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A curving sandy spit connecting a grassy headland to the shore, mist rolling over the hills beyond
Sutherland

Ard Neakie Lime Kilns

A near-island in Loch Eriboll, tied to the shore by a curving spit of shingle, with four great lime kilns of the 1870s and an old ferry house.

Welcome

Driving round Loch Eriboll on the long road between Durness and Tongue, you look down on Ard Neakie: a green mound of land almost cut off in the loch, tied to the shore by a narrow curve of shingle with a beach on either side.

On it stand a white house and, set into the cliff, four great stone kilns.

They were built in the early 1870s to burn the limestone quarried from the hill above. The lime went out by sea from the little jetty in front of them, to sweeten fields and reclaim peaty ground, and the kilns, in two pairs of slightly different dates, still stand almost whole.

This was once a ferry point, too, for the crossing to the far side of the loch, until the road was built round its head. Walk down the spit from the road above to reach the kilns and the beaches.

Before you go

The spit and the kilns can be reached on foot at any time, free, from a lay-by on the A838 above.

The house is private.

Where
On the east shore of Loch Eriboll, below the A838.
Built
The kilns in the early 1870s.

Did you know

A curving sandy beach enclosed by a grassy headland, a small boat anchored near the shore
Did you know

Two pairs.

The four kilns were built as two pairs, of slightly different dates and shapes.

A curving sandy spit connecting a grassy headland to the shore, mist rolling over the hills beyond
Did you know

Listed and scheduled.

The kilns, the pier and the quarry were scheduled in 1978.

A curving sandy beach enclosed by a grassy headland, a house set on the shore beneath mist-covered hills
Did you know

A farm on a beach.

Eriboll comes from the Norse for a farm on a beach.

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Where it is

On the east shore of Loch Eriboll, below the A838 between Durness and Tongue.

Close byLoch Eriboll.
  1. Aerial view of a tidal island linked to the shore by twin sandy causewaysLoch EribollUnder a mile 1 min by road
  2. Salmon farm cages and a workboat in a loch below snow-covered hillsLoch Eriboll Viewpoint2 miles 3 min by road
  3. TongueTongueA village above the Kyle of Tongue, with Ben Loyal to the south, the ruin of Castle Varrich on its bluff, and a causeway across the Kyle.12 miles 17 min by road
  4. Castle VarrichCastle VarrichA ruined tower above the Kyle of Tongue.12 miles 18 min by road
  5. Lichen-covered boulders frame a scattering of lochans across distant Highland glensBen LoyalThe Queen of Scottish mountains, south of Tongue.18 miles 26 min by road
  6. Balnakeil BeachBalnakeil BeachWhite sand and dunes by Durness.19 miles 28 min by road
Directions
A curved timber-roofed house catches the evening light beside a sea loch, gorse and heather covering the foreground.LaidShore CottageSleeps 2 · 1.4 miles
A curved timber house glows with lit windows at dusk, set low into a grassy hillside.Port na ConHill CottageSleeps 2 · 1.4 miles
A stone cottage with a slated roof and skylights sits on a lawn, a bench, fire bowl and basket of logs set out on the patio in front.HopeFerryman's CottageSleeps 4 · 2.9 miles
A stone cottage with two chimneys sits above a loch, a mountain rising behind and a dry stone wall enclosing the lawn.HopeKeeper's CottageSleeps 6 · 2.9 miles
Rocky headland and grassy dunes above a sandy beach with calm seaAttractionsCeannabeinne Beach3.7 miles over the water
A white church-like building sits at the foot of a rocky, grass-covered hillside, sheep grazing on the slope above.DurnessCeannabeinne CottageSleeps 4 · 3.8 miles
Tumbled stone walls of Ceannabeinne township on a green slope in evening light, the sea beyond.AttractionsCeannabeinne Village Ruins3.9 miles over the water
Wooden viewing platform inside a large cave with rocky floor and green-lit wallsAttractionsSmoo Cave4.9 miles over the water
Vast limestone cave arch with a wooden viewing shelter beside the streamAttractionsSmoo Cave5.0 miles over the water
The Daily for 20 October, from Scotland with love. The broken stone walls of a lochside castle rise from a small tree-covered island, autumn foliage glowing orange against the dark water and forested hillside beyond.

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Stay nearby

Places to stay near the kilns, and when each is next free.

A curved timber house glows with lit windows at dusk, set low into a grassy hillside.Hill Cottage
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Port na Con
  • A mile from Ard Neakie
Check datesA curved timber-roofed house catches the evening light beside a sea loch, gorse and heather covering the foreground.Shore Cottage
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Laid
  • A mile from Ard Neakie
Check datesA stone cottage with a slated roof and skylights sits on a lawn, a bench, fire bowl and basket of logs set out on the patio in front.Ferryman's Cottage
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Hope
  • 2 miles from Ard Neakie
Check datesA stone cottage with two chimneys sits above a loch, a mountain rising behind and a dry stone wall enclosing the lawn.Keeper's Cottage
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Hope
  • 2 miles from Ard Neakie
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in SutherlandAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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