Achnabreck – Carvings 4,000 Years Old in an Oakwood
On a wooded hillside above Lochgilphead, sheets of bare rock are covered in cups, rings and grooves that somebody carved more than 4,000 years ago.
Nobody knows what they mean, which is a good part of the pleasure of standing in front of them. A short forest trail climbs through old oaks to two viewing areas, with Loch Fyne and Knapdale spread out behind you.
- Time
- About three quarters of an hour: Forestry and Land Scotland's Cup and Ring Trail, 2 km, moderate. The Rock Art Trail is 0.8 km and a quarter of an hour on a smooth path. A stroll.
- The path
- The Rock Art Trail (0.8 km) is wide, firm and smooth with moderate slopes and resting places; the Cup and Ring Trail has steep slopes, boardwalk and steps.
- Where to start
- Achnabreac forest car park, off the A816: £1 for up to an hour, £3 for the day, by card or RingGo; free with a Blue Badge.
- When to go
- All year in daylight. From November to January set off by 2.30pm.
- Dogs
- Under close control.
- Children
- A short walk; the carved rocks are not to be stood on.
- Toilets
- None on site; public toilets in Lochgilphead.
- Before you set out
- The Firetower mountain bike trail is closed during construction work nearby; walking trails are not affected. Read the notice boards in the car park.
The walk
Achnabreac forest car park is about two and a half miles north of Lochgilphead. A green sign on the A816 points up a forest road, and the car park is about 500 metres along it. Parking is £1 for up to an hour or £3 for the day, by card or RingGo, and free with a Blue Badge. Forestry and Land Scotland spells the forest Achnabreac, and the rocks are usually written Achnabreck. Its Cup and Ring Trail is 2 km and takes about three quarters of an hour, climbing gently through old oak woodland on an uneven gravel path with some steep slopes, boardwalk and steps.
It leads to two viewing areas over great sheets of bare rock carved with cups, rings and grooves more than 4,000 years ago, one of the finest sets of cup and ring marked rocks in Britain. The panel beside the lower outcrop counts 83 symbols on it, and asks you not to stand on the rock, draw on it or take rubbings. Higher up there are views over Lochgilphead, Knapdale and Loch Fyne. If steps are a problem, the Rock Art Trail is 0.8 km on a wide, smooth path from the easy access parking further up the forest road. It takes a quarter of an hour and visits one carved rock, with a view over Loch Gilp to the hills of Arran.
The Firetower mountain bike trail is closed during construction work for a substation nearby. The walking trails aren't affected, but read the notice boards in the car park and watch for vehicles on the forest road. There are no toilets here, and the nearest are in Lochgilphead. Keep dogs under close control. From November to January set off by 2.30pm.
If it rains
A short walk, much of it under trees, that goes well enough in light rain with a waterproof. The boardwalk and steps are slippery when wet.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is The Hollies, 14 miles away. Sleeps 18.
For further reading, before you go.