Cat Cairn 2 (Kerbed Cairn) — Images (click to view fullsize)

Posted by LesHamilton 17th April 2024ce

Cat Cairn 2 (Kerbed Cairn) — Fieldnotes

Visited April 17, 2024 This was my first visit to Tullos Hill for some months and it was pleasing to discover that the thick and uncontrolled gorse that used to surround Cat Cairn 2 has all been removed. An expansive area of at least an acre surrounding the monument is now planted with a vast number of saplings, which should create a pleasant woodland scene in time. The kerb of the cairn is now clear to view from every direction, and the cairn itself can be seen to have a hollow centre (ring cairn?). Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by LesHamilton 17th April 2024ce

Craig Dorney (Hillfort) — News

No protection for historic Aberdeenshire hill fort threatened by wind farm. Historic Environment Scotland ruled that plans for a wind farm were 'too advanced' to change the designation of the Craig Dorney hill fort site to one of 'national importance, despite new evidence. More info : https://www.aberdeenlive.news/news/aberdeen-news/no-protection-historic-aberdeenshire-hill-9174705 One of my favourite sites, always a privilege to visit. Aberdeen Live have even pinched one my photographs!!! Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by drewbhoy 19th March 2024ce

Aquhorthies (Stone Circle) — Folklore

A special type of stone circle known as 'recumbent' is to be found in this part of the country (aka Aberdeenshire), distinguished by a massive block lying flat and flanked by two upright stones. A good example is found here, near Banchory-Devenick. It is said that a local man removed one of the stones to serve as a hearthstone, but was afterwards so disturbed by strange noises that he put it back where he found it. Similar stories are told of many stone circles, but a more unusual tale concerning Aquhorthies is given in an 1813 agricultural survey: Close to the principle druidical circle there are two parks of extraordinary fertility, although much incumbered with large masses of stone interspersed through them. The ground of these parks has been long remarked for its productiveness; that in the time of the Picts, soil had been brought to these parks, all the way from Findon, a distance of two miles; and that this was done by ranging a line of men along the whole distance, who handed the earth from one to another It was remarked in 1985 that the fields around the Aquhorthie circle still have some of the best soil in the area. The Lore Of Scotland - A Guide To Scottish Legends Westwood & Kingshill Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by drewbhoy 17th February 2024ce

Green Cairn (Hillfort) — Folklore

The large Iron Age ring fort of Green Castle, otherwise known as Queen's Castle or Finella's Castle, is said to have been the site of an early medieval fortress, seat of the maomor or 'great officer' of the Mearns. Here, it was said, Kenneth III was assassinated towards the end of the tenth century. The antiquarian Robert Chambers, writing in 1827, gives an account of the murder drawn from the fourteenth- and fifteenth-century chronicles: Having excited the implacable hatred of a powerful lady, named Fenella, by killing her son in a rebellion, she put on a courteous face, and invited him to her castle, where she had prepared a singular engine, for the purpose of putting him to death. Under pretence of amusing him with the architectural elegance of her mansion, she conducted him to the upper apartment of a tall tower, where, in the midst of splendid drapery and curious sculptures, she had planted a statue of brass, holding a golden apple. This apple, she told him, was designed as a present for his majesty, and she courteously invited him to take it from the hand of the image. No sooner had the king done this, then some machinery was set in motion, which, acting upon an ambuscade of crossbows behind the arras, caused a number of arrows to traverse the apartment, by one of which killed the king. Fenella left the castle before the murder was discovered by the king's attendants, who broke down the door and found their master weltering in his blood. It was said that Fenella made for another castle of hers at a wild place on the coast called, Den-Fenella. Being pursued, she concealed herself amongst the branches of the trees, and as thick forest stretched all the way from one castle to the other, she was able to swing herself along for a distance of about ten miles, and pass over the very heads of her bewildered pursuers. Different accounts can be found of what happened to her after that: some say she was captured and burned, some that she was at last brought to bay near Lauriston Castle, where she chose death over captivity and threw herself from the crags onto the rocks beneath, while a third version holds that she escaped to Ireland. The Lore Of Scotland - A Guide To Scottish Legends Westwood & Kingshill Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by drewbhoy 14th February 2024ce

Stone of Morphie (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Folklore

The Stone Of Morphie or Morphy is said to mark the grave of a Danish king, Camus, defeated in battle by Malcolm 2 (1005-1034). During a hurricane in the mid nineteenth century the stone fell down, and while it was being re-erected a skeleton was found beneath it, 'of large dimensions.' J. C. Watt writing in 1914, surmises that the monolith once formed part of a circle, adducing the 'immense number' of stone circles and tombs found in the neighbourhood, and adds that 'some years ago' he sent a friend to photograph the stone, 'but it was doing some duty at the core of a corn stack at the farm of Stone o' Morphy'. The stone is associated not only with the Danes but with the menacing Kelpie, said to have carried it. Archibald Watt notes in 1985 that 'you can still see his fingerprint on the stone where he grasped it', a motif more commonly associated with the Devil or a giant rather than the Kelpie, which usually appeared as a horse, although it could mainfest in human form. This Kelpie haunted the Ponage (or Poundage, or Pontage) Pool in the Esk, and was celebrated in a poem of 1826 by George Beattie When ye hear the Kelpie howl, Hie ye to the Pontage-pool; There you'll see the Deil himsel' Leadin' on the hounds o' Hell. Here the Kelpie is described as a 'stalwart monster, huge in size'; Behind, a dragon's tail he wore, Twa bullock's horns stack out before; His legs were horn, wi joints o' steel, His body like a crocodile. 'It is a well-authenticated fact' note Beattie, 'that, upon one occasion, when the Kelpie had appeared in the shape of a horse, he was laid hold of, and had a bridle, or halter, of a particular description, fastened on to his head. He was kept in thraldom for a considerable time, and drove the greater part of the stones for the building of the house of Morphie. Some sage person, acquainted with the particular disposition of the animal, or fiend, or whatever he maybe called, gave orders that at no time should the halter be removed, otherwise he would never more be seen.' A maid-servant, however, happened to go into the stable and took pity on the beast, taking off the bridle and giving it some food. The Kelpie then laughed and immediately went through the back of the stable, but leaving no mark whatever on the wall. As he went he proclaimed: O sairs my back, and sair my banes, Leadin' the Laird o' Morphie's stanes; The Laird o' Morphie canna thrive As lang's the Kelpie is alive. The curse had its effect: no trace of Morphie Castle now survives. The Lore Of Scotland - A Guide To Scottish Legends Westwood & Kingshill Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by drewbhoy 14th February 2024ce

Tyrebagger (Stone Circle) — Images

Posted by thelonious 29th January 2024ce

Midmar Kirk (Stone Circle) — News

Historic Scottish church with 4000-year-old stone circle up for sale AN historic Scottish church with a 4000-year-old stone circle in its grounds has been put up for sale. Interesting story from Scotland's best newspaper. More info : https://www.thenational.scot/news/24022089.historic-scottish-church-4000-year-old-stone-circle-sale/ Comments (2)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by drewbhoy 2nd January 2024ce

Kelpie's Stane (Natural Rock Feature) — Folklore

Once when the River Don was in flood, a man needed to cross it to attend a relative's deathbed. The river had a resident Kelpie, a dangerous water-spirit which could, however, appear helpless or even helpful. This creature appeared and offered to carry the traveller across the swollen stream; the man agreed, but when they got to the middle of the river the Kelpie tried to drown him. Luckily he managed to escape and scrambled up onto the riverbank. Baulked of his prey, the angry Kelpie threw a large boulder after him, which still rests on the bank and is still known as the Kelpie's Stane. The Lore of Scotland : A Guide To Scottish Legends Westwood & Kingshill Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by drewbhoy 2nd January 2024ce

Mither Tap (Hillfort) — Images

Posted by thelonious 30th December 2023ce