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Russell's Cairn

Cairn(s)

Miscellaneous

A little word about 'Split the De'il' that Hob mentions:
An upright slab of porphyry, about 6 feet high, stands on the southern slope of Windy Gyle, in a south easterly direction from the cairns. The shepherds call this rock 'Split the Deil'. It is not certain that this is a relic of prehistoric times, but the rock has all the appearance of being 'set up'. A shepherd surprized a golden eagle percehed on this rock early one morning.
I love the final sentence. It's like the author had been standing talking to a shepherd rave on about the eagle, and felt he just had to mention it in this otherwise quite sober account of stones. At least, that's the only interpretation I can give it, unless eagles had something to do with the mysterious devil-related folklore attached to the stone.

From 'Pre-Roman Remains in Upper Coquetdale' by Mr Parker Brewis and Mr D D Dixon, in the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, v7/8 (1915/16) 		Rhiannon Posted by Rhiannon
18th November 2009ce

Comments (1)
Thanks Rhiannon, I'm very pleased to see I didn't just imagine having read about a stone there. I had a bit look about in what I think was the right area, and anything that tall should have been visible. Oh well, I'll just have to tromp back up there to check properly... Hob Posted by Hob
19th November 2009ce
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