Ballinaby

Copyright: Paul Blades. Original available at Megalithic Portal.

A probable single stone row measuring 215m long, including two large orthostats situated in a shallow valley with restricted views of the sea to the west. A third stone described in the 18th century no longer survives.  The southern stone stands 4.9m tall and the northern one 1.78m high. The row is orientated NNE to SSW.

Location

Scotland     Islay     Argyll & Isles     NR 22103 67399     Lat 55.81965901   Long -6.43830435

Map showing the location of Ballinaby stone row.

Characteristics

Type: Single Length: 215m
No. of stones: 3 Size of stones: Only large
Orientation: 27° Altitude: 37m
Upper end: – Lower end: –
Straight (Yes or No)  : Not Known Sea View: Yes
Context:  –
Notes:

Other Information

Public Access:  Yes
Land Status: –
Scheduled Ancient Monument: No

Identification

Category: Probable. Although only two stones now survive, a third stone is described at this location by Thomas Pennant in 1776. According to Pennant, the stones were roughly equidistant which means that the “lost” one may have stood mid way between the remaining stones or it could have been around 215m on the same alignment to the north or south. Given the local topography it is most likely that it would have stood between the surviving stones or to the north. Given these uncertainties a probable interpretation seems most fitting.

Typology

This stone row is of Type S8. Information on this form of stone row and other rows of this type is available here.

Photographs

Looking north east along the row.

The southern stone. View from south (Scale 1m).

The southern stone. View from south west (Scale 1m).

The northern stone (1.78m high) in the foreground and tall stone beyond. View from north (Scale 1m).

The northern stone and sea view. View from east.

Landscape Reveals

Visibility during the field visit was poor, but despite it was clear that the position of the row within a shallow valley offered landscape reveals. Views towards the interior of Islay open up as you walk south,whilst by contrast the restricted views of the sea to the south west decrease.

Access Information

Car parking is available at NR 21145 66400. From here go through the gate and follow the track to NR 21112 66727. Take the path leading to the right. Despite the substantial height of the southern stone it is not visible until you get fairly close to the row.

Online Resources 

Megalithic Portal     Modern Antiquarian     Canmore     Canmore     Stones of Wonder

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. 223.

Pennant, T., 1776, A Tour in Scotland; MDCCLXXII, 2. London, pg. 224

Timeline

VISITED:- 19th August 2017

FIRST PUBLISHED:- 2nd February 2016

LAST UPDATED:- 4th January 2018