Kilmartin Scotland....forgot to post this!

Friday June 14 was our day to explore Kilmartin, Argyll, Scotland. Kilmartin has an abundance of Neolithic and Bronze Age remains. 

We stopped at Arduaine Gardens (pronounced Ar-DOON-ee) enroute to Kilmartin.  The gardens are quite large with loads of rhododendrons, woodland plants and other more exotic species.  You can stroll through the gardens to several lookouts onto the sea.  Really lovely!  I was very enamored with a large and unusual tree that they called a handkerchief tree.  There are ponds and lovely plants to ooh and ahhh over.  Robin and I had to keep reminding each other that we had other places to go and could not spend all day.  The universe helped us along with that by sending a downpour just as we were heading back toward the entrance!

Robin at Arduaine with an amazing rhodie!

Arduaine

Arduaine Gardens lookout to the sea

 
We ate at the restaurant at the Kilmartin Visitor's Center before doing any exploring.  The food was excellent!  They had a vegetarian carrot ginger soup that was light and lovely and a falafel  sandwich….very yummy!  Robin had the venison burger (they even offered a gluten free bun) which she said was very good. 

Kilmartin was pretty amazing.  The landscape for miles is studded with ancient artifacts; cairns, standing stones, cup and ring carvings, stone circles and henge monuments.  We went through the museum and then walked and drove to various ancient landmarks up and down the Kilmartin Valley. 

Standing Stones Kilmartin Valley

Stone Circles Kilmartin Valley

Cup and ring carvings Kilmartin Valley

Burial Cairn Kilmartin Valley

We ended the day exploring Carnarsserie Castle.  It was late and we had it to ourselves.  Carnasserie castle was built in1565 as a residence rather than as a military fortress even though it is located on raised ground.  It was sold in 1643 to the Campbell's and was blown up in 1685 by the royalists in retribution for their role in a revolt against James VII.  It stands today largely as it was built.