Meikle Larbrax Promontory Fort

About Meikle Larbrax Promontory Fort

The remains of Meikle Larbrax promontory fort now comprise a series of triple ramparts of soil and gravel and ditches, partly overgrown by gorse; it has magnificent views of Broadsea Bay and access is via a gravel drive to the shore, which can be wet and challenging in winter. It is one of the best preserved of the Galloway promontory forts, its interior being of astonishing size, protected on the seaward side by steep natural cliffs. The fort takes advantage of the raised beach, a geological landform raised above the shoreline after the weight of ice sheets melted. Mediaeval rig and furrow ploughing may have removed any surviving traces of interior buildings. The conical hillock below, towards the sea, may have formed part of it. It is also known as "Kemp's Walk" or perhaps "Wark". The Middle English word "Kemp" corresponds to Old English 'cempa' and Old Norse kempa 'warrior'.
If you prefer not to drive down the gravel drive, which is gated and goes through the farm steading, you can reach Broadsea Bay on foot from Killantringan Bay - whose name contains a reference to Whithorn's saint, Ninian or (later Scots) Ringan, and may refer to a lost chapel. There is a car park at Killantringan, where there is also a lighthouse, built in 1900 by Robert Louis Stephenson's nephew. In the next bay of Portamaggie, at low tide, you can clearly see the shipwreck of Craigantlet - a container ship that became stranded in 1982.
At Saltpans Bay, also to the north, which you can access from parking (see 'P' sign right by the 16th century ruined Galdenoch Castle), you will be able to see the remains of a salt panning enterprise dating from the 1640's, comprising two rectangular buildings, a kiln, with stone-walled enclosures.