Latest Fieldnotes

Seven years ago I sadly predicted that this cairn would be completely trashed. That prediction has happened as the top of Whitecross has had all of the heavy vegetation i.e gorse, whins, small trees completely obliterated. This in turn means the cairn has all but been removed unlike its near neighbour at East Law. (they took great care to protect that cairn)

Still the view remains the same and B had great fun looking down badger holes. Same directions as last time. This time there was a blizzard on the way down. Great fun!!

Re-visited 25/4/2016.

Not a visit to where the Lake Village was but a visit to the museum in Glastonbury where some of the finds from the excavations are held.

The museum is upstairs in the Tribunal House in the centre of Glastonbury. This is an English Heritage sites which doubles up as a tourist information office.

There are several information boards with may finds in glass cases including pottery, metalwork, weaving worles, items made from bone etc. However, the prize item is found in a separate building in the back garden. This is where the oak log boat is found. It is well preserved and certainly something you don’t see very often. It is worth the admission price to see the boat alone.

Well worth a visit when in the wonderfully eccentric Glastonbury! :)

Visited 23.4.16

Directions:
A short distance north of The Deerleap Standing Stones – either side of the minor road.
Park in the large (free) car park on the brow of the hill. Short walk from there.

I found the barrow on the North West side of the road (A). It is adjacent to a stone field wall amongst an area of rough, overgrown ‘waste ground. There is a ‘path’ running adjacent to the wall and it makes a tell-tale small ‘up and over’ what I assume to be the barrow? Otherwise I doubt I would have spotted the barrow.

Unfortunately I could find no trace of the second barrow on the South East side of the road (B). The field it is in was full of sheep and is quite uneven. There was nothing I could see which was an obvious barrow. I did see an area of rough stones which I assumed was natural. Perhaps this was the barrow?

E.H. state:
Barrow (A) – The barrow mound is 9m in diameter and 1.5m in height. The northern third of the barrow has been reduced by ploughing and is 0.5m high. A drystone wall crosses the barrow mound.

Barrow (B) – A Barrow mound 18m in diameter and 2m high. A large central depression may be the result of a partial excavation or stone quarrying.

Visited 23.4.16

Directions:
As Ravenfeather states the best place to park is in the car park for Ebbor Gorge (free). Walk up the hill and you will come to a double wooden stile on your left. The stones are visible from the stiles on your right. Easy access – as long as you are able to manage a stile! The stones are shown on the Natural England map I picked up for Ebbor Gorge.

We were heading home after spending the day in Glastonbury (birthday treat for Karen) and I was keen to pay these stones a visit. The sun was still high in the sky and white fluffy clouds skimmed across a dark blue sky. However, the cold wind reminded you we were still in spring. Myself, Dafydd and Sophie walked across the field to the stones and the first thing that strikes you is the wonderful view across the Somerset Levels over towards Glastonbury. I pointed out the Tor to the children in the distance which they seemed impressed by – although Sophie wasn’t impressed enough to climb the Tor earlier in the day. I believe the words she used were ‘There is no way I am walking up there………!’.

The first stone you come to is the smaller of the two. This stone is approximately 1 metre high. The second stone is perhaps 1.3 metres high. A half-decomposed bunch of tulips had been left at the base of the stone. The children sat on top of the stones and we all admired the view.

If you are visiting Ebbor Gorge it is well worth the short walk to seek out these stones. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to visit the Gorge but I will definitely return to put that right. This is a very pretty place and deserves a prolonged visit.

18/04/2016 – We spent the day before round the Loch Ruthven area, east of Loch Ness, looking for cairns. Good fun trying to find them but there wasn’t much to see with some of them. With that in mind, we thought a revisit to Clava was in order on the way back to Aberdeen. Easy to find and lots to see, that will do me.

This really is a top drawer site. Last time here the cairns were the main focus for me. Today I spent most of my time walking round the stones that form circles round the cairns. They really are good. Lots of individual character to them.

There was a lovely tawny owl sitting high in the trees above the stones, like a silent guardian last time but sadly we didn’t see it today.

Very peaceful visit with the place to ourselves for most of the time.

Clava Cairns – one of this island’s megalithic wonders.

17/04/2016 – Well this is a bit of an odd one. First finding it proved pretty tricky. Grid ref from Canmore has this cairn about 70m west, in the middle of a lot of trees, so we spent a good bit of time ducking under branches trying to find it in the wrong place. We gave up and walked out of the wood into a clearing and there it was. So if you go looking for it, best to walk along the road until you see a ride and head straight up. Bit easier than our way!

As cairns go it’s not that exciting. Very overgrown and I couldn’t see any kerb stones. To be honest it took me a while to convince myself I was actually looking at a cairn at all.

Of more interest is what Canmore (link below) has to say about it and the two stones 27m and 35m SW of the cairn. Hints of astronomical significance maybe.

17/04/2016 – It had been a good day so far. A couple of hills, a couple of cairns, sunny weather for the most part and a nice area for a walk. The day was getting on but we decided to visit one more hill as it was too fine to stop just yet, even though I was starting to feel a bit sleepy. Looked OK on the map, quick bob up the hill and then three cairns on the way back down. Good parking at side of Loch Duntelchaig (NH 6450 3237) where the track heads NE through the forest. We left the track near its highest point, just as it turns W and followed the fence line N and then beside the deer fence E to the trigpoint (good views).

Retracing our steps downhill we had a look for the cairn at NH 6478 3320 (Canmore – Cairn Gollan). This one beat us at hide and seek in the trees and undergrowth so we gave up and moved W on the track, through hut circles and then SW alongside a fence. The path is W of the fence but stick on the E side as that’s the side Eastertown cairn is on.

Eastertown cairn is roughly at NH 6438 3295, in a small clearing just inside the trees along the fence (You can see the clearing on Google Earth). Look for the light of the clearing through the trees as you walk down the fence line. The cairn is a decent size but very overgrown. It has a small modern cairn on top, but I couldn’t make out any of the kerb stones.

We carried on along the track and then through the trees south back to the road, stopping to have a look for Stac Dearg kerb cairn. Not the best cairns round here but the walk along the track, through the trees is good.

Visited: April 20, 2016

This site is listed in Canmore as Auchlee Stone Circle (not to be confused with the nearby Auchlee Recumbent Stone Circle), although Canmore’s map shows it as the remains of a Ring Cairn.

As there is only one large stone of note in the ring, situated on the bank to the west, the latter is probably most appropriate.
Canmore states:

This enclosure is situated on a low knoll 260m NNE of Auchlee farmhouse. It measures 10.3m in diameter within a stony bank 1.3m in thickness by 0.3m in height, and on the W a large slab, measuring 1.4m by 0.5m and 1.2m in height, stands on the line of the bank.

The way to the cairn starts at a farm gate at NO 894968 on the minor road signposted ‘Cairnwell’, just south of Portlethen on the A90, and follows an excellent farm track north across the field. At the far side of the field, cross into the next field, where Auchlee Ring Cairn can be found in the thick gorse scrub on the immediate left. It’s best to circle around the gorse for about sixty metres or so until it thins, and you will find the cairn on your left.

Same directions as before with the exception of the cairn being clearly visible. After complaining a few times to the ‘people in power’ and the local museum it looks like they have finally cleaned it up. (I managed to get other people to nag them as well) A massive improvement to the cairn which has never been opened.

Sadly it looks like somebody has had a wee houk at the top of the cairn but otherwise it is in pretty good shape.

Re-visited 19/4/2016.

17/04/2016 – We parked at Loch Ceo Glais and walked south along quiet roads to the start of the forest track just after Eudinuagain. Makes for a fine walk and parking isn’t that great nearer the hill. Follow the forest track round the hill W then S then take the ride SW and another ride E. Easy going and the cairn is not that hard to find in open woodland. I really liked this one. Nice size with plenty of stones. Canmore makes no mention of an exposed chamber but the middle looks like a collapsed chamber to me. Some pretty big stones in the cairn as well. Great vibe to this site and the top of the hill is worth a visit for the view as well.

17/04/2016 – Easy parking in the layby just after the end of Loch Geo Glais. The cairn is a steepish but short walk straight up. OS map 1:25000 has the cairn higher up the hill but it’s right next to the pylon directly above the layby.

The heather has been burnt in the area so the stones are nice and visible at the moment. It’s a small cairn but the kerb is good. I like that it was two-toned. One half of the kerbs are white stones, the other red. I didn’t think I’d seen this before until I revisited Balnuaran of Clava the day after and saw that the stones round the NE passage grave were two-toned as well. The location of this kerb cairn is good with great views for such a small gain in height.

We carried on up the hill as there is a cairn marked in italics on the OS map on the 442m top. It’s not on Canmore but I thought we’d have a look on the way to Beinn a’Bhathaich. It was small, pretty ruined and didn’t look that ancient so I’ve not added the site.

After a failed attempt the previous week I decided to try and find this cairn with help from the maps and aerial shots sent to me by Les Hamilton.

The previous week saw us approach from the east end of Mulloch Hill but the cairn remained hidden. We had probably missed the site by 20 to 30 meters.

This time I approached from the Nine Stanes end, west, and followed the forestry track heading north east. There is a choice of track fairly soon, I took the track heading south east. After about 500 meters I headed uphill to the top and headed east. The big trees finish and smaller younger tightly planted trees appear. Without damaging anything (meaning trees, my legs different story) I ploughed my way through, sometimes crawling in the hope that I’d bump into the cairn eventually. This plan almost worked, with the help of Mr Hamilton and a grid reference app the site was found.

Sadly the site has been smashed, trashed and planted on in a small clearing. In this sad state it still exists sitting at about 10 meters wide and at its highest 1 meter. Several stones remain earthfast, the probable remains of a kerb. Meanwhile the rest of cairn lies mostly strewn all over the place. This is another site that will soon vanish from view as the forest agriculture will take over.

If approaching from the east look for the 2 trees standing by themselves. Find the mid-point and walk about 100 meters into the dense stuff. Then head south and walk, fall or stumble on to the cairn.

Still the walks round Mulloch Hill are very good and the three nearby stone circles make up for the state of the cairn.

Visited 14/4/2016.

Go south from Ferness, on the B9007, and take the first minor road west. (same road leads to Daless) The fort is the first hill just south of the road. Don’t bother to try parking at Dunearn Farm as there are No Parking signs. I parked just before, on the eastern side, of the fort at a wee quarry.

From here I walked west back towards to the fort. This includes a sharp downhill, jumping a wee burn and then climbing quite steeply towards the top. This a huge fort built in what looks like three sections. Sadly the flatness of the fort also proved its downfall as it was cultivated until 1906. Still the remnants of a rampart can be traced all around the 300 meters, including terraces, long fort. It is 45 meters wide. To add to the forts woes it was used as an artillery base during WW2. However it is a perfectly positioned site with superb all round views including the River Findhorn, which seems to have played a big part in recent hikes.

This left enough time and daylight to hike to a nearby fort but by the time I got back the car the fog had completely closed causing poor visibility. The rain was still coming down and the weather was only getting worse. So the hikes were over, plenty other days to come back.

Visited 6/4/2016.

This site is a nightmare to get to by foot or car. First go south of Ferness on the B9007 and take the first minor road heading west going past the Dunearn Hillfort. This goes over the Dulsie Bridge, another tremendous feat of engineering. Take the road heading west at Dulsie Farm which follows the River Findhorn. This is a twisty single track road which leads to the severe corners at Drynachan Lodge. I parked here, after a bit of fun crossing the very narrow bridge over the Findhorn. There is a bridge that crosses the Meuir Bheoil burn which says severe road conditions until Daless Farm. This is the understatement of all time so I walked. It has massive potholes, is partially washed away and has severe climbs/drops. Eventually Daless Farm can be seen beyond the Ailt Breac burn and to get to it a ford (possibly the road has been washed clean away) must be crossed. Long legs are a good help!!!

From the farm follow the track until a group of trees can be seen, a small sand quarry is to the north. Look for a small rising covered in dark green vegetation. This is the cairn and several kerbs can be seen especially to the west. Some can felt under the turf also. The oval shaped cairn sits at about 8 meters wide and is over 0.5 meters tall. The improved pasture Canmore mention is a hopeful to say the least. Small trees now grow here and fairly soon this cairn will be hidden from view.

Not hidden from view is the scenery. This is a stunning place with various burns, the River Findhorn and surrounding mountains adding to the sense of age. It was time to face the trek back to the car on the equally stunning track as the mist grew deeper and the rain heavier.

Visited 6/4/2016.

Relugas is a stunning fort in a stunning location. I drove from Dun Earn heading south amongst spectacular scenery, Daltullich Bridge is a fantastic work of architecture and engineering, near the fort and where I parked is the equally stunning Randolph’s Leap (The River Findhorn passes through a narrow gorge, narrow enough to jump. This should be called Cumming’s Leap as he and three of his men leaped as Randolph’s men did the chasing. Complicated times during the time of Robert the Bruce)

I approached from the B9007 in the north and climbed the first small but steep slope. Then climbed the second small but equally steep slope. Once on top keep heading south until a track is found. From here head uphill as the oval shaped fort is above. Some of the track is in a rampart which winds its way up.

Once on top you enter the fort by passing a pile of stones, apparently a type of rock garden. Fairly modern walls sit on top of ramparts giving an idea of what the fort defences looked like. Vitrified rock has been found here. Water also plays it part as the River Findhorn is to the west, the River Divie is to the east and swings north into the Findhorn. The aforementioned steep slopes are also very handy for the defender but not to the climber.

What a superb place for a fort! What a place full stop!

Visited 6/4/2016.

Dun Earn has been badly damaged by the forestry people. Ramparts have all but vanished and these may have been created by the waste thrown out when making the ditch. The ditch which arcs round the fort has been filled in by dead trees and tracks but still exists in some parts as I can testify as I slid down its side on several occasions. Still, on this occasion, the feet managed to stay dry. Also acting as defences are steep slopes especially in the east, these drop into the River Findhorn and to the north where the slopes fall into the fast flowing Dunearn burn. Nowadays the fort is situated amongst dense highland woodland. Today, being misty, it had added atmosphere.

From the small village of Conicavel head south on the minor road. Follow the signposts to the Dun Earn Woodland walks. Once in the car park walk south on the track, then take the first track north east until a severe arc. The fort is just to the south. Take care not to fall into any burns, rivers or ditches. Not much to see, however the scenery is glorious even in the fog!

Visited 6/4/2016.

Visited 5.4.16

Directions:
A short distance south of the junction of the A499 / B4354. You can park in either the Garden Centre or the small layby opposite.

We parked in the layby and I walked north along the busy A499. On the same side of the road as the garden centre is a large vets. If visiting ‘out of hours’ you could park outside the gates which would save a walk. You can see the burial chamber across the field from the vets. Following Sam’s directions I walked along the lane towards Cromlech farm and then hopped over the field gate on the right. Across this field and over the opposite field gate and you are there.

This is a cracker of a site, the best I have been to for a long time. The capstone is tall enough to stoop under (although I did hit my head on the way out!) and the stones are covered in pretty white and yellow lichen. The stones have been concreted in at some point. Perhaps they had previously fallen?

There are great views towards the Snowdonia mountains in the distance.

I would highly recommend a visit if you happen to be on the Llyn Peninsular.

Visited 6.4.16

Directions:
In the centre of Ruthin in St peter’s Square – outside Barclay’s Bank.

I was very impressed by this historic part of Ruthin and St Peter’s Square is surrounded by ancient black and white timber framed buildings. Most of which had information plaques attached to them. There is also a plaque giving the folklore attached to the Huail Stone. The stone is approximately 1m high x 1.5m wide.

Failed visit 5.4.16

I saw this standing stone marked on my O/S map and (as I was in the area) thought I would have a look. However, I didn’t have any details about the stone with me so I was hoping for the best. The lane which runs to the east of the stone is narrow with nowhere to park and has very high banks – the sort of banks you have to scramble up to see into the field.

We had a quick stop but I couldn’t see the stone – I must have been looking in the wrong field. If I had had Postie’s notes at least I would have known what I was looking for!

If you plan a visit I would suggest finding somewhere a little further away to park and approach on foot.

Visited 6.4.16

Directions:
Next to a narrow lane a short distance north east of Brynegwlys on the A5104.

Approaching from the south I initially drove and then walked past this site. Despite being a sizable stone (and being right next to the road) it was hidden by trees. The stone was a lot easier to spot when approaching from the north. It is slightly south (uphill) of a static caravan of the same name – on the opposite side of the lane.
Although Postie describes the barrow as a ‘small hill’ I would describe it more as a ‘raised embankment’. The stone is approximately 5ft high and has a nice green hue to it. Ivy is growing up two sides of it which adds to its charm. This is a ‘cute’ stone!

This is well worth the short detour off the A 5104 to seek out.

Visited 6.4.16

Directions:
Along rough, narrow country lanes north of the A5104, about half way between Bryneglwys and Llandegla.

Two low grass ‘bumps’ in a field. Not one to go out of your way for.

Visited 5.4.16

Directions:
When driving out of Criccieth (east bound) park in the large car park at the top of the hill. You can actually see the burial chamber from here. You can then either walk back down the hill and follow the Public Footpath sign or climb over the metal field gate next to the car park. Either way it is only a short (if somewhat muddy) walk to the site.

The burial chamber was a lot smaller than I was expecting and quite ruined (although I have been to a lot worse!). The capstone is now only half upright and the stones are covered in white and yellow

There are great views over to Criccieth Castle (CADW) and the Snowdonia Mountains. I wonder how many people visit the castle and are awe struck by how old it is? I imagine the vast majority of those same people are oblivious of this much more ancient site. It’s a pity there isn’t an info board about the burial chamber at this obviously popular car park.

Well worth visiting when in the area.

A view from the road 4.4.16

We approached the pool from the south and it is easy enough to see from the road. In fact you would be hard pushed to miss it. It is very large – bigger than I expected. Despite the drizzle the pool was very calm (unlike the children in the car!). No sign of any ducks or swans. Perhaps it is too early in the year?

Nice place.

Visited 4.4.16

I do enjoy visiting old churches and associated graveyards; all the more so if there is something interesting and/or prehistoric to see. Old Radnor church certainly does not disappoint. As it was raining Karen and the children stayed in the car as I walked up into the graveyard and headed straight for the grave of Herbert Edmund 1846? who decided to have a ‘standing stone type’ headstone. In fact at first I thought it was a standing stone! No doubt an antiquarian would describe this as a ‘rude stone’! The grass was long and very wet but it was worth getting wet boots for.

I then entered the church to seek out the pre-Norman font. It is very large with four feet and made from a single block of stone. The church also boasts a superb wooden screen and a huge organ which has a stone Green Man carved head next to in on a corbel. I was able to pick up a booklet on the history of the church and two colour postcards (one of the font). The usual honesty box rules apply. This is a great church to visit and I highly recommend doing so when visiting the nearby stone circle.

Visited 4.4.16

You know when you have visited a site and you think to yourself ‘I must come back here again one day’ – well, this was such a site for me.
As I have said before – I like an old church site – and I was disappointed on my last visit that I didn’t have time for a proper look around to see if I could see any evidence of the stones previously reported.

I started at the church but (again) it was locked. I wandered around the graveyard and took a particular interest in the clearly very old yew trees which form a semi-circle around the church.
To my delight next to the last but one tree (furthest away from the gate) I spotted a fallen stone. One side of the trunk of the yew had rotted away and lying on the ground where the trunk would have been was a pointy stone approximately 1m long.

Was this the stone said to be embedded in the hollow of a yew tree? I don’t know for certain but it’s a nice thought. I couldn’t see any other stones lying around and it is certainly possible that this stone fell out of the tree when the trunk rotted.

Glad I cam back :)?