Latest Fieldnotes

Visited: May 10, 2014

Dun Mercadale sits about 400 metres south of Loch Harport, and can be reached by a good track leading from the start of the Glen Brittle road. There is space to park beside the bridge, and the dun is already visible as a prominent eminence uphill.

This well ruined dun is girt by crags, but is easily scaled from the south (the path circles round to the south of the Dun). The summit is a grassy hollow, with plenty intermittent evidence of its bounding foundation course, a mixture of stone blocks and grassy mounds: though no sign of galleries. There appears to be the remains of an entranceway on the west. As usual, there is a fine aspect from the dun, along the length of Loch Harport.

Visited 21.5.14

The weather was again beautiful; the chance of an early finish from work, four days rain forecast and booked in for DIY duties on the weekend. Time for a quick bit of ‘old stoning’ – while I can! I needed somewhere local to go and as I work in Newport it is only a short drive to the Roman stronghold of Caerleon. But it wasn’t the Roman remains I planned on visiting, rather the impressive Iron Age Hillfort of Lodge Wood.

Caerleon is a bit of a maze and operates a one-way system. Head past the Roman Museum and the Amphitheatre / car park. Continue past the post office then go left. Keep an eye out for Lodge Road and then Lodge Hill. At the top of the hill you will see a sign for Lodge Farm Church – you can park here. From the church there is a signposted footpath which leads to the hillfort, via a metal kissing gate.

As soon as you pass through the kissing gate and walk along the (in parts) muddy path you immediately become aware of the high bank on your right. This forms part of the outer defences.
The path continues and eventually leads you to the western entrance of the hillfort – and very impressive it is too!

Three sets of ditches/ramparts, getting progressively larger. When standing in the ditches they are way over head height. The inner rampart is at least 5m high, probably more in places. From here you can either follow a path which continues around the outer defences or you can enter the centre of the hillfort.

The whole site is overgrown with trees, bushes, nettles etc. I am sure that if the site was cleared it would afford extensive views over Caerleon and the surrounding countryside. As it is, due to the trees, views are extremely limited. When I last came here I was part of a small group who were tasked with helping to clear the site and using the cut branches to make shelters for small animals. The hillfort is now more overgrown than I remember it back then, which is a shame. The shelters are now long gone – judging by the number of fires I saw evidence of someone probably set fire to them! Speaking of which, several trees had been set alight in the centre of their trunks. Fortunately most had survived although at least one had come crashing down as a result. What is wrong with these people? Why do they do it? Haven’t they got anything better to do? I like trees and there are many large (and presumably old) specimens here. There are a couple of superb oaks to see.

Despite this, I sat and contemplated. The sun was filtering through the trees; the gentle breeze was swaying the last of the bluebells. Birdsong was all around. Several squirrels and blackbirds were scurrying through the leaves; a rabbit scampered along the path. All was well with the world. I sat and wondered what the inhabitants of the hillfort thought when they look down and saw the Roman army approach? What they feared when the mighty Legionary fortress was being built? How their lives would be forever changed by these unwelcome invaders?

It was now time to head home to pick the children up from school. I certainly felt a lot more relaxed following my visit to this pretty place. If you happen to be in Caerleon to visit the Roman remains and museum please make the effort to visit the hillfort. It is only a short drive and well worth the effort. This is one of the easiest to access hillforts you are ever likely to visit.

COFLEIN states:
‘This is a great Iron Age hillfort crowning a hill overlooking the Roman legionary settlement of Caerleon. It encloses an area of some 2.2ha, roughly 280m by 50-100m, and is defined by three lines of massive ramparts and ditches with entrances to the west and east. There is a smaller enclosure at the western end.
Excavation in 2000 indicated that the hillfort was established in the fifth century BC and that it continued in-use, with periods of abandonment and modification, into the later Roman period in the fourth century AD’.

Visited: May 12, 2014

Dun Santavaig was once a sizeable stronghold, measuring approximately 150 by 50 metres, perched on a large, level rock outcrop immediately south of the mouth of the River Hinnesdal. The GoogleMap opposite shows it as a large, grassy oval.

Protected by steep cliffs on the west, north and northeast, its defences were completed by a massive stone wall, now ruinous, that stretched round its eastern perimeter. Still an impressive sight from a distance, this wall is now very dilapidated, and only short sections show any semblance of its original structure. Along the boundary above the western cliffs there remains the conspicuous foundation course of a wall that was presumably erected for containment rather than defence.

The simplest approach route is to follow the same track as for Dun Kingsburgh (north) broch, which continues to meet the coast about 400 metres south of Dun Sanatavaig. A pleasant walk northward over gentle grassy slopes will bring you to the southern end of Dun Santavaig, which provides easy access to the fort.

Visited 17.5.14

Directions:
From Merthyr Tydfil follow the brown tourist signs for Brecon Mountain Railway. Once you reach the station continue north along the road until you reach the village of Pontsticill. You will see a chapel with a phone box outside – park here. Walk up through the cul-de-sac, through the gate and onto the open moorland. The cairns are a 5 minute walk to the north east.

I was on my way home after a great days ‘old stoning’ and was feeling tired. However, it was a beautiful evening and as I was in the area I couldn’t resist a quick visit to Pontsticill.

The O/S map shows four cairns in a line running north/south and all four are fairly easy to find.

The first one you come to (and the easiest to spot) is Bryn Glas cairn III.
It consists of a low mound of grey stones – easy to see in the grass.

The next two cairns are very similar – low stony mounds with spiky grass sticking out.

The most northern cairn is the ring cairn.
This is the trickiest to spot but once you get your eye in it soon becomes apparent.

This is a pretty bleak area with the only decent view being over the valley to the east.

These cairns are easy to access and worth a quick look if you happen to be enjoying a visit to the Mountain Railway.

Visited: May 13, 2014

Carnmore records the existence of a possible Stone Circle close beside the River Sligachan, about 3.5 kilometres upstream from Sligachan Hotel. The location is about 120 metres beyond the point where the footpath up Glen Sligachan is at its closest to the River Sligachan, and just a handful of metres to the east of the path (see map below). Almost no tangible information is given, save the Grid Reference NG 4958 2662, it being noted only that the site was: “recorded during a detailed archaeological survey of the NW portion of the Strathaird Estate, commissioned by the John Muir Trust, during spring of 1998”.

I had previously tried to locate this site, but flooding of the Allt na Measaroch halted my progress. Happily, on this occasion, the river was low and easily crossed by stepping stones. What I believe to be the site of the circle was quickly gained, and the GPS data from my camera agreed very closely with the Grid Reference above.

In the Google Map below, two streams can be seen entering the River Sligachan at upper left (where the path makes its closest approach to the river). The pink marker shows the location of the circle. The distance between the points where the two streams cross the path is 45 metres.

What I found was a heathery mound to the east of the path, probably just under two metres in elevation. One stone only was visible from the path, but on ascent, the grassy summit of the mound was found to hold three small but decidedly earthfast stones—two to the north and the third to the south—that could conceivably lie on the circumference of a small circle, perhaps 8 to 10 metres across.

The largest stone, on the northeast, stands upright, a little more than half a metre in height: it’s encrusted with dark lichen and tapers to a graceful, rounded point. Less was visible of the other two stones, which were partly hidden by vegetation. It is interesting, however, that the mound bears a grassy summit, which perhaps hints at a non-natural origin.

Visited 17.5.14

Directions:
From Tredegar take the minor road north towards Mynydd Llangynidr. You will come to the village of Trefil where the road turns into a private road for quarry traffic only. Park here. Continue (on foot) along the road until you reach the point where a side road leads to the quarry itself. Come off the road and head east for the highest point. When you reach the summit the cairn will come into view.

I didn’t know about the road being private and I had planned to drive to the point where I needed to head east across the mountain. I parked at the locked metal gate and sure enough a sign stated that the gate was locked after 5pm and on weekends. Two local boys who had also parked up and were taking their mountain bikes off the roof rack told me that it was safer to park here as sometimes they lock the gate outside of these times and cars have been known to be locked in!

I had a quick chat to the boys who said they were looking for the Chartist’s Cave. They also stated that they had been told of a path which led from the quarry track directly to the cave (and therefore near the cairn). I said I would look out for it and I did feel a little jealous as they sped off on their bikes. I plodded slowly behind.
After about 1 mile I reached the point where I originally intended to park / next to the quarry track. It came as no surprise that I couldn’t see any path and instead I trudged east through the heather towards my target.

Every time I thought I had reached the high ground, another ridge would come into view. After my exertions from the morning my poor legs were starting to ache and the cairn continued to refuse to show itself. I was beginning to despair.

At this point I climbed the slope and there, right in front of me was the large cairn of grey stones – bull’s eye! It was with some relief I sat inside the shelter/cairn and had my refreshments. While I rested three mares and their foals came close by. Two were brown and the other a dappled grey. I wonder if these were the same ones Mr G saw?

I took in the scenery and smiled as I watched the two boys I had chatted to earlier struggle through the heather towards me whilst carrying their bikes.
Perhaps visiting on foot wasn’t such a bad idea after all?
The boys had been over to the cave and upon seeing me came over to the cairn. They asked me what I knew about the site and explained as much as I knew. It was nice that two of the younger generation took such an interest – there is hope yet!

The boys asked which way I had come and when I told them they were surprised that I hadn’t taken the path they had told me about.
‘What path?’ I asked ‘I didn’t see path’.
‘It’s not easy to spot from the road’ they replied ‘but it is more obvious when you get out onto the common’.
I took their word for it.

We said our goodbyes, they headed for home and I headed for the Chartist’s Cave.
When visiting the cairn it is well worth the short walk over to the cave. It is not far but you cannot see the cave from the cairn as it is down in a hollow. The cave had an information sign on the wall and is fairly large. It looked a bit like a grotto with ferns growning down from the walls – quite pretty really. I am sure the ancients would have made use of this cave for something or other.

From here I visited the nearby smaller cairn.
COFLEIN has this cairn recorded as Llangynidr West IV –
‘The circular cairn is constructed of small easily-portable stones forming a dense pile and measures 10m by 10m and 2m high. Original cairn possibly altered to make a shelter with an entrance on the southwest side’.

On the way back to the car I spotted a group of ramblers heading the same way. I decided to follow them. To my surprise (and delight) they had found the ‘path’ which the boys had told me about and led straight to the quarry track! I was pretty knackered by the time I got back to the car – the heat and walking were taking their toll.

It was mainly due to Mr G’s field notes that prompted my visit to Mynydd Llangynidr.
I am glad I did. Not sure my legs would agree though!

Visited 17.5.14

From the Coedcae’r Gwarthog cairns I headed south to the ring cairn. The stony circuit of the cairn can be seen from a fair distance so finding the cairn was straight forward.

Upon reaching the cairn the first thing you notice are the lines of stones laid out across the centre. It reminded me of the spokes on a wheel.

I sat and pondered and enjoyed the view.

I am currently reading a book by the late, great Alfred Wainwright and there is a quote in there that seemed apt at this time:

‘The fleeting hour of life of those who love the hills is quickly spent, but the hills are eternal. Always there will be the lonely ridge, the dancing beck, the silent forest; always there will be the exhilaration of the summits. These are for the seeking, and those who seek and find while there is still time will be blessed both in mind and body.‘
A Wainwright

I am sure we can all relate to this.
In particular the TMA ‘mountain men’ – Mr G, Postie, TSC etc.
This is why they do what they do.
I am grateful for the few opportunities I get.

COFLEIN states:
‘A ring cairn consisting of a swath of stones around a slightly raised interior. No evidence of a cist. Approx 15m in diameter x 0.6m in height. Modern linear pattern in centre’.

Visited 17.5.14

From Darren Fach Ring Cairn I continued south and headed for the trig point which can be seen from the ring cairn. The ground leading to the cairns was boggy, despite the fine weather, and in wet weather I imagine it would be very wet.

The weather was getting warmer; the sheep sheltering amongst the rocks and crags, out of the sun, as best they could. The air was clear and I could see for miles in all directions – the high peaks of the Beacons being particularly alluring.

I entered the walkers’ shelter built into the larger of the two cairns and discovered an empty tin of luncheon meat. I decided that this wasn’t an ‘offering’ and put it in my bag to take back to the car. I am sure the sharp edges of the tin could have caused injury.

It was so warm in the shelter, out of the wind, that I went back outside to cool down.
The views are indeed fine. The only blots on the landscape being Merthyr Tydfil and some wind turbines on the distant hills.

After a while I headed back down the steep slope towards the car. I passed a large rock outcrop which some Muppet had sprayed their name in green paint – at least it wasn’t the cairn that had been vandalised.

I ended up on a 4x4 track which led back to the point I had started my ascent. But this time it came to the gate on the right and not the gate on the left I had started from.

All in all my visit to Cilsanws Mountain had been a great success and I was very pleased that I had finally visited these cairns.
Well worth the effort if you are able to do so.

Visited 17.5.14

A second successive day where I get a ‘pass’ to go out ‘old stoning’ for the day – yippee!

The cairns on Cilsanws Mountain have been on my ‘hit list’ for a long time.
Every time I drove up the A470 heading towards Brecon I would think of them but I must admit the sight of the scree and rocky cliff faces would always make me think twice. It did look really steep and perhaps a little dangerous? It certainly looked a difficult place to access. However, after re-reading Postie’s fieldnotes I decided today was the day to go for it!

I parked in the lay-by near Llwyn-on village, crossed the road and headed up hill over the gate on the left as recommended by Postie.
It was a hard, 20 minute slog up hill, over a couple of gates. I huffed and puffed my way to the top. As I rapidly approach the ripe old age of 50 one thing is for sure – any plans I may have to visit mountain-top sites will need to be carried out sooner rather than later!

The sun was warm on my back, the breeze helping to keep me cool. Pity I had left my water bottle in the car! As I reached the summit I sat on the grass and viewed the surroundings to get my bearings. By chance I had come out right next to the Coedcae’r Gwarthog cairns – result!

Although my O/S map showed 4 cairns along the summit I could only spot 3 of them for certain. All three are easy to spot – grass mounds with stones poking through the surface – in a line along the ridge.

Although you need to be reasonably fit and mobile to visit this site (it is a steep climb) it was far easier to access than I imagined it would be and was well worth the effort.

Visited: May 12, 2014

Dun Borve, Greshornish, the remains of a broch, stands prominently behind the buildings of the Skye Camping and Caravanning Club site at Borve on Loch Greshornish, as a grassy mound visible from the main road.

I was standing within 50 metres of this site, on the access road to the campsite, when an employee informed me that this was ‘private property’. I informed same that there was no question of the road being private property and that I was perfectly entitled to use it under ‘Freedom to Roam Legislation’. She didn’t seem impressed and I retreated to the main road and circumnavigated their property southwards to gain the coastline.

The broch is defended by rocky slopes through which it is easy to weave a way to the grassy summit. All that remains to be seen is a fairly small but well-defined grass-covered saucer on the summit, outlined by the completely grass-overgrown stumps of the broch’s walling courses.

Visited: May 12, 2014

Dun Borve, Cuidreach stands on a rocky outcrop above Cuidreach House, on the western shore of Loch Snizort, and about four road kilometres south of Uig. There’s not a great deal to see here: just a level grassy summit some 30 metres in length. But what views!

Motoring north in the direction of Uig, approximately two kilometres after the village of Kingsburgh, follow a sign to the left indicating Cuidrach (but not the road to Lower Cuidrach, which you encounter a few hundred metres earlier). The dun sits on a prominent rocky outcrop to the right of the final bend as you approach the community of Cuidrach.

Visited 16.5.14

‘Save the best to last’ as they say – and I certainly did.

I hadn’t planned on re-visiting the mighty Carn Llechart but as I was driving past the temptation proved too much. As before I parked up near the yellow grit bin and headed across the moorland towards the stones. Despite not having visited this site for a few years I had no problem finding it. Isn’t it funny how you can return to site years later and remember exactly how to get to it and at the same time be unable to remember where you just left your ‘phone / pen / cup of tea etc!

The place is just how I remembered it. This has to be in the top 10 sites in South Wales. It is fantastic. If you have never visited please try to do so – you are in for a treat. The weather was beautiful and I happily sat down with my back against one of the stones to have my lunch. In front of me was the large cist (bigger than I remembered) and beyond that fine views into the distance. The only sound was of birdsong and the occasional bleating of lambs – bliss!

I could have stayed here all day but I knew before long I would have to start the journey home to pick the children up from school and return to the ‘normal’ world. I stayed until the last possible moment before leaving with a heavy heart.

One thing of possible concern was the tractor / 4x4 tracks running very close to the stones. Very close indeed. The other thing was the kitchen units dumped next to the stone wall alongside the track leading back to the car. Why do people go to all the effort to dump things way out here when it would be far easier to take to a council dump? Still, I suppose it wouldn’t be a South Wales site with some rubbish being dumped in/next to it. I continue to despair……………

Visited 16.5.14

Directions:
From Carn Llechart continue north-west along the minor road. Continue through the crossroads and you will shortly see a tarmac track on your left leading to a farm. There is room to park here. Walk down the track and you will see a ‘path’ on your left (south). Walk along the path and at the point it crosses a stream and turns, continue walking straight up the slope. The cairn is at the top of the incline. Not visible from the path. It is only a 5 minute walk.

As you walk down the track you will see the cairn ahead of you.

Although the cairns I had visited earlier in the day had been disappointing, this more than made up for it. What a cracking cairn – small but perfectly formed!

There is a ring of stones on the outside and a stone filled cist in the middle. The site has obviously been dug into at some point in the past. What looks like the capstone is now earth fast and lies to one side – approximately 1m x 0.5m – covered in lichen.
I sat on the possible capstone to write these notes.

When visiting Carn Llechart, this is well worth the minor detour to view.

Three new finds from today , not particularly photogenic but it brings the total for Strath Urlar up to 102 .

I am a believer in Penbedw stone circle.

Whilst en route to another Clwydian hill fort I decided to take another look at this place, there is a lay-by on the road almost opposite the stones. Sciatic leg strangely not giving me any jip so I carefully leapt the fence and made my way over to perhaps the oddest of Clwyd’s ancient sites.
Coflein says it has five stones and eight trees, and isn’t mentioned before the 18th century. But today I could only see four stones and four trees and a stump, perhaps the other trees were carted off for road or wall building. The trees are big and old, one more so than the others, perhaps a botanist could estimate it’s age, which could give us a clue about the circle as the trees are supposed to occupy the place of missing stones.
Despite Coflein and Aubrey’s doubts, it felt real to me. The whole site is on a slightly raised platform, the bigger of the four stones looks like it was chosen for it’s odd shape, as so many circle builders did, there is an outlier about 250 meters west, in the next field is a kosher barrow, and an ancient track way runs by very closely, but where I do not know. All positive points in my opinion.
I leave the circle and creep over to the outlier, playing hide and seek with a tractor, keep a tree between you, handy things trees.
Burl is suspicious of this stone too, but if I were lord of the manor and asked for a standing stone, and got this, I’d want me money back, that’s a stone lump not standing stone., and I wouldn’t really want it right next to the track up to the big house where any unobservant toff could crash into it.
It is maybe five feet tall, grey, and made of a rocky substance. Most helpful i’m sure. The red leafed trees either side of the track are particularly fetching.
Now it’s time to go, but before I do I try to get a closer look at the barrow, but tractor man and some big brown cows dissuade me. Johnako presumes a brownish patch to be an old entrance or possibly the excavation scar from 1860, it is almost certainly neither, grass would have covered the scar by now, it’s been 150 years and grass grows well in Wales and barrows don’t have entrances. Most likely it is rabbits.

I wasnt sure about this site last time I came, but now i’m a little bit more sure , but still not certainly sure though.
For goodness sake get it dug.

Located near the southern shore of the bay at Cuidrach (a couple of kilometres south of Uig Bay) is a small island on which stand the remains of an ancient fort, Dun Maraig. Originally, the fort was connected to the land by a causeway, but this disappeared long ago. The island is, however accessible at low tide, though I did not attempt access. The accompanying photograph of the island was taken from Dun Borve, which stands beside the first bend uphill, on the road from Cuidrach House.

Visited 16.5.14

Directions:
In the village of Rhos on the A474 halfway between Neath and Pontardawe.
Driving north into Rhos you will see the Ebenezer Chapel on your right – park here. Walk to the side the chapel and into the graveyard. In the left back corner of the graveyard there is a ‘path’ going through the trees – you come out onto the edge of a sports field and a brick built building (changing rooms?). To the right of this is a rough field of marshy ground with spiky grass. Enter this field and then cross over the barbed wire fence to the field on your left. This (also marshy) field is where you will find the standing stones hidden amongst the spiky grass.

I had to take the day off work in order to do the ‘school run’ but on the plus side this did mean I had several hours to myself to be able to do a bit of ‘old stoning’!
After the madness of dropping the children off it was with great relief that I was able to hit the road and head out into the countryside. The sun was shining, the birds were singing – bliss! My first port of call was the standing stones in Rhos.

Despite the dry weather the fields were still bogy and I imagine in wet weather it would be a ‘wellies job’. However, the weather today was glorious and it was nice to see the pretty butterflies fluttering in the long grass.

The stones are quite difficult to spot. Head for the field bank on the left and then follow it north. You will see the first stone hidden in the spiky grass on your right about 15 metres away from the bank. It is squarish in shape and covered in moss.
COFLEIN records the stone as being 0.8m by 0.5m and 0.5m high

The second stone is embedded in the other side of the bank. There is a barbed wire fence running along the top of the bank and you will need to cross over it for a proper look. This is another (very similar) squarish stone although this time is covered in pretty orange lichen. It is next to the field drainage ditch.
COFLEIN records the stone as being 0.6m by 0.45m and 0.7m high.

Before visiting the stones I was surprised that no TMAer appears to have previously paid them a visit? Following my visit it is perhaps not that surprising!

One for the keen only.

Failed visit 16.5.14

Directions:
When you reach Rhyd-Y-Fro on the A474 take the first turning on the right (just past the turning on the left you would take to visit Carn Llechart). The road is very narrow, very steep and has no passing places! The cairn is next to this road further north.

You eventually reach a house where the road is blocked by a locked gate.
The only place to park would be in the house’s parking space.

I hadn’t expected this and didn’t have time to make the long walk north to reach the cairn – which may, or may not be prehistoric in origin.

There was just enough room to do a 3 point turn and trundle back down the hill.

COFLEIN states:
‘A perplexing monument, perhaps best described as a cairn. Described in 1819 as ‘three concentric circles of flat stones’ with a cist at the centre. In 1899 as a circle of 15-22 stones, enclosing traces of an inner ring, and finally a cairn. The description of the ‘filling-up’ of the monument with large pebbles from the common, in 1819, sounds uncannily like cairn construction and it is tempting to classify this as a 19thC ritual monument. There are clear traces of robbing/excavation at the centre of the cairn’.

Visited 16.5.14

Directions:
From Carn Llechart continue north-west along the minor road. Continue through the crossroads until you see a converted church (with graveyard) on your left. The cairn is right next to the road at this point.

The cairn is no more than a very low ‘bump’.

Don’t bother.

Visited 16.5.14

Directions:
From Pontardawe take the minor road west out onto Mynydd Gellionnen.
Follow the little brown signs for Gellionnen church. The Cairns are on top of the mountain shortly before you arrive at the church.
Look out for the very rough parking area with information board.

I parked in the parking area (trying to be as kind as possible to the suspension) and went over to look at the info board. Lots about flora and fauna but nothing of a prehistoric nature.

Immediately opposite the info board (the other side of the road) is the southern of the two cairns. It is little more than a very low, gorse covered stony mound. To be honest if you weren’t specifically looking for it you wouldn’t know it was there.
However, I was and I did! The outline of the cist can just about be made out. A small gorse bush is growing out of the centre of it. I hate gorse.

The northern cairn is back across the road, through the parking area and up the hill. The cairn is not at the summit but on the higher part of the southern slope. There is a ‘path’ leading up the hill. The cairn is to the left (west) of the ‘path’.
It was a pleasant walk up the hill in the warm sunshine. A cuckoo was doing its thing in the distance. There are good views to be had. In the far distance Mumbles Head could be seen. I bird of prey was hovering overhead. The nearby white walled church and adjacent graveyard continues the traditions of our ancestors in this place.
All in all, not a bad place to be laid to rest.

As for the cairn, it is a fairly large, low stony mound covered with rhododendrons
(better than the evil gorse I suppose!).
So spotting it is made rather easier. I wonder who planted them here? And why?

On a day like today this is quite a pretty place to come but one for the keen only I would say.

Failed visit 16.5.14

Directions:
From Junction 42 of the M4 take the B4290 north (via the A483).
The Cairns are to the west of this road; the other side of trees, up a very steep slope.

I headed up the B4290 and thought my luck was in. Just about where I wanted to park was a large lay-by. There was also a convenient hole in the fence and I started to make my way up the steep slope. However, I didn’t get very far!

The brambles at the bottom of the slope were quite short and, even in shorts; I was able to navigate my way through them. As I ventured up the slope the brambles got bigger and were soon chest height – no chance of access this way.

I returned to the car and continued up the B4290.
However, there were no other parking places to be had and the road was surprisingly busy.

Probably the best way to visit would be via Gelli-bwch Farm to the north.

There is no public access to the Cairns and therefore permission should be sought.

Visited: May 14, 2014

A degree of resolve is required to visit Dun Kearstach, a galleried, Iron-Age dun which lies half a kilometre or so up Glen Boreraig. There is no possibility of accessing this glen other than on foot, and the best starting point is from the end of the metalled road that leads from Kilbride (near Torrin) to the shore of Loch Slapin at Camas Malag (where there is space to park).

The first stretch follows the excellent coastal path south for just over 2¼ kilometres, until you reach the bridge over the 2nd of the two streams issuing from Glen Boreraig: then (without crossing the bridge) you must pick your way east up the glen across almost trackless moorland to the dun. The former fort cannot be seen from below, and a degree of trial and error may be needed to locate it. Suffice it to say that, once you have gained the necessary altitude, it is readily apparent where it lies.

The GoogleMap below shows Glen Boreraig, with the two streams fairly evident. The dun lies between these streams. The bridge in question lies at the point where the path dips farthest east (to the right).

The fort, which sits atop a huge mound, is very dilapidated, most of the walling having collapsed down the slopes. But it does afford great views down Glen Boreraig to both Blaven and Clach Glas on the far shore of Loch Slapin, and to the Cuillin beyond.

There are some excellent aerial photographs of Dun Kearstach, in colour, on the Canmore website.

Visited: May 11, 2014

Dun Gearymore, the most distant of the Waternish brochs, lies on a rocky knoll, 1.2 kilometres to the north of Dun Borrafiach and just 150 metres east of the path—in its own sheep-grazed grassy oasis. The foundation level of blocks can be traced round most of the periphery, but much of the walling has now collapsed. It almost goes without saying that most of the walling around this broch has been plundered over the centuries for the purpose of building enclosures, dykes and shielings. You will make your way past the low remains of two shielings as you wander across the moorland between the path and the broch.

As is generally the case, the broch provides a wonderful viewpoint, specially on a sunny day, particularly across the Little Minch towards the Outer Isles.

Visited: May 10, 2014

Dun Gleann Udalain sits prominently above the Auchtertyre viewpoint, where the road to Stromeferry starts to turn northward. The remains of the dun sit on an impressive mound defended by precipitous crags on the northwest. But access is easy from the southeast, where a grassy ramp leads upwards, through what appears to be the remains of an entranceway, to the top of the mound.

The summit of the mound is level and clad in a mixture of heather and grass but now shows no trace of its original fortification. Lower down, the slopes are surrounded by large stones which are presumably the remains of an outer wall.

What the site lacks in terms of remains it certainly makes up for as a viewpoint, providing amazing vistas towards the Five Sisters of Kintail on the one hand and along Loch Duich towards the Isle of Skye on the other.

Access now seems semi “official”. A stile has been erected for crossing into the field.