Machrie Moor Stone Circles

standing-stonesLooking out over the landscape, I could not have ordered more perfect weather. A remote landscape. Wide open vista. The chance to visit a pre-historic site. It’s purpose lost in time.

It could only be windy and overcast, with the hint of rain. Perfect.

machrie-moor-isle-of-arranWe had crossed over to the Isle of Arran for the day. On our list was a tour of the island, a visit to the Machrie Moor standing stones, followed by a stop at the Isle of Arran distillery.

There are six stone circles. Access is along a farm track, making it an easy walk. It takes over an hour. There is a small car park, but I noticed walkers waiting at the bus stop, so this looks a good way to reach the stones.

We knew we had enough time to complete the walk, visit the distillery and catch our pre-booked ferry, back to the mainland.

standing-stones-on-machrie-moorThe children love this kind of walk. Turning the corner to find another circle or the ruins of a more modern farm. Imaginations sparked.

pup-at-the-standing-stonesI think we’ve reached the stage where they no longer moan at the mention of a walk. Maybe they realise there is no point. Maybe they have started to enjoy it. Whichever it might be, this time they raced ahead. Exploring. Taking turns to hold one of the dog leads.machrie-moor-isle-of-arran-and-standing-stones

The views were amazing. There is something so soothing about the sight of heather clad hills. Later we saw herds of red deer on the slopes. Herds of 50, munching happily. Fortunately, with the dogs in our group, we only encountered sheep on this walk. (Sheep avoid us, while deer have a strange attraction to the dogs. I think they are confused by their shape and think they are deer.)

standing-stones-on-machrie-moor-2The stones are amazing. They are thin and tall. We are used to Avebury and Stonehenge, with their mammoth stones. These ones seem to almost defy the laws of nature. Surely in such an exposed location, they should have been blown down. Instead they seem to almost stand on their tippy toes.

It was a good walk.

grooves-in-standing-stones

So did we make it to the distillery? Did we miss the ferry?

We managed it all. Next time we will leave more time to visit the distillery properly and do the tour. It would be great for the children to see the process. We did pick up a bottle of whisky. How could we possibly not?

Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

32 comments

  1. What an amazing place. I love stone circles – I love the thought that they have been arranged by people like that so long ago, and yet remain in the places where they were left.
    Glad you made it to the distillery and got your bottle of whiskey!
    #countrykids

  2. This sounds like a wonderful day filled with lots of exploration, it’s great that your kids were keen to get out and enjoy it with you. It’s amazing how many stone circles there are on such a small island, I’m impressed by how many you managed to see in the time you had to explore Arran. It’s great that you got to pop by the distillery again too, you squeezed so much in between ferries.

    Thanks for sharing with me on #CountryKids.

    1. Kicking myself that we didn’t check the times of the distillery tours. Would have changed the order that we did everything. Never mind next time.

  3. I’ve never seen stones like that before. The ones at Rollright near us are tiny in comparison. I find them really interesting to be near though. #countryfiles

  4. Wow, they look very impressive. I love looking at old bits of history, thinking of all who have visited and how they were used etc.
    With an hour walk there and back I’m pretty sure you deserved the whiskey from the distillery. 😉

    1. It is the height,the shape and the way they walk, we think. Once walked in a wood with a herd circling us about 100 metres away. Often lone deer will trail us from a distance, as they try and figure it out. It is bizzare.

  5. What a beautiful place to explore on your walk – the stones look huge and your description of them standing on tippy toes is perfect – it really does look like they should just blow over in the wind. Glad to hear you managed to fit everything in and make it back to the ferry on time! 🙂 #countrykids

    1. There is no guarantee that my lot won’t revert to moaning, but I’m hoping we’re heading in the right direction (no pun intended).

  6. It’ll be rude not to pick up a bottle of Whiskey!
    What amazing views and the weather couldn’t have been better. That’s stunning and the stone circles look amazing
    We sometimes still have the moans and groans when we say we’re going for a walk, but when the children discover something like this then the moans soon disappear
    A packed day but looks amazing!
    #CountryKids

    1. Absolutely. I’m glad you see my point about the bottle. Never one to cause offence, in that regard.
      It is amazing how soon the groans subside once the walk has started. Maybe I’m just getting more efficient at not hearing them!

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