Machrie Moor

The earliest signs of human activity on Machrie moor date from 3500 BC and farming from 2500 BC. The ancients used early ploughs called ards which cut through, rather than turned the earth. They grew barley and wheat and raised animals. There is evidence that these early farmers erected timber circles. Around 2000 BC, stone circles, burial cairns and round houses were built.

Today there are 6 stone circles, Fingal’s Cauldron near the ruins of Moss Farm is a double ring. The stones sit in a lonely moor with very good views to the mountains of Arran to the north. Access is through a sheep pasture, the sheep being blocked from the stone circles with fencing.

This is great time of year to visit as we had the moor to ourselves. Also, Scotland is very casual with respect to their ancient sites, there are no huge sign boards or large parking lots to ruin the atmosphere of visiting the stones, there are just a few small information boards and stiles to assist in clamouring over the sheep fencing.

The Machrie moor settlements were abandoned in 700 BC. Climate change likely forced the farmers to higher land as the temperatures cooled and the environment became wetter allowing peat to form. The moor is difficult to walk on and if you get to a low area it is a peat bog where you sink in water.

After visiting the stones we had tea in the Machrie Tearoom at the Machrie golf course. Then we carried on up the east side of Arran to the Druid stone which is situated in the middle of a sheep pasture. We then travelled down to the south end and had a whisky in the bar of the Kildonan Hotel, a bar with a terrific view of the seafront. You look out at the lighthouse on Pladda and beyond that lies Alisa Craig, the volcanic plug where granite was quarried for curling stones.

We were too lazy to do any long walks today but will be back in action tomorrow. A couple of older men we met hill walking advised us to buy whisky in the grocery stores, so we checked it out, of course they were right about that.

Moss Farm Kerb Cairn

Fingal’s Cauldron

Druid Stone

View from Kildronan

Moorland grass

Wire tightener