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TemplewoodStone Circle
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Can't really add anything much to fieldnotes as everybody has said what I would say. On reaching here though, my first thought was much closer to home, the Loanhead of Daviot Recumbent Stone Circle. Just like the circle here it has an ancient burial place next door. Equally beautiful scenery as well. Visited 04/04/2023. |
Posted by drewbhoy5th July 2023ce |
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Visited Sunday 21st April 2017. This was a surprising site, not at all what I was expecting - we walked from the Nether Largie Standing Stones in the rain. Access very easy as everywhere is signposted. The bluebells were still out under the trees which, together with the relatively small size of the stones, gave the site an enchanted atmosphere. I don't think I have done this site justice as at first sight it is unspectacular compared to other stone circles. Strictly speaking this was definitely an ancient burial site which is something we are not able to say about other larger stone circles. As with all the other sites around Kilmartin there was an excellent interpretation/information board which really helped in the understanding of the site. I have reproduced the information below: Templewood started as a timber circle about 5,000 years ago. The wooden uprights were soon replaced with stones while a second larger stone circle was built to the south. Between 4,300 and 4,100 years ago, two cairn covered stone graves or ‘cists’ were built outside the southern circle. Then about 4,000 years ago the northern circle’s stones were pulled from the earth and possibly re-used in nearby burials. A cist was built in the middle of the southern circle, slabs were placed between its standing stones and it was surrounded by a low cairn of cobbles. Cremated remains were buried inside the southern circle about 3,300 years ago. Into the heavens: The two cairns built inside the southern circle about 3,300 years ago have small stone ‘false portals’ at right angles to their kerbs. Both these fake entrances face south-east towards the midwinter moonrise. The ‘Archer’s Ghost’: Traces of those buried at Templewood emerged during excavations led by Jack Scott in the 1970s. In one grave he found three flint arrowheads, a scraper and a decorated Beaker pot but no human remains. Analysis of phosphate levels in the grave revealed the position of a person whose body had decayed away. In another grave the tooth of a child aged between four and six was found. |
Posted by tjj7th June 2017ce |
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Visited 24.7.15 Next stop on my mini 'Grand Tour' was the famous Templewood complex. It was a lovely summer's evening and long shadows were begin cast over the stones. I was amazed that I was the only one here. I expected the (unusually) nice weather would have brought the tourists out? Clearly not, Although Templewood has been tidied up a lot it is still a great place to visit. Access is as easy as it gets and the information boards are very informative. I always find that sites which have trees around them to have that 'special feeling'. Templewood is no exception, particularly when you are lucky enough to have the place to yourself. |
Posted by CARL 1st August 2015ce |
| I really liked Templewood. Easy to access and a very pleasant setting amongst the trees. (Disabled car parking is available right next to the site). Even though there were plenty of people about everyone seemed to respect the site and quietly observed from the edges as opposed to climbing all over it as I have seen at other places. |
Posted by CARL 8th June 2010ce |
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August 2006 :- Had a good mooch about here on a number of occasions over the space of a week at Slockavullin. The top couple of houses of Slockavullin are the ones visible up the bank from the circle. Not far at all, offering the opportunity to easily visit at night. It has a much nicer atmosphere in the dark. Had the place to myself for hours. Must be careful on those loose cobbles in the nightime rain though. Much of the time there was spent pondering the possible connection between the spiral carvings here, and the whilpool/waterspout at the nearby Gulf of Corryvreckan. Supposedly, it's sometimes possible to hear the roaring of the whirlpool from around Kilmartin. I'm not convinced the double ring is totally artificial. It looks like 'enhanced natural' at best. Maybe it's one of these ones that needs the right light. August 2005 :- In terms of accessibility for wheelchairs/buggies, templewood is about as good as it gets. I was immensey chuffed to see it has it's own disabled parking bay, though it's also accessible via the car park for the Nether Largie stones (The great X), though this involves a substantially longer route, but then any route would be longer as the Templewood disabled bay couldn't really be any closer without being in the circle. Oh, and the spirals are nice too. |
Posted by Hob9th October 2005ce Edited 4th September 2006ce |
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J C is right, this site and those in the immeadiate vacinity have a slightly sanitised feel about them with neatly manicured lawn and colourful signposts. (Not a complaint - merely an observation - if all ancient sites were protected and displayed as well as those in the Kilmartin area we'd have no worries). Between brilliant shafts of light and ruinous downpours, the overwelming feeling in the valley is one of place - the surrounding hillscape being as important as the megaliths themselves. No place for Dogs, though (because of the sheep). My famous menhir mongrel, Denis the Rottweiller had to stay in the carpark on the far side of the Great X as we visited Templewood and the Barrows. He was really looking forward to taking a pee on another neolithic construction. |
Posted by stubbo 3rd October 2005ce |
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The road seems to seperate this place from the rest of the Kilmartin sites - and all the little stones in the middle seem to seperate it from the usual stone circle thing. I should have been paying more attention I suspect, because in retrospect, this is one of the most unusual sites I've been to. |
Posted by winterjc 9th December 2001ce |
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Sadly much of the Kilmartin area has foot and mouth restrictions in place. The path across the fields from the car park past the great X is closed and initially I thought we'd not be able to visit the circles, but followed the road round to gain access. The bluebells were in flower round the edge of the site, the sun came out and it felt so peaceful. The rocks at Achnabreck are open as they are in forestry land, but almost everything else could only be viewed from the road. Still a spectacular area and I will definitely be back. |
Posted by sals22nd May 2001ce |
| Two circles here, one older and destroyed, the other built upon with burials. The cist in the centre of the newer, larger circle seems to line up NE to the older one. As I've mentioned in my entry on Nether Largie Cemetry, I reckon there's a strong North-Death association informing the monuments here - but so often the alignment is NE or NNE. Reasons why? The NNE-SSW alignment of the glen itself? |
Posted by gyrus 27th August 2000ce |
Links |
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TemplewoodPhotograph from, The Mystery of Scotland's Earliest Sculptures Ronald W B Morris 1975 |
Posted by rockartwolf4th February 2007ce Edited 4th February 2007ce |
Temple Wood on BRAC |
Posted by rockartuk6th October 2005ce |
Megalithic Walks |
Posted by winterjc 11th June 2002ce |
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