The Coffin Roads: Journeys to the West

Coffin roads, or streets of the dead, are a distinctive feature of the Scottish Highlands and islands. This book explores eight coffin roads to discover and explore the traditions, beliefs, and practices around dying, death, and mourning in the communities that created and used them. The Kilmartin Valley, the Street of the Dead on Iona, Kilearnadil Graveyard, the coffin road through Morvern to Keil Church, the Green Isle, Loch Shiel, Ardnamurchan, the coffin road on Eigg, and the coffin road from Traigh Losgaintir to Loch Stocinis on Harris are all included. The book argues that aspects of the West Highland and Hebridean way of death and approach to dying and mourning may have something helpful and important to offer to us today.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 07 July 2022
Publisher: Birlinn General

The Scottish Highlands and islands are characterized by a distinctive landscape feature known as coffin roads, which were used for the transportation of bodies for burial. Many of these roads have since become popular walking and cycling routes, offering visitors a unique opportunity to explore the region's rich cultural heritage.

This book takes readers on a journey along eight coffin roads, delving into the distinctive traditions, beliefs, and practices surrounding dying, death, and mourning in the communities that created and used them. The author argues that aspects of the West Highland and Hebridean way of death and approach to dying and mourning may have valuable lessons to offer us today, despite the fact that death was once a taboo subject.

The book covers a range of coffin roads, each with its own unique characteristics and significance. The Kilmartin Valley, for instance, is considered the archetypal coffin road in this ritual landscape of the dead. The Street of the Dead on Iona is perhaps the most well-known coffin road in Scotland, with its hauntingly beautiful setting and rich history. Kilearnadil Graveyard in Jura is a perfect example of a Hebridean graveyard, with its rugged terrain and ancient burial sites.

The coffin road through Morvern to Keil Church in Lochaline is among the best-defined and most evocative coffin roads today. It passes through stunning scenery, including the picturesque Glencoe and the stunning Loch Lomond. The Green Isle, Loch Shiel, Ardnamurchan, is the oldest continuously used burial place anywhere in Europe, with its ancient burial mounds and stunning views.

The coffin road on Eigg is particularly noteworthy, with its distinctive "pipers cairn" where the coffin of Donald MacQuarrie, the Great Piper of Eigg, was rested. The road also passes by the stunning Eigg Beach and the picturesque village of Portnahaven.

The coffin road from Traigh Losgaintir to Loch Stocinis on Harris is popular with walkers and has been taken as the title for a best-selling thriller by Peter May. The road offers breathtaking views of the island's rugged coastline and the stunning Hebridean landscape.

Finally, the coffin road on Barra provides a detailed study of burial practices on the island in the early 1950s. The study provides a fascinating record of Hebridean attitudes to dying, death, and mourning, and sheds light on the cultural and social changes that have taken place in the region over the years.

In conclusion, this book offers a unique and fascinating insight into the distinctive traditions, beliefs, and practices surrounding dying, death, and mourning in the Scottish Highlands and islands. It argues that aspects of the West Highland and Hebridean way of death and approach to dying and mourning may have valuable lessons to offer us today, despite the fact that death was once a taboo subject. The book covers a range of coffin roads, each with its own unique characteristics and significance, and provides a rich and detailed account of the region's cultural heritage. Whether you are interested in history, culture, or simply exploring the natural beauty of the Scottish Highlands, this book is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn more about this fascinating and unique part of the world.

Weight: 190g
Dimension: 130 x 196 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781780277790