Achnabreac

Trip No.89  Entry No.5  Date Added: 3rd Aug 2018
Site Type: Standing Stones Country: Scotland (Argyll)
Visited: Yes on 19th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Stane Alane (Achnabreac), Lochgilphead Cemetery: The time was fast approaching when we needed to head back to Armadale, but there were still two more standing stones we wanted to see. Looking at the map, the quickest way appeared to be to drive to the cemetery, walk through the cemetery and walk a hundred metres or so along the track that ran from its northern wall. This was a large cemetery with a tall back wall. Eventually finding the gate to the north western side of the cemetery, we let ourselves onto a long, almost straight lane. This stone obviously hadn’t been visited in a while, as it was almost half covered in ferns to the front and back.

In taking a closer look at the back of the stone, we discovered it was on a slight mound. Canmore confirms it is incorporated into a turf and stone dyke.

Dunadd Standing Stone

Trip No.89  Entry No.1  Date Added: 3rd Aug 2018
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (Argyll)
Visited: Yes on 19th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Dunadd Standing Stone: This was an amusing visit to start off with. As we drew up in the car park, the “Tour of the Tor” minibus drew up behind us, along with the young couple we’d seen at Kirkmichael Glassary Rock Art yesterday. Other parties of walkers came along the path and marched off up the track to the fort. We later saw them standing on top of the fort waving down to those left below.

We set off towards the farmhouse and the river to see the standing stone, which at first sight looked like a garden feature. We were closely followed by an American lady with her walking poles, a large rucksack and camera. When my husband stopped just before the stone, she stopped next to him and watched me clicking away. “Why’s she taking photos?” she asked. “It’s a standing stone”, Andrew replied. “Oh. Oh!” and with that she got out her own camera and started taking snaps.

Whilst the stone was actually in the garden, a man was coming out to his car by the house and he waved me towards it as if telling me it was OK to take a closer look.

What a really beautiful spot in this valley. With the sun shining and blue skies, it would have been lovely to sit by the river and contemplate the world for a while.

It wasn't until I looked at Canmore later that evening, I discovered other standing stones nearby, which I could have investigated whilst Andrew was playing 'mountain goat' on the fort.

Dunadd Fort

Trip No.89  Entry No.2  Date Added: 4th Aug 2018
Site Type: Hillfort Country: Scotland (Argyll)
Visited: Yes on 19th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 4

Log Text: Dunadd Fort, with well, footprint, boar carving and cup marked rock: I confess to seeing this site 'from a distance' as the path was too steep for me to feel comfortable. Whilst I say 'this is a short walk on a footpath', the climb is reasonably short, but steep.

Also, being on the tourist trail, this site was busy, busy, busy even at 10am. We bumped into the “Tour of Tor” minibus again (saw them at the Dunchraigaig Cairn last night), who pulled into the car park just after us.

After going some way up the track and seeing the reproduction of the boar carving in the cottage to the left of the track by the gate up to the fort, I decided it was too steep for me. Even Andrew, when he came back down, said he’d had to put his hands out several times to steady himself on the slope, so even he struggled a little.

As well as the fort, this site also has a well and a footprint and carved rock. Andrew said the guide for the Sacred Tour actually took his boot and shoe off, placed it in the footprint and enacted the old oath. Wish I’d seen that!

Andrew commented on finding what he thought was a ‘look out post’ – a small chamber with a lintel over; the well now has a stone slab over it. We’ve yet to sit down and map out where the photographs were taken, so I can tie them in with the plan above.

Cairnbaan 1

Trip No.89  Entry No.3  Date Added: 4th Aug 2018
Site Type: Rock Art Country: Scotland (Argyll)
Visited: Yes on 19th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 4

Log Text: Cairnbaan 1 Rock Art: This site is marked on the OS map, and we also got details from “In The Footsteps of Kings” page 149. Following the directions in the book (between the hotel and the neighbouring houses is a sign saying “Cup Marked Rocks”. After a flat start to the path, it then climbs relatively steeply for around 100 metres, then is a pleasant walk through woods, following the metal arrow signs.

We came across the main outcrop, protected by a metal railing, but with two sets of steps to allow you to get in and out of the compound. Someone had recently deturfed the main rock, although the rest were heavily turf covered and apart from a few cups, couldn’t make out much.

Just as we arrived at the site, we came across the same young couple who had been at Kilmichael Glassary yesterday and Dunadd this morning. They were travelling back to Huddersfield today and said the next panel was “a nice one to end on”.

To our surprise, there was a sign saying ‘further panels’, pointing further north, so we followed the track through the grass into another fenced off area, with the most remarkable carving (next entry).

Since getting back home, I’ve managed to get hold of a second hand copy of Stan’s book “The Prehistoric Rock Art of Kilmartin” and will be comparing my photos with his writings as soon as we get a dull, rainy day (or two or three). So much to learn!

Cairnbaan 2

Trip No.89  Entry No.4  Date Added: 4th Aug 2018
Site Type: Rock Art Country: Scotland (Argyll)
Visited: Yes on 19th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 3

Log Text: Cairnbaan 2 Rock Art Panel: Leaving Cairnbaan 1 by its western corner, there’s a notice saying ‘further panels’. This was a little further than we thought, but very much worth the additional walk.

This second panel was truly magnificent, with its interlinked carvings. As the nice young couple from Huddersfield said: “A lovely one to finish on.”

We waited for the sun to come out to get the best contrast on the motifs. I really, really enjoyed seeing this panel.

As it was very hot, we decided to wander back through the forest slowly and make our way to Lochgilphead for refreshments. With only two more standing stones on the list to see, this almost concluded our Scottish visit.

Achnabreck Stone

Trip No.89  Entry No.6  Date Added: 3rd Aug 2018
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (Argyll)
Visited: Yes on 18th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Achnabreck Standing Stone, Lochgilphhead: Continuing on down the track from the Stane Alane, we came across some new build houses, closely followed by some older ones, close to a road junction with a minor road leading from the A816 towards Auchoish Burn (so presumably the stone could also be driven to). This stone was in the house of a wooden ‘hut’ which fronted a pond, presumably created by enlarging a section of the burn. I looked in the houses opposite, and whilst their doors were open, could find no-one to ask, so nipped quickly in through the farm gate and took a few photos.

Whilst this is a tall standing stone, which looks in great condition, I wonder if this is in its original location, or if it has been moved to become a garden feature. It is very close to the old trackway which runs parallel to the modern main road. Looking at the Canmore record, it sits within a landscape rich with cup and ring marked rocks, with the Stane Alane standing stone some 400m away. Studying the Canmore entry more, they say this stone had “already fallen by 1867”.