Here are more sites on our tour of Kilmartin Glen, Argyll, Scotland. For the past two Tuesdays, I've shown other sites here, including Nether Largie South Cairn and Standing Stones and Carnasserie Castle.
Kilmartin Glen is chock-full of ancient historical sites and
monuments, one of the richest areas in Scotland. It contains standing stone circles,
rock carvings, henges, burial cairns and the ancient seat of the Dalriada
Kings, the first kings of Scotland. And it is believed this was one of the busiest and most inhabited places during
Neolithic times, 2000 – 3000 BC and earlier.
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| Temple Wood |
Temple Wood consists of two beautiful small stone circles,
among the oldest in Britain. This is the circle of thirteen standing stones,
the southern circle. It may have contained twenty-two stones at one time. In
the center, you will see a burial cist. This is the younger of the two circles, and is
believed to have been constructed around 3000 BC based on the burials and
pottery excavated.
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| Closeup of the cist in the center. |
Round river rocks fill both. It is said these circles have
an Irish flavor. Experts believe one of the circles aligns with the mid-day sun
on the winter solstice. The name Temple Wood was given to the site in the
1800s, when the trees were planted around it. This site is just south of Nether
Largie South Cairn which I showed a photo of in my post two weeks ago.
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| View from Temple Wood over the Glen |
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| The stone walls that surround Temple Wood. |
Kilmartin Village is what most Scots would call a wee
village. It is beautiful and peaceful, not many people about when we were
there. It is situated 30 miles south of Oban.
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| Reconstructed Monk's Cell or beehive hut |
Click on the photo above of a plaque on site to enlarge it and read about the Monk's Cell. This sits just in front of the museum and cafe.
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| Close up of Glebe Cairn |
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| One of the ancient stone crosses in the museum. |
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| The beautiful old stone walls here are covered in moss. This is the entrance to the museum and cafe. |
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Kilmartin Hotel, built in the 19th century.
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Thanks!
Vonda
www.vondasinclair.com
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I didn't know what a cist was until this post. The cairns are fascinating. They reminded me of another term I recently learned--the cliet, a structure where Lady Grange was imprisoned in the Highlands by her estranged husband in the eighteenth century.
Amazing photos, Vonda. If you ever get tired of writing (and I hope that is never) you could go into photography. Talk about having history all around you....
How beautiful your pictures are. I read the plaque and found the info quite interesting. You're gonna make me get on that plane yet, Vonda
Cora Blu
Angelyn, I'll have to check out and see what a cliet looks like. I do love looking at the cairns.
Paisley, thanks! I would love to be a real actual photographer but not sure I have the patience for it. LOL You're right about the history!
Cora,
Thanks! I'm glad you liked the info. I learned something that day too because I'd never seen a monk's cell. I hope you do decide to get on the plane and visit Scotland. :)
Thanks for more great pictures, Vonda. And the history lessons. I'd know almost nothing about Scotland otherwise. :-) Love those cottages and moss-covered stones.
Thanks, Vanessa! I'm glad you liked the pics and info! :)
I loves these photos, Vonda!
Thanks so much, Gerri! I'm glad you like them!
I just stumbled on these pictures. Wow! Thanks so much for sharing. Love them.
Thanks for checking them out, Anita! I'm glad you enjoyed them!