© Copyright Steve Partridge and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
A single stone row measuring 6.5m long, including three large-sized upright orthostats situated on a narrow terrace overlooking the Sound of Gigha. The stones stand up to between 3.4m and 2m high, arranged in height order with the tallest at the south. An unusual feature is the orientation of the individual stones which set at right angles to the alignment of the row itself. The row is orientated north east to south west, is aligned on a nearby cist and has extensive views of the nearby sea and restricted views of the surrounding landscape.
Location
| Scotland Argyll Argyll & Isles NR 73085 52422 Lat 55.71200124 Long -5.61391246 |
Map showing the location of Ballochroy stone row.
Plan of the Ballochroy stone row. From a survey by Sandy Gerrard at 1:100.
Characteristics
| Type: Single | Length: 6.5m |
| No. of stones: 3 | Size of stones: Only large |
| Orientation: 46° | Altitude: 32m |
| Upper end: – | Lower end: – |
| Straight (Yes or No) : | Sea View: Yes |
| Context: Cist | |
| Notes: Aligned on a cist. May have originally included four stones and three cairns. | |
Other Information
| Public Access: Yes |
| Land Status: – |
| Scheduled Ancient Monument: Yes |
Identification
Category: Plausible. No doubts have been expressed regarding the prehistoric interpretion of this row.
Typology
This stone row is of Type S2. Information on this form of stone row and other rows of this type is available here.
Photographs
Copyright: George Currie
View from south. Click on image to enlarge.
View from SSW.
View from WSW. Unusually the stones are not aligned along the length of the row. The two northern stones are set at right angles to the row alignment.
View from north west.
View from north.
View from north east. The row is aligned on a cist.
View from south east with the Isles of Gigha and Jura in the background.
View from south east with Isle of Jura popping out from behind the clouds.
The nearby cist. The row is aligned on this structure, but which came first?
Cist, row and sheep.
View from the south.
Access Information
Car parking is available at NR 72587 52099 which involves a long walk north along the beach or highway to NR 72992 52713 where the track to the stones leaves the public road. Alternatively you may wish to drive up the track and seek permission to park closer to the stones. The stones themselves are easy to find and are relatively close to a prominent modern farm building.
Online Resources
Megalithic Portal Modern Antiquarian Canmore Historic Environment Record
Other References
Burl, A., 1993, From Carnac to Callanish – The prehistoric rows and avenues of Britain, Ireland and Brittany, Yale University Press, New York and London, pg. 222.
Ruggles, C.L.N., 1999, Astronomy in prehistoric Britain and Ireland, Yale University Press, New Haven and London, 197.
Timeline
VISITED:- 15th March 2017
FIRST PUBLISHED:- 2nd February 2016
LAST UPDATED:- 15th March 2019
The Stone Rows of Great Britain 