Kilbride Standing Stone, Islay

Kilbride Standing Stone

In a farm field near Kilbride farm, north of Port Ellen, stands a slender solitary stone. The stone is about 3m high (11'6") and has been shaped by carving into a tall, slender form. It is 0.8m broad and 0.3m thick (2'4" by 1') at the base. About four metres west is what seems to be a second stone, now fallen and partially buried. It is possible that the pair of stones were intended to mark an alignment with a celestial event.

The long axis of the standing stone is aligned ENE and WSW. The sides of the stone taper towards the top, which has been rounded off by carving. No one seems cettain when the stone was erected, but it must have been during the late Neolithic or Bronze Age, say roughly 3000-800 BC.

The chapel dedication suggests a very early foundation, but the building itself is probably late 17th century, built to replace the churches at Kildalton and Kilnaughton. An early Christian cross-marked slab known as 'Crois-an T-Sagairt' (The priest's cross') was found at the chapel. It is now in the National Museum Scotland. Near the chapel is a natural spring known as 'tobar an t-sagairt', or 'the priest's well'

The Kilbride stone has been suggested as a waymarker, or landmark beside an ancient trail.

It is very easy to find the stone. From the Port Ellen take the A846 east towards Lagavulin. Just as you leave Port Ellen a minor road branches off north to Kilbride. The road ends by Kilbride Farm after 1 mile, and the stone is easily visible in the field to the south east of the road.

Visiting the Kilbride standing stone can easily be combined with several other ancient sites in the Port Ellen area, including a stone at Creagan Nathrach to the south, and another stone immediately east of the road to Kilbridge here it leaves the A846.

NOTE
Because Islay is an island the 'nearest accommodation' properties listed below may not be on Islay itself but on the Scottish mainland. The best source we have found for accommodation on the island is Isle of Islay.com, a dedicated local website offering a wonderful mix of local information, history, activities, and accommodation information.