Not a particularly incredible site; I wouldn't even say it was really worth a look unless you were heading from Stonehaven towards the rather more diverting Nine Stanes. Situated off the A957, just before the main village at Rickarton, very exposed and easy to see from the road. Cross the field and head towards the forest.
There appear to be trenches running the length of the heathery/grassy area below the forest, although they are largely obscured by the heather. Around the forest are dotted many stones, some large, increasingly so as you reach the forest itself. The forest is in fact a ring of trees around an open area with deep and obvious trenches around its circumference.
Unfortunately, this area seems to attract two major annoyances during the summer: horse poo (do these animals never stop??) and swarms of flies, so bring a hood.
Glenton North is about a mile north from it's southern neighbour. Luckily a lot of the heather and trees have been taken down or burnt making walking conditions, apart from the boggy start, much easier. Sadly a lot of small cairns and probably a hut circle or two have been trashed beyond recognition. I went into the wood at the top of Glenton Hill (calling it forest might be an exaggeration) and like Tara didn't see very much. However keeping heading north and on the downslope a cairn overlooking the very small village of Rickarton will be found.
It has also survived a bit better than its southern neighbour with possibly two kerbs still in place and the remains in of cist in it's houked centre. It stands at over 6m wide and is about 0.6m high. To the north is the wonderful view of Cairn Mon Earn.
A nice way to spend a sunny afternoon near Stonehaven.
Sadly there are not much visible remains of the Glenton South cairn. All that can now be seen is a green circular patch amongst the gorse sitting at over 6m wide and 0.5m tall. Underneath the grass cairn material can be felt. What it does have are tremendous views over to Findlayston and Raedykes, homes to several cairns. A lot of the nearby smaller cairns have been gobbled up by the large amounts of gorse.
Heading west from the Cowton Bridge on the Slug Road aka the A957 Banchory Road. Take the first road heading south, almost doubling back, to North Glenton farm. I asked permission to park, which was granted, at the farm. From here I jumped the fence into a field and headed south and uphill. The cairn is located on the edge of a bog amongst jabby stuff just over the next fence/gate.
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Posted by drewbhoy
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