Dunagoil (Cliff Fort) — Images (click to view fullsize)

Posted by thelonious 14th June 2018ce

Dunagoil (Cliff Fort) — Fieldnotes

05/06/2018 – What to say about Dunagoil to do it justice? I just loved it. Two forts to look at, a burial chamber and just wonderful scenery. This really is a must visit site if you're on Bute. Good parking and access from NS 0888 5354. Short stroll to Dunagoil Bay and the first fort (Little Dunagoil). There is a small cave at the front of this one where a shell midden has been found. Walking between the forts, don’t forget to keep a look out for the small burial chamber (it’s good). After that, a little climb brings you to the top of Dunagoil. The main fort is just great. I love a fort with a bit of vitrification and the walls on this one have loads. It’s one of the best I’ve been too. Such a mystery as to why and how. The geology of this place is pretty special too and the views!! Lots to see here. If you are thinking of going, I thought I’d mention two little books I bought at the tourism information centre in Rothesay which I found most useful whist on Bute. They are pretty cheap too. Reading the Landscape of Bute - Hill & Buist (great for short walks looking at geology) Archaeological Landscape of Bute - Geddes & Hale (great for prehistory) We were only supposed to make a flying visit here as part of a longer walk but Dunagoil was too good and we ended up staying far too long. Very hot and sunny day. Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by thelonious 14th June 2018ce

Blackpark Plantation (Stone Circle) — Images

Posted by thelonious 12th June 2018ce

Blackpark Plantation (Stone Circle) — Fieldnotes

05/06/2018 - Of all the sites on Bute this was the one I most wanted to see. Each stone looked so distinctive from looking at the photos on here. Only 3 left but each had it's own character. The first one is like no other stone I've come across. So thin at the bottom and then ballooning out higher up. A megalithic lollipop. The middle one is my favourite. Split now and a good size. And the faces!! Once you've seen them you can't un-see them, just great. The third is smaller and has it's own little booster mound so it can hang with the bigger guys. Great vibe to the site, surrounded by trees. Easy access and parking, A must see place. Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by thelonious 12th June 2018ce Edited 13th June 2018ce

Barone Hill (Hillfort) — Images

Posted by thelonious 12th June 2018ce

Barone Hill (Hillfort) — Fieldnotes

04/06/2018 – First morning on the lovely Isle of Bute. Straight off the morning ferry (I love ferry trips, always a sense of adventure about them). First port of call was Barone Hill. Ticks both ‘need to climb a hill’ & ‘look at old stuff’ boxes. We drove out of Rothesay on the B878 a short way then took the small yellow road south to the end where there is good parking before Loch Fad (NS 07926276). A track heads up the hill towards works and a dam. As the track turns left near the reservoirs, a path leads up to the summit of Barone Hill (one stile to cross). No access problems. The fort is quite overgrown but you can follow the wall in places. Still a little overcast this morning so the distant views weren’t great. Nice fort and hill. Worth a visit as the climb isn’t too bad and the effort is rewarded with a good view of Bute and beyond. I guess you would be unlikely to bump into folk here as well (though probably cows as they’re everywhere on Bute). After a bite to eat and a sit on the top we took Gladman’s tip and headed back to Rothesay to check out the castle which is really excellent. Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by thelonious 12th June 2018ce

Barone Hill (Hillfort) — Miscellaneous

This fort, crowning the summit of Barone Hill, possesses a fabulous overview of Bute and must have been of great strategic importance back in the day. According to Canmore: "..It comprises the remains of an oval stone wall (enclosing an area 62.0m NE-SW by 42.0m) with an outer stone wall on the W and S whilst rocky precipitopus (sic) slopes form an additional defence on the E. The oval wall survives on the W and S where it is 3.0m wide and up to 1.0m high with many facing stones in situ but there are only faint traces of it on the E. The entrance, though not apparent, was most probably at the 4.0m gap on the S side, which is now utilized by the modern wall. There is no evidence of the vitrification mentioned by Hewison....." OS (TRG) 23/11/76 Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by GLADMAN 14th January 2018ce

Acholter (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Miscellaneous

Drive By - 1.8.16 This small stone can be seen across a couple of fields when driving south along the A884. I couldn't spot the stone when travelling north along the same road. From a distance the stone only appears to be about 1m in height. It appears to be leaning towards the nearby field fence/hedge. You would need to negotiate a couple of field fences to get a closer look. Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by CARL 2nd August 2016ce

Ettrick Bay (Stone Circle) — Fieldnotes

Visited 1.8.16 Directions: Visible from the B875 (south) on Ettrick Bay. We parked outside a rather run down house and I walked back up the road, hopped over the metal field gate and walked over to the stones. Access to the circle is via a weathered wooden kissing gate. The stones being fenced in for their protection no doubt. Looking at Mr G's photos a lot of growth has occurred since his visit. The stones were surrounded by tall rough grass. In fact, the two small 'stumps' of stone were only visible once I had trampled the grass down. To concur with Mr G, I also liked this circle - a lot. The views over to Arran are lovely. I am sure this point wasn't last to the builders of the circle. The 'modern' large old tree now sharing the scene with the stones merely adds to its charm. Ettrick Bay is a very popular beach destination on Bute (we also liked it - superb views over to Arran - at the risk of repeating myself) and it is well worth paying a visit to this circle at the same time. Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by CARL 2nd August 2016ce

East Colmac (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Fieldnotes

Visited 1.8.16 Directions: Visible from the B875 (south) on Ettrick Bay. We parked next to the field gate and I simply hopped over the gate and walked over to the stone. The field had already been harvested so no problems with access. The stone is about 2m high and has a chunk missing from its shoulder. It looked natural to my untrained eye. Surprisingly enough it didn't have the usual 'hairy' lichen on it you usually find on the Scottish islands. Ettrick Bay stone circle can be seen in the distance, with the sea beyond that. Nice stone. Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by CARL 2nd August 2016ce