The Auld Wives Lifts
This incredible monument is situated on the Craigmaddie Muir a few miles outside Glasgow. (Go to Milngavie and take the Baldernock Rd) 'A Company of Vagabonds' took their first inaugural walk to this Druidical temple. It is little known outside the local area, but it must be one of the most impressive sites I have come across. Three massive pieces of grey schist, one of which rests on the other two, are covered in laboriously carved graffiti.
The Lifts sit within a natural amphitheatre and the whole thing is suggestive of some kind of temple. Apparently up until the 19th century there was a ring of oak trees surrounding the monument, the stumps of which are still visible.
The Company took lunch on top of the stones, which seated nine of us comfortably. After a visit to the adjacent 'fairy pool' we crawled widdershins through the Lifts in an attempt to foster our child-bearing capacities.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of these stones are the eight or so carved heads. These have a real 'primeval' look to them. I wouldn't be surprised if these heads were in some way 'originals'. Does anyone know of any other instances of these carvings on stones?
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