Applecross past & present

Most significant for the peninsula’s religious heritage was the arrival of the Irish monk Maelrubha in 673AD, and the formation of the Christian settlement and monastery at Clachan. The latter marked the beginning of the idea of Applecross as a sanctuary, from which the Gaelic name of Applecross, A’ Chomraich, is derived. Here, some of the region’s beleaguered residents would seek refuge in the centuries to come in times of crisis.

In Applecross, just as elsewhere in the Scottish Highlands, the Highland Clearances led to the forced eviction of communities, and for hundreds of years much of the land was owned by a series of powerful lairds. The last landowner established the Applecross Trust in 1975.

The area has a strong Gaelic tradition and a strong sense of identity. In part this has been influenced by its remoteness, with the mountain pass of the Bealach nam Bò providing the primary overland access route since the early 19th century until the completion of the north coast road in 1976.

Today, Applecross is home to a vibrant community of crofting townships. Traces of the area’s extraordinary history, however, are never far from view. This makes Applecross a fascinating place to visit.