Eclipse 2017 Cairn

The Eclipse Cairn sits on a hillside near Tarbert, marking something quite specific - the path of totality during the 2017 solar eclipse as seen from this corner of Argyll. It's a modest stone cairn, the sort of thing you might walk past without noticing if you didn't know what you were looking at, but once you understand its purpose, it becomes rather satisfying. The view from up there sweeps across the landscape where thousands of people stood that August morning to watch the moon slide in front of the sun. You can stand in the same spot and imagine it.

This appeals most to eclipse enthusiasts and astronomy buffs, though frankly, unless you were here for 2017, you're visiting a memorial rather than experiencing the event itself. Historians and those interested in how communities mark astronomical moments might find it worth a detour. Casual tourists? Probably not unless you're already hiking the area.

There's no charge to visit - it's just out on the landscape. Allow 20 minutes if you're heading straight there, longer if you're making it part of a proper walk. The real draw comes from combining it with time at Muasdale Holiday Park, which sits about 6 miles away and gives you a proper base for exploring this part of Argyll. If you're staying locally and fancy a gentle hillside stroll with a bit of astronomical history attached, it's worth the walk. Otherwise, your time is probably better spent elsewhere.