Kilmartin - Kilmartin Glen

Kilmartin Glen

Kilmartin Glen is the location of several important Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age sites, including Temple Wood (a henge monument), several burial cairns, chambered cairns, standing stones and cup and ring marked rocks.

Kilmartin's is one of the finest concentrations of prehistoric sites in Scotland, and almost all are within an easy walk of the roads which criss-cross the valley. One of the burial cairns has been rebuilt, with access through an opening in the top down stairs to the base of the cairn and a stone burial cist. The two stone circles in Temple Wood have also been re-erected by archaeologists.

Carnasserie Castle (Historic Scotland; no entrance charge) stands a little north of Kilmartin. It was built by Bishop John Carswell of Argyll between 1565 and 1572. Largely complete, though roofless, its architecture is notably refined and includes much Renaissance ornamental detail.

Also within Kilmartin parish is the important Iron Age and early medieval hill-fort of Dunadd, one of the major centres of the kingdom of Dál Riata (Historic Scotland, no entrance charge).

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