Camas nan Geall

Brief History

This sheltered bay contains several millennia of human history, from a Neolithic chambered cairn to post-clearance dwellings, and several other fascinating sites.

In the centre of the bay lies the remains of a chambered cairn, where Neolithic people buried their dead 5000 - 6000 years ago. Nearer the beach is a standing stone over two metres high facing the sea. This Bronze Age megalith was erected around 4000 years ago and, a few thousand years later, engraved with a Christian cross and a dog-like figure. These carvings are probably medieval, and possibly date back to the arrival of St Columba, an Irish saint who journeyed the West Coast in 563AD. Directly behind the standing stone is the walled enclosure, Cladh Chiarain ('Cladhʼ meaning burial ground), that was probably rebuilt in the early 18th century.

The people of Camas nan Geall were forcibly evicted from their homes on the slopes of Ben Hiant in the 18th century, and the land was then used to form a farm. The sheep farmer who benefitted from this possibly then settled in Camas nan Geall.

Click here to find out more about Camas nan Geall

Archaeologists and volunteers excavating a cottage at Camas nan Geall.

© Archaeology Scotland

Camas thumbnail

Chambered Cairn, Camas nan Geall.

© Ardnamurchan History and Heritage Association

Arrowhead found in Archaeology Scotland excavations in April 2022.

© Archaeology Scotland

Leaf-shaped arrowheads were used during the Early Neolithic period (4000-3350 BC) for hunting and interpersonal violence. This arrowhead would have been used by the people that built the chambered tomb at Camas nan Geall. The tip of the arrowhead has been broken off - showing that it had been used.

Camas nan Geall

© MEM Donaldson Collection, Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, High Life Highland

Photograph by MEM Donaldson, taken in the first half of the 20th century. If you look closely you can see dwellings in the bay that are no longer intact.

Camas nan Geall (from road above)

© MEM Donaldson Collection, Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, High Life Highland

Photograph by MEM Donaldson, taken in the first half of the 20th century.

Archaeologists and volunteers hard at work, April 2022.

© Archaeology Scotland

Illustration of the chambered cairn by Rachael Kidd.

© Rachael Kidd

Musket balls found during Archaeology Scotland excavations in April 2022.

© Archaeology Scotland

Standing Stone, Camas nan Geall.

© Ardnamurchan History and Heritage Association

Two gravestones in Cladh Chiarain, the burial ground at Camas nan Geall.

© Ardnamurchan History and Heritage Association

Two headstones dated 1737, carved with cherubs’ heads, the crucifixion of Jesus, and the Campbell coat of arms.

Gravestone carving, Camas nan Geall.

Photo by Jon Haylett, © A Kilchoan Diary

View over Camas nan Geall

Photo by Jon Haylett, © A Kilchoan Diary

Archaeologists and volunteers excavating a cottage at Camas nan Geall.

© Archaeology Scotland

Camas thumbnail

Chambered Cairn, Camas nan Geall.

© Ardnamurchan History and Heritage Association

Arrowhead found in Archaeology Scotland excavations in April 2022.

© Archaeology Scotland

Leaf-shaped arrowheads were used during the Early Neolithic period (4000-3350 BC) for hunting and interpersonal violence. This arrowhead would have been used by the people that built the chambered tomb at Camas nan Geall. The tip of the arrowhead has been broken off - showing that it had been used.

Camas nan Geall

© MEM Donaldson Collection, Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, High Life Highland

Photograph by MEM Donaldson, taken in the first half of the 20th century. If you look closely you can see dwellings in the bay that are no longer intact.

Camas nan Geall (from road above)

© MEM Donaldson Collection, Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, High Life Highland

Photograph by MEM Donaldson, taken in the first half of the 20th century.

Archaeologists and volunteers hard at work, April 2022.

© Archaeology Scotland

Illustration of the chambered cairn by Rachael Kidd.

© Rachael Kidd

Musket balls found during Archaeology Scotland excavations in April 2022.

© Archaeology Scotland

Standing Stone, Camas nan Geall.

© Ardnamurchan History and Heritage Association

Two gravestones in Cladh Chiarain, the burial ground at Camas nan Geall.

© Ardnamurchan History and Heritage Association

Two headstones dated 1737, carved with cherubs’ heads, the crucifixion of Jesus, and the Campbell coat of arms.

Gravestone carving, Camas nan Geall.

Photo by Jon Haylett, © A Kilchoan Diary

View over Camas nan Geall

Photo by Jon Haylett, © A Kilchoan Diary

Dig into layers of history

Cemetery

Chambered Cairn

Dwellings, inhabited over centuries

Look out for...

Take a look at the carvings on the gravestones. Can you identify what they are depicting?

Do you think the carving on the standing stone is a dog, or some other animal?

Discover the stories of Camas Nan Geall...

St Columba, the Abbot of Iona, visited us here at Camas nan Geall. Heʼs most famous for establishing the Monastery at Iona and bringing Christianity to Scotland, and I heard he performed miracles all around the west coast!

Explore how Camas nan Geall has changed through time.

Crofting and Fishing

1900s

An 18th century house was extended and improved, and recently archaeologists have found artefacts indicative of a home of someone of higher standing, perhaps a ‘tacksman’ of the sheep farm.

Click the characters to read their stories

I heard the local factor moved into Camas nan Geall after families were forcibly evicted to make way for a sheep farm. One of the 18th century houses was made bigger and a little grander, including an elaborate cobble floor.

Eviction and Emigration

We were forcibly evicted from our homes as part of the major 'clearance' of the settlements on the slopes of Ben Hiant to make way for a sheep farm. People have had to move to new settlements across the peninsula in search of a new life. Others have emigrated across the ocean, to far away places like New Zealand and Australia.

Time of the Clans

1737

The two gravestones of the Campbells of Ardslignish are dated 1737.

Cladh Chiarain was probably rebuilt during the early 1800s.

We clanspeople have a strong connection to this land, it goes back generations; an ancient lineage! Clan Cambell buried their dead here. This is a busy spot for the living too: There are crops, and extensive common grazings - as far as Loch Mudle - are used for summer pastures. The settlement contributes to the upkeep of the MacIain Chief and staff, and provides men for the Clan’s army in times of war.

Early Medieval

563 AD

At this time, carvings would have been added to the megalith.

549 AD

Cladh Chiarain, attributed to St Ciaran mac an t-Saeir, who died in 549AD.

We carved three crosses and an image of a dog into the tallest stone we could find - they help us to pray and mark this place out as sacred.

St Columba, the Abbot of Iona, visited us here at Camas nan Geall. He’s most famous for establishing the Monastery at Iona and bringing Christianity to Scotland, and I heard he has performed miracles all around the West Coast! When St Columba visited Camas nan Geall he struck his staff into the hillside, creating a fresh water source for the baptism of a sick baby. It was amazing to see the frail baby grow strong again and thrive, thanks to St Columba's healing powers. To this day the well that St Columba created is still flowing; you can see it on the hillside on the Ardslignish side of Camas nan Geall.

Prehistoric

Bronze Age - 2000 BC

Megalith

Neolithic - 4000 BC

Chambered cairn

We hunt and gather our food, making our own tools such as arrows from beach flints to hunt animals from the land and seals and fish from the sea - it’s handy living on the coast! We also eat lots of native plants and gather shellfish, and started growing crops and farming too.

A little further west along this coast there is an Iron Age fort - it’s a great look-out post for boats arriving, but it's easy to miss if you're not looking for it!