Friday 14 September 2012 – Cairnbaan and Kilmartin

A very windy day, but it did not look as wet as yesterday, so we took a bike ride to Kilmartin Glen to look at some of the ancient sites and the museum.  It was a hard beat down the road to Bellanoch Bridge, then a reach along the long straight road across Moine Mhor which is a huge area of bog and peat. Kilmartin glen has lots of standing stones, burial cairns and other remains.  We visited some of the burial cairns which are in a line in the valley.  It struck me as similar to the Valley of the Kings in ancient Egypt, but I don’t think the Dalriadan Kings were as rich as the Pharaohs.  The museum was small but very well presented. However after a while I get tired of reading lots of detailed explanations – it would be good to have a paper copy of the same stuff to read again later.  Good cafe. Follow the bike/walk on Google Maps

The wind was in the same direction on the way back, but less strong, so we had an easier ride back.  Back at the canal, the swallows were still flying busily round and chattering, so maybe summer has not completely finished in spite of the autumnal weather.

Tomorrow we hope to leave the canal and visit the Kyles of Bute.

Temple Wood Stone Circle

Alignment of standing stones

Cup marks

Nether Largie South Cairn

Inside the cairn

3 of the burial cairns

One cairn has been completely excavated
and a modern chamber built over it

Decorated stone in the modern chamber

Old grave slabs in Kilmartin churchyard

Old crosses in Kilmartin church