Showing 1-50 of 391 posts. Most recent first | Next 50  
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Visited 1st February 2012
Turn off the R571 at Lauragh Bridge, down a narrow lane which takes youu towards Drombohilly.
I parked by a green hut just past Gowlaur Lough. From here , I found an easy spot to cross the small stream and headed directly uphill towards Drombohilly Hill. It's a little boggy,but nothing to really get your feet wet. I was lucky enough to see a male Hen Harrier gliding past me and over the ridge. After gaining some height, I headed left parrallel with the road towards the fence. Theres an easy spot to step over by the high rocks. Then head around the head of the wet are to the next fence. There is one spot where it has fallen down and it's relatively easy to slip under it. Keep going to the last fence, hich is easily negotiable. You find yourself on a firebreak/track which heads left down hill, turning sharply right and steeply down. Drombohilly Circle soon comes into view in the infant plantation ahead right. Just before reaching the small stream veer off right, heading directly towards the circle. It may take a little longer than the more direct routes, but its relatively easy.
Drombohilly Circle is a gem. A multiple circle, there are 9 stones standing and 1 fallen. All are quite tall. This circle looks like it will disappear into the forestry which has been planted here in years to come, so visit while you can !
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Visited on 1st February 2012
Directions to the car park are the same as for Uragh. Then follow the farm track up over the cattle grids, up the hill until the track does a v to the left. There is a handmade sign pointing you in the right direction (for fulacht fia and boulder burials). Go through the gate and follow the signs and well worn track around Uragh wood and you will walk straight into Uragh West Circle.
The Farmer walked some of the way with me, he was really friendly and proud that he has all of this history on his land. He gave me the directions to the higher of the two circles, pointing it out on the hillside to me. I didn't begrudge the ?‚?2 here. He obviously does his best to upkeep everything and has made that path to the lower circle !
As I said, you walk straight into this one. The first thing that strikes you is the big boulder burial in the centre. There are 8 stones still standing in the circle with 2/3 fallen. An old wall has been built across the Northern edge, incorporating one of the circles stones ! There are two further boulder burials nearby !
This is a great little circle, hidden behind the woods below Knocknagarrane.Hopefully the gorse won't become too invasive and take over.
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Visited on 1st February 2012
Follow the signs for Gleninchiquin Park and Uragh Stone Circle off the R571. Look out for a right turning signposted Uragh Stone Circle. This will take you to the private car park and there is a charge of ?,?2. From the car park, the Farmer has laid out a nice footpath over the hill to the circle, making it a nice easy dry 5 minute walk.
The circle makers certainly chose a magical place, on a hill between two loughs, with amazing views in all directions. Overlooked by the mountains of Knocknagaraveela, Knockagarrane and Knockreagh.Unfortunately the waterfall wasn't very visible today in the haze !
The circle is made up of 5 stones, including 2 portals (one of which now leans outwards) and a recumbant. The massive standing stone is set right behind the recumbant.
There also seems to be a rectangular pit in the centre.
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Visited 19th January 2012
Nicely set against the backdrop of Mullaghmesha to the East an Imposing stone some 15ft high. It has been incorporated into a field boundary wall.
It is visible from the road and certainly catches the eye as you drive past. For access ask at the farm (Ballyhooley Farm), the farmer is really helpful and let me park in the farm yard. The farm dogs of all shapes and sizes are vociferous but harmless. Go through the two gates and its only 30 yards or so away. Another great West Cork site, with so much atmosphere, despite the electric fences.
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Visited on the 29th January 2012
Situated in the grounds of the catholic church at Darrary, just past the Agricultural College and the reconstructed Ring Fort at Luis na gCon (Lisnagun) at W417418.
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visited on January 2nd 2012
About 50 yards down the road on the right hand side (heading towards Knocknakilla) there is a stone allignment, made up of two stones. They are visible through the gate and are alligned NE - SW. Just walk along from where you are parked at the junction for the circle
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Visited 2nd January 2012
Another site that we found en route to somewhere else ! This time we were looking for Knocknakilla, heading down the lane when I hear the shout "STONES". A quick pull in at the junction, wait for the shower to pass then get out to see a mass of stones over in the field.
An information panel tells us that we are at Glantane East stone circle. What it doesn't tell you is how to get in the field. So it's a quick jump over the ditch and under the fence and head down to see what we've got. To be honest, it's a bit of a mess. There's a massive stone and an equally big one fallen at the other side of the circle. The circle has six stones still standing and there are others laying around. It is also surrounded by the remains of a fosse.
The information board says that there were possibly 11 or 13 stones in the circle originally.
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My favourite stone circle of all time. I lived around the area for 25 years, visiting it in all seasons. I loved it's remoteness and the fact that you had to make an effort to get there. The fact that a lot of people just walked by without giving it a second glance prompted me to write a poem about it back in 2008
Circles of Stone
My heart is in the lonely places, the forgotten places
that people walk by without seeing
that people walk by without thinking
Where echoes of the past float on the wind
For those that want to hear
For those who want to care
For those who want to be somewhere,
else
The Raven always watching over
Guardian of life and bearer of death
of those who have gone before
Their memories lost, waiting to be found
In the swirling mist and the circles of stone
I am a stranger in this time
Wandering and searching for a truth
that is always out of reach
and I sit
in the circle of life and death set in stone
and live with the pain of having no hope
while listening, for the voices of the past
February 2008
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Visited on the 20th January 2012
I've been meaning to visit this site for ages now and eventually got around to it last week.
From Skibbereen direction turn off left in Connanagh by the Beehive, go up the hill and take the first right.Keep going, ignore the left fork, go past the right hand turn and eventually you pass a farm entrance on your left, then there is a gate into a field, a big long field. This will be the field that you want. Really, you should go and ask the farmer , who lives up the next left by the bungalow. There are parking spaces along this road, before you reach the gate,
The day that I went, there was no answer at the farm, so I just went for it. Through the gate, up the long field and through the gate at the top.
Just as I reached the top of the hill, the circle came into view..... and so did the three BIG horses that are in the field. I'm not so keen on horses and I have to admit that they do make me a bit nervy ! so I quietly made my way over to the circle hopeing that they wouldn't see me. Of course, all three look up and make their way over,I quicken the pace and arrive at the circle before them.
The circle has an electric fence around it, but it's not switched on (or at least wasn't on this day !). The ditch surrounding the circle is full of stagnant rancid water lots of frog spawn, but luckily someone has put a few bits of wood to make access easier. You still sink ankle deep, but at least it's not knee deep.
This is a great circle though, it reminds me of a Dartmoor or West Cornwall circle.There are thirteen stones, all still standing. There is a feeling of peacefulness here. There is no noise other than the wind rustling through the grass. Even the horses, which are now grazing around the outside look calm and serene. It was a shame that it was such grey day, as I bet that the views from here are spectacular.
I'm definitely going to have to come back here again soon !
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Visited 2nd January 2012
About a mile further along the road from Carriganimmy to Knockraheen you will see a brown sign for Dolmen pointing right into a field. There is room to park a few yards backat the top of a long farm track, where there is a possible standing stone built into the stone wall.
Climb over the gate and in the field you will find a large cairn, a standing stone and the burial chamber.
The wedge tomb, which is also known as The Bealik, has had a stone wall (ditch) built behind it. The small rectangular standing stone is just slightly off allignment with the wedge tomb, some 60 ft away to the East
The large overgrown cairn lies in the corner of the field,
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Visited on the 2nd January 2012
Signposted from carriganimmy up a lane to the left (coming from Mill Street diresction). Keep going for a little over a mile and you will see a brown sign saying Archaelogical Sites. There's room to park by the sign. Go through the gate into the obligatory boggy field. There's a stone allignment a five stone circle and a radial cairn.
The allignment is made up of 2 quartz blocks together and a further granite block set back on its own some.The granite block has a cup mark on the top and all three are alligned NE towards the circle.
The circle itself is a nice large five stone recumbant circle in really good condition. It was a shame that the electric fence was so near, but you can't have everything !
The radial cairn is situated SE of the circle and all the monuments here are intervisible
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visited 5th January 2012
I parked at the junction at V854331 and walked down the lane. The Boulder burial is visible from the lane, situated near the shoreline of a small bay.You have to walk through a wet, tidal, reedy field to reach it.
It consists of a large boulder supported by three large stones.
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Visited 5th January 2012
Situated in a field off of a narrow lane between Dunmanus East and West. there is room to park in the gateway 50yds south.
It is over 2 metres in height and is leaning heavily against another stone. Possibly part of a two stone allignment.
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Visited 2nd January 2012
Cnoc na Cille - "Hill of the church"
Situated on the North Western slope of Musherabeg mountain.
There is a signpost and a gate, giving access, up a wet boggy hill.The site has been fenced off, presumably to protect it from the sheep or forestry workers ! There are two massive stones, one fallen, the other leaning towards the circle, forming an allignment NE - SW. Both are at least 3.5 to 4 metres tall. The circle itself is a five stone recumbant circle. Three stones still stand with two fallen.
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Visited 28th December 2011
Macha na Saili - "the milking place of the willows"
An Impressive site, made even more so by it's setting.
Five stones of varying sizes still stand and one slab has fallen. None of the stones are massive, but there is something special about this row. There is a great feel to the place and the atmosphere here is so relaxing.
The row lies on the North Western slope of Knockbreteen on a ENE - SSW axis. overlooking Lough Atoreen. To the West is Knockboy and Coomhoola Mountain. To the North is An Carran.
When excavated in 1977, several shallow pits were found to have been dug in the topsoil and quartz pebbles scattered around the stones. Two flint scrapers were also found.
Access is easy. there is a kissing gate, with room to park.
Go through the gate, up a slight hill and there it is, right in front of you.
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Showing 1-50 of 391 posts. Most recent first | Next 50
After spending 25 years living around and wandering over Dartmoor and a brief 5 month stay in North Wales, I can now be found driving around the lanes of West Cork.
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