South Lochs
At the head of the sea loch at Gravir lies the Pairc Museum. Run by Comunn Eachdraidh a’ Phairc ( Pairc Historical Society) and open until September it holds photos and aretfacts of a traditional village lifestyle
Cromore: Ruins of a circular external stone wall is remaining evidence of a broch on an islet in Loch Cromore. Originally Dun Cromor was a galleried broch with 17 large steps rising to an upper level.
Lower sea levels some 2000 years ago allowed its occupiers access off the islet at low tide over a narrow causeway which can be spotted underwater. However, it is now inaccessible without a boat but the ruins can be properly seen from high ground by the shore.
Nearby, the ruins of a church dedicated to St Columba sits on a small island which takes the saint’s name. In the 1500s islanders looked upon Eilean Chaluim Chille (St Columba’s island) as a localised focal point for Celtic Christianity.
There is no record of St Columba himself being here and it is thought that a church was first built here, years after his death, around 800AD by Celtic pilgrems who followed his teachings.
Worship may well have taken place on the island about 800AD and people were still buried there until the late 1800s. Access is from Crobeg via a semi-submerged stone pathway which dries at low water.