Duirinish Parish Church, Skye

Dunvegan Parish Church stands beside Loch Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye. The Gothic Revival building has a square tower with battlements and was finished in 1832. It belongs to the Church of Scotland and is listed as Category A. The old manse, where the minister once lived, overlooks the loch from Kinlochfollart and is also protected. The church’s interior keeps a set of elders’ chairs with curved legs. George Henderson traced the village name back to a Gaelic personal name, Beccán. The church is worth the journey for its architecture and history. It was built between 1823 and 1832, replacing an earlier structure. The Historic Environment Scotland record singles out the elders’ chairs as a notable feature. The manse nearby adds another layer of local heritage. Visitors can also see Dunvegan Castle, home of Clan MacLeod, a short distance away. The Giant MacAskill Museum celebrates Angus Mòr MacAskill, once the world’s tallest man. Inside, the church has a plain rectangular plan with a gallery at the west end. The battlemented tower rises above the entrance. The elders’ chairs sit in the session house, their sabre legs a reminder of 19th-century craftsmanship. Outside, the manse’s grey stone walls contrast with the green slopes above the loch. A path leads from the church down to the water’s edge where boats once tied up. The view across the loch takes in the hills of Duirinish and the distant Cuillin range.