Carnasserie

Also known as:
Carnassarie
Nearest town:
Lochgilphead (13km SSE)
OS reference:
NM834008
OS sheet:
55
Latitude:
56° 9' 1.86 N
Longitude:
5° 29' 15.6 W
Added to TMA by

Sites within Carnasserie

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Images

Image of Carnasserie (Stone Row / Alignment) by Emma A

We came to these on the way back to Carnasserie Castle car park from Ormaig. They look really close together from that angle, until you get up to them and then realise that they are a couple of metres apart.

Image credit: Emma Alsop
Emma A
Emma A Jul 1, 2012
Image of Carnasserie (Stone Row / Alignment) by IronMan

A view from the cairn to the standing stones – high on the horizon is the massive cairn called ‘Carn Bàn’ (indicated with an arrow).

IronMan
IronMan Oct 24, 2002
Image of Carnasserie (Stone Row / Alignment) by IronMan

The Carnasserie standing stones and cairn as seen from the top of the Carnasserie castle tower.

IronMan
IronMan Oct 24, 2002

Articles

Carnasserie

drewbhoy
drewbhoy Jul 20, 2024

The standing stones at Carnasserie still stand although the most southern stone stands at a reasonably jaunty angle.

From the castle head west, I was heading towards the cairn, next year I’ll head towards Ormaig and as well as visit the rock art, try to find a couple of lesser known cairns.

Visited 09/04/2024.

Carnasserie

tjj
tjj May 30, 2017

Visited 25/5/17. This is a lovely spot – or was the warm sunny day we visited on the way back from the Ormaig rock carving panels. These two standing stones were not really visible on our outward walk to Ormaig – perhaps they were but as we weren’t looking for them we didn’t see them until our return walk. Walking back from Ormaig they are clearly visible from a distance and stand just below a cairn on the crest of the hill. They also appear to be visually aligned with the cairn on the opposite hilltop (I think called Cairn Baan though not near the village of Cairn Baan).

Great views towards Carnasserie Castle and Kilmartin village – and whatever the reason for these hillside standing stones they would of acted as an marker for any ancient travellers making their way from the coast to Kilmartin.

Carnasserie

Hob
Hob Jan 19, 2007

We visited these two as part of an abortive attempt to see if we could get to Ormaigwith the kids in tow. Didn’t get to Ormaig, but it was still worth the walk, goodly sized, stately stones, and a nice view.

From the look of things, it could be a bit of a faff to get here from the castle car park. The ‘pasture’ field that you have to cross is no longer pasture, and I couldn’t see a gate anywhere. The path that leads up from the south was no bother at all.

Visited August 2006

Carnasserie

IronMan
IronMan Apr 1, 2003

Very late addition here (it’s about six months since my visit), and I don’t know why I haven’t posted notes yet... here goes then:

The path leading to these stones can be found by following the sign posts up to Carnasserie castle. While here it’s a good idea to take a look around the castle – the reason being, it’s possible to see the stones from the SW tower, and it’ll make the journey much easier than plodding round the fields aimlessly!

When I visited it was raining, not very hard, but enough so I had my hood up. As I explained above, I worked out the direction to these stones by looking from the castle tower. The castle was very atmospheric, and in the rain it’s open roof led an eerie atmosphere to the place. Excited by the sight of these two stones, I span round quickly, ready to jog back down the wet spiral staircase steps. A lintel, unseen due to the peak on my hood, blocked the way. Crack! I smashed my head on it and tumbled down a few steps. I landed with a thud and a very sore head. A bit dazed, I shakily proceeded down the steps. Now this castle is in the middle of nowhere really, and I began wondering if I’d been knocked out, or anything more serious had happened, who’d have found me? Once I reached the bottom I sat down, stars spinning before my eyes, rubbing the nasty lump which had by now appeared on my head.

I soon decided to carry on regardless and made my way to the stones – they were wonderful and I soon stopped feeling sorry for myself as I became acquainted with this pair of fine standing stones. Anyone visiting the Kilmartin valley would do well to track these down – it’s roughly a 3/4 hour round trip on foot from the car park, just off the main Kilmartin valley road. Carnasserie cairn lies just above the stones, and as a wise Welsh farmer once advised, it’s best to follow your nose to find it. Once you do, and if it’s clear, you’ll be blessed with a stunning view down the valley to the Nether Largie cairns. This cairn is almost in the same line as these, and if you look behind you you’ll see the huge cairn Càrn Bàn on the horizon.

I’d definitely recommend this site, just watch for stray lintels would be my only advice.

Sites within 20km of Carnasserie

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