Just a five minute drive from beside Reed hill with it's still impressive round barrow is this pretty little stone, murder stone or not it's a nice one.
The stone was just off the map so I was going on a vague memory from too many years ago, luckily Iv'e got the stone finding knack, I parked by the newly renovated farm house, just off the small lane and five minutes later we were at the pretty little stone.
The shape of the stone whilst not unique (superficially Maen Llia like) is undoubtedly intentional, they didn't just pick the nearest likely large stone, this one was special, how so I can not say. But what they couldn't have known (or perhaps they did) was how the colours would come out after being exposed to the elements for four thousand years or so, oranges, yellows, reddish browns, it was really quite beautiful.
The positioning was paramount too, very visible from a long way to the south and east and west but not north as there is a big hill behind it. It also has a tentative connection with the barrow on Reed hill, presumably of the same (ish) date, as the stone seems to sit in the lea of the great hill, maybe even saluting the hill and barrow.
On the way back to the car we saw two older gents out for a walk, one of them was of African descent, it's always nice to see a diverse mix of people out in the countryside, I hope they had a look at the stone.This post appears as part of the blog post " Cheshire's western Peak Part I" |
On the B5470 three miles south of Whaley Bridge turn east off the main road. Park by the footpath sign. Walk up the track towards Charles Head farm then strike off to the right up hill following the wall. The Bowl barrow will come into view soon enough.
Mascots short and sweet field notes just aren't good enough, and because he hasn't included any Os ref there's no link to streetmap. That said at least he added it. (OS ref. added - TMA Ed.)
The barrow has been delved into, a pity as the barrow is only a couple of feet high, the wall running over it adds to the insult. But it's in a good place, views to the west are long and clear, Kerridge hill a hogs back of a hill dominates the fore ground. To the North the bulk of Reed hill with its large and impressive barrow, and beyond that the Murder stone sits on it's hillock below a higher hill. To the east is Taxal edge with Windgather rocks, which a previous visit to has taught me that they are more impressive close up.
Thirty meters south of the barrow is a two foot tall stone, with a sheep ground moat round it, is it a coincidental erratic or an outlying stone connected to the barrow.
PS, even in the afternoon sunshine the wind is strong and cold and not for the first time I wish I'd brought my coat.This post appears as part of the blog post " Cheshire's western Peak Part I" |
We came down from the north past Lamaload reservoir and down the lovely Clough brook valley, passing the intriguingly named village of Bottom o' the oven.
Parking for the stone is at a one car place next to Allmeadows guest house, there is a footpath running through it. The footpath takes one down to where the River Dane joins up with the Clough Brook, a really pleasant place indeed, a Blue Tit let us get remarkably close before flying away.
As the path goes down the stone will appear large and obvious on the right, but unnervingly on the wrong side of the fence, we approached as far as the fence, Eric lay down for a while, whilst I went for a bit of a trespass on the other side of the fence.
The stone was apparently partially buried then dug up and re-erected by landowners at Burnt house farm. In shape it reminds me of Gardoms edge standing stone. The stone is on a gentle slope coming up from the river and has a different aspect as you walk round the stone, it's best side is seen whilst looking past it up to Shutlingsloe hill, the stone has a dimple with creases leading into it. It's a very nice looking stone.This post appears as part of the blog post " Cheshire's Western Peak Part II" |
Coming from Congleton to Buxton on the A54, turn left after Cluloe cross, well worth a visit in it's own right, as it stands on a natural knoll that has often been taken as a large barrow. A small area on the right side of the lane is good for one or two cars, from the fence/gate the Bullstones can be seen.
I'm walking about a hundred yards down to the stone amid the newest born lambs I've yet seen, keeping my distance the lambs and ewes don't seem to my mind my intrusion into their field.
It's sooo good to finally be here in good weather, it's been fog and icey fog the last two times, so the warm sun, expansive views and glut of ancient sites seen today have satiated my need to "get out", didnt much care for the cold wind though.
The profile of the central stone is almost exactly the same as that great big hill Shutlingsloe, not the highest point in Cheshire but certainly the most recognisable and with the most "I want to climb that" . Even though it is the most prominent landmark on all the horizon, we mustn't forget all the other sites seen from here, Luds church, The Bawd stone over by the Roaches and Hen cloud, The Allgreave stone and the Bosley Minn stones to name but a few.
When you do come to see the Bullstones please don't think they are all that's here, if you are able and willing, climb over the fence and have a look at the possible outlier then a bit further on there is the weird Longgutter circle and the strange semi circle of stones, I once thought the Bullstones was a lonely monument far from anything else but now it's getting possitively crowded up there.This post appears as part of the blog post " Cheshire's Western Peak Part II" |
It's been eleven months since our last visit, and seeing as we were unwilling to return home just yet, we nipped into Congleton for Tea and came up here for the sunset, damn good idea it was too.
Once again we had the place to ourselves for nearly two hours, even on a beautiful day like today, no dogs barking either.
In the field next door are two or three time team type trenches, I don't know if they're archaeological in nature or weather the farmer dude is going about his farming duties, which this day include perfectly square tidy trenches. Either way half the trench includes what looks like a low rubble wall running north/south, I wish i'd taken a photo now but was remiss at the time.
We sent monkey boys up a conifer in the stones compound to try and look down on the stones, not in a dismissive way you understand but just trying to see something new in a place that we've seen a dozen times. In the end something new did occur to me, but it wasn't found up a tree you wont be surprised to find. Nearly thirty miles away on the Cheshire plain is the Mid Cheshire ridge, part of this sandstone play ground contains Beeston Crag with it's famous castle, but less known is the neolithic enclosure, Bronze age settlement and Iron age hill fort. Well, the Bridestones chamber seems to be directly aligned on the distant crag. Trees and Rhododendrons are blocking any definitive proof but both are neolithic in date, both inter visible and (not related) I live between the two, for the first time ever Crewe isn't such a bad place to live after all.
On another tack the rhododendrons are too close to the chamber, we used to be able to walk right round the chamber but are now confined to the southern side, it's not on, this place is too cool to be swamped in vegatation.This post appears as part of the blog post " Cheshire's Western Peak Part II" |
A strange turn of events led us back to the "Slippery hill of the witch" on a Sunday with time and a few sponds, it was Erics idea he practically begged me to come back, I was going to go to the Near Peak district, but he was adamant, he wanted to have another crack at that mountain that defeated him last time, and he wanted to bring his mate, whom for reasons that will become apparent will remain nameless.
We parked in the Ogwen valley by the entrance to a farm that is on the way to the cairn topped mountain. As the walk started we first had to cross over a cattle grid, Eric's mate looked at it strangely and said "what's that?" he wasn't kidding either it was the first time he'd seen one, he crossed it gingerly in his wellies, and me and Eric exchanged glances.
After the farm had been passed we made it up to the nice to walk beside weir/canal, Eric changed out of trousers and into shorts, it was that warm, i've never seen anyone climb a mountain in shorts and T shirt before, strange days indeed.
When the weir reaches the small valley between Pen yr Helgi Du and Pen Llithrig y Wrach we head up to the saddle between the two (Bwlch y Tri Marchog) following the stream uphill. On the way we saw two small brown smooth lizards and some mountain ponies.
At the top of the Bwlch y Tri Marchog we could look down into Cwm Eigiau, the perfect glacier made valley, and up to Carnedd llewelyn with the narrow ridge linking it to the lower but no less lovely Pen yr helgi du. It was a heavenly place to sit and consume some butties, and catch our breath, two mountains a week is perhaps close to my limit.
Then it's up to the summit, through a rocky path that is well worn and has the best view of The Carneddau that there is to my knowledge. Whilst photographing this Snowdonian spectacle eric stayed with me as a loving son is wont to do, but his mate carried on up on his own, he left the only two people who could help if nessasary, I was a tadd annoyed but tried not to show it.
Finally we caught up to the loner at the top, it was very gratifying to finally get to the top, the list got shorter for a change.
The cairn is I think if anything getting smaller, I can only hope that the bump the small pile of stones is on is the main part of the cairn. We all take up residence at the cairn even going so far as to take our shoes off, really making ourselves at home. I lied down propped up on shoulders surveying the haze that can't hide the better half of the national park. Behind me coming back to the fore is what the kids are doing behind me, to my absolute horror Eric's mate was seeing how far he could throw stones over the edge, I sternly reminded him there was a footpath down there, with people walking on it, and those stones are from someones grave that has been there for 4000 years and your just chucking it over the edge to show how cool you are. I was not impressed, I made them go away from the cairn and collect some more stones and replace them on the cairn, Eric wasn't impressed with him either, and Eric's mate wasn't impressed, with me. Really, even though educated into what's what some people don't care, last time he comes out with me I can tell you.
That said not even a naughty mouthy kid can spoil my enjoyment of this place, the weather is amazing so warm and dry and those views are to die for, the eye is forever torn up to the Carneddau, especially llewelyn and the narrow ridge down to Pen yr Helgi Du, Ive never seen the mountains look so enticing, one day me and Alken will walk it, and properly enjoy the wonderful beauty of this place.
On the way down I try to find Bwlch Cowlyd but I cant even remember what it is i'm looking for, oh well someone will find it one day i'm sure.
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After a frankly brilliant early morning visit to the Llyn Brenig monuments, how would one top that on a hazy but sunny equinox morning, answer, climb a mountain, sans step ladders of course.
Taking my que from Gladman as ever in Snowdonia, I started my climb from Rhyd Ddu, where there is parking for half a dozen cars on the road side.
The footpath is clear and well trodden, the route visible right up to the top, though Gladders had mentioned twice how steep it is, I was still taken aback by how steep it is. The often rediculous path is sometimes barely two feet from the edge of a near vertical drop, twice vertigo got a grip of me and at the soonest opportunity I had to drop to the floor planting myself on the ground , then take lots of pictures to take my mind off just how scared of heights I can get, why oh why would someone who is afraid of heights climb a mountain, same answer as ever because it's there. But that's a daft answer, mostly iv'e come to see the cairns, and those views, those spine tingling jaw dropping goose bumping views that make you want to stay forever.
Eventually the eastern cairn comes into view and a deep sigh of relief escapes me, I walk round the edge of the summit never daring to get too close to the edge. From up here it seems the whole national park is on offer, so many cairn topped mountains, Moel Hebog is south, Mynnydd Mawr is north, east is Yr Wyddfa and behind it Carnedd llewelyn, north east is Moel Eilio and west is Craig Cwm Silyn and the impossibly pretty Nantlle ridge, begging me to have a go even goading me in to having a little climb just try me out I don't bite....much.
The cairns, oh yes the cairns, I knew there was something up here besides terrible beauty. They are both big and impressive, with all the scree around it would be a crime to have little barely there cairns. They are too far apart, i'd like to see them a bit closer together, perhaps they had their reasons, now unfathomable to us.
They are both hollowed out to accept a couple of weary walkers, and you would be weary, and it's just such a damn good place to sit for a while, communing with the ancestors and for a short while becoming a part of something bigger than our lives back home.
I leave the cairns behind and walk off in a daze almost towards the Nantlle ridge, I don't intend to get to the top, that day will have to wait till Iv'e a walking buddy to hold my hand and reassure me that it's okay. Every time I get a glimpse over the edge a dizzy nervous wonderment comes over me and I stare steadfastly at the ground beneath my feet and the way ahead. I make my way as far as I dare and take a pugh. An older gentleman is coming down, he must be twenty years older than me and sporting walking sticks, he asks me if i'm going all the way, I giggle idiotically and say "not today".
As he goes on his way towards the cairns I keep looking up and asking myself how hard can it be?
Harder than it seems or not i'm saving it for another day, maybe starting from the other side.
But now it's back to the cairns, I could walk around all day here, but time has caught me up and it's time to bid a sad farewell.....for now.
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It's no more than two hundred yards, a five minute walk from No51 to No8, I spied a farmer seeing to his flock so I went down hill a little to put some earth between us, and I got to No8, the stone circle, without any strange looks, which can arise when carrying step ladders across Welsh hills.
I proceeded to photograph the stones from aloft, which is the best way to appreciate these stones as they are on a knoll and at ground level only one side of the circle can be seen at once.
Ladders to one side I circled the circle, leaving the interior untill i'd got everything from the exterior that I could, then the dreaded farmer came over. To begin with I thought he was talking Welsh to me, but it turns out he was talking English, just incomprehensible, I only got part of what he said, nice day and ancient cemetry was all I got, oh and he asked if the ladders were mine, with a daft smile on his face, apparently you don't see that very often.
After he left I retook to inspecting the stones a bit closer, The biggest stones in the circle and they really are quite large are on the west side, those at the east are much smaller and trying to burrow under the grass. Inside the circle are a number of other earthfast stones suggesting a cist maybe or something else. The equinox sunrise would have appeared from the same notch in the hills, but was it for this ring cairn or the bigger one up hill, does that even make sense?
Enough, iv'e got to get to that last cairn I've only just learned of, time is still on my side and one word keeps me moving, Mountains, i'm off to Snowdonia in a bit.
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After much oohing and aahing and lots of will I won't I, it all fell together perfectly, like one of Hannibal's plans. The weather, the time, the funds, all coming together at one point in time, granted the actual equinox was two days ago, but my day off is today, Thursday, and that will have to do.
I ignore the car park by the big ring cairn and carry on down the track with the Llyn to my right and hills to my left. As the lane bends round to the right I parked by the building, not very discriptive is it but I wasn't paying much attention as I passed, I was hurrying up, getting the ladders balanced just right on my shoulder, checking out the sky and so on.
The footpath is well used, by foot, by 4x4 and by tractor and almost unswervingly takes us to Brenig 8, but I want Brenig 51 so a quick detour up hill, a wooden post marks it's spot and there it is, possibly the most interesting, mesmerising and captivating chamberless cairn there is.
The cairn originally had an open center like the other ring cairn, in the very center was a large wooden post, but it didn't last long as the cairns middle was filled in, finally a semicircular cairn covering a charcoal filled pit was added to the northern arc.
The first thing I noted was where the equinox sun would be rising from, two low hills cross the horizon forming a shallow V from which the sun bursts forth, shining brightly and warmly all across North Wales, I wasn't expecting that, the suns non coincidental rise from a place of note, or the sunny day.
The second thing I noted was just how brilliant this cairn is, this is my third visit and it's only just sinking in how much of a singular spectacle it is. The stones of the platform seem to fit together so well the architect must have sat for years determined to get them all to fit in perfectly together, like some huge prehistoric mosaic.
Then there's that semicircular cairn, who ever heard of such a thing, stuck into the platforms northern arc, and covering a charcoal filled pit, prehistory never seemed so full of mystery as it does right now. Lets not forget the stone circle at the platforms center as well, just that ring of stones on it's own would have been enough to get me here, maybe not this early in the morning but I still would have come, oh and three small quartz boulders are in the center also but they are more than likely recent additions, they've been there more than a decade at least.
Then the sun starts to rise, I turn to the thronging possy of sun worshippers at my side to gauge their reaction, only to find that i'm well and truly alone on this hill side, no one else but me to watch over the celestial magic, I wonder whether anyone else has seen this, since, you know... back then, surely not.
But times getting the better of me as it always does at these places, it's time to go and see Number8, and if time stays on my side, there's that special guest star later on.
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This small restored kerb cairn can be visited at the same time as the platform cairn and the stone circle cairn, but it's the evil twin in a cupboard compared to the other two.
It just tries to be too perfect, the kerb stones are nice and all, but there's not enough cairn material to go round the cairn. I'm not at all sure if it's still in it's original position or not, but it sits quite well in the old field boundaries and it is in a good place to look down on the Llyn. Tractors race around the field it seems looking at the tracks around the cairn.
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This is the one that everyone sees, it's closest to the car park, and closest to the road round the Llyn, and it''s sufficiently interesting to engage even the most casual of visitors.
A perfect ring of well fitting fist sized boulders maybe two feet tall, and about a dozen four foot tall wooden posts surrounding it, Clava like.
I don't know if it's perfect form is due to it being restored or moved and restored when they flooded the valley, but either way you'll not see many like this in one country.
Greylag and Canada geese patrol the shores and nearby fields, always good to get a bird or two in the picture.
From 44 it isn't far to Boncyn Arian, the blue eyed boy of the Llyn, and its not far to 41 aswell but that one is off the table unless your an avid wild swimmer. Like Carl says it is a peaceful place, hours well spent watching the world turning if you ask me.
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With all the big complex cairns around it is easy to overlook this shapely barrow, but it is easily the most accessible and tallest of the llyns barrows, some are hidden in the forest, some are on the far shore and one even in the lake on an island, but this one is just a few yards from the big ring cairn with wooden posts in it and from the road.
It only just survived as well, when they flooded the valley to make the reservoir, Boncyn Arian was right at the edge of the water, if the wave action continues to wear away at the shore, further undercutting the banks it is only a matter of time before it will need some rescue, it's safe for now though.
Situated at the head of the Llyn, it seems to command the whole area, most of the sites here are on the hills surrounding the water, except this barrow and the island barrow and a couple on the far shore.
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From the car park cross over the stile by the gate and information board, and head up the hill bearing left, the cairn is on a knoll at the end of a prominence below the slightly higher hills, in all maybe ten minutes from the car park.
Once more were ladders slung comfortably over the shoulder and in the warm spring sunshine this would be the last of the Brenigs seen this morning.
I'd saved the best till last, but best in the sense that I haven't seen this one before, three others seen earlier this equinox morning are more interesting, but Iv'e been here three times before and never knew it was here, it's not marked on the map, the only one who knew of it was Victor, our old chased away freind Whatisthat, nice one Vic.
I reached the becairned hilltop rather more puffed out than I'd like, three hours of lugging step ladders round will do that to you I guess. The sheep in this field unlike their scardy friends
from earlier all crowded round me and the cairn, one in particular seemed very interested in my doings. The cairn doesn't have the too perfect look of the other restored cairns down the road, stones poke out of it's circumference at odd and painful angles. Grass covers the inner cairn leaving the outer kerbs to suggest maybe a ring cairn, it isn't it's a round cairn, a round cairn with a superb view. One of the odd jaunty angled stones has a smooth scoop in it's top, a more comfy stone can't be found, those with ample rears may fit better than my bony behind.
On my leaving the cairn the sheep followed me,
but not far, they were just interested in me and the cairn not just me.
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There was just enough room to pull over at the side of the road, walk back down the road to the gate enter the field and walk over to the cairns.
Only one is immediately obvious, but when you know which one your at you know where the other one is, if that makes sense.
The western one is the better of the two, a big round cairn with just loads of cairn material being taken for nearby walls, shocking isn't it.
The eastern cairn was no smaller than it's neighbours, but much more has been taken from it, on it's eastern edge it neatly and seemlessly merges with the ground, only at its northern edge is there even a curving bank of stones.
I had wanted to get over to Cerrig y Cledd for the last site of the day, but we inevitably tarry too long at places, and consequently the plan is open to changes, these cairns were that change, and a welcome one too, after all the top sites of the day, and in the last golden light of a weather changeable day, it was better than most things.
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We parked in the big free car park, walked a little down the road to take in the view across the lake to the mini mountain from a tumble of boulders, amongst them was a simple memorial to a dad, to a 54 year old man who loved this view, and who can blame him, I love it too, but it was all a bit more poignant as thesweetcheat was next to me and we were both born in the same month as our fallen comrade, it would be a few minutes before our immediate reality took back hold of me.
Though this big sharp rock looks intimidating to climb from the car park it is less so on the way up, no scrambling, no slipping, hands were deeply in pockets, except when holding camera to eye.
All the way up to the top there was no sign of fortifications, it is only the very top that has anything that one can pinpoint as being fortish. The high summit is a narrow plateau punctuated by rock outcropping, the highest of which is like a throne looking out to all points but most definately regarding the mountain most highly. Heading east off the high flat ground we are funneled through a narrow area between two rocky walls, through here I imagined a throng of iron age people, thronging in places and talking excitedly, only for a second or two then we were onto another long wide top shelf and in front of us was definate iron age fortifications. Two wide and high spread of stones blocked off egress along the mountain ridge, funneling people through the narrow entrance in the middle. We didn't expect this, and it made me at least childishly excited, just like finding kerb stones on a cairn earlier on, it's silly the things that can excite me.
Through the entrance and along the ridge to it's eastern summits we were able to look back at the fort on its mountain top, through the entrance, to the narrow corridor through walls of rock and up to the throne stones outcrop, whilst also taking in the view of high moutains and down to the sea, I turn around and there is a rainbow only half is lit the invisble half sinks silently into Llyn Pen Moelyn. This is too much, it doesnt get much better than this. We blaze our own trail down, straight to another cairn on the map, but its gorse covered, less than a meter high and only sparse cairn material can be detected. we leave it and head back to the car whilst looking right for hut circles but the map is quite unclear about their exact whereabouts and we pass them by unnoticed, Back down at road side my camera battery goes, phew that was lucky.
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I didn't see this cairn on my first visit, but as it's part of the collective round these parts we put that right.
As the name suggests it's southwest of the main group, across the hard going sea of grass that reminds one of Rohan from the lord of the rings.
We came at it from the hill fort of Craig y Castell to the south, even from above it was still hard for me to spot it, but more obvious at ground level.
It is not a stoney spread like the other two, but a grassed over cairn of a good size, with the odd bit of cairn material poking through. Cader idris itself is not visible from it but the cairns of Tyrrau Mawr are and down the valley to Pared y Cefn Hir.
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We parked in the Cader Idris pay and display, two quid for four hours, reasonable.
From the car park head north west up the track, the hill fort occupies the hill right in front of you. Keep going till you reach a farm with a public right of way through it, the farmer can't say a word, but his dogs will have plenty to say, like woof, bark and many growls with longing looks at the ankles and the irrisistable urge to herd us all over their faces. We stood our ground, spoke with a commanding voice and made it through unmolested.
Once past the farm you'll have to detour off the path and head east straight up the hill, i'm not sure if we were trespassing or not but a couple of fences had to be stepped over. Then we're at the foot of the fort, all around the northern part are what look like collapsed walls, tumbled down from on top or not we can't tell, alas we'd forgotten to bring a professional so our amateurish musings will have to suffice. Scrambling through the rubble/scree we approach the highest part of the fort and set our faces to stunned, my but that is a great view.
The fort sits aloft on its giant outcrop, with stunning vistas to the peak of Cader Idris, to the mini mountains of Pared y Cefn Hir, and down towards Barmouth and the sea.
The tumbled wall stretches from west through south to east, the northern aspect is taken care of by a sheer breakneck drop. At the south east is what looks like the entrance with the walls unfortunately falling into the entrance.
This isn't the best hill fort in North Wales, but it is probably in the best location in North Wales. And for some reason I like a fort with stone walls instead of just banks and ditches, stones being preferable to earth, strange but true.
We take in the fort from a distance from multiple angles and decide we are done here and move on to "The cairns on a woodland saddle", I like it.
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Even though I'd spotted this circle from above on google earth and knew where more or less it was, the fog was so thick I didn't hold out much hope for locating it, it is only a slight feature in the landscape.
Eric was by now a tad browned off about being cold and wet and elected to stay in the car, as the road is next to the field I would be searching in and with in shouting distance, I felt this would be okay for ten minutes. As I looked round through the field starting a systematic field walk I saw a fence to my left and would have felt remiss if I didn't have a quick look over it, luckily on the other side I could see the Bullstones that singular site that luck saw fit to have in Cheshire. I jumped over and had a quick shufty round, it was even foggier than the last time I came here. Back over the fence and south a bit brought me to a big shapely stone "pitched on end" as it were, on another website it's known as the Bullstones outlier.
Fifty yards further southish is a semi circle of small boulders, it looks for all the world like half a stone circle, the stones forming what would be the east-north-west arc of a circle, other stones lie off the circumference but only by a few feet.
Then fifty yards up the hill west, and there is the reason I came here the enigmatic circular feature that could be another stone circle or maybe a barrow of some sort or as maybe more likely a hut circle, as soon as I found it Eric began to remind me my ten minutes were up five minutes ago, in that way that ten year old boys do, in full voice.
The ten meter wide circle is nicely round with an entrance facing south south west, at it's south end some bigger stones are showing through the turf.
Eric is fair shouting by now, so I walk blindly through the fog towards the yelling child, backing slowly away from the circular feature, clicking the camera and vowing to be back this way as soon as the skies clear.
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I parked North east of the barrow by a church in the tiny hamlet of Macclesfield forest, which is just west of another hamlet called Bottom-of-the-oven, it doesn't matter where on this island you go in remoter parts there's always some interestingly named places.
As we walked south west down the road into the forest, I spotted a three foot high or so standing stone in the trees about twenty yards from the road, behind it was a rather barrowy type bump, completely covered by a fallen tree, Apparently I am an amateur and as such "I know naathing", only that it's there, and now you can see it too.
Then it's over the fence i'm afraid and up the steep hill, but only for three minutes at the most. The barrow was small, but kinda cute, (stuggles to keep it clean)........ like......... a nice small barrow.
It was impossible to get a view of the area, Shutlingsloe, Cheshires most recognisable mountain, (which is something for a county renowned for it's plains) should have been high on the southern horizon but the fog was thick and resolute, there would be no views today, but it never hampered the search for the barrow. The little cutie has a small standing stone sticking up out of its center like a.... (Struggles)...... small thin but wide stone. The ground to the north west falls rapidly down into the forest, which judging from lots of stumps and Stubobs picture has been cut back somewhat.
The barrow seems to sit on a wide slight ridge rising to the northeast, blimy I wish I could see further than fifty yards.
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Travelling north on the B5470 from Macclesfield to Whaley Bridge, turn left to Pott Shrigley, easily spotted from the roadside, just before left turn onto farmland.
There was a herd of cows in the field or as they are collectively called "The Bovinator", they seemed to pay me no heed so I deftly vaulted the fence and moving slowly,edged towards the barrow.
Camera at the ready and and muscles tenced for a hasty retreat I got closer and closer, soon I was a top the barrow and the cows simply watched, unphased by my intrusion.
Nothing could be made out through the fog, only me the barrow some trees and the bovinator inhabited this tiny universe, but I knew that on a clear day Reed hill would be visible with it's large bronze age barrow, and another to the east on the first hill the eye encounters.
The barrow, though obviously spread and much lower than it should be, is quite large, at least a meter high and very obvious in it's landscape, it shows no sign of tampering, no excavation scars no scooping out of the interior, and definitely no wind brakes.
A good barrow, I will have to come back to see the views and take a walk up Sponds hill for an overview of the whole place, and find that barrow to the east, oh and the murder stone.
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After visiting nearly a thousand ancient places and driving between fifteen to twenty thousand miles every year I can only conclude that I'm obsessed with these places, and finding this website seven years ago only compounded that obsession, at least I'm not alone anymore.
My favourite places are:
Ring of Brodgar
Callanish
Balnauran of Clava
Torhouskie
Swinside
Nine stones close
Bryn Celli Ddu
The Druids circle (penmaenmawr)
HafodyGors Wen
Gwal y Filiast
Grey Wethers
Boscawen Un
La Roche au Fees
Drombeg
Uragh
Talati De Dalt
and these are only the ones that immediatly spring to mind, so many stones and not enough lifetimes.
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