Quinish Stone Row

The Quinish Stone Row is a prehistoric monument located on the Quinish Estate in the north-western part of the Isle of Mull, accessible from the village of Dervaig. This ancient site originally consisted of a row of four large standing stones, although today only one of these impressive monoliths remains upright. The single surviving stone stands over 2.7 meters (approximately 9 feet) high, making it a prominent feature in the landscape. The other three stones are now fallen and lie recumbent nearby, with one almost concealed.

The upright stone is locally known as ‘Caliach’, a Gaelic term meaning ‘old woman’. From certain angles, the stone is said to resemble the profile of a cloaked figure, which likely gave rise to its evocative local name. The stone row is orientated roughly north to south and is situated on a prominent, level terrace overlooking the sea. While the immediate sea views from the row itself can be somewhat restricted by a low ridge, the broader area offers expansive coastal vistas.

As with many standing stones and rows in Britain, the Quinish Stone Row is believed to date back to the Neolithic or Bronze Age, typically from the third or second millennia BC. While it has not been excavated, such monuments are generally understood to have held significant ritual, astronomical, or territorial importance for the communities that erected them. The site is a Scheduled Monument, recognized for its national importance, and offers a tangible connection to the ancient inhabitants and prehistoric practices of the Isle of Mull. Access usually involves a walk of about a mile from a designated parking area near the entrance to Quinish Estate.