Ballochmyle Cup and Ring Markings
This cliff face site was rediscovered in the 1980’s, and consists of an abundance of cup and ring markings and other more obscure symbols.
Country and County: Strathclyde
Bessie Dunlop, The Witch of Dalry
Bessie Dunlop was known as the witch of Dalry (Ayrshire), she was burned at the stake in 1576 although she was seen as a white witch. Her story is interesting because it outlines some of the folk beliefs at the time.
Loudon Castle
Now home to the Loudoun Castle Family Theme Park, there was a castle here from at least the 15th century, which was then converted into a mansion retaining the tower house.
Stevenston’s Legend of the Hidden Gold
After the routing of the Spanish Armada in 1588, many of the Spanish Galleons escaped and tried to find North West passage through the North Sea: around the tip of Scotland and back to Spain.
The Granny Stane
The squat black rock, which sits in the river Irvine below the modern Rivergate shopping centre, is once thought to have belonged to a stone circle.
Holy Island
The island was said to be the home of St Molaise who is reputed to have been born in Ireland in 570AD. He came to Holy Island to live as a hermit and Molaise’s cave is one of his reputed abodes.
Brodick Castle
A seat of the Dukes of Hamilton in the 19th century, there has been a fortification on the site of the present castle for over a thousand years. It was an important Viking stronghold, and swapped English and Scottish hands during the Wars of Independence. Oliver Cromwell also left his mark here.
Giant’s Graves
The Giant’s Graves are actually early Bronze Age horned galley graves with a central chamber. The covering mound has long since weathered away, leaving the inner chamber as a jumble of upright stones standing over a narrow stone lined depression in the ground.
King’s Caves
Along the Western shore of Arran, are a series of natural caves in the sandstone rock. One of the caves is said to have been the refuge in which Robert the Bruce had his famed encounter with a spider.
Lochranza
Lochranza is situated at the Northern Tip of Arran, the loch contains a small island with a ruined castle, which was mentioned by Sir Walter Scott
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