Latest Fieldnotes

From the cairn at nearby Black Hill we headed straight east over a fence looking for a supposed track through the Ba Muir wood almost reaching the site of the long gone RSC. This detour was to prove fortunate as it is known that some of the stones from the circle had been dumped in a heap in or near a wall.

We followed the tree line back north west, then north which led to a clearing for power lines heading east. This led past the ruins of Gingomyres and several piles of stones. Follow this until another clearing that heads southwards. At this point a wall begins which leads to a pile of stones at NJ4627142920. Two of the stones are possible candidates for flankers, possibly a there is a candidate for a recumbent and also a stone that looked like it was made for a circle. We battled our way into the darkness of the wood and the parallel trees. Nothing remains of the site, completely obliterated.

From here we decided to go over the Hill Of Milleath on the way back to the car. This started well but soon A and B wished they had longer legs as the track up hill was totally overgrown with tall furze and gorse. I meanwhile skipped over the growth gracefully or battered through it. The trig is still at the top but the tumuli have long gone. Down the other side following a fence proved slightly easier, coming out near the Backtack Cairn.

Visited 3/6/2017.

Of the three cairns on Black Hill one is covered in gorse and furze, NJ46004288, a second has vanished NJ46264291 leaving a third at NJ46284291 as the sole survivor.

It has also taken a battering but still survives at 4m wide and 0.3 tall. Traces of a kerb are visible and the centre has been dug into. Situated on the shoulder between the Black Hill and the Hill Of Milleath the cairn has views of Knock Hill to the north and Tap Of Noth to the south.

We parked at bottom of the hill near the Mains Of Cairnborrow, on the A920, and headed straight up the hill through the wind farm. The cairn is on the east side of the hill. It was then on to see if anything remained of the Hill Of Milleath RSC.

Visited 3/6/2017.

Now the walk north from Cloughmor Stone is best described as varied and never good until over the last deer fence.

We, the dog and I, retraced our steps back to the main forestry track and headed straight over it into the boggy trees. Once through this it becomes an open nightmare to walk. However like idiots we literally ploughed on over tree stumps, jumping mini lochs, streams and often I landed in them. Meanwhile the aforementioned dog had a great time. The next obstacle was a deer fence which we followed north then east until an open gate which had a boggy stream underneath. Through, over or into this and keep heading north skimming the edge of a loch. Another deer fence will appear which somehow the dog squeezed through and I climbed over.

At last underfoot conditions improved as we headed straight for the cairn, a welcome sight. Not many people reach here which isn’t surprising as the driest way would be to approach from the north. (or parachute in :-) )

Sitting at 18m wide and in parts well over 1m tall this cairn has good views over the flattish terrain. It’s in good company if somewhat isolated. Sadly the cairn has been abused by wind breaks or shooting butts, as Canmore suggests. The centre has been opened up to reveal some slabs but no clear evidence of cist or a chamber. Despite our troubles getting there I liked this place and its complete silence.

Getting back to the car to complete the first walk proved much drier and easier. We followed the deer fence north until we spotted the Black Wood Of Leys West cairn over another fence. This led back to the B861 and an easy walk back south to the car.

Visited 30/6/2017.

The Reesk is set amongst the maze of tracks made by the forestry people and the farmers of bygone days. This is a difficult place to find but I’ll do my best. From Huntly take the A920 west and take the first minor road heading south just before the bridge that crosses the River Deveron. The road will swing west for a short distance, then take the next minor road south. Keep going until this road ends. This goes past the Bowmanhill Stone Circle and the cairns on Bar Hill.

Take the track heading west which leads to Baillesward, then south west (this part is a fallen tree nightmare) and keep heading in a semi circular fashion gradually west as the track improves. This will lead to a sub station for nearby wind turbines. Just beyond, over a wee bridge there is a lorry reverse space. Climb to the top of this and in front you will enter an almost hidden world. A very old road, a hollow way, leads almost to the cairn.

The cairn is slightly to the north of the old road and is in a very battered condition due to the forest agriculture. What is left are a couple of kerbs defiantly standing in place and a probable cist with its small capstone missing. A candidate for this job lies propped against a tree. It can just about be made out that the site would almost be 10m wide. An interesting place despite its condition.

On the way back we avoided the fallen trees by heading further east which in turn swung back to our starting place.

This is a long walk but the good news is that most of the tracks are in very good condition even the old hollow way. Beware of fallen trees just after Baillesward.

Visited 27/5/2017.

I parked at the uninhabited farm of Tilphoudie on the first minor road heading north to the east of Aboyne. (home of the Image Wood Stone Circle) To get to the enclosure follow the fence up the hill until it meets another. Over this and keep going.

Although overgrown at this time of year, a winter time visit would be better, the surrounding wall of the 27m wide enclosure can be seen all the way round. Several big boulders have also been placed in the wall. A gap in the wall on the eastern side marks the entrance.

Tremendous views of Dee-side and the valley to the east and south.

Little Hill is in the shadow of the bigger hill Mortlich to the north west, home to a hillfort.

Visited 15/6/2017.

A group of nine Bronze Age barrows and five urn graves discovered in 1934 and recently cleared .
Finds were human remains , bronze knives tweezers and a tutulus (circular bronze ornament with projecting central point , associated with female burials e.g. Egtved girl . See :
youtube.com/watch?v=x5SwWPu2So8&feature=player_embedded#! )

Visited: July 17, 2017

Less than a half kilometre north of Tumulibos lies Kampsheide, a beautiful, compact region surrounding a large kettle-hole lake. The area is a mix of woodland and heath, and paths abound making it a delightful area for walking and enjoying wildlife. The map below illustrates the area and its surroundings, just west of the village of Balloo and a kilometre north of the main Assen-Rolde road. Kampsheide takes its name from the neighbouring Kamps Farm (Bourderij Kamps), and means simply Kamps heathland (not a campsite at all).

Kampsheide is but a remnant of a former much larger cemetery, and contains some fifty grave mounds of varying sizes as well as traces of Celtic Fields. The markers on the map above, shown in greater detail below, indicate the locations of some of the more prominent mounds.

Whatever your interests, this is a wonderful area to explore. I only encountered five of the grave mounds: the determined explorer will surely locate many more.

Information plaques are found by some of the mounds, stating roughly:
The grave mounds that lie in this part of Kampsheide make up part of a much larger prehistoric cemetery that stretched farther to the southwest. Already, by 1833 at the request of C J C Reuvens, the first professor of archeology in the world, a drawing had been made of the environment of this cemetery

Most likely the mounds that you see here today are grave monuments from the Iron Age, between 800 BC and the beginning of the Christian Era. During this period, it was usual to collect the remains of the cremated dead and bury them in an urn. The interment was then covered by a mound. This kind of mound is called a brandheuvel (fire hill). The simple objects that the dead took with them were usually burned (with the bodies).

Visited: July 17, 2017

More than 35 prehistoric tombs have been preserved in the Tumulibos, a small wooded area located immediately north of the Assen-Rolde road, less than two kilometres west of the village of Rolde.

Originally a much larger cemetery existed here, and as recently as 1833 over 150 grave mounds still existed. But countless graves have fallen victim to local exploitation over the years and today only these 35 or so mounds remain. The graves in this group span a period of roughly 2500 years, the oldest ones dating from around 2900 BCE. The most recent mounds—those dating since 1100 BCE—contain exclusively cremated remains, and are referred to as ‘fire hills’.

It’s thanks to the Province of Drenthe that this group of prehistoric graves has survived at all, as they had the foresight to purchase the area in 1856, thus guaranteeing its future safety. Stichting Het Drentse Landschap has administered the Tumulibos since 2001. The word tumulibos simply means a ‘wood with grave mounds’—tumulus being Latin for grave mound.

To visit the Tumulibos, take either the No 21 or No 24 bus from Assen and alight at the stop: ‘Weg naar Balloo’. Immediately north, across the main road, is Tumuliboslaan, the lane that borders Tumulibos on its east. The entire woodland is very compact, measuring only 240 × 280 metres.

As you walk up Tumuliboslaan you will see several grave mounds under the trees just a few metres into the woodland on your left. Just short of the northern boundary of the woodland, a footpath leads left and meanders between the tall beech trees, taking you past numerous impressive graves, most carpeted with fallen beech leaves. You just cannot miss them.

Heading towards Inverness from the superb Mains Of Gask chamber cairn, on the B861, take the first forestry track heading west. This track will then head south, keep going until it heads straight west. Don’t follow the track keep heading south west through conditions which could be considered difficult. The forestry have cut down the trees making it a nightmare to walk on.

Once back into the trees things improved slightly. The stone itself has been knocked over by several fallen trees and was covered in moss when I visited (which I put back). It must also have be similar to its neighbour across the road at Clach An Airm. Upright, the stone would stand at 1.2 long, 1.4m high and would be 0.4m wide. After a look round and it was time to head north towards the less famous Tomfat Cairn and a thoroughly depressing walk.

Visited 30/6/2017.

The last stop of great day wandering around Spey Side but a sad afternoon for prehistory ended with a climb up Stony Hill.

I parked at Pitcraigie. north of Rothes, just to the west of the A941 and up a farm track. From the barns I followed the track south, west and then north west. Stop at a gate and follow the fence west, jump over it and the dry stane dyke. Keep going and walk straight into the site. As usual small bogs, holes and heather make up the terrain.

Surrounded in glorious countryside this must have been some place. Some 600 carts of stone and bone were removed from here to make roads and walls. Also a local resident in the mid 1800s said that were was a large stone circle here. Sadly most of these were removed to be used as gateposts, lintels etc.

Although difficult to spot amongst the heather what remains is also, I think, in need of a wee exploration. There is a kerb underneath the heather that goes round the almost 16m wide site. Some of kerbs also look to long and thin, possibly did they stood at some time? I’d like to think so. Nearby are some hut circles set in a field system.

I love the countryside round here, smooth hills and severe climbs all mixed up with some wonderful ancient sites. Stony Hill has the views and the route to most of these, the River Spey. The Spey has many fine attributes and amongst these are distilleries. It was time to go home and sample some.

Visited 14/7/2017.

The Round Howe goes into the category ‘of about to go’. It has been quarried, houked, and had its west side removed by a track. What survives lies beside a fence in a terrible state. Stones can be seen lying about in a circular area of about 10m but not much can be seen else except the view.

Leaving the A941 take the Archiestown road west, the B9102. Take the first minor road heading north west and keep going until it ends. From here head south past the Whiteacen Farm and jump the fence being careful not to jump straight into a ditch.

Not much to see which is a pity, an echo from a distant past.

Visited 14/7/2-17.

The stone circle at Knowehillock, NJ 1937 4335, was destroyed between the years 1830 and 1870. Like the Hill Of Milleath I was intrigued to see if anything was left and just like the Hill Of Milleath it was a nightmare to find but survivors might remain.

One of the stones supposedly ended up in the Elchies Tomb located in the very modern Knockando church yard. My favourite, Stone 2, is located nearest to the church front door. Stone 1 is on the opposite whilst Stone 3, the most recent burial and least favourite is nearest the church yard entrance.

For the church yard leave the B9102 and head through Cardhu and its excellent distillery. Follow the signs to the church and the Elchies Tomb is near the entrance.

For Knowehillock, where nothing can be seen, head north from Cardhu up a track. Go over, or in my case into accidentally, the Cardow Burn. Follow the track to its end, the site location being slightly to the north and covered in trees. This would have been a stunning site back in the day with even more stunning views of the Spey Side Valley and the Highlands.

Visited 14/7/2017.

Follow the B9102, west from the A941 (north of Craigellachie), Archiestown road, and stop at the junction after Woodside farm. Plenty room to park as this is also a council yard only used in winter time. Piles of grit indicating what this place is used for. The minor road south leads to the Carron distillery and on the way here the MacAllan distillery is passed. Very important these roads are kept open.

As for the cairn, sadly, hardly any of it remains in its woodland location. Other smaller cairns, nearby, have long gone. What is left in a beautiful wood clearing is a circular heather covered area. Parts of a possible kerb hide underneath the vegetation in this rapidly decreasing spot of around 10m wide. On the plus side some have visited here as a few ribbons hang from trees, a possible indicator of former glories.

From the junction head south eastish for a walk that seemed to last a long time. Bogs, streams and fallen trees making walking conditions hazardous.

Visited 14/7/2017.

Visited: July 17. 2017

Just a couple of kilometres west of the village of Rolde in Drenthe, in a secluded field, stands a striking Iron Age tomb called the Offerberg. This name means ‘Hill of Sacrifices’ on account of the ancient cremation remains found there.

The site stands immediately west of Tumulibos, beneath the canopy of a large tree in the middle of a large field of grazing cattle, but cannot be approached directly on account of a perimeter electric fence.

Not much remains of the cairn on Norry Hill but it does have some very nice neighbours, Glenshee (x3), Cairnborrow (x3), Both Hill (x2), Backtack, Westfolds, Black Hill and sadly the destroyed RSC on Hill Of Milleath. On the other side of the Deveron there is loads more good stuff also.

I parked at the entrance to Parkhall on the eastern side of Both Hill on the A920 Huntly to Dufftown road. From there I followed the track past the farm and kept going as the track is now used by the timber lorries. Keep going north west down hill then over two gates on the way uphill. Head to the western end of the hill and the cairn will be seen.

There are many field clearance heaps on the way up. Still the walk is worth the effort thanks to the stunning views. The cairn is no more than 4m wide and 0.4m high with traces of a kerb. Sadly field clearance has be thrown on top.

Much warmer than the last time I was on this albeit the other side. If I was going to revisit the Glenshees, which I will, I would come this way. On this visit I’d ran out of steam after getting lost near Finglenny again.

Visited 1/7/2017.

Camped with my 9yr old daughter at Middlehills this weekend so would have been utterly rude not to pay a visit and say hi to Stu.
A small bunch of fading flower were by one of the chambers, i got quite emotional and didn’t stick around too long despite it being quite a long walk for the little un.
As a mark of respect to my old mate i “offered” up one of my arrowhead necklaces, “killed” it with a rock and hung it from one of the trees, got nettled to hell doing so. how many times have we done that for this crazy hobby of ours.
Not sure when i’ll visit again, maybe never. And despite being at Stu’s service i felt a real need to visit his last resting place at least once. I just managed to hold back the tears, the little un said “it’s ok to cry dad, he was your friend”. Leaving was hard, i’d have probably stuck around much longer and got myself in a bit of a tangle but her little legs were tired by this point.

On a lighter note the Permissive path is still open, the site clean and in good order.
Almost back into Sheffield the next day we parked up and looked back at this beacon of a site, then on to McDonalds for ice cream.

Site visit 13 July 2017

I always find myself at North Sannox for a few hours each year. My OH does a pony trek up Glen Sannox each year when we visit Arran... so I have a little free time on my hands. The reference on Canmore to a chambered cairn on the slope below the fort on Torr Reamhar was intriguing. No-one noticed what it was till the 1990’s? Well, new old things are turning up all the time on Arran... I was leg-knackered from conquering Goatfell the day before so this was going to be a gentle strool and an appropriately sedate pace.
I struck uphill from the farm at North Sannox staying on the improved pasture side of the wire fence. The fields have a few sheep and are used for grazing ponies and horses too. Once at the level of the Communications Mast (just a couple of hundred feet up) strike out across the side of the hill staying on the contour line. You cross a stream and the wee path carries you directly across the hillside to a large pile of stones. This isn’t the cairn you are looking for – but a mighty cairn it certainly is (even if Canmore and OS haven’t noticed it yet).
Keep going acroos the side of the hill. A few hundred feet above on the skyline, the steep sided rocky stump which is topped by Torr An T’ Sean Chaisteil looks over the North Sannox Valley (it is a marvellous hillfort site and a beautiful viewpoint but there was no time on this outing).
The Allt Carn Bhain cairn comes into view a little below and just on the other side of an old field boundary. It is an easy stroll down and across.
The cairn is quite substantial though it has been ripped-oot at some point. The bleached white bones of a sheep lie at the East End in a deep scoop. The West End of the cairn is marked by a massive triangular conglomerate boulder jutting out of the small hillside terrace like a tooth. Among the granite stones and boulders lie out-of-place and odd-looking river and beach rolled stones. Within the cairn material a few upright slabs can be made out and there is what appears to be a partial chamber in a hollow on the North side.
I ate a sandwich and had some juice while perched on the big triangular conglomerate boulder, peering down at the Lochranza Road. I watched two Golden Eagles fly in from the crooked corrie of The Devil’s Punchbowl at the end of the Goatfell Ridge and then made my way down to the the old ruins of the clearance township at the bottom of the hill. I walked out along to North Sannox Farm to wait for my OH returning from her pony trek. While I sat I got chatting to a woman now living in Vancouver, who, it turned out, half a centuiry ago grew up three streets away from me in a town in Ayrshire and went to school with my late brother. I didn’t dare tell her that by a pure fluke I had a Canadian Flag in the boot of my car. Small world.

Going west from Torphins, on the A980, take the first minor road heading south. This goes past the track which heads to Cairn Mude. Keep going until a sharp corner and a wee house called Lodge Croft. Take the road from there to Stranduff Home Farm and if you are lucky you might get a guided tour.

Canmore have strangely not taken any notice of the information given to them by the occupants of Stranduff House/Farm who kindly showed me all round the grounds in the pouring rain.

What is left of the cairn appears to be the central cist marked by 3 earthfast upright stones. Set just below the top of the hill there are superb views to the south, east and west. Plenty of cairn material is scattered nearby.

Also nearby are well bashed roundhouses and a long house, which probably comes from the medieval period.

Also found nearby was a wonderful axe head, kindly shown to me by the owner of Stranduff. She explained that axe had possibly been discarded and replaced by something better as various other finds had been found nearer the cairn. The axe was found well to south of the site. Then it was on into the pouring rain and a tour round the grounds.

Lovely site, lovely people.

Visited 8/6/2017.

From Tillyching 1 take a sharp left and head west towards to the top of the hill. Look south and you will see that the enclosure is next to the meeting place of two dry stane dykes.

Described by Canmore as an enclosure or possibly a cremation cemetery it has good views of the cairns to the east, also south. The views west are obscured by the hill and north, by fir trees. Fairly circular in shape it is almost 20 meters in diameter and has several earthfast boulders set in its 3m wide walls.

An added bonus to the nearby cairns.

Visited 8/6/2017

Sadly there isn’t much left to see of the small cairn on top of Glenbervie’s Knock Hill.

Heading west from the Glenbervie Mill I parked shortly after the bridge crossing the Bervie Water. From here I headed straight up the hill past the large quarries. This is a fairly decent if fairly short climb. At the top the fence might be a problem depending on the length of your legs.

For me it’s no problem and over I went. From the top of hill it is a short walk of about 30 meters to the site. All that is really left is the view but what is left is a small mound sitting at 6m wide. It would be lucky if it is over 0.m in height.

Cracking views up and down the Bervie Valley and over to the Mearns.

Visited 18/4/2017

This is a beautiful cairn set in the foothills of Bennachie on Cobrigdale Hill. Sitting at 4m wide and at 0.5m high this is an almost unheard of site.

I started walking from the Back Of Bennachie (near Oyne) car park, headed back north taking the first farm track west. Go past a house and go over over the gate which leads to some barns. Over the fence here and make your way up to the fence over still heading west. When this fence reaches a corner jump the fence and head north hopefully walking straight into the cairn.

Although well hidden this isn’t a difficult cairn to find and easily spotted amongst the trees with its moss covered rocks.

Visited 1/6/2017.

Head north east on the track over the fence from the Cairn Of Shiels and enter a wind farm, walking for a 1/2 mile. How some of these wee cairns survive is nothing short of a miracle or more likely pure fluke.

Immediately before the second turbine is where the remnants can be found. All that remains is a 6m wide cairn that is at most 0.3m high. Some cairn material can be seen but is about all. Like the many other cairns in this area the views are superb.

If this cairn leads a charmed life then a nearby cairn was deliberately removed.

Sootywells NO758724

According to Canmore Sootywells Cairn stands at 15m wide and 0.3m tall. Sadly it has had a turbine plonked on top of it. There is no sign of the cairn or the nearby hut circles. I reported this to the people at Canmore.

Visited 28/5/2017.

Visited: May 25, 2017

This small ruined dun stands on a grassy knoll about 30 metres above the coast, to the southeast of Dun Maraig, on the South Cuidrach estate. There is little of note to record, except that Dun Craig occupies a fine vantage point towards the coast.

Dun Craig is hardly worth visiting on its own, but makes a fine walk when combined with other local antiquities (Dun Maraig, Dun Borve, Dun View and the Cuidrach Stone Setting).

A good path, with a stout fence to its east lies between the coast and Dun Craig, but there are stiles both before and after the dun to help you through.

Hellig Kvinde (trans.) Holy woman and the other smaller stones in the open (to the west ) rectangular setting , her children .
The adjacent broken stone could have been the bodach (Hellig Mand ) to the cailleach but goes unmentioned .

The main panel at Järrestad is probably the most important in Skåne . Measuring approx 25 x20m it consist of nearly 210 foot soles ,130 of which have toes ,riders on horseback , animals , wheeled crosses , 4 spirals ,27 ships , weapons , cup marks ,serpentiforms ,axes ,lurer and the “Dancer ” .