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Previous 50 | Showing 51-100 of 68,955 posts. Most recent first | Next 50 
East Kinharrachie (Cairn(s)) — Images (click to view fullsize) |
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Posted by drewbhoy17th March 2010ce |
East Kinharrachie (Cairn(s)) — Fieldnotes |
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The Ythan valley provides a lot of Aberdeenshires ancient sites and this is another fine example. Although robbed of most of the stones it still stands amongst the trees on the south slopes of Laverock Hill at East Kinharrachie farm near Ellon overlooking the River Ythan. Leave Ellon heading west on the B9005, the cairn is in the first clump of trees to the north. This must have a beautiful place with significant views all round including Bennachie. Nowadays it is grass covered and stands at almost 13 meters wide, 1.2 meters high with the centre robbed. Like Den Of Howie there is something that says, in my head, that this place is very, very old. In this valley anything is possible. Visited 17/10/2010. |
Posted by drewbhoy 17th March 2010ce |
The Brecks (Cairn(s)) — Images |
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Posted by wideford 17th March 2010ce |
Bookan (Chambered Cairn) — Images |
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Posted by wideford 17th March 2010ce |
Maeshowe (Chambered Tomb) — Images |
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Posted by wideford 17th March 2010ce |
Comet Stone (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Images |
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Posted by wideford 17th March 2010ce |
The Great Sacred Monuments of Stenness — Images |
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Posted by wideford 17th March 2010ce |
Abbotsbury Castle (Hillfort) — Images |
   
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Posted by formicaant17th March 2010ce |
Weatherby Castle (Hillfort) — Images |
  
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Posted by formicaant 17th March 2010ce |
Mayburgh Henge — Fieldnotes |
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I much preferred this site to Arthur's Round Table. Probably due to the still standing high sides of the henge plus the standing sone in the middle. Very pretty place and easily accessed. I am amazed that it has survived so well over all these years. Will visit again one day. Although a bit off topic, whilst in the area, I would recommend a visit to St Andrew's church in Penrith. In the grave yard, to the right of the church main doors, is a Viking 'Hog Back' grave. I 'discovered' this by pure accident - what a happy bunny I was!! |
Posted by CARL 17th March 2010ce |
Ringsbury (Hillfort) — Fieldnotes |
| Very easy access via the appropriately named Mud Lane! About a 10 minute walk over flat land from where you park the car. Nice place to visit. |
Posted by CARL 17th March 2010ce |
Stonehenge (Stone Circle) — Fieldnotes |
| Needless to say, a unique and fantastic place. However, at the risk of sounding snobby - a bit too commercialised for me. It is certainly worth visiting - a 'must see' site - but I must admit I prefer Avebury. |
Posted by CARL 17th March 2010ce |
Avebury (Stone Circle) — Fieldnotes |
| There is not much that can be added to what is already posted. All I would say is if you have never been here - visit. This is an incredible place to visit - the circle is massive - the stones huge. I have been to many famous prehistoric sites on mainland Britain but for me, Avebury is the best. Not just the circle but Silbury Hill, WKLB, Windmill Hill etc. Visit as often as you can - stay as long as you can. You will not be dissapointed. |
Posted by CARL 17th March 2010ce |
Windmill Hill (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) — Fieldnotes |
| If, like me, you like to keep walking to a minimum, you can follow the lane about half way up the hill before parking at a suitable point. When I say suitable I mean a slightly wider bit of track! Be careful not to try to drive too far up as the track becomes increasingly narrower, rutted and unless you are driving a tractor undrivable. I tried to warn an American tourist about this as he drove past me. Needless to say he knew better...... Once you get to the top, over a gate and a flat walk to the several barrows to be seen. |
Posted by CARL 17th March 2010ce |
West Kennett Avenue (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) — Fieldnotes |
| If you are able I would highly recommend you walk the Avenue. You do feel (at least I did) that you are following in the footsteps of the ancestors - like you are taking part in some sort of procession. A lovely, easy walk on a nice day. |
Posted by CARL 17th March 2010ce |
Marlborough Mound (Artificial Mound) — Fieldnotes |
| Don't know what the mound is but it is big. Easily seen from the road / pavement. |
Posted by CARL 17th March 2010ce |
Notgrove (Long Barrow) — Fieldnotes |
| Most dissapointing English Heritage site I have ever been to. Only plus side it is easy to get to - right next to road. |
Posted by CARL 17th March 2010ce |
The Fish Stone (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Fieldnotes |
| I found this hard to find. I couldn't see it through the trees at the top of the (steep) bank and so I decided to climb down to the flat area next to the river. It was then a simple case of following the river until I located the stone. The hard bit then was climbing back up the slope!! Take care. |
Posted by CARL 17th March 2010ce |
Carreg Cennen (Sacred Well) — Fieldnotes |
| When you pay to go into the castle, ask for a torch (small fee) - or bring your own torch. Once you enter the castle, look for the tower in the bottom left corner - this is where you will find the entrance to the cave. Initially there are steps down but this then changes to a concrete slope and then you are onto wet, natural stone - slippery. The cave ends with what appears to be a blocked up well? |
Posted by CARL 17th March 2010ce |
Carn Goch Hill Fort (Hillfort) — Fieldnotes |
| Drive through the village of Bethleham, up the hill, over the cattle grid and there is a parking place on the left. It is then an easy walk up the hillfort. Be careful though as the collapsed stone walls are very loose underfoot. The countryside here is beautiful. When I visited there wasn't a cloud in the sky and red kites were gliding silently overhead - bliss. |
Posted by CARL 17th March 2010ce |
Wells O' Wearie (Sacred Well) — Folklore |
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Wearie Well In a saft summer gloamin, In yon dowie dell, It was there we twa first met, By Wearie's cauld well, We sat on the brume bench, And look'd in the burn, But sidelang we look'd on, Ilk ither in turn. The corn craik was chirmimg, His sad eerie cry, And the wee stars were dreaming, Their path through the sky, The burn babbled freely, Its love to ilk flower, But we heard and saw nought, In that blessed hour. We heard and we saw nought, Above or around, We felt that oor love lived, And loathed idle sound, I gazed on your sweet face, Tull tears filled my e'e, And they drapped on your wee loof - A warlds wealth to me. Now the winter's snaw is fa'ing, On bare holim and lea, And the cauld wind is drippin, Ilk leaf aff the tree, But the snaw fa's not faister, Nor leaf disna part, Sae sune frae the bough, as Faith fades in your heart. Ye've waled oot another, Your bridegroom to be; But can his heart love sae, As mine luvit thee? Ye'll get biggings and maulings, And monie braw claes; But they a' winna buy back, The peace o' past days. Fareweel and for ever, My first luve and laist, May the joys be to come - Mine lies in the past, In sorrow and sadness, This hears fa's once; But light, as thy live, may It fleet over thee. Motherwell Whistle - Binkie The Piper Of The Party. |
Posted by drewbhoy 17th March 2010ce |
Den Of Howie (Kerbed Cairn) — Fieldnotes |
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There are four kerb cairns at the Den Of Howe in various states of existence. Leave the A952 north of Mintlaw taking the road east to Fetterangus. Go thru the village and follow the signpost to Den o' Howie at the crossroads. Go past the farm and stop amongst the trees at the first track heading north. From here, walk, the site is a 1/2 mile, the second clearing to the east/left. The minor road ends at Cairnorchie farm so a bit of a double back. Follow the track, after the minor road, leads to the car parks for the White Cow Cairn and Louden Wood RSC. Kerb 1. This is a magnificent kerb of 7 continuous stones. As with all the cairns a fair amount of moss had to be moved before the remains became visible. Kerb 2. Is a few meters to the east of kerb 1 and has three stones remaining. Two stones are underneath a young fir tree whilst the third lies out in the open. Kerb 3. Further to south east is the third cairn. 5 stones rest side by side. In the middle there seems to be a pit with a stone sat in the middle. then again it might just be glacerial. I had to move the most amount of moss/heather at this cairn. Kerb 4. Slightly to the south of Kerb 3, this cairn only has two stones remaining. This place is like a small Forvie. It feels old and I got the feeling that more cairns kerb or otherwise might be found in this ancient and lovely part of the world. However the density of the trees make it hard to look. I only hope that the Forestry people take extreme care when taking down trees and are careful not to destroy any sites. These woods also contain the Louden Wood RSC some distance in an easterly direction. There is a better chance to find the circle as there are no signposts here to direct you to the wrong place! Visited 16/3/2010. |
Posted by drewbhoy 17th March 2010ce |
Den Of Howie (Kerbed Cairn) — Images |
         
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Posted by drewbhoy 17th March 2010ce |
Carrowkeel-Keshcorran Complex — Fieldnotes |
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Oh Carrowkeel... word fails me, but I guess I should try and describe something of what it meant to visit this astonishing prehistoric ritual complex. For me Carrowkeel is quite simply the finest of the major Irish megalithic cemeteries. Sure, it lacks the connoisseur's art of the Bru na Boinne tombs and Loughcrew - and is of somewhat rougher construction, it has to be said - and Carrowmore is simply mind-boggling in extent. But for a 'mountain-head' like me, Carrowkeel really does have it all, the tombs perched upon the Bricklieve Mountains (Breac Shliabh, or 'speckled mountains') overlooking the gorgeous Loch Arrow and possessing a magnificent vista towards the one and only Knocknarea. Leave the main N4 Sligo road at Castlebaldwin and follow the 'historical trail' (a bit of a misnomer, obviously, since this is a journey into prehistory) roughly southwards, with the cairn-topped Kesh Corran rearing up to your right. The road surface becomes progressively 'rougher', as if to reflect the surrounding landscape, with high limestone cliff faces curiously reminiscent of Northern England, until a sign proclaims that the final kilometer to the cairns is indeed passable by car. Hmm. Perhaps it's something to do with me being a somewhat cynical Anglo Saxon/Celt/and-whatever-else-hybrid, but we decide to walk nonetheless, fearing a touch o' the Blarney stone. Wisely as it transpires, too, although the Aussie kangarooing (ho! ho!) past us in his hire car would probably have disagreed whilst exclaiming 'where's the cairns, dude!'. Last seen careering downhill towards Loch Arrow...... he at least gave us a laugh and, with large cairns seemingly crowning every ridge, may well have stopped me freaking out altogether with a little light relief. No worries, dude. The very rough approach track terminates at a turning-area-cum-car-park (ha!) from where a short climb brings us to the first monument. To state that the prosaically named 'Cairn G' is a 'good way to begin' is putting it very mildly indeed, the well preserved cairn covering a magnificent cruciform chamber, its solid roof slabs supported upon eight (I think) orthostats. There's more however, for the chambered tomb possesses a 'Newgrange-style' letter-box which apparently allows the setting summer solstice sun to penetrate the chamber on 21st June. This is obviously the reverse of the world famous arrangement at Newgrange, so elevating this tomb into the premier league of Irish passage graves in the process. Oh to be here when that happens! The next cairn uphill (Cairn H) has sadly collapsed into the chamber, although I can attest it is still possible to crawl down the passageway. Well, a Gladman's gotta do what a Gladman's gotta do, as they say. Cairn K, however, crowns the summit of the northern Bricklieves and is a real beauty, the cruciform chamber within exceedingly well preserved and reached by a long, low entrance passage akin to the great Orcadian tombs. The three pentagonal side chambers are exquiste, the corbelled roof likewise. And if I'm not very much mistaken.... the passage is aligned upon Maeve's Cairn surmounting distant Knocknarea! It's all too much, it really is. No, seriously, because as well as a large cist to the east of the tomb, the ruined 'Cairn L' to the west, and a nearby settlement (no doubt the home of the people who used these tombs?), cairns seem to crown every horizon. As old Irish comedian Frank Carson used to say.... 'And there's more'. Much, much more at Carrowkeel. Sadly I must leave and who knows, I may never return? But no matter. Carrowkeel will always have me in thrall. |
Posted by GLADMAN16th March 2010ce |
East Kennett Longbarrow (Long Barrow) — Fieldnotes |
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East Kennett and West Kennett couldn't be much more different really, not in our century at least. I wondered whether to write these fieldnotes, it's like drawing unnecessary attention to something that's quite happy nice and quiet and unknown, despite its proximity to the show sites of Avebury. Not to mention the fact it's off the footpaths and I shouldn't really have been there at all. But your tma-ish type values EK for what it is. And most normal people don't want to trudge to an overgrown hillock somewhere up a muddy track. Besides, there's nowhere obvious to leave a tealight. So maybe EK's ok. Even as you walk up here, you can see that the place is massively, surprisingly, tall. I thought it was an optical illusion until I got very close up and then I had to believe it. As you're walking up the track, the barrow glowers ominously above you. But on arriving, the near end seems like the less important back, it shuns the view of West Kennett's fancy frontage and Silbury hill. With the wintery lack of undergrowth I could walk along the barrow's crest, to the far end which is higher and more sheltered. That has a much more enclosed feeling. There's a kind of amphitheatre effect, with the skyline at a single level all around. But curiously the skyline isn't consistently close, some of it's made up of much further away bits of landscape, but it all overlaps to give this constant line. It's totally different to the open feel of the other end, with its distant views to all sorts of places that make you go ooh! when you recognise them. It was very quiet indeed at the far end. It's riddled with burrows. Flakes of chalk and pointy flint nodules are everywhere (as are spent shotgun cartridges). A rabbit sprang out of one of the holes just in front of me and I don't know who was more startled. Partridges muttered in the field below but otherwise it was just that distant treetop noise like the sea. My crisps ruined the atmosphere really. I liked the distorted writing on some of the beeches and all the tiny snail shells with their strange little umbilical holes. On the way back (after another guilt-ridden dash silhouetted against the sky) there were loads of yellowhammers to be seen and heard along the White Horse track. If you keep going straight down, the path comes out where the road crosses the Kennet. It's amazing to watch, a beautifully crystal clear chalk stream with its vegetation waving about in the current. It was a nicer way to walk back to where I'd parked near the church. |
Posted by Rhiannon16th March 2010ce |
The Grey Stone (Cup and Ring Marks / Rock Art) — Links |
The Grey Stone on BRAC |
Posted by rockartuk16th March 2010ce |
Chapel Hill Abbotsbury (Ancient Temple) — Images |
 
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Posted by texlahoma16th March 2010ce |
Bulmer's Stone (Natural Rock Feature) — Links |
Durham County CouncilA photo of the hemmed in stone. |
Posted by Rhiannon 16th March 2010ce |
Bulmer's Stone (Natural Rock Feature) — Folklore |
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You've got to feel sorry for this rock. It's got no space. And yet, legend has it that it turns round nine times when it hears the clock strike twelve. It used to sit proudly by the road on Northgate, and Willy Bulmer used to read out the London news whilst standing on it. But Health and Safety deemed it in the way, so in the 1920s it was moved behind railings at Central House to be safely out the way. It's also supposed to have railway folklore links. In the 1820s Edward Pease had a horse-drawn railway that took coal to the Tees at Stockton. George Stephenson is supposed to have walked from Stockton to speak to him, to persuade him to use his new fangled steam engine. Stephenson sat on the stone to re-tie his boots, apparently. (This information collected in a document about Northgate conservation area by Darlington Borough Council.) It gets a mention in the Denham Tracts: Rhyme on Bulmer Stone, Darlington.The rhyme must be pretty old, as it's from a book given to the Durham cathedral library in 1662, and it previously belonged to the church of Hutton Rudby, Yorkshire, so the Tracts tell us. |
Posted by Rhiannon 16th March 2010ce |
Chalbury (Hillfort) — Images |
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Posted by formicaant 16th March 2010ce |
White Horse Hill (Round Barrow(s)) — Fieldnotes |
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I took the opportunity to visit this barrow while taking some photos of East Hill barrows. The maps and MAGIC etc show two, but I could only spot one of them. Some of the barrows in this extended group along the South Dorset Ridgeway are very slight and hard to see, I suspect that may be the case with the other barrow. The visible barrow is quite a curious example as it seems to have been turned in to a water tank holder. This appears to have been done to it some time ago as grass has grown has grown over the concrete lid. The White Horse is 18th century and depicts king George the 3rd on horseback, he was responsible for making nearby Weymouth a fashionable resort and popularised sea bathing. |
Posted by formicaant 16th March 2010ce |
White Horse Hill (Round Barrow(s)) — Images |
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Posted by formicaant 16th March 2010ce |
Broadmayne Bank Barrow — Images |
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Posted by formicaant 16th March 2010ce |
East Hill Barrows (Barrow Cemetery) — Images |
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Posted by formicaant 16th March 2010ce |
Maen Llia (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Fieldnotes |
| A lovely looking stone and a lovely colour only 30 yards from the road (small layby). If it has been raining take your wellies as the ground around the stone is very wet. |
Posted by CARL 16th March 2010ce |
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