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Balgorkar (Stone Circle) — Fieldnotes

Has no-one been for 6 years?

Recently harvested (the farmer was still baling) access was easy to the field, but less so to the circle which was head high in weeds in places.

The noise of the tractor and the height of the weeds made it hard to get a handle on this circle, but the setting is stunning and the view to Mither Tap (minus the trees) would have been amazing.

One to return to on a cold, frosty sunrise I think.....

Balgorkar (Stone Circle) — Images (click to view fullsize)

<b>Balgorkar</b>Posted by Chris

Cothiemuir Wood (Stone Circle) — Images

<b>Cothiemuir Wood</b>Posted by Chris<b>Cothiemuir Wood</b>Posted by Chris

Loanhead of Daviot (Stone Circle) — Images

<b>Loanhead of Daviot</b>Posted by Chris

Cothiemuir Wood (Stone Circle) — Images

<b>Cothiemuir Wood</b>Posted by Chris

Easter Aquhorthies (Stone Circle) — Images

<b>Easter Aquhorthies</b>Posted by Chris

Loanhead of Daviot (Stone Circle) — Images

<b>Loanhead of Daviot</b>Posted by Chris<b>Loanhead of Daviot</b>Posted by Chris<b>Loanhead of Daviot</b>Posted by Chris

Cothiemuir Wood (Stone Circle) — Fieldnotes

First time visit to Cothiemuir Wood, I have no idea why I didn't come before.

Walking up from the small car park from the burial ground it's only a couple of hundred yards along a forest path, yet totally isolated. The wood was green, but because the circle is treeless the frost had settled, which meant that with the early morning sun it was glowing white in a sea of green. My meagre snaps didn't come close to capturing it.

Too cold to linger long, there is plenty to see and the site is reminiscent of Loudon Wood and Tyrebagger - not restored, but enough left to see and an overwhelming sense of the ancient.

Essential visit.

Don't worry about the burial ground either - it's well away and from what I can see will only enhance the nearby area and keep it green & open. Plus it's small car park make it even easier to access the circle. Drive on up and follow the route on the sign.

Cothiemuir Wood (Stone Circle) — Images

<b>Cothiemuir Wood</b>Posted by Chris<b>Cothiemuir Wood</b>Posted by Chris<b>Cothiemuir Wood</b>Posted by Chris

Wantonwells (Stone Circle) — Fieldnotes

Didn't get the chance to explore as the gateway I'd parked in at 8am on a frozen Sunday morning suddenly became popular with van loads of farmworkers. Oh well.

The circle is shattered, but it's an epic location and must have been something to see a few short millenia ago (in the grand scheme of things).

Pay a visit if you have the time.

Wantonwells (Stone Circle) — Images

<b>Wantonwells</b>Posted by Chris<b>Wantonwells</b>Posted by Chris

Loanhead of Daviot (Stone Circle) — Images

<b>Loanhead of Daviot</b>Posted by Chris<b>Loanhead of Daviot</b>Posted by Chris<b>Loanhead of Daviot</b>Posted by Chris

South Ythsie (Stone Circle) — Images

<b>South Ythsie</b>Posted by Chris

Aberdeenshire (County) — News

Winter Solstice 'Secret Stone Circle' visit


The council are inviting you to 'soak up at the atmosphere at a well hidden stone circle as the daylight of the shortest day fades' on Sunday 21st December.

You must book in advance by telephoning 01771 622857 and will meet at Drinnies Wood car park, near Fetterangus.

Which of course gives away which circle it is - if you don't want to know, look away now.......







Sure?









Loudon Wood - so if you don't want to book, meet them there ;-)

Easter Aquhorthies (Stone Circle) — Fieldnotes

Wow it's been 9 years since I first visited this circle-Mr Cope has a lot to answer for!

On a whim I decided to re-visit this Sunday past to watch the sunrise over the circle. Like my experiences at Tyrebagger & Whitehills, even without a camera to watch the sky lighten, the sun rise and to see the light creep across the ground before hitting the stones is an amazing experience.

The light literally changes second by second, through a range of pinks, yellows and oranges and, like this morning, heavy overhead cloud only amplifies this. There was a window of around 20 minutes from sunrise until it disappeared above the grey clag but it was worth the 5:30 alarm.

As Gladman has mentioned, East Aquhorthies is a show site, and perhaps can variously be accused of being over-restored, over-manicured and occasionally over-visited. Some visits with 20 other people are wholly unmemorable.

But then, at other times, you fully appreciate the builders genius.

Easter Aquhorthies (Stone Circle) — Images

<b>Easter Aquhorthies</b>Posted by Chris<b>Easter Aquhorthies</b>Posted by Chris<b>Easter Aquhorthies</b>Posted by Chris<b>Easter Aquhorthies</b>Posted by Chris

The Standing Stones of Stenness (Circle henge) — Images

<b>The Standing Stones of Stenness</b>Posted by Chris<b>The Standing Stones of Stenness</b>Posted by Chris<b>The Standing Stones of Stenness</b>Posted by Chris

Ring of Brodgar (Circle henge) — Images

<b>Ring of Brodgar</b>Posted by Chris<b>Ring of Brodgar</b>Posted by Chris

The Standing Stones of Stenness (Circle henge) — Images

<b>The Standing Stones of Stenness</b>Posted by Chris<b>The Standing Stones of Stenness</b>Posted by Chris<b>The Standing Stones of Stenness</b>Posted by Chris

Tyrebagger (Stone Circle) — Images

<b>Tyrebagger</b>Posted by Chris<b>Tyrebagger</b>Posted by Chris

Girdle Stanes & Loupin Stanes (Stone Circle) — Fieldnotes

A lovely pair of sites, which I have been meaning to visit for at least 10 years, but it was always too far from the M6 on jaunts to the lakes & Scotland.

It is a fair old round trip from the motorway, but it IS well worth it - in fact I'm surprised more people haven't been. The circles are easy to find, well signposted and there is now a small layby for 2 cars, with an info board and sheets to carry round.

The circles are very different: The Loupin Stanes is a compact circle on a small flat platform and feels very cosy. The Girdle Stanes is a massive circle with many stones, and isn't really diminished by losing such a large area to the river. If anything it just emphasises how old the place is.

Well worth visiting, though the walk between is boggy and a little longer than hinted at-don't wear your flipflops- make the effort to visit this site and you'll be well rewarded.

Girdle Stanes & Loupin Stanes (Stone Circle) — Images

<b>Girdle Stanes & Loupin Stanes</b>Posted by Chris<b>Girdle Stanes & Loupin Stanes</b>Posted by Chris

John Bells Stone (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Fieldnotes

If you're visiting Balgorkar, be sure not to miss this little oddity, just across the road in the grounds of Castle Fraser.

Entry is free at this point, and the stone is opposite the car park across the drive. Enter the field by the gate and keep walking straight across until you see the stone.

Afterwards, tea & cakes in the Castle tearoom is highly recommended and if you go for a tour of the castle you'll bump into my sister who works for NTS....

John Bells Stone (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Images

<b>John Bells Stone</b>Posted by Chris

Strichen (Stone Circle) — Images

<b>Strichen</b>Posted by Chris<b>Strichen</b>Posted by Chris<b>Strichen</b>Posted by Chris

Aikey Brae (Stone Circle) — Images

<b>Aikey Brae</b>Posted by Chris<b>Aikey Brae</b>Posted by Chris<b>Aikey Brae</b>Posted by Chris

Clachan An Diridh (Stone Circle) — Images

<b>Clachan An Diridh</b>Posted by Chris<b>Clachan An Diridh</b>Posted by Chris
Showing 1-50 of 555 posts. Most recent first | Next 50

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