Friday 3 October 2008

Machrie to Drumadoon Bay, Isle of Arran


I went to Machrie Moor to have a look at the very impressive stone circles. It was gloriously sunny and warm for October. The wild grasses were in autumnal golden hues and wind-beaten, lichen-encrusted Hawthorns (Crataegus monogyna) were thickly laden with pillar-box red berries.

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)


Of the many standing stone circles on the site, the most impressive are three red sandstone slabs; ranging from 3.7 to 5.5metres in height; which were erected nearly 4000 years ago. At the time these stones were erected, Scotland was a very different place wildlife-wise. Much of Britain's long-lost megafauna still roamed the wilder areas: species such as Moose, Aurochs (now extinct worldwide), Boar, Lynx, Brown Bears, Wolves and Beavers.









I visited the abandoned cottage nearby and disturbed a male Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) which appeared to be injured.

Roof slates
Machrie Bay

I walked along the coast from Machrie Bay to Drumadoon, and on the way I found a collection of stacked pebble sculptures, stopping briefly to make some of my own.

Cleiteadh nan Sgarbh with The Doon in the distance