After heading downhill and north west from Dun Chibbich I found progress impossible – the way being blocked by head high vegetation and bogs. Heading back up to Dun Chibbich and took a couple of photographs.
Later on I discovered there is a path that lead leads in from the north of Mill Loch, maybe next time.
Attempted to visit 06/08/2025.
After heading west just south of Drumyeonbeg and Gigha’s golf course through fields with a few fence junps I headed north to approach the lower slopes leading to Dun Chibhich, one of Gigha’s most famous sites. Certainly one of its highest as well.
The entrance is in the south being at least 1.5m in width. Massive outer defences still exist reasonably intact along with an inner wall which still stands at 1m high and in parts is over 3m wide. Bits missed by the residents, back then, were compensated by nature – it did a good job by providing natural defence.
Just outside the entance there is a sunken area also known as the “Giant’s Grave”. It is more likely to be a ‘sunken court’ as described by Trove.
The location is stunning with views to Jura, Islay and Kintyre. Also, slightly to the north but almost impossible to reach, the crannog in Mill Loch.
In a rare outbreak of common sense towards our prehistoric sites the powers that be have scheduled the area to be 70m in diameter. The site itself covers an area 37m by 25m.
Visited 06/08/2025.
Walk the short distance north from the standing stone at Carragh an Tarbert, keeping an eye west of the road you’ll see two cairns, 1 large and 1 slightly smaller. Despite being covered in vegetation they are recognisable as cairns.
NR65596 52426 is the larger of the two cairns being over 10m in width and approximately 1.5m tall.
NR6557952432, the smaller cairn is slightly over 7m in width and over 1m in height.
A very rural looking setting.
Visited 06/08/2025.
Situated right next to the road on the way to the north of the island from Ardminish. Tarbert in Gaelic means a narrow piece of land seperating two bodies of water. In ancient and later times a place to get various types of boat from one side to the other. Tarberts in Kintyre, Jura and Harris plus plenty of others are examples of this. In Jura two standing stones mark the narrowest park of the island likewise in Gigha the odd shaped stone marks its narrowest point.
Also known as the Giant’s Stone it maybe is apt that the stone looks like a hand. Legend has it that the giant pulled out a tooth, flung it away and it landed here.
Fortunately no teeth flying around today – just an excellent and peaceful view.
Visited 06/08/2025.
With legs already sore from a brave but untimately failed attempt on Achamhinish, I decided they hadn’t been punished enough and attempted to climb Dunan Buidhe, slightly to the north.
It was equally bad for climbing, more of the jabby stuff, more head high vegetation, a small swamp which I fell into and a fallen barbed wire fence which for a change didn’t cause any damage.
Slightly bigger than its neighbour it measures at almost 14m by 6m. being surrounded by walls almost 4m wide. The probable entrance being on the north east. Sadly, for me, I reached the bottom of the wall but could find no way through. I tried from the other side but once again no way through.
Best visited, along with its neighbour, on a nice winter’s day.
Visited or almost visited 04/08/2025.
A nightmare to try and reach. I tried several times and could find no way up through small trees, head high weeds and a bountiful mix of what I call ‘jabby stuff’.
Trove describes the site as being 12m by 6m with the entrance being on the North East. Walls have also been built but they are impossible to see let alone reach.
A hike for a nice winter’s day.
Visited or almost visited 04/08/2025.
Just to the south of houses, south of Ardminish on the west side of the road their is a track and if you follow Trove’s grid ref you’ll end up in a small wood and a bog. I walked straight into the moss covered bog.
With no luck in the wood I headed back to the track and discovered a large rock next to the aforementioned track. As described in Trove it has 15 very shallow cup marks.
Visited 05/08/2025.
After a good look at some mounds near the Kinerach cist I followed the grassy track heading north east towards the much disturbed but reasonably well known Carn Ban.
Sadly towards the end of the 18th century much of the cairn material was removed to make nearby walls, houses and possibly some met a stone grinder which enabled roads to be constructed.
What remains is a cairn nearly 18m wide, I spied at least 5 cists and there could well be more – difficult to locate because of all of the ferns, bracken, gorse – basically the ‘jabby stuff’. It is a pity, a good clean-up might reveal a lot more.
Photos from the ‘Antiquities Of Gigha’ show the much robbed site, some cists and a stone that once stood – it maybe still does.
Could be impressive!
Visited 04/08/2025.
On retracing my steps downhill from the cairn at Cnoc Nan Gobhar, I headed east towards Carn Ban hoping to find a cist or two along the way. I’d spied a few fern covered mounds from the top of Gobhar, slightly to the north of the path.
Luck and more curiosity (after searching several of these fern covered hillocks) was on my side and I found a cist situated at NR6634553636. The top covering stone measures at over 1.5m in length, two side slabs hold it up or stop it from being pushed over, the end slabs can also be seen. Seems weird that this might have been dislodged by agricultural purposes. However, it has done better than another nearby cist – it has vanished altogether.
It wouldn’t be the biggest surprise to learn if there are any more sites are hidden beneath the vegetation. A job for another day.
Visited 04/08/2025.
Now apparently this sizeable kerb cairn doesn’t appear to be listed and I stumbled upon it quite by accident and curiosity. Wanting to see Jura/Islay and various forts/duns on the mainland, to the east, I climbed the Cnoc Nan Gobhar – hill of goats, same as the nearby standing stone. Cross the road, there is a gate/path and up the hill slightly to the north. Reasonably easy climb. I was also hoping to spy the Kinerach cist to the east. I didn’t but I did spy several fern covered mounds, one of which housed the well hidden cist.
The cairn is at least 10m wide, over 1m tall, most of the kerbs have remained in place and a lot of cairn material remains in place possibly covering a small chamber or cist.
A decent cairn, situated fairly close to two of the island’s better known cairns.
04/08/2025.
Slightly to the north of the natural causeway to Eilean Garbh, popular with canoeists and campers, sits or has been re-seated is the standing stone ‘Cnoc Nan Gobhar’ – hill of goats. It stands a slightly over 1m tall, being much the same height as its near neighbour – a fence post.
The stone has been moved a few times apparently but luckily has been re-erected, a nearby hill with the same name has a cairn on its summit.
There are possible Ogham markings on the stone’s south side. Standing stones near the road seem popular on Gigha, I’d see a couple more later in the week.
Visited 04/08/2025.
After clambering back down from North Druimachro I followed the track past the entrance to farm of the same name, veered north east and left the track just before Gallochoille Cottage to head towards the coast. The dun is short distance south and has to be one of the most scenic places I’ve visited.
It was humid, thundery clouds and a calm sea all added to the atmosphere. No drenching for me as the rain headed east. Remnants of wall survive to the west, a gap of about 1m indicating the entrance. Bits of wall survive on the north, to the east the wall has been washed away, a few stones can be seen lying on the shore.
Measuring 17m by 12m, it is a bit of a ‘what was’ site, Gigha seems to be that kind of place as regards history.
Beautiful place!
Visited 03/08/2025.
After coming back down the track, east, from St Cathans / Kilchattan look into the field in front. The very large mound is a dun.
Simply jump the gate, ignore the cows and make for the bottom of the mound. I smashed, tramped and dived my way through the brambles on the south east to the centre of the site. Luckily for me, I only took this route as the vegetation seemed lower – it was lower as I’d chanced upon the entrance. Any other way up, to me, seemed impossible.
However, some of the stonework can still be seen on the north and north east especially. These walls keep going around the site which is 13.5m by 9m.
A worthwhile site to visit.
Visited 03/08/2025.
Head south out of Ardminish, take the road to Achamore Gardens, look north west over the graveyard and up as you come to the car park, the stone will be seen poking its head above the various vegetation. Included amongst the vegetation are brambles, they grow in abundance on Gigha.
Probably not in its original position it still has good views and also made for another easy site to visit.
Visited 03/08/2025.
The first site visited during our stay in Gigha. Situated in the village of Ardminish follow the road up from the pier and look north just before the T junction, almost opposite the primary school, and you’ll see a field with a small mound.
Built on top of natural rock the capstone stone is still in place, the side stones are either broken or have collapsed. Luckily a flint knife found at the site can now be seen at the Glasgow Art School and Museum.
A nice easy start.
Visited 03/08/2025.
Barlea Standing Stone would be the last site of a long walking day. It was very kind of the archaeologists to re-erect the stone in 2015, obviously expecting a visit from one of the TMA’ers.
From the remnants at Glencreggan I headed back down to the A83 to continue walking south until the track to Barlea fram. Keep going past the farm until a walkers track which heads north west, downhill and straight to the stone.
It stands at nearly 2m tall being 1.2m wide. Looking north west the south of Gigha can be seen, looking east the Kintyre ridge with its many monuments.
Sadly for me I didn’t know about the nearby cairn or I would have had a look for that as well.
A nice way to end the day. Next stop, the island of Gigha.
Visited 01/08/2025.
It was time to head back along the treacherous cliff at Dun Ach’ Na H-Atha to more surer footing on the farm track to head to the A83 to walk another mile south to Glencreggan.
Head towards Glencreggan House, once the North Lodge is reached head south west into woods. A short walk on long grass will lead to much ruined dun, it has been well robbed. What remains are the bottom stones of the walls, best preserved in the south west – they mark the site’s entrance, almost 1m wide with the wall being almost 3m in width. Traces of wall in other areas can be traced by using the height of the grass which also helps by putting the dun at 26m by 15m.
There’s something good about visiting sites in trees (when the trees haven’t fallen), certainly adds to the aura of the place.
Visited 01/08/2025.
Heavy vegetation hadn’t played a part in any of the day’s visits to prehistoric sites, Dun Ach’ Na H-Atha made up for all of them.
From the farm walk back towards the main road until the farm track widens, this appears to be an old quarry used for keeping machinery. Head north towards the fence and follow carefully, on the west side, until the vegetation widens. When you reach here be careful not to trip over hidden stonework like I did – it does mean that the dun has been reached. However, this isn’t a very easy walk, during my visit several bulls watched my every move from the field to the east, and a couple of feet to the west it is a sheer drop to the bottom. To make matters worse stones from a fallen dyke are trip hazards.
After picking myself up and I tramped a few bits of vegetation down to reveal a few stones. Probably the best time to visit would be during the winter months. The link from Trove shows some decent black and white photographs of walling.
The dun would have been oval shaped being 15m by 13m with the wall being 1.1m at its highest point.
The OS have a remnants of a cairn situated nearby but I didn’t find anything, once again a winter visit might reveal what the ferns were hiding.
Visited 01/08/2025.
At Dun Domhnuill I remembered that I’d left my car and lunch at Killean Church so back I went heading north on the A83. After being reunited with the car I headed south and ended up at South Muasdale Farm. The farmer allowed me to park my car at farm and I continued on the second half of the day’s walking.
The stone is only a short, easy walk north from the farm and can be clearly seen. On a clear day the north of Ireland, Islay and Jura would also be seen, sadly for me the bright skies of the morning had been covered by cloud.
However, it only made the 3m high stone look more dramatic especially with a very flat looking Atlantic providing the western backdrop. On either side of the stone runs a dry stane dyke, a common feature at standing stones in this area.
Fantastic stone, fantastic setting.
Visaited 01/08/2025.
Heading south from Red Cove (on the A83) Dun Domhnuill is similar to Red Cove as it is situated a few metres east of the main road.
Red Cove has suffered some erosion, Dun Domhuill has suffered a lot of erosion. Much of the walls have tumbled down the 12m high rock, most of the entrance has gone, what remains is on the west side of the grass covered summit measuring 15m by 7.5m. The best remains of the wall can be found on the site’s north side.
Visited 01/08/2025.
From Beacharr I made my way back down the hill to walk 500m, approximately, south on the A83. Red Cove is hard to miss as it situated a few metres to the east of the road and is easily spotted thanks to dun being built on top of an almost 5m high block of red sand stone. Being easily carved, the rock is covered in carvings some very recent.
The entrance of the dun is on the north east, with a grass covered wall encircling the rest of the site. Apart the entrance, the dun is surrounded by the steepness of the red sand stone block.
Good views looking north west towards Gigha as well as views looking north and south to various prehistoric monuments.
Visited 01/08/2025
To the north of Dun Beachaire is the standing stone and chamber cairn, an easy walk of about 200m.
The standing stone is magnificent with glorious views over to Gigha and in the distance, Islay. Sadly the cairn isn’t quite so magnificent and has taken a bit of a battering. Originally the chamber was 6.25m in length and had four sections. That along with kerbing and the stones that make up a cairn are no longer in place. They, probably, are nearby placed in the various dry stane dykes.
Visited 01/08/2025.
Parking near the church at Killean, I walked south on the A83 to climb the reasonably steep hill to Dun Beachaire just after Craigruadh.
Most duns are circular, this one is rectangular and steeped with folklore ranging from King Arthur to bees. None were present during my visit. Looking north-west the island of Gigha can be seen, I’d reach there a couple of days later.
The dun is surrounded by the remains of a wall – 17.5m by 13.5. In some places the wall reaches 3m in width. Sadly the wall going through the middle of the site is probably made from stones from this dun and quite a few others. The entrance is on the south east, as seen in the south east photograph, possible lintels are also in the photo.
A great start to the day – the nearby standing stone and chamber cairn next.
Visited 01/08/2025.
After another attempt had been made on Corr Eilean’s cairn, the wind once again providing problems for anchoring, Captain Allen and Vice Admiral Drew decided to head north east back up Loch Sween. Plenty of sites to be seen on both the ridges and shorelines of the loch. Either side has a lot of duns, forts and cairns.
Our landing point would be Rubha Cladh Eoin, bird’s cemetery peninsula. The fort is situated at the southern end of the small peninsula and can almost be seen from Tayvallich.
Luckily the loch isn’t very deep at Port Lunna and wellington boots did rest. These peacful invaders made their way to fort’s north east section to find the entrance which almost crosses the peninsula. Either side of entrance provides the best remains, walls still exist being almost 2.5m tall and in some parts almost 1m high. Nature provided the rest of the defences for this well placed, at the time, fort. Inside the fort has green patches of grass as well as dead foliage, any possible hut circles yet bto be found.
After a good look and splash around it was back to sailing duties and the short trip back to Tayvallich.
Visited 10/04/2025.
From Ford’s standing stone walk back down onto the road, B840, and head north east into the village. If heading you are east take the left road just after the, now sadly closed, hotel. Follow the road until the tar finishes – the cairn will be in front of you if you look east.
The cairn has seen a bit of damage on the north side. Also the cairn’s central area has been ‘houked’ leading to the probable removal or destruction of the cist. If you tap the covering grass and dried stuff on the edge of the cairn you’ll also tap some survivng kerbs which keep a lot of the remaining small stones in place.
I can’t see Ford expanding size in any time soon so my old friend should be secure for some time yet. Fingers crossed!
Back to the car for the final stop of a lovely day.
Visited 09/04/2025.
Directions are as have been previously reported except I pulled the car into gate entrance of the field.
A wonderful stone situated in a wonderful location, and if true an appropriate place for an ‘ancient grave’. The stone still stands at 3m in height. Nearby a the possible rtemnants of a cairn but more likely to be field clearance.
Time to leave the car and walk to the cairn in the nearby village.
Visited 09/04/2025.
Aird Dun is very high on my list of favourite sites visited, it is certainly one of the most scenic. How it survives almost seems miraculous as it looks ready to fall down. Luckily if didn’t fall down during my visit and will be probably in the same place for centuries to come.
From the cist at Port Nan Athlaich walk almost a mile in an east south easterly direction. The walk is reasonably good going, on a sunny day, but has a fairly steep climb in the middle. On the top of the ridge you can see the dun, the only high ground on the coast line.
To enter the dun climb up a rocky path on the north west, some stones appear to be steps. The wall on the south west has fallen over the cliff, on the south east a well built 3 metre section survives. This and the rest of the ruined wall would have surrounded the 20m by 8m site.
Stunning views over Loch Craignish over to Ormaig. Some places of interest over there as well.
Visited 09/04/2025.
It is hard to believe that this site was vandalised in 1963. There is no mention of the capstone being broken at that time, sadly it is broken now.
There is a car park at the end of the B9002, look for a wee grassy mound to the south, the cist is situated on top. Local greenkeepers (sheep) have ensured the grass has been kept short.
Flooring on the cist floor remains covering a space of 0.86m long, 0.48m wide and is 0.46m deep. The captone is slightly larger and is 7cm thick.
A beautiful location, good views of Jura.
Visited 09/04/2025.
Not much to add to the other excellent fieldnotes, I walked back from Beinn An Duin to the chamber cairn. The recent and not so recent storms have caused a lot of forestry damage which luckily/unluckily have improvied lines of vision. From Clach an t-Sagairt I could to see over to Ormaig, home to the famous rock art. I wondered if at some time the rock art and various nearby prehistoric sites might be connected.
After standing and looking for quite some time I headed back to where the car was parked to head south west and the end of the B8002.
Visited 09/04/2025.
After reaching Ardfern on the B9002, I took the first minor road heading north west (near the shop) and followed it to a modern settlement. (I think). Parking there I looked south, the dun a short and fairly easy climb to the south.
Superb scenes at the top which is surrounded by much robbed, fallen walls, which in some parts are almost 4m wide. On the south east section there is a possible double wall. These walls enclose an area of 25m by 14m with the most likely entrance being on the south west.
Next a nearby chamber cairn.
Visited 09/04/2025.
The visit to Kintraw ended with a surprise inclusion – a large cairn.
The cairn is almost 20 metres wide with the builders of nearby walls and sheepfolds robbing most of the stones. Some kerbs must have been to heavy as they remain in place on the sites north side. In the north west section the site’s height must be over 1.5m.
Easy to miss but easy to find at the same time. Looking west I could see Ardfern along with its marina of various boats.
Visited 09/04/2025.
On my way over to Ardfern I stopped at the various sites at Kintraw, a spectacular site with spectacular scenery especially over to the various sites around Ardfern.
Not much to add except that I spied the large cairn situated reasonably close. However, another visit required as I missed a nearby dun and cairn hiding in the woods to the east.
Next a short walk to the neighbouring large cairn.
Visited 09/04/2025.
My second visit to Ormaig was a lot drier than my first in 2002, it lashed rain, thunder and lightning, flooding so the visit was very short. In 2025 it was much different, less trees and the paths were in decent order, also a lot of sunshine. Take the forestry commission tracks, as some older tracks, on the east side of Eas Mor are now regarded unsafe.
A & B also enjoyed the walk, and like myself amazed at the amount of rock art. On second thoughts, B being a dog might not have been amazed. One thing I noted was that I could see over Loch Craignish, sea loch, to Ardfern, home to several prehistoric momuments especially to a chamber cairn. I wondered if the sites were related in any way.
Visited 09/04/2025.
Dun Mor at Dunamuck should have been the first stop after the ruined chamber cairn and the rarely mentioned smaller cairn. Spying the dun from the cairns I headed up track intending to head clockwise from the dun via various fallen and standing stones to end up back at the chamber cairn. A track led to the dun at the Dunamuck farm gate, I thought this would be easy.
Instead I was met by an angry farmer who dished out dog’s abuse for no reason, claiming people did tremendous damage. He pointed back to near the chamber cairn shouting that there were signposts indicating directions to the stones and eventually the dun. I also gave him directions as well.
Back to the chamber cairn, no signpost indicating the way but I knew the various monuments positions and reached Dunamuck North, from there I headed south west towards the dun. The pleasant sun drying out my soaked and muddied legs after landing in a ditch.
It is an impressive location for the dun, good all round views, a lot of the south end Kilmartin monuments can be seen.
I climbed up from the east and entered the site on the north side. Remnants of a once massive wall have been reduced to a 4.5m wide turf covered mound. Some stones poke through giving an idea of the dun’s oval shape which is 19.5m north to south being almost 17m wide.
A tremendous day wandering about the various monuments. On the way back to the A816 I headed back to the chamber cairn without further incident.
Visited 08/04/2025.
Looks like I’m the first person to visit the site, from TMA, since 2009. Back then 2 out of 3 still stood, sadly it is now 1 standing 2 fallen. Like a few of the nearby sites, gentle restoration comes to mind.
From the confusingly named Dunamuck South standing stones I headed north, only to be confronted by a burn/ditch, taking a run and jump I mis-judged the distance (or the takeoff point was ill judged) and promptly landed in the middle.
Being a nice sunny day I was soon covered in dried mud, perfect for the walk to the dun, a source of another weird story from much earlier in the day.
Visited 08/04/2025.
From the two fallen standing stones I headed north towards the impressive standing stones at the strangely named Dunamuck South, they aren’t the furthest south but the grid ref is right so who cares. If coming from the south look north into valley below, look further north another stone can be seen.
The furthest north stone is 2.75 metres tall, the southern pointy topped stone is 4 metres tall.
Close by the River Add can be heard, I’d soon find a wee burn that runs into it.
Visited 08/04/2025.
The two fallen stones are the most southerly of the three groups of stones at Dunamuck, just a slight distance south west from the nearby cairn.
At just over 3 metres high, 1.4 broad and 0.4 wide the west stone is the smaller of the two stones, the east stone measuring at 4m by 1.7m by 0.4m being the largest.
No details about the plastic bucket!
Time to move onto the next set of stones.
Visited 08/04/2025.
From Dunamuck Farm I headed back towards the chamber cairn, jumped the fence after spying the sign saying standing stones and headed north.
The grass has been well maintainned by the local greenkeepers (sheep) and this makes walking very easy. Easily spotted are the standing stones, but just before them there is a cairn.
It is almost 8 metres wide and at its highest 1 metre. I counted 9 kerbs poking through the turf. Sadly the centre has been hollowed out and to add insult field clearance has been dumped on top. Weird that Trove/Canmore haven’t mentioned this site as clear views of several monuments can be seen, including the very nearby standing stones.
Visited 08/04/2025.
After retracing my soggy steps back to the track from the cairn in the woods at Achnashelloch I heaed west towards the much damaged chamber cairn at Dunamuck.
At the first cottage jump the fence to the north and you should land on the edge of the cairn. A once massive cairn, being 33 metres wide and at its highest is 2 metres tall, it has been ploughed, missshapen, robbed and used as a dump for field clearance.
At some stage there might have been three possible cists or chambers at the site, one can definitely be seen, the other two are moved slabs probably damaged during robbing.
A bit of a ‘what if’ but still an impressive site.
The next intended site was the nearby dun/fort at Dunmamuck less than a half mile north west. Dunamuck Farm is next to the dun and I did the right thing by asking the farmer if I could walk past the barns and climb the wee hill behind. In language not to be repeated exactly, I was told to get back to the sign near the chamber cairn to head north to the standing / fallen stones etc.
It was a nice day so I decided, surprisingly, not to complain and headed on my way. We’d meet again later on............
Visited 08/04/2025.
Despite its proximity to the main road and the farm track that leads to Dunamuck Farm this site is a nightmare to reach. I’d parked at the car park to the north of the farm track and walked back down the A816, a reasonably brave thing to do, to reach the woods on the north side of the entrance to the farm.
Walk a short distance towards the farm then head north trying to find a way on to dryish parts of the bog. Also the trees are a bit of a problem, persevere and the site will gradually come into view amid the murk.
Underneath my feet I felt stonework of the probable cist near the cairn’s centre. Vegetation and fallen trees make any attempt at a decent look almost impossible. What remains is a well wrecked site that survives at about 16m wide and at its tallest just over 1m high. At one point in Kilmartin’s history this might have been an important site but sadly the tree plantation has covered most of the evidence.
Somehow, I made my way back to track without much damage to myself except for some rather soaked boots.
Visited 08/04/2025.
A very easy dun to find, simply follow the B841 until the corner that leads north to the former Crinan Moss ferry. Plenty room to park at the corner, the minor road continues to Crinan.
Blasting has happened here, what appears to be a cave isn’t, what appears to a small ravine almost leads straight to the site. Climb up this passage, at the top look look west.
Not much remains of the site with the once large walls scattered. However a gap in the walling reveals there was an entrance situated in the north of the 23m by 16m dun. Remnants of a possible hut circle can be seen in the sites interior.
Not many people come here but worth a look if in the area.
Visited 08/04/2025.
After getting back down the hill from the dun at Ardnackaig, head north west on the track which eventually leads to Crinan. When you reach a part where the track widens, the wide part being used for logs, look up and north east, impressive stonework can be seen perched on top of the hill.
Don’t think about climbing from here, head further north at you’ll find a path, part of the Crinin Trail, that leads straight, in a curvy way, to the dun. No difficult parts but at the end of a long hike quite tiring.
The first glimpse of the dun is as you come out of the trees to the site’s entrance. This is a stunning place with stunning views of Jura, southern parts of Islay along with Mull and a lot of Argyll.
Originally the entrance was 2 metres wide but that has been reduced to 1 metre thanks to the wall being extended. Alterations have also happened to the outer wall as can be seen by the ‘join work’ in the photos. Clearly two sets of stone masons have been used. The small room, described by some as a souterrain, has been part of a possible outlook tower. Other little recesses might have been cupboards / storage areas made possible by the east wall being strengthened.
After scrambling around the outside of the fort and almost tripping over two long stones, possible lintels, and a wee sit down it was time to head back down the hill to the track to head south back to Carsaig.
Visited 07/04/2025.
On a good day for a very long walk I headed back down Cruach A’ Bharra and then headed north back to the tarred road at Carsaig before heading past Carsaig House on a forestry road. Keep going, north, until you see the house at Ardnackaig (peninsula of the little bay), the first house you’ll see, then head north, then south west and uphill. All of this before reaching the house.
A bit of a bash through trees and long grass but worth the view in the end. The views west are of Jura and its famous landmarks. The view nearer to hand is the remnants of the dun. It is very similar to Cruach A’ Bharra except that it is oval shaped 16m by 14m. Trove says no entrance, I thought there might be a possible entrance on the north east.
Defences on three sides consist of walls, only on the east is there any real climb. On that steep slope I found a path down back to the road, then proceeded to head north.
Visited 07/04/2025.
Tayvallich to Carsaig is a short walk with superb views. At Carsaig’s picnic area head towards the Kilmory Knapp Cemetery and then go past the caravan site. Head south west and climb Cnoc an t-Samhlaidh (Summer Hill). This isn’t a hard climb and the grass is reasonably short. Follow the hill until, south west, it becomes a lot lower and then head west crossing the small valley.
A small easy climb is in front then head north east. This will lead straight to the site and it’s front door, there is possibly another entrance on the north-east. At this point steep slopes protect the dun on the east, west and north east. The walls are now turf covered protecting an area about 22m in diameter. At the far south west of this ridge there is a natural harbour along with great views of Jura.
Third time lucky, my previous efforts failing to find a safe route down from Cnoc an t-Samhlaidh. This time, no mistake.
Visited 07/04/2025.
From Ardvannie 2 we took the most awkward route, south west, bashing our way through bushes, ex bogs, wee hills and eventually over the railway line to find the cairn in front of us.
Dried vegetation of the fern variety covers the site which sits at 8m wide. Underneath the plants stones can be felt, perhaps a kerb. We decided to not trample over or remove any obstacles as the cairn was still being used. Badgers had created a path and tunnel though the site, which impressed both of us.
Walking to a track heading south towards the A636, we walked past the nearby chamber cairn, something I didn’t expect. A nice way to end the day.
Visited 31/03/2025.
This is a cracking area for prehistory and we continued on our way, after Dun Alascaig, to the large burial cairn at Ardvannie. We headed east (A861) and took the first first track heading north after the Ardvannie Chamber Cairn. We’d accidentally walk past this later. We parked at the first corner, permission was given by the smartly dressed occupant of the railway house at the end of the road.
Continuing north east we crossed the railway line, past what looked like a graveyard for old cars along with a gradually falling down warehouse, followed what looked like a hedge (more like a bramble death trap) downhill into a clearing and kept going until we reached a wood along with a start of a climb. At the top of this climb sits the Ardvannie Burial Cairn.
The views are well worth the visit. Magnificent scenery of the Dornoch Firth and further north as well as a magnificent cairn. As usual a fair amount of ‘houking’ to the centre. It sits at almost 16m wide and is over 2m high with no signs of a kerb. Luckily it seems to survived a lot of the stone robbing suffered by nearby sites.
Great site, now for an unusual way back to the transport.
Visited 31/03/2025.
A real ‘what if’ site as the broch has been almost been completely removed to make the original A816 down below, slightly to the north. From the kerb cairn at Ardvannie we headed back east along the A816 parking at a lay-by just beyond the broch.
From the layby we headed back west to find a track, heading east, which led us to slightly south of the site.
Spying the site from the road is almost impossible thanks to vegetation and fallen trees.
However, it still sits at over 17m wide and on its west side still has impressive blocks in place, several other blocks remain in place. The rest of the walls are tumbled, especially on the north or, mostly, in the road below. Mr Ed also, putting in practise for future digs, found possible flooring or misplaced lintels. Inside the broch is a mixture of fallen rocks and trees.
Not much to see, but as usual my imagination worked well and went back to 1775 when the site had three galleries, four chambers and was over 4.5m tall. Sadly, by 1815, Dun Alascaig had been torn down leaving what remains.
Visited 31/03/2025.
After hunting about for various cairns on the south of the A836 it was time to drive along the road to park near Ardvannie’s Chamber Cairn, slightly to the north. At almost 26 meters wide and 1.6m tall, it would take a large tree to protect it. A beech provides the large tree which seems to be trying to protect the chamber, situated on the cairn’s south west.
As usual the cairn has been damaged, the access road has removed a chunk on the east side, field clearance has been dumped on top (also around the edges) along with the usual stone removal.
A bit of a ‘what if’ but also enough to let an imagination conjure up an image of what it once looked like.
We would see this site again later in the day, completely accidentally, of course.
Visited 31/03/2025.
Ardvannie Kerb Cairn still survives despite the occasional visit from cows. Several kerbs remain in place and surprisingly not noted by Trove (Canmore) are the remnants of a cist situated in the middle of 6.5m wide cairn.
A superb view of Dun Creich to west and lovely views over Dornoch Firth add to site. The nearby pond much more recent.
From the chamber cairn at Ardvannie we headed west and pulled in at the first gate on the south side of the A836. Over the fence, head west following the pond until it’s end, head south then back east on the pond’s south side. This will lead straight to the site.
Be warned, if wet weather this will be a mud bath, however, for us it was dry and more of an ankle breaker.
Visited 31/03/2025.
As we walked along Stolinskie and myself talked about sites that could have easily avoided being damaged with a bit of care. Within minutes the Cambuscurrie Wood cairn would provide the, sadly, the perfect example of our conversation.
The cairn is quite literally next to the track, the south side of the cairn looks that it has been completely removed. They speak of large stones on the north side, they maybe are there but are now completely covered in vegetation and dumping of excess earth. The south side has been cleared of vegetation – to allow better views of the track.
A bit of a tragedy, a ‘what if’.
Still, good fun heading back down to the road, washed away paths, steep banks, head high vegetation, the much awaited appearance of ‘jabby stuff’ and paths on the maps that didn’t exist. As usual, eventually a track was found ironically leading us straight to where I had parked.
Visited 31/03/2025.