Kilmartin (Scottish Gaelic: Cille Mhàrtainn, meaning "church of Màrtainn") is a small village in Argyll and Bute, western Scotland. It is the center of Kilmartin Glen, an area with one of the largest numbers of prehistoric monuments and historical sites in Scotland. More than 800 monuments are found within a six-mile (about ten kilometers) radius of the village. The area is home to Kilmartin Museum and the Kilmartin Hotel.

Kilmartin Parish Church

Kilmartin Parish Church is part of the Church of Scotland. The current church building was designed by architect James Gordon Davis and opened in 1835. Earlier churches had stood on the same site before this one was built. The churchyard contains an important collection of early Christian and medieval carved stones, known as the Kilmartin Stones. Some of these stones are displayed inside the church, while others are kept in special stone collections in the graveyard, and some remain buried in the ground.

Two of the most important monuments are the Kilmartin crosses, one from the 9th–10th century and the other from the late medieval period. These crosses are located inside the church. In the churchyard, there is a large collection of late medieval gravestones in the "West Highland" style, dating from the 14th to early 16th centuries. Many of these stones show images of warriors wearing clothing from that time, along with pictures of mythical animals, plants, and intricate patterns. None of the stones have writing, so the names of the people honored are unknown. These gravestones likely belonged to local landowners or minor nobles from the late medieval period. Kilmartin Church was an important burial site, and some of the gravestones may have been carved in a workshop near Kilmartin. The swords shown on the stones indicate the social status of the people they represent, but they are not connected to groups like the Templars or other medieval military orders. Some stones also show women, often represented by symbols like shears, which were used for household tasks.

John Duncanson (about 1630–1687) was the Church of Scotland minister at Kilmartin from 1655 to 1662 and again from 1670 to 1684. He was removed from his position in 1662 when a system called episcopacy was restored, but he was later allowed to return in 1670. His son, Major Robert Duncanson, played a major role in the 1692 Glencoe Massacre. Kilmartin Church is no longer used for worship and is now owned by private individuals.

Kilmartin Castle

Kilmartin Castle is a small tower house with a Z-shaped design, built around 1580. It is located above the village and was once owned by the Campbells, many of whom are buried in the churchyard. John Carswell, who was the Rector of Kilmartin and later became the Bishop of the Isles, lived in the castle before moving to Carnasserie Castle. The castle has a long, three-story main building with round towers at the northeast and southwest corners, as well as a smaller stair tower on the west side. The castle was once in ruins but has been restored as a private home in recent years. Bullet holes and iron bars over the windows have been kept as part of its history. The village also includes a hotel and public restrooms.

Kilmartin Museum

The Kilmartin Museum explains the Neolithic monuments in Kilmartin Glen and nearby areas for visitors. It displays a collection of artifacts found during archaeological digs from different time periods. The museum is located in the village within a group of old buildings that have been changed into a museum. Inside, there is a shop for books and gifts, and a café that offers meals made with local ingredients. The museum recently reopened in 2024 after renovations, which improved its quality and helped connect local items to the area's history and environment.

Kilmartin Glen

Kilmartin Glen is home to many important Neolithic, Bronze Age, and Iron Age sites, such as Temple Wood (a henge monument), several burial cairns, chambered cairns, standing stones, and rocks with cup and ring marks.

Kilmartin Glen has one of the best groups of prehistoric sites in Scotland. Most of these sites are near roads that cross the valley. One burial cairn has been rebuilt, with a staircase leading from an opening at the top down to the base of the cairn and a stone burial chamber. The two stone circles in Temple Wood were also reassembled by archaeologists.

Carnasserie Castle is located slightly north of Kilmartin and is protected by Historic Environment Scotland. It was built by Bishop John Carswell of Argyll between 1565 and 1572. After his death, it was owned by the Earl of Argyll and later sold in 1643 to Sir Dugald Campbell, 3rd Baronet of Auchinbreck. The castle was destroyed by government forces when Duncan Campbell, Sir Dugald’s successor, took part in the failed 1685 Argyll’s Rising. It was never repaired. Though mostly intact, the castle is roofless and features refined architecture with Renaissance-style decorative details.

Within Kilmartin parish is Dunadd, an important Iron Age and early medieval hill-fort. It was a major center of the kingdom of Dál Riata and is also protected by Historic Environment Scotland. Kilmartin has historically been seen as one of the poorer and more struggling areas of Scotland.

Moine Mhòr

The Moine Mhòr covers a large area with different types of habitats, including raised bog, saltmarsh, brackish grassland, alder carr, fen, and woodland near Kilmartin. The many different habitats at Moine Mhòr support a wide range of animal and plant life. The area became a national nature reserve (NNR) in 1987. NatureScot owns and manages the site. According to NatureScot, lowland raised bogs like Moine Mhòr are among the rarest and most threatened natural habitats in Europe because of peat removal, afforestation, and farmland reclamation.