These penitential cairns, oriented north to south, form part of St. Columbkille’s turas, a traditional pilgrimage route that winds through this corner of County Donegal. The southern cairn measures roughly 3 metres across and stands just under a metre tall, whilst its northern companion is notably larger at 4.2 metres in diameter and rises to 1.12 metres in height. Both maintain their subcircular shape despite the passage of time.

What makes this site particularly significant is its role as Station 11 on the turas, marked by a stone slab that rests atop the northern cairn. This graveslab, measuring 42cm by 22cm by 14cm, serves as a focal point for pilgrims following in the footsteps of St. Columbkille, who established a monastery here in the 6th century. The tradition of the turas, or pilgrimage circuit, has continued for generations, with locals and visitors alike making their way to these cairns as part of a larger spiritual journey through the landscape.

The cairns themselves tell a story of communal faith and endurance, built stone by stone as acts of penance or devotion. Their position in the centre of the valley floor, surrounded by productive farmland, suggests they’ve long been integrated into the working landscape of Glencolumbkille, serving both as waymarkers for pilgrims and monuments to the area’s deep Christian heritage. The site was formally documented in the Archaeological Survey of County Donegal in 1983, though the cairns themselves are far older, silent witnesses to centuries of prayer and contemplation.