I was most upset to see that one of the stones has fallen over since I last visited. It's marked on the map as 'rems of', and it seems that's a better description than ever. 3 down, 2 to go... :(
The hard way to find it is to try and follow the paths marked on the map. This involves bouncing through seriously deep heather, and annoyingly clingy bracken, trying to follow a path that isn't really there any more, with optional extant paths that aren't on the map and will lead you astray. But if you keep going downhill, you'll hit the wall eventually, then you just have to decide on right or left. Whilst this can be fun, it's not particularly recommended. It's probably wiser to follow the path down from the Dod Law trig pillar, then turn left when you get to the wall, which I did this time, and it was quite straightforward to find the stones.
I am highly suspicious of the placing of this little circle, it draws a bead from Dod Law to the rocky outcrops of the Bowden Doors, an enigmatic site of mesolithic activity a few mile to the east.
The OS map says this is "rems of" a circle - not fair! There are still 4 visible stones, OK two left standing but it still has the right feel. Lots of stones underfoot too. One of the fallen stones isn't quite horizontal, you can tell which was the top surface by the characteristic weathering patterns.
Unusually for this area, the Cheviot is not visible! (shock horror) - it is obscured by Doddington Moor. To the east however, Chatton, and Weetwood to the south.
Took a few moments to enjoy the silence and to watch a pale-coloured bird flying around which I'm sure was an owl, but it was broad daylight (?)
The other two camps are on the Horton grounds. Near to one of them are the remains of a stone circle, which during the last century would have been called a Druid's temple. Five stones are remaining, two only standing in their original position; when complete the circle had been about 100 feet in circumference; and it probably marks the burying place of some chieftain. At no great distance form it, are several barrows which also appear to have been places of sepulture. Mr Greenwell dug into some of them, but nothing was discovered save traces of burning.
Which makes me wonder where the fifth stone went, and when was the third (temporarily) re-erected? Are the two standing today the same two Tate observed? What about the cairns and can they still be found amongst the heather?
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Posted by Hob
Posted by pebblesfromheaven
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