Stage 5 of the JOGT - Dornoch to Golspie

Distance 13.8 miles/22.4km

For further details, see jogt.org.uk/stages/

The patron saint of Golspie parish is Andrew, possibly superseding Malie. Malie may be a corruption of Maelrubha. Golspie is far away from Maelrubha’s usual sites, so this would presumably be an attibution to him by one of his followers. As Maelrubha has links with Farr, this is quite plausible. However 'Malie' could also be 'Mairie', one of the martyrs of Eigg, for Mairie naturally develops into Malie in accordance with Gaelic euphony. This Malie/Mairie (d.617/618) is remembered in the church of Kilmalie, formerly the parish church of Golspie and in a well, Tobar Malaig below Melvich, Farr. and Tobar Malaig is very similar to Mallaig, the modern port for ferries going to the island of Eigg.

For more information on Golspie, go to facebook.com/golspie/