Arran, Blairmore Glen

NS03SW 1 0188 3341.

(NS 0187 3342) Stone Circle (NR).

OS 24" map, (1924)

This monument consists of four massive round-topped granite blocks enclosing an area 17ft in diameter. They stand NW, W, SW and SE, and measure 2ft 10ins, 1ft 8ins, 3ft 10ins and 2ft 9ins in height respectively. In the centre a stone covers a cist, 26ins x 11ins x 10 1/2ins, cut out of the solid rock. The cist was opened by Bryce in 1861 and contained black earth and fragments of apparently burnt bone. A few flint flakes and a flint implement were picked up from the soil above the cist.

The ONB (1864) mentions that human bones have been found within this circle. (Possibly a reference to Bryce's excavation).

Coles (1906) suggests that these four stones are the remnants of a circle, originally of seven equidistant stones.

Information from OS (IF) 30 June 1977

Sources: J Bryce 1863; Name Book 1864; F R Coles 1906; J Balfour 1910.

The SW stone is marked on its top by two shallow cup-shaped depressions, joined by a groove 3mm deep and 30mm wide.

J B McVicar 1975.

NS 0188 3341 A setting of four rounded boulders situated on a low heather-covered hillock and generally as described above. It is not possible however to identify this as the remains of a stone circle. There are five small portable stones placed with the setting to form an approximate circle but these are undoubtedly later additions and not part of the original structure.

There is no longer any sign of the cist.

The markings noted by McVicar are on the top of the south east stone and are natural.

Surveyed at 1:10 000.

Visited by OS (B S) 25 October 1977.