Archaeological Sites

Archaeological Sites

There are two archaeological sites to visit whilst staying at Mount Brandon Hostel. Loch A Duin and Na Galláin, Cluain Sherrach (Standing Stones). Below there is information and maps to the archaeological sites.

Loch A Duin

At Kilmore Cross, at the bottom of the Conor Pass, near Cloghane, is a valley called Loch A Duin (The Lake of the Fort). This valley contains a remarkable number of monuments from the Bronze Age farming on the Dingle Peninsula. There are over 89 stone structures, many dating from 2,500BC. Including wedge tombs, standing stones, rock art, fulach fia, a fortified island and over 12 km of prehistoric pre-bog field walls dating to c. 1,300 BC. The valley is also of interest to bird watchers, botanists, and geologists.

Recently (2017) a link was discovered by Daithi O’Conaill between the Bronze Age Wedge Tomb and the equinoctial cycle. Daithi spent 15 years surveying the wedge tomb dated to approximately 2500BC with traces of decorative rock art – for evidence of equinoctial cycle.

 

It takes roughly an hour to walk up from the road to the waterfall at the far end of Loch A Duin. It can get very wet under foot. So wear good waterproof footwear. 

Check out www.cflt.ie for link to this animated map.

Loch A Duin
Start here to walk up to the loch
Loch A Duin
Loch A Duin
Loch A Duin
Oilean Daingnithe 120m (394ft)
Loch A Duin
Looking across towards Mt Brandon.
Loch A Duin
Loch A Duin

Na Galláin, Cluain Sherrach - Standing Stones

The three Standing stones at Cluain Searrach/Cloonsherragh are orientated on the rising sun at the summer solstice. The stone alignment are situated on the lower E slopes of Brandon Mountain, commanding an extensive view across Brandon Bay towards the central mountain ridge that forms the backbone of the Dingle Peninsula.

 

You can take the Slí na nGalláin/ The standing stones way opposite the hostel. It is  sign posted. See >> Plotaroute map on this page.

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The stones stand at 2.75m, 2.14m and 2.1m high.

It was recorded that once there were five standing stones, with two now lying flat and partly buried. The two fallen stones had fallen by the early 19th century.

You can take the Slí na Galláin/ The standing stones way opposite the hostel. It is signed sign posted. See Plotaroute map below.