Kilmartin, Carrnesserie Castle and Temple Wood, Scotland

On this very special day of out Scotland tour our group of 37 travelers divided up three ways to see a variety of sights in Western Argyll. Our groups tour guide was Inveraray Castle Archivist, Duncan Beaton, and what a wonderful guide he was! We visited Carrnesserie Castle set high on a hill that overlooks Kilmartin Glen. This castle was built by John Campbell, Bishop of the Isles. The Campbells of Auchinbrecks' Duncan Campbell were ruined after Argyll's Rising in 1685. The walled garden gate was so lovely, and the joy of climbing to the top of the tower keep, with friend Marilyn, was so joyful! We visited the Kilmartin Church and viewed the carved burial slabs of medieval knights, and had a lovely lunch at the Kilmartin Hotel and Pub.

Next, we went down to the Kilmartin Glen to visit the Temple Wood. There are large standing stones from the Bronze age, 3,000 years old, scattered across the glen, two circles of standing stones, and burial cairns. This glen was used as a place for rituals and funerary activities.