drewbhoy

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.

Heading east through woods and clearings we found the forestry track that would lead straight to the long cairn on Edderton Hill.

It has taken quite a battering. A lot of walls have been built using stones from the cairn, even worse a 2 meter gap has been chopped through to allow a track, now overgrown, to the woods nearby to the north. Plenty of space to go round – baffles me.

What remains is a cairn that stretches over 60m in length, some of it turf and heather covered with the width being 14m in places especially in the east. Other parts are reduced to 7m in width, its height no more than 1.5m.

Easy to spot on the north side of the track.

Visited 31/03/2025.

After the Morangie visit we headed west leaving the A9 at the Dornoch Firth Bridge roundabout to follow the A836 heading further west. We parked at the first available place that resembled a lay-by next to the beginnings of an old forestry track. From here we headed uphill and south west, reasonably steep and plenty of vegetation, cutting through marked and unmarked tracks to reach a track of sorts which seemed to find a way through small gorges to eventually reach a clearing. At the southern end of the clearing is the impressive Red Burn Cairn.

It’s measurements are impressive as well – 23m wide and 4m high with superb views to north over the Dornoch Firth. Canmore suggests a cist on the north side but a lot of the stones could suggest that. On the west side a stone that might possibly have stood seems to be having a rest. Elsewhere some serious houking or a possible trench has taken place. As with a lot of these places tracks have clipped the sides of the track – you’d think there would be plenty of room to get round. Much worse examples were soon to appear as we headed east.

However, this is a superb site, damage is restricted so plenty to admire. Also, fair play to the people re-building the the old ‘but and ben’. Great to see such restoration.

Visited 31/03/2025.

It’s not everyday you drive through Cullen, stop at the town’s Square and meet a new TMA’er with a pole and a copy of the The Modern Antiquarian stuck to the top of it. With Stolinskie safely on board we headed towards Inverness, north over the Kessock Bridge to stop slightly north of Tain.

We parked in a lay-by just to north of the famous Morangie Distillery, walked, west, past a huge stone with engravings (see Folklore) to the junction of two fields, next to the A9. Over the gate, follow the fence and dyke, jump over another fence then over a wee burn, the dun is straight ahead to the south. The dun can be seen from the A9 which in turn has superb views north over the Dornoch Firth and Edderton Sands.

The walls of the dun still stand at over 2m wide and in some places the turf covered walls reach 1.5m. As usual field clearance has dumped on the site, however this doesn’t hide the site’s 15m internal width. Sadly, a lot of stonework has been removed to build ‘dry stane dykes’, there are plenty marking nearby fields.

A nice and easy way to start the day. That would slightly change later on. :-)

Visited 31/03/2025.

I drove my car right up to the The Bothy and parked beside plenty of other cars. In the distance I could hear shooting so it was reasonable to assume another ‘pheasant shoot’ was finishing.

The gathering clouds I’d spied in the North East on the Hill of Edzell had ventured south to add the perfect covering of snow at the stone circle. It must have been thirty years since my last visit, another winter’s day, it was good to be back – almost nothing had changed including the snow.

No going over the Cairn O’ Mount for me on the way home, the snow gates had been closed.

Visited 04/01/2025.

NO 57808 70052 – Edzell 5

This cairn is south west of the trig and slightly downhill. At one time this must have been impressive, sadly like most of the sites on the hill it has taken some severe punishment, it has been houked and field clearance dumped on top. Like the cairns nearer Laurencekirk the majority of stones appear to be pebbles. Still, it survives at almost 7m wide and is 0.3m high.

NO57863 69957 – Edzell 4

Continuing south west to the next cairn. Weirdly the next three cairns all appear to very similar in size being over 8m and 0.3m high. More pebbles are mixed in with the cairn material which also has seen field clearance dropped on top.

NO57575 69845 – Edzell 3

Similar in size to its near neighbour, Edzell 4, it is 8m wide 0.3m high. It might have been larger going by the size of the footprint. Canmore says irregular shape, perhaps for a square, it looks reasonably circular to me and seems to have less field clearance thrown on top. Stunning views north, to the north east many miles away cloud was building up.

NO57520 67696 – Edzell 2

Several kerbs remain in place, at the this the furthest south west of the cairns. I normally have a go at people who put fences through the middle of sites, here they deserve some applause as the fence is at least a couple of metres away from the west side – so fair play. These ancient people must have only had a tape measure that went to 8m, as yet again the site is that width and is 0.3m, as usual, high. Look closely and small ditch marks the east edge.

There appears to nothing be ‘that special’ about any of these sites but given the location and the fact that there are quite a few sites on the ridge that has superb all round views perhaps it was a significant place.

On my way down I headed back up to the trig then followed a track on the east side of a Christmas Tree wood that would head, south, back to the road near Edzell Castle. I’d also hoped to have a look at the ground north of the castle to see if there were any hints or remains of a fort. A good idea – except the people with red flags and their pals with guns were shooting at birds in the area.

Back to the car, time to go visit an old friend.

Visited 04/01/2025.

This was to prove an interesting and exciting climb. Parking at Edzell’s Old Parish Church I headed uphill, north, in the field to the west of Drummore Hill. A beautiful day, very little snow and no wind – very decent hill walking conditions. Keep going until clear of the trees and a track will be found. Follow this north until it ends, jump the fence and keep going.

All of a sudden I heard shouts in the wind, a saw a row of people in the field behind all carrying red flags along with two small tractors heading up and down the field, then I heard shooting – a pheasant shoot was following me up the hill. That ensured I sped up over the last field, jumped the fence and headed straight north via couple of fences to the trig.

The trig sits on top of fantastically positioned but ruined cairn. They couldn’t take away the views which today – absolutely stunning. There is earthfast kerb on the south and bits of cairn material – the remains of the 6m wide by 0.5 high site.

There’s a lot to see on this hill, better head south west.

Visited 04/01/2025.

I’d been meaning to visit the Auchmull cairn many times having gone past the site on numerous occasions.

As usual Mr Sheriff’s notes in Canmore don’t give much away, the four small cairns he mentions are at best field clearance cairns but more likely just to be dumped stones.

However, the main cairn remains despite some bad treatment. It still sits at over 12m wide. One kerb appears to remain in place with, perhaps, others scattered all over the place.

The winter weather makes the shape of the cairn easy to spot, it still reaches over 0.5m in height, thankfully no wintry showers at this point.

Nice way to start 2025.

Visited 04/01/2025

The weather remained cloudy and the wind had picked up for the last visit to a prehistoric site on the this trip Colonsay. Follow the track as it heads south west from Dun Tealtaig. Uragaig is easy to spot with its distinctive shape.

Apart from the entrance on the east, a natural causeway some of which has collapsed, the rest of the fort is surrounded by steep cliffs and guarded by some sheep.

It seems to be a fort of extensions, nature had been kind to the builders providing them with what looks like spare rooms, to me at least. They also made use of the ridge on the east side and built a wall – 60m in length and survives, still standing at just over 0.5m and 2m wide. Inside this wall there are several hut circles and other traces of buildings, probably built at a later date.

So that was Colonsay, guess we’ll be back.

Visited 15/08/2024.

Once again we parked at car park at Kiloran Bay, this time walking uphill along the minor road heading west until the road ends at the cottage with the same name as the fort.

At the farm follow the fence north east, jump the gate and a small climb takes you to the site. Nature has provided the defence except on the south / south-west which must have provided the entrance.

A wall, best preserved on the south, surrounds the 46m by 48m site which also contains some hut circles.

A windy place with good all round views especially to the north and Kiloran Bay.

Visited 15/08/2024.

Plenty of space to park on the field at Kiloran Bay. From here I headed straight east, in the direction of Dunan Nan Nighean (Little Fort Of The maidens) and found a route over Ruiteachan Eorna (barley grass), remarkably dry considering the storm that happened 2 days before. That soon changed, the east had been sheltered by the hills, small streams were still mini rivers, the area known as Leanan Nan Lasgairean (the children of the firemen) was a swamp, plenty of water for the firemen. The storm had taken some weird directions before heading back out to sea.

Somehow I remained reasonably dry and went north of the site to swing round it to approach from the east. What looked like the remains of stone steps made the steep climb easier – Canmore mentions 2 steps but I found quite a few more. At the top the first thing seen is the reconstructed lintel entrance. Spectacular views over to Jura and beyond can be seen.

The wall on the east, containing the lintel, is in good condition, Whoever did the reconstruction did a great job. Also in reasonable condition is the south wall, sadly the same can’t be said of the north wall. A hut that was in the east side of the dun had been had been put into the west wall or flung over the side. Some of the rubble from this also joined the fallen stonework scattered on the dun’s floor. It is small for this type of site, almost 8m east to west by almost 4m north to south. The walls are almost 3m wide.

One good thing about being high above the bog to the west was to spy a way back, even more luckier was to see a sheep’s path which led, in a very twisty but dry way, back to the road near the Cnoc Beag Cairn, from there head south to the gateway at Kiloran Bay.

Spectacular site!

Visited 14/08/2024.

I started my evening’s walk by parking at the small car park next to Colonsay’s golf course. The four legged greenkeepers were still hard at work preparing the course for the weekend’s Colonsay Open. They also, like me, had something else to contend with – this part of Colonsay had not missed the previous nights storms.

To start with underfoot conditions were fine, head south west, past the airstrip and onto a track, best described as a very long mud bath. Keep going until the beach is almost reached then head south east along a ridge with small valleys, some of which had turned into small lochans.

The stone appears to be having a rest and is propped up up by some possible chokes and rocks. Originally it must have stood at well over 2m. Canmore suggests that perhaps was a small stone circle at some point, I didn’t see any other stones. What I did see through a gap in the ridge were the Paps Of Jura and a small climb to the top ridge gives views of the Oronsay and the south of Colonsay.

After a look round for the possible stones that made up the circle it was my intention to head further south but the weather had other ideas.

This time I headed north east to return to the track. Somehow avoiding falling into bogs to return to the track, airfield and eventually the car park along.

Difficult to get to and find but worth it if just to see through the gap in the ridge to Jura.

Visited 13/08/2024.

After taking in the wonderful views at Garvard we headed back, east, past Garvard farmhouse to the car park. From here I walked north on the B8085 until the first track that heads east. I followed this track to just before the first serious corner to approach the fort from the north east. The terrain here is also flatter and luckily fairly dry as the area had just missed the previous nights storms.

By taking this route the fort can be entered by the front door on the east, facing stones are still in place. Whoever built the fort must have strong, building stones that remain in place are huge. Most of the defences are on the east with the walls being almost 6m wide. Steep cliffs protect the other sides, their walls being only 2.5m wide. Beneath the south there is a tremendous amount of fallen building material. Even these walls must have been massive. They would have surrounded an area of about 54m east to west, and 25m north to south.

Views are fantastic, Jura, Islay, Oronsay can all be seen as well as views to the mainland. To the north Loch Cholla and my old / new friend Dun Eibhinn which dominates the centre of the island.

Fantastic site.

Visited 13/08/2024.

Oronsay was going to be a target but the tide clearly had other ideas, luckily we had other ideas as well. There is a small car park at the end of the road and to the west another intended target. Garvard standing stone, on top of Cnoc Eibriginn, invited us to take the flat walk along the track, past Garvard farm to the small hill.

The approach from the east is the easiest climb to the summit and it’s well worth it as Oronsay, Jura and Islay all come into view, what a marker for prehistoric and later boats to safely come ashore.

People have ups and downs, so do standing stones – after 1878 it had fallen and was re-erected in 1935, it fell again only to be put back up in 1960 by the farmer at Garvard. The 1.75m tall stone seems quite happy to remain in place for many years yet.

Luckily the storm the previous night, only a couple of miles north, had missed the south of Colonsay as the ground was bone dry.

Visited 13/08/2024.

Dunan Nan Con (Glen of the dogs) is located near to the B8085, the road that leads to the south of Colonsay. My dog was also delighted to be on what he thought was home territory.

There is an old quarry just to the south of dun so plenty room to park. A short hike to the west leads to the 5m high rock mound on which the dun sits.

Not much remains of this badly ruined site except the traces of wall and the entrance on the north east. Ferns now occupy the interior. Still the view is good, to the east Dun Cholla and Loch Cholla, further south the island of Oronsay.

Nice way to start the day.

Visited 13/08/2024.

From Tobar Fuar Dun Gallain is easily spotted to the south west, from where we were staying in Killchattan, we could see the dun and just to make sure we realised what it looked like there was also a painting of the site on the kitchen wall. All of this proved that Dun Gallain is in a fantastic location with superb all round views.

The wind was picking up up as I walked across the golf course, underfoot conditions would change as walked on to a rougher surface but they remained dry. It was quite a hike as the wind grew stronger and as I reached the top, approaching from the south east, I did well to remain on my feet.

The dun measures 30 by 20m, with best walls on the south and east. Climbing beneath these walls is quite risky but gives a good indication of the surviving stonework. No such work needed for the north and west as sheer cliffs do the needful. On top of the west cliff sits a walker’s cairn probably made from stones taken from the dun’s walls.

Weather plays a big part in Hebridean life and it would play a huge part later on. Far out at sea I could see flashes of lightning which told me it was time to get a move on back to safety of the car.

A superb site.

Visited 12/08/2024.

Tobar Fuar, cold well, is a site that can be added to the ‘used as part of a golf course’ list.

Parking is easy as the golf course’s car park is next to the B8086 on the west of the island. The dun is a short walk to the west and easily spotted. Not much is left to see except for some stonework marking the outer edges of the site. A bigger than usual gap between outer stones, seen in one of the photographs, probably reveals the entrance in the north-east.

With the Colonsay Open happening at the end of the week, this would prove to be a busy place. I can vouch for the greenkeepers, the sheep were still hard at work as I marched to the next site, the Atlantic providing a cooling breeze for the evening’s hike.

Visited 12/08/2024

It was good to get back to daylight, A and B, and head east to find the track that heads north to Balnahard. A reasonably steep climb leads to the cairn at Beinn Bheag which has tremendous views looking south.

It remains at 10m wide and is 1m high, large boulder kerbs remain in place, massive stones on the east and west. In the centre, there might be the remains of a cist, field clearence has also been dumped on to the cairn adding to the confusion.

At this point the camera decided to work again, maybe it had been affected by the damp of the caves.

This track heading south leads straight back to where the car was parked, this place would get a couple of more visits.

Visited 12/08/2024.

Head almost to the north of Colonsay on the B8086, then head slightly north west on the minor road, then take the farm track where there is plenty of parking at Kiloran Bay. Spencer would know these roads very well.

Follow the beach north, jump a wee burn, then jump a fence near what could only be the bones of whale and then look north west. The entrance to the cave is in front. Getting there is tricky as it means clambering over rocks and small rock pools.

Once inside, sound seemed to vanish but I kept going until I found the junction of two other chambers, there is a fourth, but at that point the camera decided to stop working, a pity, but I’ll return. Luckily I had my phone as by this point it was completely dark and the idea of getting lost in caves didn’t have much appeal.

Worth another look.

Visited 12/08/2024.

Dun Eibhinn has superb views and from its north east entrance you can see Buaile Riabhach, slightly to the north of a white coloured building. The descent isn’t very steep, some high ferns and a couple of fences to jump.

Like many others who have seen or written about Buaile Reibhach, its a confusing site. Definitely two standing stones (one standing perfectly, the other looking like it has visited the nearby hotel), possibly a kerb cairn, or perhaps a chamber cairn. Whatever it is, its well placed next to the well used track, leading to Loch Turraman, that has probably been used for centuries.

I looked for and found two nearby cairns, however, they were completely covered in high ferns so another visit required.

With that it was back to the track and the B8085 to walk back to the car at Scalasaig (village). The first major walk on the island completed.

Visited 11/08/2024.

After battering my way through all types of gorse and jabby stuff I headed north west to climb the reasonably steep slopes to Dun Eibhinn, one of quite a few impressive defensive sites on Colonsay.

Two walls surround the fort, which can be seen from many places on the island, some parts in decent condition some badly ruined, especially on the outer wall which has seen its stones used for nearby dry stane dykes.

The building of the outer wall on the north is somewhat curious as the the drop is almost straight down. However, it protected the 20 by 18m site well. Entrance to the fort is on the North East, at this point you can see how wide the walls must have been – 4m in some places. Also an idea of height as the entrance’s walls made use of a small gully.

Traces of Iron Age dwellings inside the fort are barely visible, the remains of probably Medieval dwellings can be clearly seen.

A great place to look south, east and west, to the east is Buaile Riabhach which would be my next stop.

Visited 11/08/2024.

From the standing stone south of the B8085 I headed back, north, towards the church, crossed the road and walked past the hotel on the track heading towards the aptly named Turraman Loch. Long before the well named loch head west, following a fence, at Scalasaig Farm. A short walk of no more than 100m awaits.

Thanks to the gorse I spied the stone when I was directly below the site. (You can see the top of the stone from the B8085.) Luckily you can get to the stone via some clearings.

It is an impressive stone standing at 2m high and 2m wide. The smaller stone in the Canmore photos is still there.

Towering over me to the north west is Dun Eibhinn, a decent climb ahead.

Visited 11/08/2024.

From the Dun at Scalasaig head back to ferry port then walk west following the B8086. Directly opposite the hotel there is a road to the church, follow this track south for about 500m then head west. I could only see one standing, another stone I spied was a boulder and another possible standing stone mentioned in Canmore was invisible.

The stone that remains is just over 1m tall and has great all round views despite being slightly hidden by the undulating land. Dun Eibhinn, dominates the skyline to the north and was to be my big target for the day. Before that, another standing stone.

Visited 11/08/2024.

Every petrol station on Colonsay should have a dun, there is only one petrol station on the island. Parking is very easy, there is a car park at the post office and excellent shop. Simply walk across the road and jump into the ferns behind the pumps.

There are large rocks marking the dun’s edge to the south and east, not much stonework remains elsewhere. A gap in a ruined bit of wall is probably the entrance in the north east section.

Not that much to see, the covering ferns didn’t help but a good start to the looking around Scalasaig’s prehistoric monuments.

Visited 11/08/2024.

To get a birds eye view of Dun Meadhonach I decided to climb to the top of Beinn Na Caorach. It’s a worthwhile thing to do as the views are magnificent, you also look straight down (or north) to the dun plus the nearby Limpet Stones.

The summit of Caorach can be seen from the Limpets, a reasonably steep climb going up various wee valleys. Colonsay’s dry spell meant that underfoot conditions were good so it was a pleasant summer’s stroll up and then down to the dun.

As can be seen from the birds eye photo the dun is nearly oval shaped being 21m long by 13m wide. Walls still survive, best kept on the west. Some courses of stonework can still be seen. A gap on the north east would, to me, indicate an entrance but at this point the walls are badly ruined.

A great site and an opportunity to spy some other sites from high vantage point.

Visited 11/08/2024.

This has to be one of the easiest fieldnotes to write. From the house in Kilchattan walk 200m south, crossing the B8086, there is a gate leading into the field.

A great way to start every morning with Dun Meadhonach, slightly to the south west.

They say there was a stone circle here at one point, maybe yes or maybe no, one thing definite is that the two stones are in clear view Loch Fada, to the east, and the stony beach at Port Mor to the west.

Slightly to the west there appears to be remnants of a cairn, there is no kerb, however there is one large stone that might or might not have stood. Almost feels like Cultoon Stone Circle in Islay and its nearby site.

Time to head south west.

Visited 11/08/2024.

Cretshengan is a beautifully situated coastal standing stone. Achahoish is also in a fantastic location, next to the River Allt Cinn-locha, at certain angles it looks well camouflaged as a small tree covered in moss, sits amongst old looking trees and stands near a small graveyard. All these things give a sense of age.

From Cretshengan follow the B8024 as it heads north east, the spectacular views continue along the coastal road. Keep going until the first minor road heading north west. I parked at Lochead Farm, crossed the road and asked permission to visit the stone from the owner at Ceannloch House.

A track heading south leads almost to the stone, when a hut is reached head west past the small graveyard.

The moss and lichen covered stone stands at over 2m tall.

Despite injuries, a great day and great sites.

Visited 09/08/2024

The farm at Cretshengan proved an easy place to find, even better I was given permission to park. From there walk back to road and head south for a few metres. Through the gate and head west, gentle slopes and short grass made the walk, thankfully, easy.

This is a stunning place place with stunning views over to the island of Jura and north towards Kilberry.

The stone stands at 1.6m tall and probably was used by the ancient peoples to mark a safe place to land. Below on the beach, windsurfers were having a great time so perhaps the old stone is still doing its job.

After standing for quite a while to savour the view, also to rest the increasingly sore leg, I made my way back to car and decided that one more stop would be enough. Nearby sites can also wait until 2025.

Visited 09/08/2024.

Leaving the standing stones Carse I followed the B8024 as it headed north. I asked permission to park at Keppoch farmhouse which was kindly given. Also kindly given were some painkillers as by this time I was starting to limp noticeably.

Fortunately, the route to the site was easy – 300m, gates and short grass. The cairn itself is a grass covered mound standing at over 17m wide and is 1m tall. Canmore says that cists are all removed, one stone remains visible that looks like it might have been part of a cist.

After a short look around I headed back to the car, thought about heading back to Tarbert, thought again and continued on. Nearby sites can wait until 2025, I was going to press on to an impressive coastal standing stone.

Visited 09/08/2024.

From Achadh-Chaorann I headed back to the B8024 and headed west to park near the entrance to the old church at Carse.

A pair of stones and a single stone, about 110 metres to the west, contribute to this site. They are easily found and gates provide easy access.

The 2 eastern stones are both almost 2.5m high, the furthest west stone is slightly smaller being 2.3m tall. Some choke stones can be seen at the west stone, fortunately field clearence mentioned in Canmore has been removed.

Superb site.

Visited 09/08/2024.

My next stop exploring the south side of the B8024 would be to follow the first minor road heading south. As soon as a clearing in the trees is reached look south east, Achadh-Chaorann Standing Stone should be easily spotted.

The well shaped slab stands at 2.1m high in a field which has been well maintained by the local greenkeepers. Cup marks are still there but barely visible almost weathered to invisibility. Plenty room to park at the first corner south of the site.

Nearby Ardpatrick, a hillfort, can wait until 2025, the legs weren’t feeling very happy.

Visited 09/08/2024.

This year’s plan, 2024, was to visit the sites on the south or west side of the B8024, in 2025 it will be north and east side of the road. Barr Na Cour is on the west side.

Finding a place to park is easy, follow the road from Avinagillan until you pass the Dunmore Farm, look for a forestry commission road on the north side, plenty room. Directly opposite there is a barn, during my visit men were working improving the old barn, one of whom gave me directions to dun. He mentioned that I would be the first person to climb the hill since a field visit by people from Historic Scotland in 1982.

Be warned there is no path, there might have been such a thing a long time ago, but not now. The first thing I was told look for was a stile, which after battering my way through all types of vegetation I found. As soon as I put my foot on the stile, it fell down with me quickly following. Picking myself up I climbed the deer fence and stepped onto a dry stane dyke which like the stile promptly fell down. Unluckily for me some of the stones changed the colour of my legs.

However, the wall leads to the top of hill alongside a deer fence. Parts of the wall can be walked on when the vegetation becomes too dense. Eventually a cliff face is reached, this forms the northwest part of the dun. As soon as I put my foot on the fence, like the stile and wall -it fell down – once again I followed it to the ground.

Head to the northeast, to avoid climbing the cliff, and the entrance will be found. Facer stones can be found along with little guard rooms creating the galleried section. Sadly, the entrance and small rooms are filled with fallen stonework. The dun is 14m by 10m, the surrounding wall in parts reaching over 1.3m in height. As the walls head west, they become more ruinous until they vanish almost altogether on the northwest. Outer walls also reach a height of 1m and over but is obscured by massive ferns.

It must have been impressive when built, and in a way it still is. How it survives is something of a miracle – it has been robbed, used to build nearby dykes, fallen over the cliff edge and somehow survived me standing on it, previous man-made structures hadn’t coped so well.

Finding my way back was easy enough, a trail of destruction and flattened vegetation.

Visited 09/08/2024.

Follow the same directions as Carl, I parked slightly further along the road at a barn then walked back. The gate isn’t so rusty now and the protective fence has vanished. This has improved the location greatly.

Standing at almost 2m in height, a fine stone in a flat field which makes for easy viewing.

A nice easy start to the day.

Visited 09/08/2024.

Sadly this cairn or barrow isn’t in the same league as some of its near neighbours in the Kilmartin area. Luckily, I spotted the site, to the east, when clambering down the hill from the Poltalloch Cists, Standing Stone etc.

At 21m wide and almost 1m tall it is probably more likely to be a barrow than cairn, just like its little mentioned friend at Ballymeanoch. (stone rows, henge and kerb / chamber cairns are the neighbours)

However some stone content does poke through, at least one stone is on edge, others are on the way to being covered in turf.

At least you can get to the site without standing in the bog and it’s easily spotted.

The track back to car at Poltalloch Lodge had become flooded, so it was back via the cists, standing stone I’d visited on the way.

Visited 12/04/2024.

Keep heading south from fallen or put there standing stone until a tree that looks like a monster attacking a stone. To add to its problems it looks like turf is beginning to grow all over.

Still there is plenty left to see, 4 slabs and a capstone remain. When excavated finds included a cremated bone, a flint knife and a jet necklace. Knife and necklace are now in the Museum of Scotland (Edinburgh).

Visited 12/04/2024.

A 200m walk south from Poltalloch 2 cist will lead you straight to the moved and fallen stone. (more likely left lying there).

It had originally stood at NR8203 9721 but was some reason moved to its present position.

It would have been in an impressive position, looking down onto Kilmartin glen.

A pity.

Visited 12/04/2024.

With another drenching on the way I left the car at the North Lodge of Poltalloch House and splashed along the road / track, badly flooded in some areas. As soon as another track is met, head uphill and west. Look for a mound covered in all sorts vegetation, weirdly almost all on its own.

Sadly the capstone had vanished or was covered in turf, the rest of the cist was gradually being covered in moss. The 4 slabs that make up the cist are sort of in place.

Not much to see, but a strip back of turf would reveal all sorts of secrets, probably loads of rock art.

Visited 12/04/2024.

Following Postie’s route with one addition, it started to pour down.

I thought there was three different sections in these weird and wonderful remains of a chamber cairn. The words gentle restoration comes to mind but somehow I think they’re fine as they are.

With Highland Cattle keeping me company or shoving me away, I splashed my way back to the gate.

Visited 11/04/2024.

From Rowanfield Standing Stone head north to next small clump of trees, a short easy walk.

The capstone is over 2.3m long by 1.3m wide, it has been moved to reveal the north end slab is missing.

More cists to come on the same day.

Visited 12/04/2024.

We sailed to Corr Eilean, visiting St. Cormac’s Chapel, Cross and Cave. Luckily this island has a small jetty and we managed to get ashore safely.

Nearby to the east is the smaller island of Corr Eilean, home to a prehistoric cairn, over 8m tall and 1m wide. We tried to land on the north east. Sadly for Captain Allen and Vice-Admiral Drew there is no landing pier on this island. To make matters worse, the wind had changed direction, making anchoring and rowing to the island impossible, we’ll try again next year.

The Vice Admiral took charge of controls, for the return journey, and sailed the boat successfully back to Tayvallich. Good views of all the forts and duns en route.

Attempted visit 11/04/2024.

We’ve all seen cairns, waded across to cairns, climbed up to cairns, walked miles to cairns – sometimes with lots to see, sometimes with very little to see.

This cairn is a bit of everything except you can hardly see it as most of is in a small loch beneath the water. However what you can see is the top of a slab and when the wind calms down you can just about make out the side slabs of a chamber or cist.

In Aberdeenshire we have had a lot of rain this year, it appears to be same over in the west – will have to take a snorkel next time.

If heading across the B8025 – Crinan Moss road, there is a crossroads, head west. The road has a little kink, stop there, plenty room to not obstruct any traffic. A cairn covered in water sits to the north.

Worth a visit, probably in drought conditions.

Visited 10/04/2024.

A short distance south from the standing stones and over a wee hill stands a once massive cairn. Sadly the cairn has seen a fair amount of houking and probably has had its stones recycled in nearby walls and castles.

It still sits at 21m wide and is 1m tall, some trenching can be seen. Despite the damage this is an impressive place, on a clear day it looks straight down onto Kilmartin.

Visited 09/04/2024

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.

Just to the west of the castle there is a stone with seven cup marks. This has probably been moved from somewhere nearby and been given a clean.

Easily found lying near to a tree.

Visited 09/04/2024.

Carnasserie Castle and its nearby prehistoric sites are well known not so well known is the dun located on a small hill immediately north of the castle.

I only climbed up as I was nosey and to get a better look at the castle.

Only the outer wall of the dun remains, on the east there are a few stones poking their heads above the turf, the north has more natural defence, one or two stones on the west and the south – has the best remains, the rubble wall and a few earthfast stones.

Carn Ban can be seen to the north.

A surprise start to the afternoon.

Visited 09/04/2024.

Up and early to head for the stunning galleried dun at Dun Rostan. Just to the north of the farm, of the same name, I was allowed to park at the small boatyard. It’s owner also gave directions to the site.

From the yard cross the road, east, heading uphill until until a track is reached. Follow, heading south, until it meets a gate. Don’t follow the track, follow the fence and dry stane dyke heading east. Keep looking up as the spectacular site is right above. Also, keep heading east until just beyond the dun. (easier access from the east, the west being densely populated with trees) The terrrain here is boggy and there is a stream to jump before heading south and uphill. As the trees clear a path can be seen heading back west, it also leads straight to impressive eastern walls.

The site is roughly circular and looks over Loch Sween, it has plenty other duns for company. To north cliffs provide ample defence. Best sections of galleried dun can be seen near the entrance on the north east and near the west. Sadly fallen stone covers some of the detail detail.

Outer walls can be found to east and west. Some natural rocks have been incorporated into these features.

This site can be seen for miles around. It is stunning site amongst many stunning sites.

Visited 09/04/2024.

From Dun Na Doide I headed, north-east, back to road and jumped the fence near to concrete structures and headed to the pointy hill in front. It’s a reasonably steep climb with glorious views. I approached from the south west, don’t approach from the south east unless you bring climbing gear.

Sadly a plague of marker cairns has broken out on the Loch Sween side of the dun / fort, up to 30 according to Canmore. Directly below is Castle Sween, a cairn and a huge caravan site. No guessing who put up these stupid cairns.

The dun started life as a 17m wide site but over the years it increased to 36m by 15m, an oval shape. Well built walls survive in the south west, almost 2m high, on the east a small rubble wall remains. Also on the west a tumbled down wall offered further protection.

Canmore doesn’t offer a solution to entrance, I think it was in the south west but I guess we’ll never know unless some serious ‘digs’ take place.

Fantastic site, but why oh why build these stupid markers cairns.

Visited 08/04/2024.

Just to the north of Doide (a small house) there is a suitable place to park near concrete structures used for agriculture, handy, because it is between the hill fort at Dun Na Doide to the south and the dun / fort at Dun A’ Chaisteil to the north.

For Dun Na Doide I walked south past the house at Doide, entering a field heading south west towards the only hill next to the coastline in this area.

Despite all of the very wet weather the ground proved to be remarkably dry, marshier parts near the bottom hill can be crossed without getting to wet.

I approached from the northern end of the fort, an outer wall still exists, badly robbed. The best remains of wall at the fort are on the north west heading south looking onto Loch Sween. On the other side of Loch Sween are also many prehistoric sites.

The fort covered most of the hill top, being oval in shape with a single wall providing the defence. Probably the entrance was by the route taken from the north were a hollowed section is in place.

Good views north, on the banks of Loch Sween – Castle Sween (and its caravan site), to the east of the castle is the steep climb to Dun A’ Chaisteil, my next destination.

Lovely site.

Visited 08/04/2024.

The second last leg of the a circular walk took me back to the road, heading east from Ardnaw Cairn, to walk southwards down the hill past Kilmory Chapel. Walk past the house surrounded in trees and the hillfort will be easily spied. It is an easy climb, east, to get to fort, best approached from the north-east.

The east defences are a cliff, part of the north east defences are similar – the entrance to fort is also in the north east – it’s not very steep, a gentle slope.

Massive walling, in places over 3m wide, at some stage surrounded the oval shaped site, 26m by 18m. As per usual in these parts a marker cairn was built on top of the southern wall.

Tremendous views into Kilmory Bay, over to Jura / Islay and north to the sea lochs.

Visited 08/04/2024.

After Dun Fhuarlit I headed north east following a dry stane dyke until it met another similar dyke. Jump the dyke and remain on its south side.

There are several very large kerbstones still earthfast. Sadly, it is easy to work out where much of stones for all of the nearby dykes were found. The centre of the site is almost flat except for near the kerbs, some cairn material remains surviving at 0.3m to 0.6m in height. These dykes also cut into the site, trenching has also removed a few kerbs – it still sits at over 19m in width.

With the same views as its near neighbour Dun Fhuarlit, it’s part 2 of a nice walk around the Kilmory Chapel. Part 3 being the nearby dun to south of the religious site.

Visited 08/04/2024.