path distance: 4.6km
Accessibility info: Suitable for pedestrians

Back to Search

Route Description

There is a car park at the road end at Craigston and a good track runs uphill to the former Thatched House Museum. Although there is no track beyond this point, the route is well-defined past the Grionan chambered cairn and uphill to the sky line at Beul a' Bhealaich where a fine standing stone lies proud at the top of the pass. Then downhill to the east through shieling sites (one good beehive circle) becoming more boggy and undefined down the Allt Heiker. The last half is well defined by formidable barbed wire fences before emerging out on the A888 just north of Earsary.

OS Landranger 31 (Barra and surrounding islands)

Heritage Information

In the 1840s people cleared from the fertile machair of the west side of Barra were settled on the rocky east coast and offshore islands. This route was used each week to get to Craigston Church. Evidence given to Napier Commission reveals the Barra estate was less than helpful to the school and church.

Beul a' Bhealaich translates as pass of the mouth.

The Dubhoiridh or Thatched House Museum was the last thatched house in Barra and was occupied until c1970.

Click here to view this path on a map

Image Gallery