Lying just to the north of Knapdale in Argyll is Kilmartin Glen, one of the most enigmatic areas of Scotland. The valley contains a rich collection of historic and prehistoric monuments that include ancient burial grounds, standing stones and even rock carvings. Individually, these monuments may not have the same visual impact as the Callanish Standing Stones on Lewis or the Ring of Brodgar on Orkney perhaps, but collectively, they make up the most important concentration of Neolithic and Bronze Age remains in mainland Scotland.

There are at least 350 ancient monuments within a six mile radius of Kilmartin village, and some sources claim that there are as many as 800. As I have no intention of traipsing through the valley with a clipboard checking out what the true figure is, I’ll just say that there are lots of them.

Not all of these ancient monuments are prehistoric by any means, and in amongst the cairns and carvings is Dunadd. Rising from the morass of the Moine Mhòr, this hillfort was one of the most important sites in the Gaelic kingdom of Dál Riata, so come on a journey back in time to a place that I hope will intrigue you as much as it does me.

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Originally posted 2022-06-05 13:36:42.