The Modern Antiquarian. Stone Circles, Ancient Sites, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic MysteriesThe Modern Antiquarian

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Maen Llia (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Fieldnotes

Maen Llia feels right, but it worries me that this may be a natural boulder that just happens to be upstanding in an attractive location.

Dun Aonghasa (Stone Fort / Dun) — Fieldnotes

Extremely impressive fortification. Dun Aonghasa is semi circular as it backs on to a naseauatingly high cliff. There are several concentric walls and a chevaux de fris (sp?), an area of upstanding stones to prevent one from riding one's horse toward the fort. Shame about the victorian butresses. The ground within the enclosure slopes towards the cliff.

Knowe of Lairo (Chambered Cairn) — Fieldnotes

Don't miss this. In my opinion, the finest cairn I have ever seen. It's a real hidden gem - no guidebook makes anything of it and it's not coloured blue on the OS map like it's neighbours.

Access is difficult - approaching from the small road to the west, there is first an open field, then field boundary that must be crossed. This is most easily achived by balancing on the concrete drinking trough. When I visited, there were tall thistles, grasses, teasels and other such things blocking access.

The mound is very long and impressive, although it does not stand out very much in the landscape. The entrance to the chamber is small, hidden and at the far end of the long mound. The chamber occupies only the extreme end of the mound. The entrance passage is very low and is silted up - be prepared to lie on your chest in the mud and compress your rib cage.

Once inside, your labours will be richly rewarded. The roof is intact, and is finely corbelled. More importantly, it is extremely high. I felt certain that the inside of the chamber was higher than the mound itself. Although the entrance passage does slope downwards slightly, this is a psychological product of the impressive nature of the chamber.

Amazing.

[Note: it is possible I have confused this with its neighbour slightly to the north and east]

Quoyness (Cairn(s)) — Fieldnotes

Bizarrely (or correctly?) restored, this cairn feels like it was built five years ago. There are many mounds near Quoyness that are not much smaller than the cairn itself. There is the postential for much work in the surrounding area. An interesting cairn, but not worth the difficulty of reaching it. It is possible to visit without an overnight stop.

Holm of Papa Westray (Chambered Tomb) — Fieldnotes

This site is well worth the extreme difficulty of reaching it (three ferrys and an open boat with an outboard motor mimimum). Ferry 1: to mainland Orkney, Ferry 2: Kirkwall - Westray, Ferry 3: Westray - Papa Westray, Small Boat: Papa Westray (Papay) - Holm of Papay. Enquire at the Youth Hostel/Co-op for boat trip (a few pounds).

Site is very visable from Papa Westray - looks like a submarine due to upstanding concrete entrance through roof. Roof has been restored with concrete and glass bricks. Muddy floor is covered in plastic sheets, which is useful but ugly.

Worth visiting for the sheer number of antechambers (14 or so from memory). "Eyebrow carvings" are less impressive in reality than in photos.

There is also another, round chambered cairn at the north of the Holm, which is less well preserved (ground plan only) but easily found, and worth visiting.

Incidently, there is a natural rock bridge in the cliffs on the south end of the holm.

Ravensburgh Castle (Hillfort) — Fieldnotes

Extremely difficult to visit, although setting is very attractive as it sits on a very obvious glacial limit (can't remember which glaciation). Not much to see as the site consists of a very large enclosure and is obscured by encroaching forest. Many "private keep out" signs etc. Contents of car were robbed whilst visiting.

The Aubreys (Plateau Fort) — Fieldnotes

A hillfort in a valley? Mad. Trees to the NW are worth exploring as the ditch is much wider and deeper in one place - a possible quarry?

Bamford Moor South (Stone Circle) — Fieldnotes

This circle is extremely small, and is very hard to find. We spent two hours trying to locate it by compass on a clear day, only to stumble upon it as we walked back. Hardly taller than the heather in which it sits.

Seven Stones of Hordron Edge (Stone Circle) — Fieldnotes

The site is 4 hours walking from my house, so I visit it often. To best access it, park in the large layby to the south of the A57 (Glossop to Sheffield road). Walk west down the A57 to Cutthroat Bridge, and climb over the barbed-wire encrusted gate with the keep out notices. Follow the track through the pines, and when they finish, scramble up the edge to your left (east). walk south along the edge and you can't miss it. I've been here many times, and have never been challenged.

The site can also be reached easily by dropping off Stanage Edge at the summit and "trespassing" diagnally across the moor. It is boggy, and beware grouse shooters!
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