Kilmartin, Argyll, Scotland.

**Redshank** · 17th November 08, 06:18 AM

In my previous thread entitled Dunderave Castle, a forum member, namely Muirkirkca asked the question where is it, well Dunderave Castle is situated on the west side of Loch Fyne about a mile north of Inveraray, he also stated the his ancestors came from a wee village called Kilmartin.

Well Kilmartin is at the head of Kilmartin Glen, the glen is a site of significant historical interest, and was the birthplace of Scotland as we know it today, the glen was carved out of the landscape by a glacier coming down from Loch Awe making its way to the sea, Kilmartin stands on a terrace left by the glacier, early man settled in the glen, leaving behind evidence that would baffle and bemuse mankind that followed, explainable things such as cists, and burial mounds are plentyfull and dot the lanscape, as do standing stones, stone circles, and rock carvings, it is a little known fact that Kilmartin glen is so historically significant that it comes second only to Stonehenge in the British Isles.

The resident picts left their mark on the rocks in the glen in the form of cup and ring markings, and a now very faint pictish boar at the site of a former iron age fort at Dunadd, this rock outcrop in the glen is said to be the site where the first kings of Scotland where ordained around 500 AD, it is said that St Cololumba performed the ceremony himself.
Dunadd is where the Celtic tribe called the Scoti landed, they fought with and finally teamed up with the local picts against the roman invasion.

I live in the Kilmartin glen, just about a mile south of Dunadd fort on the Crinan Canal, it's an area that I have not photographed in any detail, but for Muirkirkca I have posted a few pics of the area, just to make him homesick and encourage him to come on over and explore the area further.

Autumnal Rowan tree on the hillside at Kilmartin

Duntrune Castle, clan seat for the MacCallum / Malcolm clan

Stoneage man returns to Kilmartin museum - John Lord Flint Napper

carving on the inside wall of Kilmartin church

Kilmartin church, the arched gateway is the war memorial for the lost soles in WW1

sunset at Kilmartn

Graveslab in Kilmartin churchyard

and others

Kilmartin glen from the churchyard

Pipe band perfoming on the village green at Kilmartin

That's all for now, sorry the photo's are not more of a scenic nature, I will remedy that in the forth coming months.

for more info on Kilmartin and its history, see the following link
http://www.kilmartin.org/

Chris

**Sionnach** · 17th November 08, 06:46 AM

Fantstic photos. Thank you again for posting them.

**Livingston** · 17th November 08, 07:40 AM

Even tho they are not scenic they are great pics and do give an idea of what the are is like. Just wondering, do you ever get up around the Island of Lismore?

**Highlander31** · 17th November 08, 07:47 AM

Thank you for the bit of history. Nice photos.

**Jack Daw** · 17th November 08, 07:51 AM

Thanks, Redshank - another dead McIntyre.

From groceries purchased in Lochgilphead, I had a sack lunch on Dunadd in early May 2003. It was sunny, chilly and windy, but what a view as it was an amazingly clear day. My foot did not fit into the stone depression. Yes, I picked up after myself.

The museum in Kilmartin was entertaining if you like ancient musical instruments (which I do). And, the abandoned Poltalloch Mansion is quite eerie on a dark and rainy afternoon.

Yes, at noon it was sunny without a cloud and in the afternoon it was raining and dark.