Argyll's deep history
One small Argyll valley holds prehistoric burial landscapes, one of Scotland's best archaeological museums and the royal stronghold of early Dál Riata.
Kilmartin Glen does not belong to one century or even one conventional Story Scotland theme. Its cairns and stone circles grew across the Neolithic and Bronze Age; centuries later, Dunadd became a centre of the early kingdom of Dál Riata.
That long span is the reason to visit. Kilmartin Museum gives you the chronology, Nether Largie and Temple Wood put you inside the prehistoric landscape, and the climb to Dunadd reveals how later rulers reused the same strategically important glen.
Deep prehistory to early kingship
Traditionally the principal seat and inauguration place of the kings of Dal Riata from around the 6th century; a carved footprint on the summit rock is associated with royal inauguration ceremonies.
Plan around this: The summit involves a short but steep rocky scramble, not step-free.
Reopened in 2023 after a GBP 7.5m redevelopment; the interpretive centre for the glen's roughly 800 recorded ancient monuments.
A linear cemetery of Bronze Age burial cairns with nearby stone circles -- among the most complete prehistoric ritual landscapes surviving in Scotland.
Before setting out
Useful answers
No -- Dunadd was Dal Riata's inauguration and power centre; Iona was its principal religious centre, founded by Columba around the same period, but roughly 60 miles away.
Far more exists -- roughly 800 monuments are recorded nearby. This page selects three that together tell a coherent story within a single day.
Make it yours
Start from Kilmartin, choose the stories that interest you and let Story Scotland balance the museum, standing stones and climb to Dunadd.
Plan my Kilmartin Glen day →