The next day we headed south, passing through Sandhead and visiting the Kirkmadrine Stones. These early Christian stones predate the existing church and offer a direct link to the Gàidhlig speaking people who lived here in the past. We then passed through Ardwell and Drummore before arriving at the impressive Mull of Galloway and the lighthouse there. We then travelled north west to Portpatrick, where we discussed further various aspects of our shared place names and heritage.

The Kirkmadrine Stones are a fascinating glimpse into the complex history of the region. There are eight stones and three of the stones are some of the oldest Christian memorials in Scotland. From the Historic Environment Scotland website:

"The number and nature of the sculptures found at Kirkmadrine show that the early church there was of great importance. There’s evidence that an early ecclesiastical site stood here, perhaps in the second half of the AD 500s.

The Kirkmadrine Stones are the most northerly examples of a sculptural phenomenon that ranges throughout the western part of the Brittonic-speaking world. They’re crucial in understanding northern Britain as it emerged from the shadow of Imperial Rome in the AD 400s."