Giant's Cave Long Barrow View all content for Giant's Cave (24 posts)

Today the weathermen promised sunny periods so Rex and I got our stuff together and headed for the hills well to the Cotswolds anyway. I wanted to visit a few barrows that I had seen on the map but either hadn't been to before or that I hadn't visited for years. I started with Green Barrow Farm, which is just up the road from me and which in a nutshell is barely a lump in a field. The second was Kington Down Farm, which was more interesting and was quite close to the road. The GPS reading I had was a little way out from that given on TMA so I wasn't sure If I had found the correct place as it looked like a great pile of mud (but small for an LB) with sheep all over it. I didn't want Rex to get out and worry the sheep so I took a quick photo and would return again at another time. I then tried to find West Barrow near Acton Turville but gave up on this after driving up and down what was a busy road with very little parking up places. Next was Giant's Cave. I had been here before a long time ago and I quite enjoyed it then. As I pulled up alongside the barrow I could immediately see that a great deal of clearing work had been carried out recently. The whole barrow had been opened up and it was now possible to see its undulating shape. Walking onto the barrow three of the chambers are clearly visible high up on top, each one marked by large limestone slabs sunk into the mound. It looks as if there could have been another as the side of the barrow had been dug away but there was no evidence of the large stones seen on the others. I walked around the barrow on clearly visible at the western end is evidence of a dry stone wall which looks like it may have continued around edge. This is a lovely place, very quite and peaceful. The barrow is still quite spectacular even in its state of disrepair. I would say this place is crying out for some sort of restoration work beyond just clearing the overgrowth. Rex and I left this barrow quite uplifted after some of our earlier visits to the other barrows (and the fact that Rex had taken a dip in the fast flowing stream that runs along side the barrow). Next we visited Starveall which was another pleasant barrow in the middle of a field. There are no chambers visible but the surroundings are quite pleasant. All in all a nice day out.

Posted by scubi63 27th February 2007ce

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