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Cairn(s)
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By some distance the most impressive round cairn to grace Kintyre (I reckon the next in line is that at Kildonan Point), the great stone pile at Correchrevie nevertheless duly serves up a double-whammy by occupying a quite stunning coastal location. Yeah, the sweeping seascape looking across the Sound of Gigha to the Isle of Gigha and its diminutive companion Cara Island is, more-or-less, the same celebrated outlook to be found at the wondrous Ballochroy alignment a little up the road.
As indicated above this is a substantial monument. But no need to take my word for it since the RCAHMS visited, albeit way back in 1961, determining that the cairn measured "27.5m in diameter and 5.0m in height", which is pretty hefty, it has to be said. Furthermore, despite a number of 'excavations' being apparent within the structure, such is the volume of stone still remaining in situ that I'd agree with the observation that the damage wrought by stone seekers of yesteryear appears to be "...superficial, and the main body of cairn material and any internal features are probably undisturbed." Yeah, here we have another sleeping behemoth.
My mid-morning visit coincides with, and needless to say greatly benefits from, a somewhat boisterous weather front propelling vast slabs of cloud across a brilliant cobalt-blue canvas, this mass of grey-white vapour towering above my stony perch and occupying a vertical plane of a scale quite beyond this human's comprehension. Hey, what are the works of humankind, relatively speaking, when considered within the context of the biggest of all pictures?
Despite Correchrevie's impressive bulk travellers approaching along the coastal road to the north - as no doubt many do - may be forgiven not even clocking its existence, such is the nature of the topography. However stop for a while a little way past Ronachan Bay (at the second lay-by, the one with emergency 'phone) and wander down to water's edge to taste the salt air at the limit of the crashing breakers... where, upon turning to face inland once more the superb positioning of the monument is instantly apparent.
Access, it would seem, is either via a stony track beside (currently) unemployed farm buildings or directly up the hill through woodland. A barbed-wire fence encloses the relevant field upon the crest; however I found I was able to step over this without damaging either it or my nether regions... or else would've ventured a little further north toward a gate.
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Posted by GLADMAN
3rd August 2015ce
Edited 3rd August 2015ce
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