Southend Tourist Information

Here at Southend, close by the ruined Chapel and carved slabs on the ancient churchyard of Keil, are the footprints, which signify the spot where St. Columba first preached in Scotland. Nearer Campbeltown is St. Kiaran's Cave, where a contemporary of St Columba preached, and where a stone table and water basin can be seen - this was one of the earliest Churches in Scotland.

Keil cave, looking out over a superb sandy beach was, by contrast, the home of prehistoric cave dwellers. Little remains of Dunaverty castle, on a promontory accessed by the excellent 18-hole golf course.

There was a structure here during the Kingdom of Dalriada in the 7th century, then it became a MacDonald stronghold. There was a brutal massacre here in 1647, when 300 remnants of Sir Alasdair MacDonald's army were murdered after surrendering honourably following a siege.