Lochbuie Standing Stones, Moy Castle and Laggan Sands

 Lochbuie Standing Stones, St Kilda Church, Moy Castle, Laggan  Sands and Maclaine Mausoleum 

Click on photos below to enlarge image                                                                                                                                                                                                  

 

 This walk is about one and a quarter hour drive from Seaview bed and breakfast. Two short walks and one longer walk to the Standing Stones and the MacLaine stronghold of Moy castle, in the scenic and historic glen of Lochbuie, plus a longer walk past Moy Castle to Laggan Sands. All three walks are in the setting of the magnificent backdrop of Ben Buie.

LOCH BUIE STANDING STONES

Access to the bronze age circle, is from Lochbuie  main road before you reach the village and shoreline. As you travel towards Loch Buie,  Ben Buie is suddenly sighted through the trees which are on either side of the road. The road then opens out with field and moor left and right of you, the road bends left and then straight, you come to a small stone bridge with a field gate to the left of it. Park just at the bridge, enough parking for 2 cars (sign on the gate indicating stone circle) and go through the field south east following white marker stones towards a small copse in the corner of the field. At this point there is a gate in the corner of the field, follow the fence running north from the gate with your eyes and you will see another gate 20 yards from the first gate and copse. Go through this gate, there is a single standing stone on the other side of the gate. At the stone turn and look north. In the corner of the field enclosed by rhododendrons to the west and north you will see the 8 granite stone and one boulder circle, aprox 40 feet in diameter with the tallest stone about 7 feet high. The single stone is one of three outlying stones from the circle. Little is known about these stones, however the site below gives some ideas

Return using the same route. Access to Moy Castle is not permitted through the estate farm area.

For further information on the standing stones, click here
Stout walking shoes/boots are advised as the ground is often wet underfoot.
OS grid reference: 617251
MAP OS EXPLORER 375 Isle of Mull East

 St Kilda Church-Clan Maclaine family Church

On leaving the stone circle area, drive south to the old village post office now a wee shop selling tasty local produce and nick knacks   and park on the left, at the head of Loch Buie,

the hard grass area acts as a car park on the shoreline. Walk east along the shoreline path, past St. Kilda's Church (note the fine stained glass windows to St. Columba and St. Finnan and biblical scenes). St Kilda's church is a Scottish Episcopal Church of Argyll and the Isles consecrated in 1876; Laird MacLaine of Lochbuie raised funds for its construction.  Various monuments within  the church are to his family, and  others belonging to this part of Mull The yellow sandstone Celtic Cross built into the south wall of the porch is unusual, unearthed when the foundations of the church were being excavated and as there is no history of a chapel or burial place on the site makes it interesting- where did it come from Who St Kilda was is not really known, it is said he could have been a mythical person. The name is only found in

the island of St Kilda, Tobar Childer-well of St Kilda- indicates a Nordic saint the spelling of the name might have been St Kildar. Loch  Buie has a

small resident population so there is no resident minister or regular services but on special occasions, weddings funerals etc the church is in use. The maintainence of the church is paid for by generous public donations so if passing please do donate if you wish to do so.

 Moy Castle Stronghold of the Maclaine Clan

After visiting St. Kilda, carry on walking past the church and take the gate following the shoreline (not to the big house) - you will see the castle is ahead in view. Moy Castle was

built in the 15^th century by Hector MacLean, brother of Maclean of Duart and the founder of the re-named Maclaines of Lochbuie who made it their home. It is a 3 storey tower with a garret with a well on the ground floor.  It was captured from the Maclaines and garrisoned by Campbell followers but later returned to the Maclaines. It was abandoned in 1752 when a new house was built. The entrance door is locked now because of a risk of crumbling masonry although restoration work is currently being completed on it (2006/2007). Although access is not currently permitted to the castle, the castle is still worth a visit as it has a commanding view over  Lochbuie.

Return by the same route.

For further information on Moy Castle read more,                                                                                                             

OS grid  reference: 617247
MAP OS EXPLORER 375 Isle of Mull East

LAGGAN SANDS AND MACLAINE MAUSOLEUM

Once you have looked at Moy Castle continue east along the gravel track at the top of the beach. On your left you pass green pastures with estate cottages behind, on your right firstly Iris beds and woods and then shoreline. Approximately one quarter of a mile on you come to the silver sands of  Laggan beach  with field and hills in the background. Past the beach along the same track, in a field there is a very old  Mclaine family chapel/Mausoleum and graveyard pre dating the St Kilda Church. It is set in the eastern corner of the glen one mile from Moy Castle and has great views back to Ben Buie and down the loch. There are very interesting old gravestones inside and outside the church. The roof has coloured glass in it and the slates are very ancient with rounded

edges. A very beautiful peaceful spot. Originally a chapel of remembrance it was converted to a Mausoleum in 1864; the roof you see today was part of this conversion .A further renovation took place in 1972. The main building would appear to be medieval. There is a plaque on top of the entrance dedicating the chapel to St Kenneth.

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