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I don't normally post to this section, so I don't know if there's any slack for new posters, but here goes:

My wife and I are going to be travelling to Ireland & Scotland for a month next spring and I would like to see a few stone circles and megalithic sites. There is so much out there, it's hard to pare it down. Any recommendations, (unfortunately we're not going to make it to England or Wales this time, as we want to absorb a few areas instead of a whirlwind tour) our plans aren't final but we will be in Glasgow, the Highlands, Edinborough, Dublin area, Belfast, SW Ireland. Not interested in heavy tourist areas, but places that people hold dear. If you asked me what to see out here I wouldn't send you to Banff, probably the Bugaboos. Thanks for any help in this.

We're also budget travellers and are looking for people who would offer us their hospitality, a place to crash (a floor is just fine), and some good conversation is all we're looking for. We're both down to earth, young and have a love for food, nature and music (I'm a big Cope fan). We are registered at globalfreeloaders.com, and have found some places, but I think this trip (my first time overseas) will be even better if I can meet lots of great people along the road. Thanks again. Our email is: [email protected].

Welcome!

Plenty of slack - LOL!!!

As I'm in England I'll hold back on suggestions of places to visit & see what the 'locals' say about Scotland. If nobody's 'forthcoming' I'll chuck a few atcha.

Don't know Irish sites at all well, though I've been to a few in the SW. But I'll be gobsmacked if you don't hear summat from FourWinds about Ireland!!!!

love

Moth

In Scotland, Kilmartin Valley in Argyll is rammed with standing stones, cairns, chambered tombs and rock art. 'Tis the home of Temple Wood circle, the Great X, Achnabreck and Ormaig rock art panels, Dunadd and near by is Kintraw standing stone.... a week minimum is needed here to see everything...

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/433

Clava Cairns is worth a visit too... a little touristy but if you're luck enough to get the place to yourself (nearby Culloden Battlefield tends to draw most of the tourists), it's lovely...

Glen Elg Brocks are nice and usually pretty quiet... the route over Bealach Mam Rattagan is stunning with a view over the Five Sisters of Kintail.

If you get the chance to push north, the area around Durness is worth a visit... very primeaval and wild with Golden Eagles, white beaches and turquoise seas... lovely!

The west coast has great scenery, but it's the east side that has the majority of the megalithic stuff.

Clava is definitely worth seeing - sometimes it's busy, sometimes it's quiet. if you hang around for a while, you'll probably get a bit of time to yourself:

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/387

as for my own backyard, in Perthshire I'd say you definitely need to see these:

Fortingall
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/173
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/4149
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/4239

Croftmoraig
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/171

Clachan an Diridh
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/288

and for the views more than the stones themselves:

Acharn
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/172

Fowlis Wester
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/777

Clach na Tiompan
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/3789

and finally, the Dane's Stone:
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/2055

this last one isn't particularly interesting, but it is just round the corner from the fantastic Moulin Inn! you should give us a shout when you come over, as I'm sure a few of the Scottish Megaraks will grace you with their presence

Cheers
Andy