Standing Stones and Stone Circles of Kilmartin Glen 1 Day Tour

From Glasgow we head out of the city towards Loch Lomond. We’ll travel along the western side of the Queen of all Scotland Lochs. Next, we make our way up the mountain pass known as ‘Rest and be Thankful’. We will make a brief stop here at the viewpoint to take pictures.

We’ll have a break in the traditional county town of Inveraray for morning refreshments. Entering the town your driver guide will point out Inveraray Castle, one of Scotland’s most elegant castles. Inveraray Castle was also the location for the Downton Abbey Christmas special 2012 episode.

You’ll have time to explore the ancient hill fort at Dunadd. Occupied since the Iron Age, it was once the capital of Dalriada one of the early kingdoms of Gaelic Scotland.

Dunaad fort is also the site where the ancient Kings of Scotland were coronated. Would be Scottish Kings would place one foot in the stone footprint meaning their marriage to the land. It’s believed the first King of the Scots Kenneth MacAlpin who united the kingdoms of Dal Riata and Pictland in 843 was inaugurated at Dunadd.

Around 800 ancient monuments exist within a six mile radius of Kilmartin village. You’ll have around 3 hours to explore this incredibly special place. We recommend starting at the Kilmartin Museum. Here you’ll find a vast array of ancient artefacts including quartz tools used to make prehistoric rock art.

Not far from the Museum is Kilmartin Parish Church where you’ll find a remarkable collection of early grave slabs. Some of these slabs are of early Christian design and others are medieval. Nether Largie standing stones and Temple Wood are within walking distance from the museum.

Temple Wood’s 13 standing stones is the picturesque setting for the best-preserved stone circle in Kilmartin Glen. The Temple Wood Stone Circle’s use began some time before 3000 BC and continued into the Bronze Age, ending around 1000 BC. A timber ring pre-dated the stone circle you see today by around 2,000 years.

We’ll make the short drive to the rock carvings at Achnabreck. This massive rock outcrop is one of the finest examples of prehistoric rock art in Scotland. The carvings are extensive with spirals and massive multiple ring marks, some stretching a meter across.

On our return journey we’ll make an early evening stop for refreshments before reaching Glasgow where our tour will end.