---
title: "Dornoch Cathedral"
description: "Located in Dornoch, Highland. Built Founded 1224; fire 1570; chancel, transept and tower restored 1616; nave rebuilt and restored 1835–37; interior 1924. Grade Category A. Medieval cruciform, much rebuilt style."
category: "Church"
tags: ["Church","Church of Scotland","Highland","Dornoch","Category A","Cathedral"]
canonical: "https://thebritishgazette.com/post/dornoch-cathedral-dornoch"
pubDate: "2026-09-06T01:35:02.976Z"
dateModified: "2026-09-07T17:49:57.375Z"
location: "Dornoch, Highland"
country: "Scotland"
county: "Highland"
town: "Dornoch"
address: "High Street, Dornoch, Highland, IV25 3HN"
postcode: "IV25 3HN"
built: "Founded 1224; fire 1570; chancel, transept and tower restored 1616; nave rebuilt and restored 1835–37; interior 1924"
architect: "William Burn (1835–37 restoration)"
denomination: "Church of Scotland"
grade: "Category A"
style: "Medieval cruciform, much rebuilt"
materials: "Rubble with ashlar dressings"
website: "http://www.dornoch-cathedral.com/"
openingHours: "Open all year, daily 8am to dusk."
parish: "Dornoch"
gridReference: "NH 797 896"
accessNotes: "Accessible toilets in church. Accessible toilets nearby. Level access to the main areas. Non-accessible toilets in church"
---

# Dornoch Cathedral

Dornoch Cathedral on High Street / Castle Street, Dornoch, Highland, is a Church of Scotland parish church and a Category A former cathedral of the medieval Diocese of Caithness.

## Overview

Historic Environment Scotland lists the cathedral, excluding scheduled monument SM10828 (the graveyard), at Category A (LB24632; added 18 March 1971). HES describes a thirteenth-century cruciform church with central tower and spire, subsequently much rebuilt, with complete restoration by William Burn in 1835–37. It was founded by Gilbert de Moravia (St Gilbert) in 1224 as the cathedral of Caithness. Fire damaged it in 1570; Sir Robert Gordon of Gordonstoun restored the chancel, transept and tower in 1616. The nave was rebuilt and the whole restored in 1835–37 at the expense of Elizabeth, Duchess-Countess of Sutherland. Interior plaster was stripped in 1924. It is no longer a cathedral in Presbyterian use but keeps the name. HES Category A listing cannot be stored on the list-entry field used for Historic England and Cadw URLs.

## Further Information

- [Dornoch Cathedral](http://www.dornoch-cathedral.com/)
- [Historic Environment Scotland LB24632](https://www.trove.scot/designation/LB24632)
- [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dornoch_Cathedral)