Watch the Loch change in a hearbeat and other Kilmartin, United Kingdom Things to Do Tips

Loch Erin

Lochearnhead is actually in Perthshire but was a significant part of our road trip down and across to Argyll. The Scottish Gaelic name is Ceann Loch Eireann but the loch is simply Lochearn = no typo here just one word but I have two simply beautiful.....It is an inland loch as oppossed to the sea lochs but it is tidal - not in the usual sense of the word - the tides are caused by the winds which funnel through the loch from the east around Glen Ogle. I could hardly believe these waters could change in a heartbeat all the pictures were taken on the same day none were altered just nature working her magic turning the Loch from black, grey and white to vibrant blue. On our journey home we again stopped by Lochearn's shores and yes she had changed her mind again to become a placid still body of water with great reflections. When I have some spare time I will add the extra pictures to a TL

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Address: Lochearnhead Perthshire
Directions: On the A84 Stirling - Crianlarich road at the foot o Glen Ogle

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Things To Do: The Quiet Dark Loch Mellfort

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Updated by scottishvisitor

on Feb 28, 2008

Loch Melfort is one of many sea lochs here in the west of Scotland which cut through the land creating Argyll's rugged coastline. We spend a relaxing time walking along the stoney shore line, watching the little fishing boats as they tended the mussel beds, just watching the dark, silent and still waters as the sun reflected perfectly the surrounding hills and colours of winter. They say still waters run deep and this was the reason the pier was built here back in the first half of the nineteenth century. Gunpowder was delivered here in what was then big ships to the gunpowder factory near Melfort House, where after some production process it left by cart to be delivered to the surrounding Estates. No thoughts of gunpowder or factories could enter your head here today - just bird song beautiful landscapes and a duck skimming the water as if the whole loch belonged to him - we were more than happy to let him have his big moment we had time to watch time to dream and time to reflect.

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Address: Melfort Village
Directions: 15 miles south of Oban on the A816 then first right signposted Melfort then 2 miles along single track road
Website: www.mellowmelfort.com

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Things To Do: Kilmartin House Museum

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Updated by scottishvisitor

on Feb 28, 2008

Kilmartin House Museum

by scottishvisitor , 3 more photos

The Kilmartin House Museum traces the lives of the first settlers who were hunter gatherers who lived and worked in this area thousands of years ago. Unfortunately for us the Museum didn't open until March but we did read the information boards and all seemed of great historical interest. They have a shop here with history books, souveniers and little gifts. Also on site they have the Glebe Cairn Cafe where you can have a snack and a hot drink. Opening times are 1st. March until 31st. October 7 days from 10.00a.m. till 5.30p.m. Reduced hours November till Christmas Closed Christmas to March. Ticket price is �4.60 Adult �10.00 Family and �1.70 Child. Your ticket is valid for the whole day so you can come and go when you please. Maybe next time I'll be in this area at the right time to view the artifact.

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Phone: 01546 510278
Address: Kilmartin Village Argyll
Directions: 8 miles north of Lochgilphead on A816
Website: www.kilmartin.org

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Things To Do: Walking Kilmartin Glen

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Updated by scottishvisitor

on Mar 2, 2008

A winter's walk through Kilmartin Glen - what a pleasure to have a near solitary walk here. I say near solitary I did walk step by step with Kenny and the dogs but not always. I frequently seemed to lag behind taking endless photographes of the landscapes, the sheep and the complete isolation of this quiet glen. Signs of early Spring were all around, snowdrops were in abundance and crocuses were just popping through the still cold earth. Be aware the sheep here are left to graze undisturbed in unfenced moorland but despite not another soul around the sheep were not bothered in the least with our presence let alone the dogs who where leashed but so many country smells to investigate puddles to run through not one of them noticed they were under close scrutinity.

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Address: Kilmartin Glen
Directions: Left turn to car park of the A816 unclassified road
Website: www.outdooraccess.scotland.com

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Things To Do: Carnasserie Castle

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Updated by scottishvisitor

on Feb 29, 2008

Great Oak Tree & Castle

Carnasserie Castle looks as if it was built for defence from its lofty position but it was really just a Tower House which John Carswell, the first protestant Bishop of the Isles had built for his own domestic use. He employed stone masons from Stirling to build the tower house which was constructed between 1565 and finished in 1572. Carswell has his fame in the first book to be published in Gaelic, this was a translation of John Knox's book of common prayer. After Carswell's death the Castle passed to the Clan Campbell family, an inscription on the Archway reads SDC LHL 1681 which refers to Sir Duncan Campbell and Lady Henrietta Lindsay whose support for the Argyll's uprising of the rebellion of Monmouth in 1685 led to royalist forces blowing most of the interior up. If you look above the doorway although worn with age you will see the motto DIA LE UA NDUIBHNE "God be with O'Duine" All though the interior only has the kitchens left in tact the exterior is well preserved thanks again to Historic Scotland who today look after the ancient Castle. Open all year and entrance is free.

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Address: Carnasserie Castle
Directions: Just off the A816 a little north of Kilmartin
Website: www.kilmartin.org

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Things To Do: Kilmartin Kirk

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Updated by scottishvisitor

on Feb 29, 2008

What's behind the blue door

The present Church in Kilmartin was built in 1835 although other Churches of the same name were also on this site many centuries before. It is a nondescript church really - its only feature is a Norman Tower and an arched entrance which is a memorial to the local people who died in the 1st. World War. Kilmartin Church's fame comes from the Kilmartin Crosses which are displayed in the rear of the Church. Unfortunatley the Church is open to visitors from April to September during the hours of 9.30a.m. and 19.00hrs. we visited in February and were a little early. I did check the website and the crosses are similar to the ones you will find in the Kirk Yard. The Celtic Crosses inside the Church are much older and were put into the sanctuary of the Church to protect and preserve them from further weather damage. Historic Scotland was again involved in this project.

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Address: Kilmartin Village
Directions: On the A816 South of Oban
Website: www.kilmartin.org

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Things To Do: Two Treasures from the distant past

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Updated by scottishvisitor

on Mar 1, 2008

Kilmartin Stones

There is a little glass roofed building in Kilmartin Kirk Yard where we viewed grave slabs which had been arranged chronologically around the inside. The stones date from the earliest 1300's to the late 1700's. The detail they portray gives a picture book guide to the past. Most were the work of a group of stonemasons working around Loch Awe in the 14th. and 15th. Centuries. Back outside amongst the other grave stones we found the Poltalloch Stones, these stones depicted 14th. Century men preparing for battle with their swords, spears and claymores. The Poltalloch Stones were brought to Kilmartin when they were discovered on the Poltalloch Estate. All these ancient monuments are in the care of Historic Scotland.

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Address: Kilmartin Church Yard
Directions: If you park in the village car park the Church is on your left
Website: www.kilmartin.org

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Things To Do: Temple Wood Stone Circle

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Updated by scottishvisitor

on Mar 1, 2008

Historic Scotland has built a large car park to the left of the stone circle site with information boards. The entrance to this historic place is to your right where you cross the River Oude via a wooden bridge and gateway. Templewood Stone Circle is said to have been here for 4,000 years, originally there were two circles containing 22 stones, today there are 13 stones but just one circle. Only one stone stands alone outside the circle, two of the inner stones are decorated with concentric circles and a double spiral but they are so weather worn the marks are almost invisible. Past pictures show a stone cist in the centre but the burial site have been removed probably during the last excavations which took place in 1979. The land they stand on is private farm land with a flock of sheep so no dogs are allowed. I was entirely alone here apart from the sheep but judging by their total disdain and disinterest in me the sheep have grown used to many visitors who come to see the old stones.

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Address: Temple Wood Argyll
Directions: South of Kilmartin Village on the A816 sign posted right turn unclassified single track road
Website: www.kilmartin.org

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Things To Do: Dunchraigaig Cairn

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Updated by scottishvisitor

on Mar 1, 2008

Dunchraigaig Cairn transaltes from Scottish Gaelic into English as the Tomb of the Eagles. It has been in existance for a mind blowing time it was erected 2,000 B.C. At first when we entered the field the Cairn looked like a massive amount of scattered stones heaped together in the centre. After walking around the entire area we soon realised we had been standing on the very top of an ancient burial site. The Cairn is low lying but I would think it was a bit taller as the entrance is just a narrow slit. Amazing to think our ancestors were buried here but then we spotted the warning sign on the exit gate warning you of the dangers of crossing the road ah well a visit to the past could bring you back to the present with a bump.

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Address: Dunchraigaig
Directions: South of Kilmartin on the A816
Website: www.kilmartin.org

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Things To Do: Dunadd

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Updated by scottishvisitor

on Mar 1, 2008