In 1909 a cremation burial was found in a boat-shaped stone setting under mound (now with the excavation trench through it). It included a mid-late 9th century whalebone plaque, a Northumbrian styca of Archbishop Wigmund (837-54), and items suggesting a casket. It is within metres of a circular fort (‘dun’) on a high promontory (24m) south of Lamlash Bay, where another burial was found. The dun and stone-setting are made of red sandstone, which is not available locally, so the dun may have been ‘robbed’ to create the burial setting. The boat points towards Holy Island. This is one of the most prominently positioned burials in Scotland and would have been visible to passing boats.
GPS: N 55° 30.555, W 005° 04.809
NGR: NS 0559 2825
J.A. Balfour, 1909, ‘The ecclesiastical remains on the Holy Island, Arran’, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 43: 371-5.
Viking Burials in Scotland 
Im interested in this article, do you also know there is a very large stone hidden in the trees on the shore line between cordon and kings cross,with viking writing on it? As a child, used to picnic along this area every summer, in fact we used to call it the vikings grave. …obviously it wasn’t…but then what was it? have never seen any reference any where about this stone, does anyone remember this?
there was a ruined cottage not far from it I gather from my mother the kids used to walk from the cottage to the school at the other end of the village..
LikeLike
Hi, I hadn’t heard about the stone, but wish that I had! Do you happen to have a photograph of it? It isn’t featured in The Scandinavian Runic Inscriptions of Britain by Barnes and Page, 2006 (which includes the Holy Island inscriptions), but I don’t know if that is because they rejected it, or didn’t know about it.
LikeLike
Hi, we looked this morning. Found some carvings but not typically Viking. Can we send you a photo direct? Kathy
LikeLike
Hi Kathy, I would certainly be interested to see your photos – you could send to Shane.McLeod@utas.edu.au. Thanks! Shane
LikeLike
Will do tomorrow. Kathy
LikeLike
im in Arran just now, yesterday we visited the burial site. Now I know about it I’m going to look for the stone in the next day or so . I’ll post a picture if found
LikeLike
Hi Alan, I will be very interested to hear how you go, and I’m very pleased that this website has been of some use/interest!
cheers
Shane
LikeLike
We looked today and have a photo we could send direct to you. But it isn’t typically Viking writing. Kathy
LikeLike
Hi, was the writing on the stone using English letters rather than runes?
LikeLike
I am going to make a concentrated effort to find this stone again next summer, it is on the shore line , long shallow shape with carved signs I think it may be red, (but maybe not)..but partly cover with brush., but I know it’s there I’ve seen it.
LikeLike
Great! Let me know how you get on.
LikeLike
Yes, I visited this site, but where are the ‘markers’ there is nothing to say it was a Viking Site?
LikeLike
Sadly, that is the case – considering what a great site it is, I’m surprised that there isn’t an information board.
LikeLike
Yes, I informed the Tourist Information office at Brodick they didn’t seem interested?
LikeLike
There are a number of great Viking sites in Scotland without any kind of info for tourists. Things are a bit better in Orkney.
LikeLike
Oh, what about the Govan ‘hog-back’ Stones these are recorded as part of Scotland’s past….the Viking ‘calling card’ to Scotland
LikeLike
Yes, the Govan hogbacks are a notable exception. But I’m thinking more of burial sites, like the magnificent broch and burial mound at Castletown on the north coast – when I visited there was nothing there telling people what it is.
LikeLike
Yes, I have been to the burial site Ardnamurchan, also the Boat Repair Site, Glenbrittle…its also true that there were no markers there….
LikeLike
Did anyone find the rock with Viking inscriptions on it again and confirm that it was indeed viking writing ? I’m intrigued and excited to know more as I am on Arran now, thanks
LikeLike
We looked but only found one with a ‘modern’ name of a farm? There could be another but the vegetation is very high for you to try and walk around without damaging the ferns and flowers. Winter would be better. Have a great visit to Arran. Kathy
LikeLike
Hi Rachel, the stone was found, but it’s not Viking. Did you find the burial site and circular fort? Enjoy Arran!
LikeLike