Ballochmyle cup and ring marks

Ballochmyle cup and ring marks are hundreds of circular depressions with concentric rings carved into a sandstone cliff face that rises above the riverside. The site sits near the Liddell Burn stream, where the rock surface provides a natural canvas for these ancient carvings.

The rock carvings were created during the Bronze Age, spanning roughly 4000 to 1500 BC, when people used tools to carve into the stone. In 1986, workers clearing vegetation for Kingencleugh Estate discovered additional medieval designs hidden beneath accumulated growth.

The rock carvings display a mix of simple cups and concentric rings that reflect different craft traditions of prehistoric times. These varying motifs suggest that people visited this location across generations to leave their marks.

Access to the site follows the River Ayr Path heading westward, crossing a wooden bridge over a small stream before reaching the rock face. Visit during dry weather when the path is easiest to walk and the carved details show up most clearly.

Advanced laser scanning and photogrammetry technology has revealed carvings buried beneath soil and vegetation that may depict trilithon-like stone arrangements. These modern techniques uncovered details that could easily be missed by eye alone or through traditional excavation methods.

Location: East Ayrshire

GPS coordinates: 55.50069,-4.35935

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:10