Conraich

Back to the Byre Arch this afternoon. Whilst the Andy Goldsworthy arch is the most striking piece on the site, there are other more subtle works that remind us that Cairnhead used to be a thriving, working community and was so many hundreds of years ago. At the entrance to the site there are 4 large stones set into the wall bearing the names by which Cairnhead has been known over the years. This is the oldest known name.

The decline of sheep farming and the march of the coniferous forest in the area meant that there was no room for the people any more and nothing for them to do on the land anyway. These pieces are a reminder of communities long since disappeared and I hope they too survive for many years yet to come.