Arran, Largybeg

NS02SE 1 0537 2332.

(NS 0537 2332) Standing Stones (NR)

OS 6" map, (1924)

Two standing stones situated in a natural mound, one is thought to be sepulchral. Though McArthur mentions numerous cists found in the vicinity, this disagrees with local inhabitants, who have never heard of such finds. It is more than probable that he is confusing Largybeg with Largymore, where the Giants' Graves are.

Sources: Name Book 1864; J McArthur 1873.

McArthur records that some years before 1861 "a white cairn near Largybeg was denuded of its stones, exposing a range of chambers containing severals urns of unbaked clay, filled with earth and calcined bones". In the next paragraph he says, "near Dippen, on a little green knoll by the shore, there are the remains of a chambered cairn. The huge stone troughs appear to have been built irregularly near the centre of the mound". Largybeg and Dippen are about 3/4 mile apart, and it seems probable that he has confused two sites, for the second entry sounds like a reference to the cairn on Largybeg Point, and the first entry would refer to the chamber behind the farm of Dippen (NS02SW 5), otherwise not recorded by M'Arthur.

The site on Largybeg Point consists of an oval mound, mainly natural, measuring 45ft ESE-WNW, along its longer axis. 14ft from the ESE end are two upright stones, projecting 4ft, set 9ft 8ins apart in a line NNE-SSW, with a small stone between them aligned on the same axis but only just showing. Near the WNW end of the mound there is a dip in the surface as if due to excavation and a flat slab is exposed in the side of the hole. Several sizeable slabs can be seen just showing through the turf, but the plan is not evident.

Source: A S Henshall 1972, visited 1962.

There is a large collection of cists on a narrow plain near the shore at Largybeg. In some of them were found urns of unbaked clay, containing ashes.

Source: NSA 1845.

The two standing stones (A and B) and the stump of a possible third (C), occupy a commanding position on a level promontory knoll under grass. 'A', of weathered sandstone, measuring 1.0m high with a maximum width of 0.5m and is leaning to the NW. B, also of weathered sandstone is 1.3m high and 0.4m wide. C, is possibly a natural protrusion but shows as a sandstone stump 0.1m high and 1.1m wide. Two small slabs protruding just above the ground surface on the N side of 'C', may be artificially placed. The 'small stone' between A and B, forms part of a compacted

but amorphous spread of stones around stone B. This deposit is artificial but is uncertainly the remains of a cairn or sepulchral feature (c/f NS02SW 13).

The farmer (Mr M A Nicol, Largybeg Farm, Kilbride) has made no finds but says the traditional name for the knoll is 'Sailor's Grave'.

Surveyed at 1:10 000 and 1:250.

Visited by OS (J R L) 13 November 1977.