Explore Breakish through a range of tangible themes: coastal landscapes, archaeological traces and the history of local routes. Creative courses are also available locally. The Ashaig monument is particularly rich in history, with its remains and surroundings forming a distinctive part of Breakish’s past.

The Ashaig Monument and the Coast

The Ashaig monument includes the remains of an early medieval church, a burial ground, a shell midden and a holy well. These traces probably date from the 7th to the 13th century. The monument lies about 70 metres from the shore of Ob Breakish, a tidal bay. Its distinctive coastal setting offers sweeping views across the surrounding area, including the mainland and Applecross.

Church, Well and Religious History

At the highest point of the burial ground, Cill Ashik, also known as the “Church of the Ferry”, survives as a raised, grass-covered platform up to 0.8 metres high. Ashaig Well is an important site associated with the introduction of Christianity in the 7th century. Tobar Aiseig, also called Tobar Ashik, survives as the foundations of a well house or as a paved area around an earlier stone-lined spring. The names and forms point to different aspects of the site’s sacred history.

Archaeological Traces in Different Forms

Liveras Cairn is a nationally significant Neolithic chambered cairn beside the road; it was discovered in 1832. Another earthwork in Breakish is elongated, roughly C-shaped and about 15 × 14 metres in size. It is aligned approximately northwest to southeast. A stone axe was found in Upper Breakish in 1957 and donated to Glasgow Museums. The cairn, earthwork and artefact thus represent different archaeological forms: a burial chamber, a distinctive landform and a single tool.

Routes and Industrial History

The Waterloo–Breakish–Ashaig route is one of the routes signposted by the Highland Access Project. A path in Lower Breakish was reopened following improvements in late 2023. A community project connects Broadford Pier and Ashaig Well via footpaths and a footbridge. The Marble Line footbridge, in turn, was built on the site of an earlier bridge that served the marble industry in Strath. These details shed light on different aspects of the history of local routes, from named routes to the former industrial purpose of a bridge.

Creative Activities in Breakish

If you’d like to get creative yourself, the activities mainly differ in course format and prior experience. All Things Coorie in Breakish offers in-person workshops for all experience levels in small groups of at least two and no more than four people. The Kraft Kabin in Breakish offers beginner crochet classes. You can choose between a small-group workshop for different experience levels or an introduction to crochet. Check the dates for your chosen activity before travelling.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Aviemore, Keiss, Drumnadrochit, Bowermadden, Mallaig, Culbokie, Gairloch, Dunvegan

For the main travel overview: Highland.