Prehistoric Rock Art & Landscapes

In Scotland’s beautiful Kilmartin Glen

4 Days From £995pp Departing Jul & Aug ‘21, Jul & Sep ‘22 Activity Level

The enchanting Kilmartin Glen, on Scotland’s west coast, plays host to one of the richest and best preserved prehistoric landscapes in Britain. The extraordinary concentration of Neolithic and Bronze Age burial monuments, standing stones and rock art in the glen and surrounding hills testifies to the importance of this area 5,500-3,500 years ago.

Tour Highlights

• Walk through the prehistoric heart of Kilmartin Glen, with its spectacular

Neolithic and Bronze Age burial monuments and standing stones • Visit the prehistoric stone circle at Temple Wood, where spiral carvings await • Observe the largest prehistoric carved rock in Britain at Achnabreck • Discover the elaborate, enigmatic carved rocks at Cairnbaan and Baluacraig • Be part of a small group of just 16 guests

Day One | Kilmartin Glen Today we meet in our hotel on the beautiful Argyll coast in Western Scotland. Before dinner, we will have an evening lecture on the landscape and archaeology of this picturesque part of the world. We pickup from Glasgow airport and train station by coach and drive to our hotel, or alternatively you can make your own way to the hotel. Day Two | Kilmartin Glen We begin with a short drive to Baluachraig, where we explore the rock art created 5,000 years ago using only stone tools. Next, we view the Ballmeanoch Stone Alignments, standing stones with a clear NWSE orientation. After lunch, we walk from the museum along Kilmartin Glen to view the Nether Largie Cairns prehistoric burial monuments dating from the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. We continue to the Temple Wood Stone Circles, dating from 3,000 BC, and the Nether Largie Standing Stones, where we see four menhirs arranged in pairs. We end the day at the Ri Cruin Cairns, a set of cairns arranged over 2km dating to between 5,000 and 3,500 years ago. Day Three | Kilmartin Glen This morning we drive to Kilmichael Glassary to visit Neolithic carvings on the rocky outcrop, which include keyhole motifs not seen in other Kilmartin rock art. We continue to Torbhlaren, which contains two decorated standing stones and three carved outcrops. After lunch in Ardfern, we drive to the 16th century Carnasserier Castle. Not far away, we find more Neolithic and Bronze Age rock art. We proceed to spectacular Dunadd to visit the hillfort that dominates the landscape. In use for more than 2,000 years, it was a stronghold of the Gaelic kings of Dál Riata from AD 500-800 and may have been visited by St Columba. For our last visit of the day, we drive to Cairnbaan to view its Iron Age rock art. Day Four | Kilmartin Glen - Glasgow Today we drive to Achnabreck, where we see the cup and ring symbols familiar to other sites in Kilmartin Glen. We continue to Cairnbaan and explore more examples of rock art that date from 3,500 to 2,500 years ago. After, we have lunch and return to Glasgow.

Guided by Dr Tertia Barnett

Tertia is an archaeologist specialising in the rock art of Britain, Europe and North Africa.

Price includes

• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager • Entries to all sites as per the itinerary • All taxes & gratuities Included travel

• All local transport Accommodation

• Accommodation in Lochgilphead Culinary inclusions

• 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches & 3 dinners • Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner

Dates & prices per person

Date Twin/Dbl Share SS 30th Jul - 2nd Aug ‘21 £995 £295 6th - 9th Aug ‘21 £995 £295

26th - 29th Jul ‘22 £1025 £295

6th - 9th Sep ‘22 £1025 £295