Kildonan, Clach Chill Donnain
Burial Ground (Medieval), Church (Medieval)(Possible)
Site Name Kildonan, Clach Chill Donnain
Classification Burial Ground (Medieval), Church (Medieval)(Possible)
Canmore ID 12093
Site Number NH09SE 1
NGR NH 0783 9098
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/12093
- Council Highland
- Parish Lochbroom
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Ross And Cromarty
- Former County Ross And Cromarty
NH09SE 1 0782 9097 to 0789 9094
Kildonnan in Little Lochbroom marks the earliest religious centre of the parish. It was out of use as a religious centre before the Roman Catholic period, and therefore, marks a foundation and not a dedication... Kildonnan is numbered among the religious sites planted by St Donnan who was martyred in 617 A.D.(A C M Mitford 1936) )
There was a burial place here called "Clach Chill Donnain"(Mitford 1936)
W D Simpson 1935
According to Mr Roger (Dundonnell House, Little Lochbroom), this 7th century religious foundation was probably situated on a flat plateau at NH 0789 9094. The tradition that St Donnan had a cell here prior to his martyrdom in 617 A.D. is well known locally. There is now no trace of a church or cell. In the roughly circular burial place at NH 0782 9097, called "Clach Chill Donnain", there are several upright unmarked gravestones. There are also three large flat stones which traditionally mark the grave of a "Danish princess" who died here after a period of ill-health, but no further information could be obtained about this. The graveyard probably went out of use in the middle of the 18th cent. (Miss McNorton, Ardnessie, Dundonnell, Little Lochbroom)
Visited by OS (R B) 4 November 1964
(NH 0783 9098) Cladh Cill Donnain (NR)
OS 6"map, (1968)
The site was visited again during the course of a pre-afforestation survey undertaken by J Wordsworth and shows little change.
J Wordsworth 1995; NMRS MS 961/20.
Measured Survey (2011)
A measured survey of Kildonan township was undertaken by Mary Buchanan, Jim Buchanan and Anne MacInnes in 2011. Their report (WP 004717) includes a 1:1250 plan of the site, and descriptions of each individual structure. The possible corn-drying kiln at NH 0798 9099, noted by OS (1964) was identified as a lime kiln after detailed 1:100 survey and clearance.
Additional information was provided with regard to the burial ground and possible chapel (Canmore ID 12093), the 19th century farmhouse to the NW (119142), and the sheepfold and buildings at the shore.
