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Tumbled stone walls of Ceannabeinne township on a green slope in evening light, the sea beyond.
Sutherland

Ceannabeinne Village Ruins

The ruins of a Highland farming township above the beach east of Durness, whose people rose against their clearance in the Durness Riots of 1841.

Welcome

On the green slope above Ceannabeinne Beach, east of Durness, the stones of old houses lie in low grassy heaps.

This was a township, a Highland farming community of the kind once found all over the north: a tacksman rented the land from Lord Reay, chief of the Mackays, and let it to tenants who grazed their cattle on the hill and worked together as neighbours.

In 1841 fifty people lived here, in ten households. That year their landlord served them with notices to leave, to clear the land for sheep, and they refused. The women made the sheriff's officer burn the papers; the police superintendent was chased off; and when he came back with fourteen special constables, some three hundred men gathered and the constables fled. These were the Durness Riots, and they showed others in the Highlands that resistance was possible. By the following year, all the same, the township was empty.

A short trail with boards leads among the ruins.

A short drive awaySmoo CaveA great sea cave on the edge of Durness.2 min by roadSee itVast limestone cave arch with a wooden viewing shelter beside the stream
Before you go

The ruins and the trail are open at all times, free.

The trail starts by the parking area on the A838 above Ceannabeinne Beach.

Where
On the A838 a few miles east of Durness.
The trail
A short path among the ruins, with boards.
Where it is

On the slope above Ceannabeinne Beach, by the A838 east of Durness.

Close byDurness.
  1. Ceannabeinne BeachCeannabeinne BeachThe white-sand cove below.Under a mile1 min by road
  2. 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 miles2 min by road
  3. DurnessDurness3 miles5 min by road
  4. Cocoa Mountain BalnakeilCocoa Mountain Balnakeil3 miles6 min by road
  5. Balnakeil Craft VillageBalnakeil Craft Village3 miles7 min by road
Directions
A white church-like building sits at the foot of a rocky, grass-covered hillside, sheep grazing on the slope above.DurnessCeannabeinne CottageSleeps 4 · 0.2 miles
Vast limestone cave arch with a wooden viewing shelter beside the streamAttractionsSmoo Cave1.6 miles
Aerial view of a tidal island linked to the shore by twin sandy causewaysAttractionsLoch Eriboll3.7 miles over the water
Marram grass covers dunes above a curved sandy beach and bayAttractionsBalnakeil Beach3.8 miles
Grassy tidal island linked by a narrow causeway under grey mistAttractionsArd Neakie Lime Kilns3.9 miles over the water
Balnakeil Church's roofless walls above a kirkyard of old stones, the bay beyond.AttractionsBalnakeil Church3.9 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 · 4.2 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 · 4.2 miles
A curved timber-roofed house catches the evening light beside a sea loch, gorse and heather covering the foreground.SutherlandShore CottageSleeps 2 · 4.3 miles
Stay nearby

Places to stay near the township, 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
  • Under a mile from Ceannabeinne
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
  • 4 miles from Ceannabeinne
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
  • 4 miles from Ceannabeinne
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
  • 4 miles from Ceannabeinne
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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