Cnocan Nan Cobhar

Nearest town:
Kyle of Lochalsh (23km ENE)
OS reference:
NG55261734
OS sheet:
32
Latitude:
57° 10' 53.19 N
Longitude:
6° 3' 1.06 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Cnocan Nan Cobhar (Long Cairn) by GLADMAN

There is a clear orthostat toward the southern ‘end’ of the monument....

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jun 7, 2015
Image of Cnocan Nan Cobhar (Long Cairn) by GLADMAN

Cnocan Nan Cobhar conceals a surprise that is not evident during casual study.... a well preserved chamber.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jun 7, 2015
Image of Cnocan Nan Cobhar (Long Cairn) by GLADMAN

It seems that opinion is divided as to whether this is a long cairn? OK, it not the longest... but if it represents the remains of a monument with circular (ish) footprint it must have been a true monster cairn.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jun 7, 2015
Image of Cnocan Nan Cobhar (Long Cairn) by GLADMAN

The setting, particularly with late May’s luxuriant carpet of blue bells, is idyllic to say the least. Difficult to photograph, though.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jun 7, 2015
Image of Cnocan Nan Cobhar (Long Cairn) by LesHamilton

Cnocan Nan Cobhar viewed from the footbridge over the Abhainn Cille Mhaire at NG552174.

Image credit: Les Hamilton
LesHamilton
LesHamilton Sep 7, 2013

Articles

Cnocan Nan Cobhar

LesHamilton
LesHamilton Sep 7, 2013

Visited: September 6, 2013

Canmore refers to this as Cnocan Nan Cobhar, though it’s often termed ‘Cnocan na Gobhar’, a truly massive Long Cairn in the woodlands southeast of Kilmarie on Skye.

Indeed, the cairn is so massive that I at first missed it, walking past it thinking it was just the steep riverbank. It’s the size of a house, but so heavily overgrown with rank vegetation, shrubs and bracken that it just blends into its surroundings. The giveaway is its summit, which reveals a number of boulders amongst the bracken.

This cairn can be difficult to find—I took two attempts. My starting point was the forestry gate at NG552177 on the road just northeast of Kilmarie. There is room to park and a kissing gate for access. After about 150 metres there is another gate to pass, then the path soon dips to a low point where it crosses a rushing stream, before climbing again.

Some 10-15 metres past this low point, on the right, a footpath heads due south towards the footbridge over the Kilmarie river (a ‘No Camping – No Fires’ notice conveniently marks the spot). Follow this path all the way to the bridge and turn left, where a footpath follows the riverbank towards the sea. Cnocan Nan Cobhar, which rises from the riverbank, is now in view, on your left, about 20 metres downstream.

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