Kilmartin

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Kilmartin Church in Kilmartin village

Nether Largie Standing Stones, Kilmartin Glen, Scotland

Temple Wood Henge, Kilmartin Glen, Scotland

Carnassarie Castle, near Kilmartin

Kilmartin (Scottish Gaelic: Cille Mhàrtainn) is a village in Kilmartin Glen in Argyll, Scotland.

Kilmartin is at the head of Kilmartin Glen, an area with one of the richest concentrations of prehistoric monuments and historical sites in Scotland. These include important Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age sites, including Temple Wood (a henge monument), several burial cairns, chambered cairns, standing stones and cup and ring marked rocks. Kilmartin Museum, which interprets the monuments of the area for visitors, and has a selection of excavated artefacts of various periods, is located within the village within a group of converted buildings.

Kilmartin's is one of the finest concentrations of prehistoric sites in Scotland, and almost all are within an easy walk of the roads which criss-cross the valley. One of the burial cairns has been rebuilt, with access through an opening in the top down stairs to the base of the cairn and a stone burial cist. The two stone circles in Temple Wood have also been re-erected by archaeologists. The village also has a hotel, craft shop and public toilets. The churchyard has an important collection of early Christian and medieval carved stones. Some are displayed within the parish church itself, others have been gathered into lapidaria within the graveyard, others still remain lying within it.

The two most important monuments are the Kilmartin crosses, one 9th-10th century, the other late medieval in date, within the church. In the churchyard are a large collection of late medieval gravestones in the 'West Highland' style, dating between the 14th and early 16th centuries. Many are marked by figures of warriors in contemporary dress with spears and swords, along with figures of fantastic animals, foliage and interlace patterns. None are inscribed, so the identities of the persons commemorated are unknown. They can, however, be taken to be the monuments of the local landowning or minor noble class in late medieval times. Kilmartin Church was evidently an important burial site, and the graveslabs of the 'Loch Awe school' of carving may have been carved in a workshop at or near Kilmartin. The swords shown on many of the stones refer to warrior (or, more broadly, social) status, and have no connection with the Templars or other medieval military orders, as is sometimes suggested. Women are commemorated on some of the stones, their symbol often being the shears (referring to household activities).

Kilmartin Castle, a small 'Z-plan' tower-house, dating from about 1580, stands above the village. It has been restored as a private house in recent years.

Carnasserie Castle (Historic Scotland; no entrance charge) stands a little north of Kilmartin. It was built by Bishop John Carswell of Argyll between 1565 and 1572. Largely complete, though roofless, its architecture is notably refined and includes much Renaissance ornamental detail.

Also within Kilmartin parish is the important Iron Age and early medieval hill-fort of Dunadd, one of the major centres of the kingdom of Dál Riata (Historic Scotland, no entrance charge).