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Brae-na-h-eaglaise is a medieval chapel and burial ground situated in Caithness, northern Scotland. The monument stands on bedrock of the Moine Supergroup, psammite deposits laid down during the Neoproterozoic era, which forms the foundation geology of this region. The name, derived from Scottish Gaelic, reflects the settlement patterns and linguistic heritage of the medieval Highlands.
The chapel represents a place of Christian worship and community significance, typical of rural ecclesiastical sites in medieval Scotland. Such chapels often served small parishes or estate lands, functioning as focal points for spiritual life and burial practice. The associated burial ground indicates the site's importance as a place of interment for the local population over an extended period.
The monument is protected by Historic Environment Scotland under the reference SM3429, recognising its archaeological and historical importance. The survival of both chapel and burial ground at Brae-na-h-eaglaise provides insight into medieval religious practice and settlement in the far north of Scotland, a region whose archaeological record remains comparatively sparse and thus particularly valuable for understanding Highland communities during this period.
Brae-na-h-eaglaise, chapel and burial ground is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM3429. View the official record →
Brae-na-h-eaglaise is a medieval chapel and burial ground situated in Caithness, northern Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM3429.
Brae-na-h-eaglaise, chapel and burial ground dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a chapel and burial ground. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Brae-na-h-eaglaise, chapel and burial ground is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM3429.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Tulloch Turnal, broch 500m WNW of Turnal Rock, Langwell (2 km), Cnoc Bad Asgaraidh, chambered cairn 570m E of, Langwell (2.2 km), Turnal Rock, hut circle complex 250m NW of Langwell Tulloch broch. (2.6 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Brae-na-h-eaglaise, chapel and burial ground's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Brae-na-h-eaglaise, chapel and burial ground stands on Moine Supergroup, bedrock that formed in the Neoproterozoic. The rock here is psammite.