ISLE OF ISLAY
Robert Pollock has produced an excellent guide covering
the stone circle 6km north of Portnahaven (in the SW of the island).
He also has a guide with diagrams covering
the standing stone just outside Port Ellen (on the SE coast of the island) and another one close to the town at Kilbride.
The site of Finlaggan located near Port Askaig is also worth a visit.
It's an archaeological dig around what was the ancient seat of the Lord of the Isles in the
14th and 15th centuries. There are 2 islands on this site - Eilean Mor (Big Isle) and Eilean na Comhairle
(Council Isle). On the so-called Big Isle there are two main ruins (a chapel dedicated to Saint Finlaggan and a
service building), plus the remains of over 20 buildings one of which was a great hall. Carved gravestones were found near the chapel.
Robert Pollock has a guide with diagrams covering a standing stone at Finlaggan near the Visitors' Centre.
Ten crannogs (ancient loch dwellings) on Islay have been
surveyed by Mark Holley.
ISLE OF JURA
There are several standing stones scattered about the east coast of Jura.
A Neolithic burial cairn can be found south of Strone farm.
South-east of Ardmenish, on Lowlandman's Bay is the dun known as An Dunan.
KILMARTIN
Some 30 miles south of Oban, the area around Kilmartin is rich in history.
Around the village many prehistoric and medieval monuments can be found including burial cairns, stone circles and cup-and-ring engravings.
An interactive map of all the local archaeological sites is provided on
the Kilmartin House web site.
ISLE OF MULL
Robert Pollock describes the standing stones south of Tobermory.
Before you reach Dervaig along the road from Tobermory, if you have a good map of the area, you might like to explore some of the nearby standing stones.
You will see a couple marked on the map to the left of this road, then closer to the village are the Kilmore standing stones located just inside the forest on the right.
From there you can go deeper into the forest and after around half a mile you will see another clearing containing yet more stones by Maol Mor.
Robert Pollock has produced a guide with diagrams covering some of these stones.
Further on near Calgary (13 miles west of Tobermory), there's the Cillchriosd standing stone.
At Ardura you can take a track down to Lochbuie, home of the MacLaines
and site of Moy Castle
and a Bronze Age stone circle.
Robert Pollock has produced an excellent guide with diagrams covering the stone circle
and also a standing stone.
Nine crannogs (ancient loch dwellings) on Mull have been
surveyed by Mark Holley.
ISLE OF COLL
Archaeological sites on Coll include a cairn at Arinagour, a souterrain at the Arnabost crossroads and
Iron Age forts such as the ones at Dun an Achaidh and Feall Bay.
Two standing stones can be found in the west at Totronald. These are called Na Sgeulachan
in Gaelic ('teller of tales' in English) and may have been used for astronomical purposes or they could have belonged to a temple.
A dozen crannogs (ancient loch dwellings) have been
surveyed by Mark Holley.
ISLE OF TIREE
Four crannogs (ancient loch dwellings) on Tiree have been
surveyed by Mark Holley.
There are also several interesting archaeological remains on the island including a
30 foot-diameter broch at Vaul Bay, with walls 12 feet thick and,
in the west at Kilkenneth, the ruins of Chapel of Saint Kenneth,
one of Saint Columba's followers.
ISLE OF SKYE
On the lochside at Kensaleyre on the NW coast of the Trotternish peninsula
are some prehistoric stones whose origin is a mystery.
Legend says that there were once 3 stones which were used to support cauldrons
of venison stew for the Fiennes (mystical giants who threw stones).
ISLE OF BARRA
Standing stones at Borve.
Dun Bharpa is a large well-preserved Neolithic chambered burial cairn 2.5 km south of the road between Craigston and Grean (map grid reference NF 671019).
Before the turn to Grean and Cleit, on a low hill close to the road, are the well-preserved
remains of an Iron Age broch called Dun Chuidhir or Cuier (map grid reference NF 664034).
ISLE OF SOUTH UIST
About halfway down South Uist, you will see a turn to Bornish (Bornais in Gaelic).
Dun Bhulan (on a spur of land overlooking the beach) is an Iron Age broch and settlement (map grid reference NF 714297). There's also a track south from Bornish leading to a standing stone.
On the southern coast of the island, a standing stone can be seen close to the shore near the Pollachar Inn.
ISLE OF NORTH UIST
There are many sites of historical interest scattered about North Uist. Some are near
roads, others are harder to reach. Check with the Tourist Office when you get there to
make sure of access.
Between Clachan and Lochmaddy is the
Barpa Langass Neolithic cairn which has an intact
burial chamber. The monument is some 25 metres in diameter and 4 metres high. It is about
150 metres south of the road. One kilometre south-east of here (or 100 metres from the end
of the track at Langass Lodge) are the remains of a stone circle,
Pobull Fhinn.
Near Carinish are the ruins of a 13th century church (Teampull na Trionaid), thought to
have been founded by the daughter of the warrior Somerled. It is signposted 200 metres
from the raod at Carinish (Cairinis in Gaelic). A long cairn, dun and stone circle can all be
found east of here. Photos and description on my North Uist page.
Several monuments can be found along the road to the Harris/Berneray ferry point at
Newtonferry (Port nan Long in Gaelic). About 3 miles north of Lochmaddy, climb Blashaval
hill to the left of the road and you will find 3 standing stones known as the Three False Men
or Na Fir Bhreige. Legend has it that these mark the graves of spies who were buried alive.
You'll find them on the western slope of the hill.
Another mile or two further up on the right-hand side of the road on an islet (with causeway)
in Loch an Duin stands the broch known as Dun Thorcuill (or Torcuil) (map reference NF 888
737).
Just before you reach Newtonferry is Loch an Sticir. There on an islet (with causeway) is a
broch known as Dun an Sticir which has a late medieval hall (map reference NF 897776).
Photos and description on my North Uist page.
In the west of the island, take the track from Tigharry to the summit of South Clettraval (133
metres high). Here you will find a Neolithic chambered cairn of the 'Clyde' type, unique in the
Western Isles, and also an Iron Age wheelhouse (map reference NF 749713).
Link to my photos.
Further south on the hill called Unival (or Uneabhal in Gaelic) is a Neolithic chambered cairn
and late Iron Age cellular house (map reference NF 800668). Uphill walk east-south-east of
the so-called Committee Road.
Photos on my North Uist page.
ISLE OF HARRIS
The road from Northton in southern Harris arches round alongside three-mile long Scarista beach -
one of many stretches of golden sand you will see on the west coast of the island.
From the road you can see the remains of a standing stone arrangement (map grid reference NG 021939) - check out
the guide by Robert Pollock. I took a photo of the upright stone in May 1997.
After passing lots of deserted beaches all the way up the west coast, you might
care to stop at this one, Traigh Iar (or Nisabost) just before you reach Horgabost.
A sign points the way to Macleod's standing stone on the far side of the sand about 700 metres from the road.
The stone is quite large and it's well worth the walk if only for the view you have of the island of Taransay.
Robert Pollock has details and diagrams and I have a
photo.
Situated in a private garden, the MacDonalds' B&B at number 6 Horgabost,
is a Neolithic chambered burial cairn of which only the central setting remains.
It is clearly visible from the main road at the junction with the road to Glen Horgabost (map grid reference NG 047966). Photo on B&B page.
ISLE OF LEWIS
On top of Gallows Hill in the grounds of Lews Castle in Stornoway there's a chambered cairn which has been partly obscured by a modern cairn (map reference NB417323).
Take the A866 east of Stornoway and explore the Eye Peninsula, a spur of land which juts out into the Minch.
750 metres south of Garrabost is a chambered cairn (map reference NB 534330). South of
there can be found a standing stone and yet further south Dun Bayble.
Driving towards Tiumpan Head you will pass Loch an Duin which has a causeway over to an
island dun (map reference NB 516304).
Driving down the west coast of Lewis, after you have passed the whalebone arch in Bragar, continue south along the road.
Shortly you will see the South Bragar dun in a loch 80 metres east of the road. It can be accessed on foot by a causeway.
