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

Fieldnotes by Lottie

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Bigbury Camp (Hillfort)

Visited on 26th October 2003. It's easy to find on foot as the well marked North Downs Way runs right through the middle of this site. Despite being heavily wooded the banks and ditches are quite visible in places, especially on the west- facing side. This site is a short drive from Julieberries Grave, which is also just off the A28 Canterbury-Ashford road.

If you join the North Downs Way in or before the village of Chartham Hatch the path takes you through a lovely apple orchard.

Cat Nab

When I was a child no trip to Saltburn was complete without climbing Cat Nab and it felt like being on top of the world! I always loved it. According to my parents, who still live in the area, it's been fenced it off now because the feet of hundreds of children were wearing it away.

Bodsham Long Barrow

Visited on 31.08.03. There are several paths running through this little woodland, best thing is to park in the layby on the right-hand-side of the road to Bodsham where the public footpath sign is pointing along the edge of a field, but instead of walking down that footpath walk up the road, past a cottage, to the bridleway and turn right down there, we're pretty sure we found it - about a 5 min walk and set back from the right hand side of the track.

The barrow is quite large around 50 ft long and 2 meters high but very overgrown by trees and other assorted undergrowth. It felt great to find it but I can see why JC would have chosen Julieberries Grave for the book over this site. The entrance would seem to be at the track end of the barrow but there aren't really any specific signs of this. There's a large burrow, badgers? dug deep into the top of the barrow about half way along and is about the only spot for sitting down.

Nine Maidens of Boskednan (Stone Circle)

Visited on 24th June 2003 on a circular walk from Men-an-Tol. It was sunny and blustery up at Boskednan. Had the place to ourselves for the most part, fell asleep briefly in the centre of the circle while my other half dozed lying on one of the leaning stones. For some reason I had expected the atmosphere here to be darker but it wasn't at all and we felt very energised after our snooze.

Men Scryfa (Standing Stone / Menhir)

Once you know where it is this menhir is visible from Men-an-Tol, Nine Maidens (Boskednan) and Ding Dong mine, from a distance the stone was very dark in it's field.

I read in 'Journey To The Stones' that there's a well/spring nearby (in a field somewhere behind the four parish boundary stone that lies by the track to Boskednan, but couldn't find it).

Men-An-Tol (Holed Stone)

We visited on 24th June, parked in the layby and walked up to the site, after spending a while there in the sunshine we took a circular walk up to Men Scryfa, Nine Maidens (Boskednan) and Ding Dong Mine then back down to Men-an Tol. It was a beautiful walk and with time to linger took around 3 hours. There's a fantastic view of St Michael's Mount in the bay from the path between Nine Maidens and Ding Dong mine and a lovely clear babbling stream to dip your feet in and jump over on the way down between the mine and Men-an Tol.

Boscawen-Un (Stone Circle)

Visited on June 25th 2003, late afternoon in some fine Cornish rain. This really is my absolute favourite place in Cornwall, it was my third visit but the first for four years and it was as wonderful as before. As other contributors have said, there's a special palpable atmosphere here. It's a hard place to leave - I love it !!
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