St mary's Church.
Start. Lay-by east of Dunvagan village
Notes. St Mary's Church adorns the hillside above Dunvagan village one of many ruined chapels on the Isle of Skye, all with a story to tell, unknown to me St Mary's was the family crypt of the Chiefs of MacLeod, the stronghold of Dunvagan Castle has been their ancestral home for nearly 800 years, and that was our destination for today but not until we've explored St Mary's.
We parked in a small lay-by east of Dunvagan village on the A850, the walk to St Mary's was easy on good paths, after visiting the chapel we climbed to the Duinnish Stone on the edge of Druim na Creige a stunning view point before descending back to the road. If you have the time and energy, it is possible to walk to Dunvagan Castle from here.
The burial ground St Mary's Church.
St Mary's Church, these remains are typical of the "pre-reformation" style of Chapel, with narrow pointed gables and walls built of rough stone, the original building would have had it's roof thatched with heather.
From the chapel views to Macleod's Table.
Ascending to the Duinnish Stone with views over Loch Dunvegan.
A fine viewpoint, the Duinnish Stone.
Stunning views from the Duinnish Stone, Loch Dunvegan, Dunvegan Village with Healabhal Mhor (Macleod's Table North and Healabhal Bheag (Macleod's Table South) across the skyline.
Erected in the year 2,000, set in modern concrete the Duinnish Stone doesn't seem to have the same air of mystery around it as other standing stones found in Scotland, never mind it may in a few thousand years time.