In Knockbain, discoveries range from church architecture and archaeological remains to coastal scenery. Knockbain Munlochy Parish Church and Bogallan Free Church showcase different details of church architecture. Among the ruins, St John’s Chapel and St Duthac’s Church each have different surviving features. Munlochy Bay and a section of the John o’ Groats Trail offer a distinct focus on the landscape.

Churches and Gothic Architecture

Knockbain Munlochy Parish Church is considered a good example of a Free Church of Scotland building. It opened in August 1886 and features numerous high-quality Gothic architectural elements, both outside and inside. A look at the building reveals more than just a single façade design: Gothic details shape both its exterior and interior. Those interested in church architecture will find a clearly defined highlight to include in their travel plans.

Bogallan Free Church is another church building from the late 19th century; its architect was John Rhind. The building is listed as a Category C monument. It replaced an earlier building that stood about 200 metres south-southeast of it. This distance and direction help put the building’s history into context without confusing the two buildings. While the Gothic features stand out at Knockbain Munlochy Parish Church, the attribution to John Rhind and the sequence of construction offer a different perspective on architectural history at Bogallan.

Chapels and Church Ruins

St John’s Chapel in Allangrange is a Scheduled Monument. Only the east gable, with a three-light lancet window, and parts of the side walls remain. The surviving east gable and wall fragments define a clearly limited set of remains. This distinguishes the ruin from a building where larger parts of its original form are still standing. This distinction is particularly interesting when choosing historic sites to visit: here, the focus is on the surviving fragments.

St Duthac’s Church in Easter Suddie is also a Scheduled Monument. It was dedicated to St Duthac of Tain, and its east gable is almost completely intact. Compared with the limited remains of St John’s Chapel, St Duthac’s Church can be seen as having a largely intact gable as its defining feature. The two church ruins thus offer different architectural points of reference: one has a three-light lancet window and parts of its side walls, while the other has an almost completely intact east gable.

Kilmuir Old Parish Church was probably built in the 15th century. Its churchyard contains stones with late Celtic ornamentation. Visitors interested in historic churches and their stonework can also take the late Celtic ornaments into account as a distinctive feature. The dating is an estimate; the ornaments are a specific feature of the churchyard.

Archaeological Sites and Landscape

Craigie Howe is a hut circle and is designated a Scheduled Monument. It lies in the Parish of Knockbain, 360 metres east-northeast of The Kennels. Culnacraigh Hut Circle offers a different description of the landscape: it is located in a clearing on the wooded Drumderfit Hill. Both sites are hut circles, but the documented features that distinguish them differ. Craigie Howe’s designation and location relative to The Kennels are specified, while Culnacraigh is characterised by its position on the wooded hill and in the clearing.

Munlochy Bay SSSI is a small, enclosed sea bay of the Moray Firth. The John o’ Groats Trail passes by the bay. At one section of the trail, water can flow across the path at the highest point of the spring tide. If you plan to walk this section of the trail, check the current route and conditions before setting out. This keeps the tidal conditions in mind as a practical planning consideration, rather than overlooking them when choosing a walk along the bay.

For an overview of the wider destination: Highland.