The Carved Cliffs at Ballochmyle

All pictures copyright © 1999 Martin McCarthy

The right-hand face at Ballochmyle with dozens of cup and ring marks. Large image (59k 800x537) Close up of a cup mark with five rings and some additional linear marks. Large image (92k 1112x756) Many of the marks are shallow and weathering away. This cup is rather deep. Large image (50k 642x766) Spots, snake-like squiggles and loops - some of the stranger marks. Large image (94k 768x1164) A spotty circle - another unusual mark. Large image (42k 772x458) A wider view of the right-hand wall - several of the rings overlap. Large image (94k 1132x752) Three overlapping patterns. Large image (78k 812x714) More overlapping patterns. Large image (107k 1164x762) A view of the left-hand face showing rows of cups and unusual rectangular marks. Large image (85k 1116x746) Another view of the left-hand face showing rows of cups and unusual rectangular marks. Large image (47k 900x632) A cup and ring with radial markings. Large image (67k 900x591) Back along the left-hand face. Large image (68k 900x535) Another view of the right-hand face. Large image (73k 900x600) Still more unusual marks. Large image (36k 692x504) Rows of cups and rectangular marks. Large image (66k 900x591) Wide view of the left-hand face. Large image (100k 1138x662) Another view of some of the "weirdo" marks. Large image (71k 900x572) Note a faint ring with radial marks to the lower left of the three overlapping rings. Large image (84k 1164x620) Wide view of the wall (B&W) Large image (220k 1110x640) Wide view of the wall (B&W) Large image (161k 1066x612) It is clearly seen that some of the marks are carved over other, older marks. Large image (227k 1104x646) Another view of some of the more unusual marks. Large image (230k 1098x638) Detail of some of the stranger carvings. Large image (193k 676x928) Detail of some of the stranger carvings. Large image (196k 949x648) Rectilinear marks on the south wall. Large image (155k 936x676) Close view of the deer carving on the south wall. The compass measures 45x90 mm. If you're interested, the deer is facing south! Large image (137k 706x568) Slightly wider view - the deer is in the center. Large image (163k 926x616) Still wider view - the deer is in the centre. Large image (184k 986x660)

Ballochmyle lies just a few miles south of Kilmarnock. The River Ayr has cut an impressive gorge through the sandstone bedrock. On a pair of vertical cliff faces a huge number of cup-and-ring marks (and a few other wierdoes) have been carved. There are squiggles and boxes, stars and spotty rings. Some of the marks have clearly been added over older marks, but when the marks date to and whether they are all contemporary with each other is much harder to tell. The sandstone is very soft and very weathered. The puzzling habit of some people of chalking or painting some of these marks serves only to hasten their loss as they are abraded away.