Machrie Moor on the Arran isle is a Neolithic center of ritual and domestic activity, scattered across a lonely moorland. This rich archaeological landscape includes stone circles, standing stones, burial cairns, and cists, as well as hut circles and an extensive field system, all dating to between 3500 B.C. and 1500 B.C. The outstanding standing stone circles, the focus of this journey, were preceded by elaborate timber circles on exactly the same sites. They were associated with religious activities dating back around 4,500 years. Cremation and inhumation burials were placed in the circles long after they were first built.
The journey begins in at the Glasgow International Airport, located in Paisley outside of Glasgow. Take the A737 for 25.2 miles (40.5 km) to the port town of Ardrosson, located on the North Ayrshire coast in southwestern Scotland. Take the CalMac Ferry, a short ride of roughly 70 minutes, to Brodick on the eastern coast of Arran. After disembarking, take the A841 to the junction with the B880 (called locally "The String."). After roughly 6 miles (9-1/2 km) turn right at the sign for Machrie 3 miles until the junction with the A841, the road that runs around the whole island, again. Take a left onto the A841 for a few miles to the parking area for the Machrie Moor stones. After parking, walk the path to the stones.
Click on "More Options" (above left) for a larger view of the map 
|
The Machrie Moor Standing Stones Visits:
Machrie Moor Stone Circle 1: Visited June 2, 2013
Machrie Moor Stone Circle 2: Visited June 2, 2013
Machrie Moor Stone Circle 3: Visited June 2, 2013
Machrie Moor Stone Circle 4: Visited June 2, 2013
Machrie Moor Stone Circle 5: Visited June 2, 2013
Machrie Moor Stone Circle 6: Visited June 2, 2013
Visitors Information
Visitors information for the the Machrie Moor Standing Stones may be found at the Historic Environment Scotland website. General tourist information may be found on the Visit Arran website.
Disclaimer
Please check local road conditions for possible changes prior to venturing forth on this journey. A helpful resource for changes and possible trip interruptions if you are travelling in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland is the AA-UK Route Planner. Another map source that this website uses and that may be useful to you on your journeys is Streetmap UK.
Disclaimer
Please check local road conditions for possible changes prior to venturing forth on this journey.
|
