Scotland 2006 - Part 3

More prehistoric remains in Kilmartin Glen

Starting out north from our inn in Bridgend towards Temple Wood,
we pass by this delightful old bridge - one of many of that kind

Go to Map of Scotland 2006

July 10

Temple Wood and Dunadd
Kilmartin is best known for its history. The village sits at the heart of Kilmartin Glen, and there are at least 150 prehistoric sites and 200 other ancient monuments within six miles of it. These include burial cairns, rock carvings, and standing stones, as well as the remains of the fortress at Dunadd. (Undiscovered Scotland)

Temple Wood

"Nether Largie North Cairn contains one of the most intriguing, carved slabs in Western Scotland with at least ten carved axes and some forty cup-markings"


Nether Largie standing stones in the field of grazing sheep	Temple Wood Stone Circle - one of the two burial cairns at Temple Wood

Table explaining the gradual construction of the burial cairns, beginning at 3000 B.C.	The inner cist (Neolithic stone coffin) in the center of the Temple Wood stone circle

The Nether Largie South Cairn The earliest stones in the circles date back to around 3000 BC and the circles were gradually added to and improved over the following 2000 years.	Close-up of the entrance to the burial chamber of the Nether Largie South Cairn

Fuchsia coccinea is alledgedly the name of these flowers	The sun is setting on our way back after dinner

The iron-age hill fort of Dunadd

"A few miles south of Kilmartin village is the Iron-Age hill fort of Dunadd, which stands atop a rocky outcrop and dominates the surrounding flat expanse of Moine Mhór (Great Moss), one of the few remaining peat bogs in the country and now a Nature Reserve. Dunadd Fort became the capital of the ancient kingdom of Dalriada around 500 AD and is one of the most important Celtic sites in Scotland."

The hill fort of Dunadd seen from a distance

"Dunadd. Capital of the Scottish Kingdom in 500 AD. The Scots arrived from Ireland establishing their colony here under Fergus Mor."

Getting close to the top of this Iron-Age hill fort of Dunadd, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Dalriada, around 500 AD.


View back southeast down Kilmartin Glen, as we are climbing up hill	The Irish laird in his reception hall

"The views from the top are wonderful and worth the visit alone...' (Kilmartin Glen)


"... but you can also see carved out of the exposed rock, a basin and footprint, thought to have been used in the inauguration ceremonies of the ancient kings of Dalriada." (Kilmartin Glen)	On our way back down

Go to Scotland - Part 4

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