There is a wealth of prehistoric sites to the south west of the community in the Kilmartin area but not apparently the same level of such early activity around Loch Awe. Presumably the more discerning canny locals decided crannog-building had the potential to create a better life-style (spot of fishing, boating, swimming etc.) instead of wasting valuable leisure-time pointlessly piling up heaps of stones or standing biggish ones upright. |
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That being said there is impressive evidence of a chambered cairn at Lower Achachenna near Kilchrenan. There is also an intriguing roughly diamond shaped rock bearing seventy-two cup marks located along the Ardanaiseig Road. Nobody knows its origins or purpose but it has become known as The Holy Stone ( most probably attributable to an early scribe’s error as Holely seems more plausible) where young local nubile virgins were reputedly sacrificed, which for a few reasons seems considerably less plausible.
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Throughout the area is evidence of earlier settlements, such as Kilmaha, New York, the two Kilmuns, one on Loch Avich and one on Loch Awe. Both the latter and Slocabhotham ( now a completely ruined group of dwellings) lying north-east of Kilmun carry unsubstantiated stories of having been wiped out by the plague. There is clear evidence of former settlements in the field at Barachander below Tromlee Cottage. In addition to ruins there is photographic evidence dating from around 1900 of a small but significant settlement close to the Kilchrenan Burn below Cowan’s Croft, on the opposite side of the road from Willowbank Cottages, northwest of the School. |
It is also reported that there was once a school and a scattered settlement in the vicinity of the Moon Loch along the Ardanaiseig Road (ruins clearly evident on both sides). The Loch also had its very own crannog and an illicit still along its burn on the way down to Kilchrenan!
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There are several deserted houses in the area, Hayfield (also along the Ardanaiseig Road) being one of interest. It was a small but impressive mansion built just after the middle of the 19th Century and burnt down just after 1910. It was rumoured that a wealthy eccentric Campbell Muir, who owned the house, swam over Loch Awe from Inistrynich (the principal residence of his grand estate) and started the fire before swimming back and raising the alarm. The story was never proven and was not pursued by the unfortunate insurers who must have quoted him happy. |
Another neighbouring mansion house, Achnacarron, suffered a similar fate, when it burnt down around 1905. It was never established if this was arson or accident but it was thought in some circles that it might have been the inspiration for Mr. Muir’s anecdotal effort in relation to the demise of Hayfield! Unlike Hayfield, Achnacarron was rebuilt in 1908 only to suffer the same fate (this time definitely an accident!) in 1954. The Dawson family, who were the owner/occupiers, were lucky to escape with their lives.
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The impressive quadrangular stone steading buildings of Hayfield can still be seen on the southerly side of the Ardanaiseig road and now incorporate two substantial dwellings. The ruins of Hayfield itself are still there below the steading and were visited in early 2006 by Orlando Bloom, who apparently was mistakenly seeking to return to the ruins of Rivendell after a heavy night on the malts at Ardanaiseig Hotel.
Other impressive houses along the shores of Loch Awe have happily remained intact but are yet to be visited by him. |
All photographs on the website can be clicked to enlarge |
