About
Auchagallon Cairn stands on a hillside above Machrie Bay on the west coast of Arran, looking out over Kilbrannan Sound, a short distance from the prehistoric landscape of Machrie Moor. It was built about 4,000 years ago in the early Bronze Age, probably as a kerbed burial cairn: fifteen upright slabs form a ring 14.5 metres across, all of red sandstone except two of grey granite, around a low stony mound. As at the encircled cairn at Moss Farm Road, an earlier stone circle may have been reused as the kerb. Cairns like this covered important burials in stone cists with prestigious grave goods. Reviewers say the views are the highlight; it is a short uphill walk on a farm track and through a kissing gate, with room for only a car or two at the foot.
Check today’s timesSee all times
- Auchagallon CairnOpen at all times; an unstaffed open site, no hours published
Opening times may change at short notice.
Historic Scotland: 'Auchagallon Cairn is free to visit and open all year round.' No hours, closures or notices on 20 October 2026.
Strong footwear is advised: a short uphill walk on a stone and grass farm track, with sheep in the fields, to a fenced enclosure entered by a kissing gate. An information board; no toilets or other facilities. Machrie Moor's stone circles are about 2 miles south.
Photo: The red sandstone kerb stones of Auchagallon Cairn in evening light, with Machrie Bay and Kilbrannan Sound behind. David Baird, CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Auchagallon_Cairn_-_geograph.org.uk_-_3557388.jpg. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0. Resized and cropped for display; derivatives retain the source licence.
Reviews & Tips
No reviews yet
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience!
