Kilmartin Glen Standing Stones Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore ancient standing stones
- Visit Kilmartin Museum
- Discover Neolithic burial sites
- See Bronze Age stone circles
- Learn about Scotland's prehistoric past
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Guided tour of Kilmartin Glen's ancient sites
- Transportation from Glasgow to Kilmartin Glen
- Visit to Kilmartin Museum
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
We make our morning refreshment stop by the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond where you can soak in the beautiful scenery.
We will make a brief stop here at the viewpoint to take pictures.
You’ll have time to explore the ancient hill fort at Dunadd. Occupied since the Iron Age, it was once the capital of Dalriada one of the early kingdoms of Gaelic Scotland.
Around 800 ancient monuments exist within a six mile radius of Kilmartin village. You’ll have around 3 hours to explore this incredibly special place. We recommend starting at the Kilmartin Museum. Here you’ll find a vast array of ancient artefacts including quartz tools used to make prehistoric rock art. Nearby is Kilmartin Parish Church where you’ll find a remarkable collection of early grave slabs. Some of these slabs are of early Christian design and others are medieval. Nether Largie standing stones and Temple Wood are within walking distance from the museum. Temple Wood’s 13 standing stones is the picturesque setting for the best-preserved stone circle in Kilmartin Glen. The Temple Wood Stone Circle’s use began some time before 3000 BC and continued into the Bronze Age, ending around 1000 BC. A timber ring pre-dated the stone circle you see today by around 2,000 years. Please note this stop may be shortened by 20 minutes in the winter months to accommodate the early sunset.
Passengers can opt to pay entry to Kilmartin Museum and learn more about the fascinating history of the area.
This massive rock outcrop is one of the finest examples of prehistoric rock art in Scotland. The carvings are extensive with spirals and massive multiple ring marks, some stretching a meter across. There will be time to explore and capture some photos of the historical site. Please note this stop may be shortened by 10 minutes in the winter months to accommodate the early sunset.
We’ll have a break in the traditional county town of Inveraray for evening refreshments.
Meeting point
Start Location
Buchanan Bus Station, Killermont Street, Glasgow, UK
Important information
Know before you book
- The tour involves walking over uneven and sometimes muddy ground; appropriate footwear is essential.
- The tour is conducted in English; ensure you are comfortable with the language.
- Check the weather forecast before departure and dress accordingly.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for uneven terrain.
- Bring a waterproof jacket in case of rain.
- Carry a camera to capture the stunning landscapes and ancient sites.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Service Animals Allowed
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- We are unable to accommodate children under 5.
Traveler reviews
Great tour of a beautiful area of Scotland
I had a wonderful time on this tour with Chris and Maggie (hope I remember your name correctly!). Chris is well informed and enthusiastic about the history of the area. He walked with us and pointed out items of interest. We also had time to explore on our own and had plenty of time to see major points of interest as well as the museum in Kilmartin. I highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in beautiful scenery and the history of ancient history. It is a truly remarkable area.
Wonderful day exploring Kilmartin Glen with Colin and Kieran
My dad and I had a wonderful and fun day on the Kilmartin Glen tour with Colin, Kieran and our fellow travellers. The drive up to Dunadd Fort and Kilmartin Glen was very picturesque with lovely photo stops on way, and we had plenty of time to explore the fort, standing stones, museum + the rock carvings at Achnabreck. On the way back, we had a break in Inveraray, which is always a treat (we’re tour veterans by now!). Lots of laughs on the bus, so I’m sure we’ll have fond memories of this day for a long time to come. Would happily book with Discover Scotland again. P.S.: don’t forget to look up the Claudia Winkleman gravy granules story, Kieran ;-)
I didn’t understand this...
I didn’t understand this was a walking tour after getting to the location by bus. The area is beautiful and all the history is wonderful but I wasn’t in the frame of mind to walk miles for all the standing stones and cairns. I wish the description would have had more information about this. Our guide, Gary, was wonderful and gave us options about all the walking. He was more than willing to come along with us as we were the only two on the tour. Absolute legend of a guide and would love to go on another tour with him again.
Amazing experience
We had an amazing tour with Billy! He is an exceptional guide who balances knowledge and humour with great music. A highlight of our trip!
Standing Stones Tour
Billy was an excellent tour guide—knowledgeable, friendly, and engaging. He made the experience fun while sharing great insights and showing us spots we wouldn’t have found on our own. Highly recommend!