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Sutherland

Balnakeil Craft Village

A collection of old military buildings on the road to Balnakeil Bay, home for many years to artists and makers: galleries, ceramics, a chocolatier and more.

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Welcome

On the minor road from Durness out to Balnakeil Bay stands a scatter of plain, flat-roofed buildings.

They were built for the military, and for many years now they have been the Balnakeil Craft Village, where artists and makers live and work.

They have made the place their own. One building is covered from ground to roof in mosaic; a sun is painted in yellow rays across a gable; hand-lettered signs at the junctions point the way to paintings and prints, ceramics, the Wee Gallery and a café. There is woodwork, glass, pottery and a chocolatier, Cocoa Mountain, whose hot chocolate is a favourite stop on the north coast.

Wander from door to door and buy from the people who made the work. Each studio keeps its own hours, and more are open in summer. The beach at Balnakeil is at the end of the road.

Before you go

The village can be walked round at any time, free.

Each studio and gallery keeps its own hours, and more of them are open in summer than in winter.

Where
On the road to Balnakeil Bay, just north-west of Durness, IV27 4PT.
Inside
Galleries, ceramics, a chocolatier and more.

Did you know

A cluster of hand-painted signs pointing to a cafe, gallery and craft workshops beside a country road
Did you know

A village of makers.

The craft village is the home and workplace of artists and craftspeople and their families.

A sun mural painted on the gable end of a white building, fields stretching beyond
Did you know

Built for the forces.

The buildings were put up for the military, and have housed the craft village for many years.

Hidden Scotland

From our guide to Sutherland

On the road from Durness out to Balnakeil Bay, a scatter of plain, flat-roofed buildings put up for the military has been home for many years to artists and makers. They have made the place their own. One building is covered in mosaic, a sun is painted across a gable, and hand-lettered signs point the way to paintings, prints, ceramics, woodwork and glass. Wander from door to door and buy straight from the people who made the work. Each studio keeps its own hours, and more are open in summer. Cocoa Mountain's chocolates are here too.

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Where it is

On the minor road from Durness to Balnakeil Bay, IV27 4PT.

Close byDurness.
  1. Cocoa Mountain BalnakeilCocoa Mountain BalnakeilHot chocolate and truffles in the craft village.Under a mile1 min by road
  2. Balnakeil BeachBalnakeil BeachA long white beach at the end of the road.Under a mile2 min by road
  3. Balnakeil Church's roofless walls above a kirkyard of old stones, the bay beyond.Balnakeil ChurchA roofless, ivy-clad church of 1619 in its old kirkyard above Balnakeil Bay, near Durness, on the site of a much older church.Under a mile1 min by road
  4. DurnessDurnessUnder a mile2 min by road
  5. Vast limestone cave arch with a wooden viewing shelter beside the streamSmoo CaveA great sea cave on the edge of Durness.2 miles5 min by road
  6. Wooden viewing platform inside a large cave with rocky floor and green-lit wallsSmoo CaveSet into the limestone cliffs about a mile east of Durness you will find this spectacular sea cave.2 miles6 min by road
Directions
Pink boulder overlooking moorland lochs and coastline from a Scottish hillsideAttractionsKyle of Durness2.6 miles
Tumbled stone walls of Ceannabeinne township on a green slope in evening light, the sea beyond.AttractionsCeannabeinne Village Ruins3.4 miles
A white church-like building sits at the foot of a rocky, grass-covered hillside, sheep grazing on the slope above.DurnessCeannabeinne CottageSleeps 4 · 3.6 miles
Rocky headland and grassy dunes above a sandy beach with calm seaAttractionsCeannabeinne Beach3.9 miles
Salmon farm cages and a workboat in a loch below snow-covered hillsAttractionsLoch Eriboll Viewpoint6.9 miles over the water
A curved timber-roofed house catches the evening light beside a sea loch, gorse and heather covering the foreground.SutherlandShore CottageSleeps 2 · 7.7 miles
A curved timber house glows with lit windows at dusk, set low into a grassy hillside.SutherlandHill CottageSleeps 2 · 7.7 miles
River winding through a glen beneath cloud-covered hillsAttractionsRiver Dionard9.3 miles
Stay nearby

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

A white church-like building sits at the foot of a rocky, grass-covered hillside, sheep grazing on the slope above.Ceannabeinne Cottage
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Durness
  • 3 miles from Balnakeil
Free 3–5 NovA curved timber house glows with lit windows at dusk, set low into a grassy hillside.Hill Cottage
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Sutherland
  • 5 miles from Balnakeil
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 Sutherland
  • 5 miles from Balnakeil
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
  • 7 miles from Balnakeil
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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