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

Fieldnotes by treehugger-uk

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Bleara Lowe (Round Cairn)

On this bleak desolate moor on the outskirts of Lancashire bordering Yorshire youll find two tumuli. Neither very impressive now and both heavily excavated, if your in the area stop and pay them a visit and make sure they're not forgotten.

Tongue How (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork)

These are some of the best settlement remains ive seen in Cumbria, the remains are fairly substanstial

Ell Clough (Ring Cairn)

Just a stones throw from Hellclough is the Ell clough ring cairn. this is slightly unusual as it has 2 Hollows with an internal bank cutting through and surviving Kerstones are present on the outer edges, i found traces of possible rock art on one stone, there is rumoured to be possible rock art in this area and on the Craggs above, so far besides the possible spiral i have only found some early christian rockart. More moochin about is needed!

Hellclough (Stone Circle)

This is the most intact and recognisable Tumuli in the area although no stones are standing there are 4 near the entrance one being concrete so not contemporary but the other three may be Extwistle Moor stone circle is 25 metres East of here and Ell Clough is 25 metres Northwest.

Extwistle Moor (Stone Circle)

Not much now remains at all of Exwistle moor stone circle it looks to have been similliar to Hellclough the banks remain with a few sones still intact. All of the middle of the mound has been dug out

Cheetham Close (Stone Circle)

Today i decided to visit Cheetam Close. i was prepared to be underwhelmed but also excited about the prospect of seeing the circle anyway.
What a sorry state this place is in theres still lots to see you just have to look a little harder than most sites! The Mire stone is quite easy to find and from there you can locate the other stones and cairns.
The first thing that struck me was a huge barrow as i approached the hill which i havnt heard mention of before, the cairn on the north side is still intact and has a hollow inside about three feet deep.
If you carry on north over the hill theres a ruined structure more modern than the circles with four more of those perforated stones Mr Treebeard mentions, making 6 in all. theres also a lot of fallen stones almost the same shape as the Mire stone which gives a good indication of how the place might have looked. The views up here are stunning especially looking across Winter Hill

Slipper Lowe (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork)

I have heard of an ancient settlement at Slipper Lowe im just not convinced that the one marked on the map is the one. Also a recent tree plantation inside it helps back up what i already thought that it looks like an old quarry. i'll have to go back for another mooch about soon!

Rayseat Pike (Long Cairn)

I only went to this site as a last minute detour on my way to the Castle Folds settlement after visiting Sunbiggin Tarn its a long barrow marked on the O.S. maps but no references to it on the SMR so i was expecting to be underwhelmed.
After getting stuck in the middle of a thunderstorm i found the barrow and remember thinking how huge it was as i approached it (its actually 150 metres long!) i climbed up the top of the barrow and was very suprised to find three chambers one being quite well intact.
Its obviously been cut into quite a bit but still retains its basic shape, the barrow starts with a bank then a small 'courtyard' where you walk into the main chamber behind that is another deep cut and a possible chamber and further on towards the back where the cairn tapers off. It was that good i actually ended up spending the entire day here.

Friar Gill Tumulus (Round Barrow(s))

This bowl barrow is easily reachable on the track leading to Tongue How. When I first saw it I had to look twice it's a beautiful example of a Bronze Age barrow. Alas its been cut into twice theres a deep cut/excavation into the side of it and the other cut being the gravel track itself cutting right through the side of the barrow. Tragic, it really wouldn't have taken any more effort to go round it with a path,

Sampson's Bratfull (Long Cairn)

This is a site for the enthusiast as the walk is not easy but the bonus is there is plenty to see along the way theres a vast assortment of cairns, settlements and other ancient remains.
The scenery is absolutely stunning too.

Castlerigg (Stone Circle)

Visited on Beltane 2005 A stunning site as always. Although ive never managed to get it to myself it still feels good here. On leaving the circle i heard a young American lad ask his mum why it was built and she promptly replied just think of it as a huge Digital wristwatch son!

Classic!

Little Meg (Stone Circle)

Visited Little Meg on Beltane was very suprised to see her without all the undergrowth and crop from the field. very peaceful and serene in her surroundings. I could also make out quite a few other stones in the vicinity. I've never thought this was a field clearance but possibly some of the smaller stones surrounding her are. I guess we'll never know.

Badger Hole (Cave / Rock Shelter)

This site is a Scheduled ancient Monument with evidence of Paaeolithic Settlement. Nestled high in the Crag with great views across the bay.

Directions.

Head out of Warton down Sand Laneand onto New Road. Go past the Caravan park and at your first major bend in the road after the park youll see a layby to your right park there and its directly above you in the Crag.

Queen of the Fairies Chair (Natural Rock Feature)

I gotta admit I was a little underwhelmed when I found this rock. I think it's because I was expecting something bigger, but then again its a Fairy's Chair so...

I'm sure its a beautiful spot on a warm summers day. It's just a shame it's stuck right next to the fence and someone has seen fit to damage this stone. Nice carving on the base, just be careful on that moor. I ended up waist deep in a Bog!

Longridge Fell Cairn (Round Cairn)

The cairn is located on the summit of Jeffrey Hill in Lancs and is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The Cairn is now reduced to a low rubble mound now marked by a modern cairn.
The summit of this hill appears to have been severely overlooked by EH because there seems to be quite a few prominent features littering this hill probably associated with this cairn, i noticed at least a couple more 'cairnlike' features on the East side of the hill theres a cup marked rock amongst a bank of stones, 8 low stones in a roughly circular alligment and also another 5 that line up in a row i'd usually dismiss these as eratics but a couple of these stones do seem purposely placed being your classic 'kerb stone' shape but standing vertical very confusing. This hill needs to be seriously looked at again!
Beautiful views across to Parlic Pike, Beacon Fell and Bleasedale. Well worth a visit.

Anglezarke Misc 11 (Sacred Well)

I found this curious feature on one of my many walks on Anglezarke Moor. Its cut into the rock on the side of the hill with the entrance gap being about 2 foot wide the well goes about 4 foot down, at the time i visited the well it was almost dry however i did manage to pick a few pieces of worked flint out the bottom of the well which is good evidence as flint isnt native to this area, sadly by the time i found this it was getting dark and photos werent possible i'll return here soon.

Nine Barrows Down Long Barrow

This barrow nestles high upon the chalk downs of Purbeck Amongst an assortment of round barrows.

Nine Barrows Down (Barrow / Cairn Cemetery)

A nice hike uphill through atmospheric ancient woodlands brings you out onto Nine Barrows Down Cemetery where you are greeted with stunning views of Purbeck and a stunning array of barrows in all shapes and sizes. There're two large round barrows with ditches five smaller round barrows and one long barrow combine this with Rempstone Stone Circle and you've got a perfect day.

Stony Littleton (Long Barrow)

I visited this site e few days ago and was pleasantly surprised to get it to myself after a visit to Belas Knap a few days earlier was a lot busier than i thought it would be, a beautiful site in a beautiful setting very peaceful indeed.

Access: Approaching Peasedown St. John from the south via radstock drive all the way through PSJ till you get to the roundabout straight after the village, take the right turn there follow the road to another roundabout take the turn there signed for Wellow look out for that cemetry on your right mentioned in Julians directions in TMA just before you enter the village of Wellow theres a narrow road(now signposted for Stoney littlrton) take that track all the way to the end be warned this road is narrow! youll come to a farmhouse with a small carpark accross from it from there cross a stile and a bridge and a signposted 5 min walk brings you out at Stoney Littleton Bliss!

Belas Knap (Long Barrow)

Before going here I really should have read the fieldnotes but never planned the visit I just stopped off on the way to Dorset. It was the middle of summer and I decided to park my car at the bottom of the lane and walk up. At the bottom of the lane it says Belas Knap 1.5 miles walk a 1/4 of a mile up the lane you are greeted by a sign pointing into the cricket ground also saying Belas knap 1.5 miles! So I set off up the footpath through the cricket ground uphill into a field and uphill again you get to a wall at the top and cross the stile which brings you out on the lane you parked at the bottom of! I followed the lane up turned the corner and was met by parking spaces for your car with a sign saying 'Belas Knap 0.5 miles' arghh! Ah well I enjoyed the walk anyway. From there its easy, through a small wood into a field (just go straigt up the top of this field) turn left through another field and there she is at the end of the path. Wow what a beauty, I was quite suprised by the number of visitors up here I always like a little solitude and rtime out when I get to these sites but I was also quite happy that more people are taking an intrest in these special places to, which kinda makes up for it :) Go there and see her for yourself the walk really isn't that bad.
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