Kilmichael archeology walk, Glecknabrae

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This walk follows a track along the west side of Bute with great views across the Kyles to Kames and Tighnabruaich in Cowal. The interest is in the various diversions from the track to visit the remains of several chambered cairns and the ruins of a chapel.

Terrain

Fairly level track to Kilmichael. Visiting the archaeological remains involve detours from this uphill through woods and fields, on steeper paths with some muddy and overgrown sections.

Public Transport

No public transport to the start. The walk could be started from Ettrick Bay, adding 4km each way.

Start

Parking area at end of minor road below Glecknabae Farm. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

This walk can be started from beautiful Ettrick Bay, the finest beach on Bute, by walking four kilometres along the minor road to Glecknabae - and back. There is little traffic and the views are good. Begin the walk by heading through the gate and following the track.

Stage 2

Just before a large cattle barn a wooden signpost indicates the start of a detour up a track to the right to visit the long cairn of Cairnbaan. Follow this track as it climbs up to a gate, then continue diagonally up and across the grassy pastures beyond - the track is now grassy. Continue up it to another gate, and then in the same direction up across the next pasture - the track fades out completely here. You are aiming for a pedestrian gate giving access to the strip of woods that run up the far side of the field - it can be hard to spot but is near a few large rocks.

Stage 3

Go through the gate and over a bridge to reach a t-junction. Turn right and follow the path uphill, there is a tumbling burn on the left complete with waterfall. There are infrequent marker posts and the path can be a little overgrown; near the top of the wood the path bears left across a footbridge and the cairn is just beyond. Cairnbaan is thirty metres long and contained several cists or small chambers - there is one visible in the centre and one towards the west end. Return from the cairn back down the path through the woods, keeping straight on at the junction where you joined it to head straight down to the track, crossing a stile. Turn right along the track.

Stage 4

Continue along the track, ignoring a stile on the right. Eventually a track goes off to the left; this is worth a very short detour to a shingle beach for the views. Beyond the shingle beach, across the rocks, is an inlet from where a ferry once operated across the Kyle to the village of Kames in clear view opposite.

Stage 5

Returning to the track, the next detour is a very short one to the cluster of rocks in an unfenced field. This is St Michael's Grave, another chambered cairn dating back to between 4000 and 2000 BC. Return to the track once more and continue past a white cottage. A short distance beyond, a rough track goes off sharply to the right, climbing the hillside behind the cottage.

Stage 6

Take this, going through a gate and continuing ahead to the end of the trees. The track, from here just braided tyre-marks in the grass, bends left. Continue up it as it swings left and right, bearing left of it to look for the Glenvoiden Cairn. This can be hard to spot; it is situated on the left edge of one of the patches of gorse, not far from a telegraph pole. Glenvoiden Cairn is thought to be 5000 years old; finely decorated pots were found in a cist within. Today the main visible remains are two upright slabs with a capstone on the grass nearby. Once more, return to the track.

Stage 7

Continue along the track almost to Kilmichael Farm. Before reaching it, turn left through a gate and also cross the second gate to reach the other side of a fence. Follow the fence down the field, taking care not to disturb any livestock, eventually bearing left to visit the remains of St Michael's Chapel in a walled enclosure, an early Christian site. There are views to the attractive village of Tighnabruaich across the Kyles of Bute from here. Return back to the track and retrace your steps back to Glecknabrae - omitting all the detours.

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