The Tinkers' Heart

The Tinkers’ Heart is a small commemorative monument made of quartz pebbles arranged in a heart shape near Cairndow by Loch Fyne in Argyll and Bute. It stands in a quiet field, once beside a busy road junction that was moved in the 1960s. Known also as the Gypsy’s Heart or Gypsy’s Wedding Heart, it is the only permanent memorial of its kind in Scotland. The stones measure about 1.75 metres by 1.4 metres, with a central pebble marking the heart’s core. Local Scottish Travellers say it honours tinkers who fought in the Jacobite Rising of 1745. The monument has deep meaning for the travelling community, who have held weddings there since the mid-1800s. In 1928 it was taken up during roadworks but returned after protests. In 2015 Historic Scotland recognised it as a site of national importance after a special study. The campaign to protect the Heart was led by author Jess Smith, whose book Button Bog tells its story. Politician Michael Russell and heritage director Barbara Cummins supported the effort to safeguard the site. Visitors find the Heart enclosed by a low metal fence to keep cattle away. A new information panel explains its history and significance. The peaceful field offers views of Loch Fyne and the surrounding hills. It is a quiet place, far from the old road that once passed nearby. The monument stands as a reminder of Scotland’s travelling people and their traditions.