Ballochroy Standing Stones, Tarbert, Kintyre, Argyll & Bute. Looking NNW across the Sound of Jura, to the Paps of Jura. Midsummer evening
Ballochroy Standing Stones, Tarbert, Lochgilphead, Kintyre, Argyll & Bute. Looking NNW across the Sound of Jura, to the three hills called the Paps of Jura (Sgurr na Cìche), (NR 645500): from left; Beinn a’Chaolais, Beinn an Oir, Beinn an Shiantaidh, with the lower hill of Corra Beinn on right. 3 tall Prehistoric standing stones errected in a north east/south west line. Astronomical alignments have been claimed for the years around 1800BC: at summer solstice looking north west along the flat north east face of the central stone the sun would have been seen to set running down the smooth right hand slope of Corra Beinn (smaller, more sharply-peaked hill to right of the 3 rounded peaks of the Paps on Jura 19 miles away across the sea. In modern times the sun sets into the U-shape between Beinn an Shiantaidh and the left slope of Corra Beinn. In the opposite (south east ) direction the alignment indicates the simultaneously rising midsummer full moon. Clive Ruggles considers Ballochroy to mark symbolic lines to moon & sun rather than function as a precise solar/solstice observatory. Geologically the Paps of Jura are three steep-sided, conical quartzite mountains; Beinn a’Chaolais (Mountain of the Kyle, at SW, 2,408ft/734m,) Beinn an Oir (Mountain of Gold, at N, 2,575ft/785m, highest) Beinn an Shiantaidh (Holy Mountain, at NE, 2,477ft/755m). The lower, more pointed, Corra Beinn to north east of of the three is sometimes described as the 4th peak of the Paps. They are included in the route of the Jura fell race, held annually in May, which takes in 16 miles and 7 summits.
Size: 4960px × 3783px
Location: Ballochroy, Tarbert, Kintyre, Argyll & Bute, Scotland, UK
Photo credit: © Jean Williamson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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