1. Inverness, Local Saints: Columba, Adamnan, Kenneth, John, Kessog, Ernan

The North Coast 500 officially starts and ends at Inverness Castle. It is worth buying the official guide map to the route. 

St Erchard (or Irchard/Yrchard/Merchard) has been listed as belonging to Inverness as his strongest links are with the Great Glen, especially the Glenmoriston area. This is outwith the North Coast 500 area but some sources also link him with Strathglass, not too far from Brora, and with Caithness.

2. Beauly Priory, Local saint: Tarlogan

The name (beau lieu or ‘beautiful place’) was given to the area by the French monks who founded the abbey in about 1230. They belonged to the Valliscaulian order, as did the monks of Pluscarden Abbey, founded at about the same time. After the Reformation, the building was left to become a ruin and the land was given to the Episcopal bishop of Ross.

3. Applecross, Local Saints: Maelrubha

From Beauly to Lochcarron, there is no information on specific local saints.  From there onwards through Applecross, North to Durness and along the North coast as far as Farr, the only name is that of Maelrubha. 

4. Balnakiell, Local Saint: Maelrubha

5. Strathnaver, Local Saint: Maelrubha, Donan, Martin, Cormack, Diman

The village of Farr lies at the mouth of Strathnaver and hosts the Strathnaver Museum, where much can be learnt about the history of this area. There is also a copy of the magnificent Farr Stone. There is a Strathnaver Trail following the river inland and showing the site where Maelrubha is thought to be buried. 

Cormack’s connection to this area rests on a rather vague claim that he settled on Colm Island (Eilean nan Naomh – The Saint’s Island). He has stronger connections with Orkney. Diman also has links with Orkney (Daimsey) but dies in Strathnaver in 670.

CAITHNESS, Local Saints: see the detailed routes B and C

Leaving Caithness to the South of the Berriedale Braes, the A9 continues through East Sutherland. 

23. Dunbeath, House of Peace, Donan, Triduana

The dedication to Triduana may be due to confusion between the place names as both the sites of her ‘resting place’ near Achavanich and the House of Peace are called Ballachly.

24. Helmsdale, Local Saints: Donan, Peter, Rectair, Ninian, Ernan, Iain (John)

The area around Helmsdale is rich in early Christian sites. Lying at the mouth of the Strath of Kildonan, it was a natural meeting point for travellers coming South across the moors from the Caithness coast, from the inland communities of Broubster, Shurrery and Dorrrery and from Kildonan itself. They would then follow the coast to all points South. It shares with Spittal the distinction of having a chapel and hostel/hospital. Here they are dedicated to John the Baptist and, along with a holy well, were situated where the current Free Church Manse is, near the station.

Following the river inland, the Kilphedir Broch is apr four miles upriver, the Kilphedir Rurn joins the Helmsdale River twelve miles upriver. Phedir is a corruption of Peter. Kinbrace railway station is apr sixteen miles upriver and it is possible to take the morning train from Thurso to Kinbrace, walk from there to Helmsdale station and take the evening train back to Thurso. (This has not been tested!)On the way, you will pass a section of the river going through an area called Achahemisgach on the East side and Learabail on the opposite bank. The East side of the river has a rock with a cross carved on it. The adjacent wood is called Coille Chil Mer or ‘the wood of the cell of Mary’.

The various sites around Helmsdale, given with the reference on the HER map, are

• St Peter’s Chapel   MHG9539 Kilphedir Burn   MHG9852/5; MHG9900

• Kilphedir   MHG11531, 13166, 19368   Kilearnan Hill   MHG9878/9; 17876

• St Ernan’s Chapel and Cemetery   MHG9970   St Donan’s Chair   MHG9969

• St John the Baptist Well, Chapel and Hospital   MHG10118   MHG 10119

• Holy Well, Glen Loth   MHG10208   St Iain’s (?John) Chapel, Gartmore   MHG10165

• St Ninian’s Chapel and Cemetery, Navidale   MHG10290, MHG45522, MHG45523

• St Rect’s Chapel, Navidale   MHG10136 (Rect=Rectair/Reet)

25. Brora, Local Saints: Faolan, Columba, Peter and Iain 

The area now occupied by the Clynleash Distillery is associated with Faolan, Columba, Peter and Iain. Iain is the same saint as listed above. He was a disciple of Donan and was martyred with him on Eigg. The dedication to Peter will be a supersession, possibly of Faolan, of whom little is known. The dedication to Columba does not mean that Columba himself visited Brora.

26 Golspie, Local Saint: Malie, Andrew

Andrew is the patron saint of Golspie parish, possibly superseding Malie. Malie may be a corruption of Maelrubha. Golspie is far away from Maelrubha’s usual sites, so this would presumably be an attibution to him by one of his followers.

27. Dornoch, Local Saints: Finbar, Gilbert, James

The village of Dornoch is two miles off the A9 but is well worth the detour, if only to visit the cathedral. This was built by Bishop Gilbert and dedicated to St Finbar. The dedication was later changed to Gilbert. 

Crawford p. 260: n.85 ‘in Bishop Gilbert’s constitution for the cathedral at Dornoch the church of Kildonan with its revenues and pertinents was reserved for the prebend held by the abbot of Scone’

28. Tain, Local Saint: Duthac

There is a museum ‘Tain Through Time’ with an excellent video presentation of the cult of St Duthac.

The area South of Tain is associated with Comgan and Kiltearn parish church on the outskirts of Alness is named after him.

Continue on the A9 to the roundabout just before the Cromarty Bridge, take the second exit onto the A862 and continue to Dingwall.

29. Dingwall, Local Saint: Clement

The Gaelic name means ‘place of cabbages’ which may be a link with the nearby Beauly Abbey whose founding order, the Valliscaulians, came from Val-des-Choux (Valley of the Cabbages) near Dijon, France. The current name derives from the Viking ‘Thing vollr’ or ‘place of justice’ indicating a meeting place of the influential people of the area to settle disputes. The landing place for trading boats from Scandinavia was near the church, a logical place for such a meeting point. (In Shetland, the place called Tingwall is close to the church.) The church dedication to Clement also suggests Viking links.

From Dingwall, either continue on the A862 through Beauly and back to Inverness or return to the A9 and continue to Inverness via the Cromarty Bridge, the Black Isle and the Kessock Bridge.

Some Off-Route Sites

30. Portmahomack Local Saint: Colman

31. The Cloutie Well

Turn left at the Tore roundabout onto the A832 towards the village of Munlochy 

32. Rosemarkie Local Saint: Moluag

33. Fortrose

34 The Kessock Bridge Local Saint: Kessog