Islay: a Standing Stone!

And here is another Standing Stone, north of Loch Finlaggan, beside the road to the Finlaggan Visitor Centre, in a field. Apparently, it was one of two standing stones, observed back in 1695 by Marin Martin (an early tourist who wrote a book of his travels through darkest Scotland). Two large boulders to the east may be the missing second stone. Caldwell thinks these stones may have once been a part of a neolithic monument, now buried. There is a mound behind the visiting centre, which was excavated in 1994/95. A burial chamber (or underground store associated with Iron Age houses) was found here, lined with boulders. (That holding up that stone is me!)

Islay

We travelled on yet another ferry from Kennicraig on West Loch, across the Sound of Jura to Port Ellen, Islay. At this time, there was a major tour of Distilleries, encompassing all ten of them on Islay, plus the one on the Isle of Jura. Therefore, it was really difficult to find accommodation. Through the wonders of Information Scotland, though, we found a room in the Jura Hotel. This meant that we spent more time on Jura than we had planned. In fact, neither of us were much interested in distilleries (although the participants we saw seemed to be having a great time!). I was the unofficial guide of our 'expedition', and so we focussed on Standing Stones and historical centres.

I must recommend our guidebook, a tattered paperback, by a genuine archaeologist, David Caldwell. It was most helpful, especially when we visited Finlaggan on Islay!