Kilmartin Glen cairns and Temple Wood

From the car park in Kilmartin, by the church and museum, head down beside the museum into the field to the Glebe Cairn, the northernmost of the line of cairns. Cross a bridge to a track and follow it south past Nether Largie North Cairn, which you can enter by a hatch on top, then the Mid and South cairns. Beyond them the stone circles of Temple Wood stand among trees, and across the field are the Nether Largie standing stones. Return the same way.

It is 4.9 km with 20 m of ascent; allow about 1¼ hours. The grade is Easy: level paths, tracks and minor roads.

The cairns form a 'linear cemetery' down the glen; the Glebe Cairn is thought to be more than 3,500 years old and held pottery and a jet necklace. Kilmartin church has three carved Celtic crosses inside, and carved medieval grave slabs stand in the churchyard. Some of the way follows a minor road.

The car park is free. Buses from Oban, Lochgilphead and Glasgow stop in Kilmartin.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.