aka St Conan's Churchyard

Killichonan Burial ground is said to be the churchyard of the old Church of St Conan, consecrated with sacred dust from Iona. It is the traditional burial ground of members of Clan MacGregor who settled, (and held mainly by fire and sword), lands on Slios Min, the north ('smooth') side of Loch Rannoch.

The history of Clan Gregor, Gregarach, 'Children of the Mist', 'Sons of the Wolf', is well documented. For a subsistence culture, socially and economically land dependent, to be progressively dispossessed and / or evicted from their traditional lands, primarily by the various branches of Clan Campbell, gives some explanation of the subsequent behaviour and reputation of Clan MacGregor. Relentlessly persecuted and hounded for over 300 years, their name proscribed, a bounty on their heads, their women branded, whipped and worse, their children either killed or sold into slavery, the relatively inaccessible wilderness of Rannoch and its Caledonian Forest provided some sanctuary. Proscription was finally lifted in 1775.

There were MacGregors who became legal tenants of Menzies of Weem at Dunan, on the River Gaur, approximately 1 mile upstream from the west end of Loch Rannoch and also at Stronfernan, nearer Aberfeldy, leased from Clan Donnachaidh. Eventually there were hundreds of law-abidng, hard working MacGregors in the Rannoch area - until the Highland Clearances.

The graveyard stands on the north side of the B846 road, immediately west of the point where the road crosses the Killichonan Burn as it drains into Loch Rannoch. The walled enclosure has a gate which may be securely locked. There is a stone-stepped stile in the wall nearby which can be negotiated with care. The graveyard is very overgrown, with many hidden flat and fallen stones. Again care is required to avoid damaging ankles. There is no sign of any chapel ruin but there is an old stone font built into the wall.

Looking out over Loch Rannoch, the little tower, all that remains of the island fortress and MacGregor stronghold on Eilean nam Feoileag - Isle of the Storms - is clearly visible. The visitor can determine or decide whether there is a submerged (secret) causeway from either shore.