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Dun Altabrug (Stone Fort / Dun) — Fieldnotes

We returned to West Loch Ollay from the standing stone at Crois Chnoca Breaca and took the car to Dun Altabrug.

Take the road that swings north, the road we came, and at the junction head west. Keep going, past a minor road, and as the road swings north east take the first minor road south, stopping at the road's end. We were given permission to park by the occupant at Peninerine.

Head south east up and over a wee hill and the dun will be clearly seen along with the causeway, the causeway being just over 30m in length.

Decent walls still exist on the 'high crannog' / dun with the entrance on the east. Most of the site is overgrown. The circular wall is over 1.2m, the island is slightly oval and measures 9.5m by 8m.

Once again it was explained that water levels are low here also, as they are over North and South Uist and Benbecula. The photos proved that when compared with photos taken from 5 years ago, vegetation had grown, the causeway is much more visible and the land from the farmhouse a lot les boggy.

Superb site.

Visited 10/08/2023.

Crois Chnoca Breaca (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Fieldnotes

A weird and wonderful stone which could easily be mistaken as a ruined Celtic Cross. Parking is easy as there is a car park at the Ardmichael Cemetery but we headed towards the coast, from West Loch Ollay, to follow the Hebridean Way which gave us a easy walk heading north, and more importantly it led straight to the site.

It stands on a wee mound at just over 2m tall, almost giving a middle finger to time and, perhaps, modernisation. Hopefully a gentle straighten up will save this stone falling as it sits at an precarious angle.

Fantastic site / sight with fantastic scenery.

Visited 10/08/2023.

West Loch Ollay (Crannog) — Fieldnotes

The following I was up bright breezy and picked up my 'water expert' friend for the first of two site visits.

North of the road to An Carra, on the A865, take the first road heading west, the the next road heading south before stopping at the first farm track that leads north.

Jump the gate then head straight north. When you reach the shore the 'high crannog' will be in front of you. Not much is left of any buildings that existed, but the tumble down proves that once upon a time something was there. Something that still is exists is a line of stones heading west, a possible mini naust.

Canmore also have a photograph that show this line of stones clearly, on my photographs, grass and weeds are growing and much more of the site can be seen.

It was explained to me that West Loch Ollay was gradually getting lower, vegetation was growing on parts of the loch. This site just highlighted it more accurately with more rocks and bedrock beginning to appear.

Not a lot to look at but interesting given someone had a knowledge of climate change.

Visited 10/08/2023.

Traprain Law (Hillfort) — Folklore

The Iron Age hill-fort at the summit of this prominent dome-shaped hill is said to have been the ancient capital of Lothian. From it in 1919 was unearthed the Traprain Treasure, about 160 pieces of mainly of mainly fifth-century Roman silver, probably the buried loot of a robber, now in the Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh.

The Lore Of Scotland - A Guide To Sottish Legend

Westwood & Kingshill

Beinn A'Charra (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Fieldnotes

Not to be confused with North Uist's standing stone ot the same name, near the Committee Road, this is a stunning stone. The Who sang you can see for miles and miles and miles, you certainly can, west, north and south.

It stands, like an old wizard, at over 5m tall with a slight angle unlike its northern counterpart's blind drunk angle.

Another reason to visit this stone was to meet up with a friend who works at the waterworks and asked the question about water levels. To my surprise I was told that the levels that summer were well down, this explained why a lot causeways were appearing that in previous years could not be seen. An example of which I'd be shown the following day.

A tremendous stone.

Visited 09/08/2023.

Loch Cnoc A' Buidhe (Stone Fort / Dun) — Fieldnotes

An incredible 83m long by 1.5m to 2m wide S shaped causeway connects the dun at Loch Cnoc A' Buidhe, which itself is just over 13m wide. A spectacular view, south west, as I was hastily walking back to the car for a discussion about water levels at An Carra Standing stone.

Closer inspection next time.

Photographed 09/08/2023.

Reineval (Chambered Tomb) — Fieldnotes

The first impression that jumped into my head about Reineval was that it was 'this is Dun Bharpa's smaller relative'.

It is quite a bit smaller but equally impressive, being almost 23m wide and at its highest is over 3.5m. Like Bharpa it is surrounded by tall stones, 12 still stand, also like Barra's biggest cairn, standing on top of this only seems to encourage the wind to blow harder. However, from this vantage you can see that site has been well disturbed.

Very easy to find, it can be seen from the A865, I parked at the end of minor road and walked up the track past a couple of storage agricultural buildings to climb south up through soggy marshy ground.

It was a reasonably clear day so the views, as always, stunning!

Visited 09/08/2023.

Cill Donnain (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) — Miscellaneous

You can see the reconstructed outline of an Iron Age aisled wheelhouse which was excavated in 1990. Built in 200AD, this is a small example, with an internal diameter of 6.5 metres, but it lay on the edge of a much larger settlement. It probably had seven internal stone piers and a rectangular heart.

Car Park Noticeboard

Cill Donnain (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) — Fieldnotes

Situated next to the museum car park at Kildonan is a reconstruction of an outline of an Iron Age Wheelhouse. Originally it would have been situated at Cill Donnain, near the vanishing standing stone at Sligeanach. However this one didn't escape and was captured in 1990.

A nice addition to the museum.

Visited 09/08/2023.

Midmar Kirk (Stone Circle) — News

Historic Scottish church with 4000-year-old stone circle up for sale


AN historic Scottish church with a 4000-year-old stone circle in its grounds has been put up for sale.

Interesting story from Scotland's best newspaper.

More info :

https://www.thenational.scot/news/24022089.historic-scottish-church-4000-year-old-stone-circle-sale/

Dun Vulan (Broch) — Fieldnotes

After the failed attempt to find the standing stone at Sligeanach, I headed north following the coastline to the Rudha Ardvule peninsula, the home to the broch / galleried dun Dun Vulan.

It must have been some place when built and would have been seen from afar. Despite being ruinous the 11m oval shape of the site can be seen, building work is best preserved in the North east arc which houses the entrance. A lot of work has occurred to clear stones from in and around the the site making it safer and easier to get around. A defensive wall has also been built to protect the broch from erosion.

Steel mesh gabions are also in place to offer further protection.

Impressive.

Visited 08/08/2023.

Dun Bhuirg (Broch) — Folklore

By the shore of Loch Scridain in Ardmeanach is Dun Bhuirg (the name combines the Gaelic and Norse words for fort). Like other prehistoric forts, it was thought to be inhabited by fairies. One day a woman living nearby was at her weaving and exclaimed, 'it is about time the people of the hill were coming along to give me a hand.' Suddenly she was overrun with fairies from the dun who swiftly turned all the wool into cloth. When they asked for payment for their work, she shouted, 'Dun Bhuirg is on fire!' The fairies rushed off and were not seen again, but surprisingly did not punish her for the mean trick she had played on them.

This story from P.A. McNab's Isle of Mull (1970) is a variant on an earlier tale repeated all over the Highlands, set in similar places with similar names. In around 1860, John MacLean of Tarbert in Argyllshire supplied John Francis Campbell with a version very like the one above, although the Argyllshire woman is not trying to avoid paying but is overwhelmed by the fairies' eagerness for work, like wizard at Creag Mhor and Creag Bheag (Northern Highlands). macLean adds a verse spoken by the fairies while at their work and another when they depart in haste, mourning their possessions lost in the supposed fire, the latter translated by Campbell as:

My mould of cheese, my hammer, and anvil,

My wife and my child, and my butter crock;

My cow and my goat, and my little meal kist;

Och, och ochone, how wretched am I!


A slightly different tale was told of the hill of Dunvuilg in Craignish, Argyllshire, where the call of fire is given by an envious neighbour of the woman whom the fairies are helping, and Campbell heard yet another version in Lewis 'from a medical gentleman, who got it from an old woman, who told it as a fact, with some curious variations unfit for printing'. these unprintable details may possibly have concerned throwing urine at the fairies, a technique adopted, for instance, at Dunvegan Castle.

The Lore Of Scotland - A Guide To Scottish Legends

Westwood & Kingshill

Dun Buidhe (Broch) — Folklore

The Bean-nigh or Nigheag ('washer-woman or 'little washer') is a spirit who presides over those about to die, and washes their shrouds in lakes or rivers while singing a dirge. She may be so absorbed in her task that she can be taken unawares, and will then grant her captor three wishes: it used to be said of anyone particularly successful that he had got the better of the washerwoman.

A follower of Clanranald of the Isles was going home alone one night to Dun Bhuidhe when he saw the washerwoman by a ford, 'washing and rinsing, moaning and lamenting'. Creeping up unseen and unheard, he seized her:

'Let me go,' said 'nigheag,' 'and give me the freedom of my feet, and that the breeze of reek coming from thy grizzled tawny beard is anear putting a stop to the breath of my throat'. Much more would my nose prefer, and much rather my heart desire, the air of fragrant incense of the mist of the mountains.'

He said he would let her go in return for his three wishes: for the creek of his home town to have plenty of seaweed (used as fertiliser), for himself to get his chosen wife, and to know who the washerwoman's shroud was for. For Clanranald was the answer. The man took the shroud on the point of his spear and threw into the loch, then ran to his chief. Hearing the news, Clanranald ordered a cow to be killed and a coracle made from its hide, and when the boat was prepared he embarked on the waves, and never returned to Benbecula.

The man who brought the news was named Lad Of The Wet Foot, because, explains Alasdair Alpin MacGregor, retelling the story in 1937 from an earlier version, his duty was to walk in front of his chief and take the dew or rain off the grass. In this tale the Lad 'walked in front' in a more symbolic sense: his warning gave Clanranald the chance to prepare for his end with dignity, although death, once foretold, could not be escaped.

The Lore Of Scotland - A Guide To Scottish Legends

Westwood & Kingshill

Loch Bornish (Cairn(s)) — Fieldnotes

After visiting the dun at Upper Loch Bornish I made my way back to minor road I'd left to continue westwards. Parking isn't a problem, St Mary's RC Church has a very handy carpark.

From the church head back to the track and keep going west to jump the gate. The cairn is small being 6m wide by 0.4 high. It is grass covered, as usual the local greenkeepers have done an excellent job, with two stones in the middle. These are probably what remains of a cist.

After a quick look round I decided to look for the standing stone at Sligeanach. Heading south I crossed over some sand dunes before heading across some very flat land. After looking around for ages I enlisted the help of two cyclists camping near the Hebridean Way. Even with their help it was a lost cause. The stone is probably hidden beneath the sands.

Nice to find the cairn, frustrating about the standing stone.

Visited 08/08/2023.

Upper Loch Bornish (Stone Fort / Dun) — Fieldnotes

After visiting the stone circle at Loch Kildonan I headed back to the A865 and headed north, then took the next minor road heading heading west. Take the first road heading south and park at the first corner.

The causeway has taken a bit of battering but I was able to make my way across quite safely. Enclosures or sheepfolds have completely ruined the dun which has its wall best preserved in the north. From this it can be seen that the wall would have been about 2.5m wide, this surrounds the island which would have made the dun close to 10m wide.

Beautiful location, pity about the rubbish at the nearby empty house.

Visited 08/08/2023.

Loch Kildonan (Stone Circle) — Fieldnotes

5 stones make up the stone circle situated to north of the minor road after crossing the causeway to the west site of Loch Chill Donnain (Kildonan).

From the museum / Flora MacDonald memorial on the A865, head north and take the first minor road heading west.

Gorgeous setting, the loch is also a favourite for anglers both local and visiting.

Visited 08/08/2023.

Kildonan (Crannog) — Fieldnotes

In July 2022 Kildonan was re-classified as a crannog as Neolithic pottery. It sits just over 45 meters from the west bank of Loch a' Mhuilin, being connected by a surviving. Water levels were slightly higher on my visit so getting onto the crannog was impossible as the last 10m of causeway were below water and I'd on the wrong footwear.

The 20m wide crannog now houses its fallen walls.

Easy to find, I parked at the nearby museum and walked south back down the A865, a small track heading east leads to the causeway.

Bring correct footwear.

Visited 08/08/2023.

Law Hill (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) — Images (click to view fullsize)

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Kelpie's Stane (Natural Rock Feature) — Folklore

Once when the River Don was in flood, a man needed to cross it to attend a relative's deathbed. The river had a resident Kelpie, a dangerous water-spirit which could, however, appear helpless or even helpful. This creature appeared and offered to carry the traveller across the swollen stream; the man agreed, but when they got to the middle of the river the Kelpie tried to drown him. Luckily he managed to escape and scrambled up onto the riverbank. Baulked of his prey, the angry Kelpie threw a large boulder after him, which still rests on the bank and is still known as the Kelpie's Stane.

The Lore of Scotland : A Guide To Scottish Legends

Westwood & Kingshill

Law Hill (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) — Images

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Arnbathie (Cairn(s)) — Images

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Callanish (Standing Stones) — Folklore

West of Stornoway an avenue of stones leads across the moors to a circle of thirteen pillars around a chambered cairn about 4,000 years old. Fir Bhreig, 'The False Men, is the gaelic name for the group. In Ireland, many standing stones are known as far-bhreaga or 'false man', these are usually being solitary menhirs which from a distance look like people, their 'falseness' lies in their not being human as they appear.

the Lewis pillars are said to be giants who refused to build a church for St Keiran and were therefore turned into stone. Such retributory legends are common in folk tradition, and the meta-morphosed beings may be believed to recover their power of motion at certain times, becoming able to walk or even to dance. The sin which they were petrified is often that of having danced on the Sabbath.

A second account of Callanish is that the stones were brought to Lewis in ships by a priest-king and set up there by black men under the guidance of priests in feathered robes, and another belief was that 'The Shining One' appeared there on mid-summer morning to walk the length of the avenue, heralded by the cry of the cuckoo, the bird of the Celtic land of youth Tir-nan-Og. It used to be the custom for local families to visit the stones on that day and on May Day at first openly and then in secret when such practices were condemned by the Kirk.

It is said that once during famine on the island a woman was so desperate that she went to sea intending to drown herself, but saw a white cow which appeared from the waves and told her that she and all her neighbours should bring their milk pails to the stones of Callanish that night. When they did so, the cow provided them with a pailful of milk, and this bounty continued until a witch brought a sieve instead of a pail. as the cow could not fill it however hard she tried, she was milked dry, and was never seen again on the island. The power of witches to get abnormal supplies of milk from cows, whether ordinary animals or magical ones, was well know.

The Lore Of Scotland : A Guide To Scottish Legends

Westwood & Kingshill

Law Hill (Hillfort) — Images

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Dun Ruadh (Stone Fort / Dun) — Fieldnotes

When parking the car at the Cladh Hallan Graveyard, returning from Eriskay, car park I noticed a mound, which I presumed was once upon a time an island.

It turned out to be the scant remains of a dun, from the car park look east and walk in a straight line, we had returned from the roundhouses and simply kept going a short distance further.

It would be wrong to say all traces have been removed - several stones remain as well as the mound. One thing I did notice was the level of water in the nearby Loch Hallan - it was very low. Answers to that would explained during a visit to another site.

Visited 07/08/2023.

Cladh Hallan Round Houses (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) — Fieldnotes

Most people will now find the now well sign posted Cladh Hallan Round Houses and excellent they are. Walk to the north west and look for a gap in the dunes. Situated in this gap is another roundhouse gradually appearing or vanishing.

A double course of stonework remains on the southside and a single course of stonework marks the rest of the site. In nearby dunes stones are poking out so it would come as no surprise that other sites might one day discovered.

Further up the coast, a site has vanished.

Visited 07/08/2023.

Law Hill (Hillfort) — Images

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Murrayshall Hill (Cairn(s)) — Images

<b>Murrayshall Hill</b>Posted by drewbhoy

Bonhard (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Images

<b>Bonhard</b>Posted by drewbhoy<b>Bonhard</b>Posted by drewbhoy

Shien Hill (Cairn(s)) — Images

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Turriff, Aberdeenshire

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