Discover Skye & the Islands - Discover Scotland: Experience the Best of Scotland - page 485

Detour:
Kilmartin Glen
This magical glen is the focus of one of the biggest concentrations of prehistoric sites in Scotland. Burial cairns,
standing stones, stone circles, hill forts and cup and ring-marked rocks litter the countryside. Within a 6-mile radius
of Kilmartin village there are 25 sites with standing stones and over 100 rock carvings.
The oldest monuments at Kilmartin date from 5000 years ago and comprise a linear cemetery of burial cairns that
runs south from Kilmartin village for 1.5 miles. There are also ritual monuments (two stone circles) at Temple
Wood, 0.75 miles southwest of Kilmartin. The Kilmartin House Museum ( Click here ) bookshop sells maps and
guides.
The hill fort of Dunadd, 3.5 miles south of Kilmartin village, was the seat of power of the first kings of Dalriada,
and may have been where the Stone of Destiny was originally located. The faint rock carvings of a wild boar and
two footprints with an Ogham inscription may have been used in some kind of inauguration ceremony. A slippery
path leads to the summit where you can gaze out on much the same view that the kings of Dalriada enjoyed 1300
years ago.
Bus 423 between Oban and Ardrishaig (four daily Monday to Friday, two on Saturday) stops at Kilmartin (£5,
one hour and 20 minutes).
Craignure & Around
There's not much to see at Craignure other than the ferry terminal and the hotel, so turn
left and drive or cycle the 3 miles to Duart Castle ( 01680-812309; www.duartcastle.com ;
adult/child £5.50/2.75; 10.30am-5.30pm daily May-mid-Oct, 11am-4pm Sun-Thu Apr) , a formidable
fortress dominating the Sound of Mull (you can't miss it as you approach Craignure by
ferry). The seat of the Clan Maclean, this is one of the oldest inhabited castles in Scotland
- the central keep was built in 1360. It was bought and restored in 1911 by Sir Fitzroy
Maclean and has damp dungeons, vast halls and bathrooms equipped with ancient fittings.
A bus to the castle meets the 9.50am, 11.55am and 2pm ferries from Oban to Craignure.
On the way to Duart you'll pass Wings Over Mull ( 01680-812594;
www.wingsovermull.com ; Torosay; adult/child £4.50/1.50; 10.30am-5.30am Easter-Oct) , a wildlife
centre dedicated to birds of prey. The captive collection includes more than two dozen
species, and there are daily displays of falconry and hawk handling.