Glecknabae

Also known as:
Craigenew
Nearest town:
Rothesay (8km ESE)
OS reference:
NS007682
OS sheet:
63
Latitude:
55° 51' 56.11 N
Longitude:
5° 11' 7.56 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Glecknabae (Chambered Cairn) by thelonious

07/06/2018 – Glecknabae Chambered Cairn. I liked this one. Good views on a sunny day as well.

thelonious
thelonious Jun 17, 2018
Image of Glecknabae (Chambered Cairn) by GLADMAN

Very impressed with this monument.... great siting with tangible chamber work...plus a great cist still in situ.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN May 31, 2016
Image of Glecknabae (Chambered Cairn) by GLADMAN

Remains of the chamber.... however there is a special bonus in the form of a cist, right.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN May 31, 2016
Image of Glecknabae (Chambered Cairn) by GLADMAN

And to think this is not even the best sited monument upon this little corner of Bute.... that accolade having to go to the magnificent Glenvoidean. Arran sits moodily upon the horizon

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN May 31, 2016
Image of Glecknabae (Chambered Cairn) by greywether

General view over the site from the W. Arran is in the background, right.

The site comprises two chambers in the N and E with a cist added later in the W. The cairn has been reduced on the S side and was probably originally 17m diameter.

greywether
greywether Mar 9, 2004
Image of Glecknabae (Chambered Cairn) by greywether

W side of cairn.

A later cist can be seen in the foreground.

Above it are the remains of the N chamber but it is difficult to reconcile with the published plans. Some of the stones viewed face on could be side stones of the chamber but there are too many of them.

greywether
greywether Mar 9, 2004
Image of Glecknabae (Chambered Cairn) by greywether

Detail of the cist with capstone inserted in the W of the cairn.

greywether
greywether Mar 9, 2004
Image of Glecknabae (Chambered Cairn) by greywether

This is where the E chamber should be.

It had twin portal stones, the southerly of the pair probably being the upright and fallen stone just off centre in the foreground.

greywether
greywether Mar 9, 2004

Articles

Glecknabae

C
CARL Aug 2, 2016
comment 2 comments

Visited 1.8.16

Directions:
From the delightful Ettrick Bay take the minor road north along the shore. Just before you reach the parking area (where the road narrows) you will see a metal field gate on your right. The chambered cairn is visible from this gate – 2 minute walk away.

It appears I an following in the footsteps of Mr G with these reports. I am sure there are worse people to follow!

I have to disagree with Greywether about this site. I think it is well worth visiting, even if you don’t get chance to visit the other sites in the area (like me!).
The surviving cist, in situ, with capstone, makes the trip worthwhile in itself. Once you factor in the superb coastal views over to the mountains of Arran it becomes an obvious place to seek out.

After spending a glorious day on the beach in the warm sunshine (a rarity no doubt) it was a great way to end the day. My last site on Bute before heading back to the mainland. Bute is an easy island to visit and small enough that you could see all the main sites in a day if you so wished. We had two nights which seemed just about right. I also managed to knock another 3 Historic Scotland sites off the list for good measure! :)

comment 2 Comments

Glecknabae

greywether
greywether Mar 9, 2004

For access, see Glenvoidean.

This cairn would not really be worth making a special trip for but worth seeing as one of the four in the area.

It’s a Clyde cairn in its less common round form but it has been so damaged that very little of the features can be seen.

See photo captions for more details.

Visited 7 March 2004

Sites within 20km of Glecknabae

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