markj99

Cairnfore is a robbed out cairn just over the South Ayrshire border 250 yards from the B road between Glentrool Village and Straiton.
It is around 25 yards across and 5 feet high with a robbed out centre axis. The cairn’s stones have not travelled far: there is an adjacent sheepfold and enclosure. The moss covering over the cairn gives it an air of antiquity and its circle of trees add to the ambiance.
Cairnfore is catalogued as Canmore ID 63042 (go to Links).
Directions: From Newton Stewart take the A714 Girvan road turn R at Bargrenan for Glentrool Village. Follow this road for around 5 miles. After the Kirriereoch sign park up in the next L for Ferter Forestry Road around 0.5 miles later.
Walk N for 125 yards until there is a gap in the trees covered in ferns. The use of a GPS device is almost essential as there is not an official path to Cairnfore Cairn at NX 3554 8707. Make your best way uphill to this grid ref or cairn symbol on your map. It is around 250 yards uphill to the clearing with the cairn & sheepfold.

This curious erratic boulder was moved into the centre of Monkton in 1998 according to the plaque. The boulder is quite impressive however the reason for its preservation is not given.
It’s easy to visit if you are in the area. Head for Monkton and turn onto Burnside Road at the traffic lights, its on your L after 20 yards.

Dun Ibrig lies c. 1 mile W of Scarinish, the largest community on Tiree. The site may be a ruined broch or a dun according to Canmore ID 21533 (go to Links).
The Broch/Dun is situated on a virtual island surrounded by a circle of water bordered by very boggy marshland. I made my way carefully to the edge of the dun but the water was too deep to proceed further. I did get to see the outer stone wall surrounding large stones in the centre.
From Scarinish head W and take the 1st R after 1.5 miles. After 400 yards park up and head due E into the bog. Maybe Dun Ibrig will be accessible in a dry summer or frozen winter.

Milton of Larg Cairn is typical of cairns found in a pastoral landscape. Past generations of farmers have found a use for the stones, then used the denuded cairn for dumping field clearance stones, building it up again.
The cairn, some 25 yards across, has a circular profile in the field due to the remaining grassy kerb however there is a hollowed out N quadrant. A substantial quantity of field clearance stones have been dumped on the W side of the cairn.
Milton of Larg Cairn lies 30 yards SE of the minor road from Castle Kennedy to New Luce, half a mile shy of New Luce. It’s possible to park in the gateway opposite the cairn.
Canmore ID 61622 (go to Links) furnishes further details of the cairn.

Billy Marshall’s Cave is situated at NX494679, approximately 900 metres north west of the summit. Again this cave is worth a visit, but difficult to find. Fortunately a rock above the cave has an iron bar protruding from it – thus helping to identify its location.”
The above quote is from Newton Stewart WalkFest.
It is more of a rock recess than a cave, lying 2 metres below the slope of Cairnsmore of Fleet and extending for around 10 metres. There is not enough room for Billy Marshall’s Band of Gypsies (go to Cairnsmore of Fleet Folklore), maybe 5 people max.
The easiest way to find Billy Marshall’s Cave is from the summit of Cairnsmore of Fleet. Skirting round Cairnsmore is pathless and longer. Approaching from the N via forest tracks and boggy moorland is unappealing.
From the trig point head NW towards Eastman’s cairn (a pile of stones) at NX 495 675. Follow down the slope to the N towards NX 4948 6798. This will require scrambling down into the valley but it is moderate. Look out for a flat rock with a rusted iron bar protruding vertically. Billy Marshall’s Cave is situated within several yards, a narrow vertical entrance into the cave.