Latest Fieldnotes

Visited 7.9.13

ST5278255227

Directions:
Directly opposite Whitestown Farm, near the B3134/B3371 junction.

We parked outside the farm and it took a little while to spot the Barrow.
It is immediately behind the hedgerow running alongside the road. It was difficult to see through the hedge at this time of year. I couldn’t see any obvious access into the field. It appears the southern edge of the Barrow has been cut through by the hedge / road. It is now no more than a low grass ‘bump’.

E.H. state:
A bowl barrow located on level ground 20m NW of Whitestown Farm. It is visible as a mound 19m in diameter and 1.75m high at its highest point. The barrow has been spread by past cultivation on all but its southern side where it has been partly levelled by road construction’.

Visited 7.9.13

Directions:
Either side of the B3134, a little south of the B3371 turn off.

There is a public right of way both sides of the road running right past both sets of Barrows – via wooden stiles. There is also a handy lay by to pull into so access is very easy.

The Barrows on the northern side of the road are well defined and easy to spot as large grass covered mounds. 3 are next to each other and the 4th is the other side of the hedge.

The Barrows to the south of the road (my O/S map shows 4 Barrows) are less well defined and appear as a row of undulating grass covered mounds.
Not as impressive as the northern Barrows.

There is a further single Barrow a short distance to the south next to a building but I couldn’t spot that one.

E.H. has nothing to report.

Visited 14th August 2013

There are plenty of marked parking bays at the edge of Finstown, just before you leave the village on the way to Stromness, and we left the car here to walk on to Wasdale. A gate gives access into a field next to road, across which a short walk takes you into Binscarth Wood. It’s still lovely and sunny this afternoon, but soon we enter the wood and the warmth of the day is muted by the cool green shade of the verdant canopy above us. We stick to the old drover’s path, as the other tracks through the trees are still muddy, despite the small amount of rain recently. The excited voices of kids playing on the homemade rope swings over the burn provide an accompaniment, and the walk through mature woodland seems jarring after the paucity of trees on the rest of Mainland, but it’s good to be back amongst the thickets, arboreal withdrawal symptoms being one of the few downsides of spending some time on Orkney.

Despite being a veritable forest in Orcadian terms it only take a few minutes for us to be back in the sunlight as we leave the wood behind, and as the path forks a small signpost indicates we bear left to follow the footpath (the right fork will take you up towards Binscarth House). Soon the Wasdale lochan is visible, and in it the tantalising mound, its modern cairn a peedie tower surrounded by the remains of the much older lower courses of stonework.

The water levels in the loch are low, making crossing the stepping stones easy, and soon we are on the island. Although the undergrowth chokes some of the lower stones there is plenty to see. The curve of an exterior wall reminds me of the construction of the walls at the Borwick broch, other stonework looks altogether more jumbled as if built on later, along with some worked stones, and a jumble of rocks just above the level of the water on the north-western side of the islet, that looks like it might have once been a rough pier or landing stage. Canmore lists an intriguing record for this site, encompassing a chapel, enclosure, ancient mound and possible dun, and as you poke about the site you can almost feel the different layers of history, like the skin on an onion, which permeate this little islet.

I soon find an intriguing block of stone near to the island end of the causeway, it is pocked with four ‘cupmarks’ in a line. The depressions are too linear to be natural, but too crude to be modern workings, and I wonder just how old they really are, and whether the stone was scavenged from one of the nearby cairns on the hills overlooking the loch?

We spend some time here, Ellen sketching whilst I write my fieldnotes, just taking in the landscape and atmosphere. The sunny day brings out the best of the colours, the water a coruscating blue around us, reeds flanking the islet a viridian green, with the softer pastels of the surrounding moorland below the azure sky, a perfect place to sit and ponder, and another of Orkney’s ‘off the beaten track wonders’

Visited 7.9.13

After looking for any signs of the damage to Priddy Circles I crossed the road and jumped over the metal field gate opposite.

From the gate you can see the remains of 8 Barrows along the brow of the hill.
They appear to be of various size and condition.

I didn’t have time to walk to the top and look back to see if you can get a better view of the Priddy Circles? Perhaps the trees would be in the way?

This is a place I would like to return to one day when I have more time and as well as getting a closer look at the Ash Hill Barrows continue walking south and take in Priddy Nine Barrows on North Hill as well.

Visited 7.9.13

With all the attention this site (quite rightly) has received lately due to the unnecessary damage caused I just had to stop off and have a look for myself.

For a B road the B3135 was very busy but we managed to pull over in front of the metal field gate which gives access to the field where the southern circle is.

There is no public right of way into the field and given the recent publicity I would imagine that visitors would be made less than welcome. However, I decided the best approach would be to try to get some height and see what can be seen? I climbed to the top of the gate and balanced myself as I looked for any signs of damage etc.

On the plus side I couldn’t see any bulldozer damage but on the negative side I couldn’t see much of any banking either – except for a section on the north eastern side? The field is quite overgrown and it is difficult to tell what is what.

If this was the section that has been destroyed it would explain why there was little to see and nature has covered up signs of destruction. Either that or the section I was looking at had already been ploughed out / eroded. Unfortunately, looking at aerial photos I think I was viewing the destroyed section?

Either way there is sadly very little left to be seen of the southern circle.

P.S.
I forgot to look for the ‘tumulus’ marked on my O/S map which is located right next to the road, nearer the house. A modern stone wall has been built along this section of road so it may not be possible to see from the road?

Now a stone pair, but once said to have three stones, they are aligned north-east/south-west. Both stones are over a metre tall and are about two metres from the road and in what will be the front garden of the newly built and for sale bungalow. We didn’t stick around here for very long, in a rush to get to Letter court tomb.

Castleruddery never looked better than today. The farmer really looks after the site and the grass was newly mown, leaving the circle a tad sterile, but I’ve imagined it as a ceremonial meeting place that would have had days like this in the bronze age, done up in all its finery, awaiting the guests for whatever ritual was to be performed.

The circle of stones is really quite wrecked, with the remains of smashed stones in the centre of the lot, and others strewn near the entrance. The bank of the henge rises quite steeply in the north-east arc, well over a metre, almost obliterating the exterior view of some of the orthostats.

Like at Boleycarrigeen later on this day, 4/9/13, we lolled about in the sun, drinking in the atmosphere, admiring the huge quartz entrance stones and hugging up the energy of the place.

Boleycarrigeen was great today, 4/9/13, still opened up with views all around. There is an old farm track to the south of the circle that brings you conveniently to within 150 metres of the stones. Bracken still grows inside and around it, but a bit of tamping down of this reveals the monument.

I’m always awestruck with the presence of Keadeen dominating the place, but appreciated the views across north-north-west to Brusselstown. We dozed around the circle in the late summer sunshine, kicking back and chilling before a return to the city.

Visited 7.9.13

Directions:
From the A362/B3139/A366 junction near the village of Kilmersdon (said to be the location of the hill Jack and Jill fell down – yes, I also visited that!) take the A362 south and then the first turning on the right. Drive past the farm on your left and you will shortly come to a metal field gate (also on the left) with a large tree trunk placed in front of it. Park here and the camp/enclosure can be seen from the gate.

I climbed over the gate and across the field of long wet grass. The field was free of crop and animals when I visited. Although quite low, only approx 0.5m high, the curving arc of the remains of the bank can be quite easily seen.

Apparently the enclosure covers an area of 0.37 acre. The entrance is said to be on the northeast side.

Not a great deal to see and certainly not worth travelling any distance for although on the plus side access is very easy.

Failed visit 7.9.13

Directions:
Located to the east of the village of Timsbury on the B3115.
Immediately behind Tunley Farm.

Although my O/S showed a public right of way next to the farm from the B3115, in reality it doesn’t exist. In fact all you are confronted with is a stone wall.

Instead we drove up the minor road next to the farm and parked next to the public footpath sign a little way north of the farm. The problem this time was that I was confronted by a field full of head high corn. Not wishing to cause any damage I decided not to go this way. I walked back down the lane to see if there was any other point of access but there is only a large private farm/building yard.

I would imagine the best bet would be to ask permission at the farm as a ‘sneak visit’ appears to be out of the question.

Driving back down the B3115 I looked up to see (what I guess) is the southern side of the Hillfort covered in trees on the brow of the hill

Visited 7.9.13

On Thursday night Dafydd’s older sister returned home from a holiday in Spain. Giving out the presents she had bought she presented Dafydd with a box. Inside was a head light. Now I guess this wouldn’t appeal to most 5 year olds but Dafydd thought it was a great gift.

‘You can use it when you are going in those tunnels with your dad’ Danielle stated.
‘They are not tunnels; they are burial chambers’ Dafydd helpfully replied.

So, come Saturday, where to go so he can try out his new light? Looking at the map I decided it was time a re-visit to Stoney Littleton was in order.

This time we approached via the car park, across the bridge, and up the hill. The adjacent farm now sells ice creams from a little wooden hut which pleased the children immensely. The last time I visited Stoney Littleton was from the lane to the north – the muddiest walk I have ever done, before or after. The walk from the car park was a much more pleasant experience.

We arrived at the Long Barrow and another family were already there. They had clearly already been inside and were chatting outside the entrance. They also had a young boy about Dafydd’s age who was very chatty.

Myself, Dafydd and Sophie headed into the tomb with Dafydd taking the lead with his new light. I had almost forgotten just how wonderful this site is. I headed for the end of the passageway and sat quietly whilst Dafydd and Sophie explored the side chambers.

At this point the young lad came into the passageway with his head light and started chatting to Dafydd (they were comparing notes on their head lights). Dafydd then proceeded to give the boy an explain to the boy what the side chambers were for and where the bones were put. He also suggested that if they kept quiet and shone their lights into the gaps between the stones they may see fairies. I have no idea where he got this notion from but it kept the two of them busy for a short while.

We eventually emerged from the tomb and headed back down the hillside. The other family joined us the children raced each other through the fields and towards the ice cream hut.
All in all a very good visit to what is without doubt an excellent site.

If you have never had the pleasure of Stoney Littleton do yourself a favour and get here as soon as you can. You won’t be disappointed.
Ravenfeather’s previous notes describe a visit better than I can.

Visited: September 6, 2013

Back again, slightly more than 23 years since my previous visit. I must confess I had no memories of this, not even of the tremendous crag on which the broch stands.

Dùn Ard an t-Sabhail may be wrecked, but its situation provides some of the best coastal scenery of Skye ever: Loch Bracadale and its islands were a revelation in the autumn sunshine.

Of the broch, little remains. Just a short section of walling, seven courses high and a field of rubble. Yet it exudes great charm. Definitely worth the effort of making the 20 minute trek over heathery slopes, starting from the high hairpin bend on the road through Fiscavaig (at the point where the waymarked footpath to Talisker Bay sets off to the south).

Visited 1.8.13

After spending an enjoyable couple of hours in Tobermory (home of the legendary Balamory – Sophie was beside herself with excitement!) it was time for a spot of ‘old stoning’. Whilst in Tobermory we visited the small but excellent museum on the harbour front – free to get in but as it is run by volunteers they request a donation, which I was more than happy to provide. There was a fair bit of prehistoric items on display in glass cabinets (bits of flint / pot etc) and the free information leaflet includes details of the standing stones and how to find them. The leaflet also refers to the visit Time Team made to the island several years ago.

We drove the short distance out of town and parked in the pottery car park. The gang stayed in the car as it had just started to drizzle and I headed up the lane towards the stones on my own. This is the first (and probably only) time I have ever walked up a path made entirely of scallop shells!

The walk was pleasant enough and before long I reached the stile giving access to the field in which the stones stand. As has been previously mentioned there are two stones still standing and a third fallen – all three of an impressive size. Due the to weather I can’t really comment on the views but I am sure they are decent in fine weather?

As I headed back down the path a coach load of people were heading up to the stones escorted by their tour guide. He stopped me and asked for directions which I was happy to do. He also asked if the stones were Pictish? I explained they were a lot older than that. He seemed quite excited passing this information onto the foreign tourists!

These are cracking stones to visit and very accessible, even if you are only on Mull for a couple of hours on a day trip via the Oban / Tobermory ferry. It wouldn’t take long to walk from the ferry terminal although the hill up to the pottery is quite steep.

There are 5 bullauns that I know of at Brittas – a single, two doubles (one of which is broken), one with five basins and one with six. We managed to find the fiver and sixer and the unbroken double. I know where the other two are but I couldn’t be bothered to find them as the under- and over-growth was so dense.

I love the six-basined stone. It’s one of the most graceful pieces of prehistoric sculpture that I’ve come across. It easily rivals the bullaun stone at Kilbeg. Every time I pass by here I have to see it, and yet it’s in danger of being swallowed up by the earth that it springs from. The stone, like the five-basined “hand print of St Lawrence O’Toole” is earthfast. The nearby stream regularly fills the basins and silt builds up, giving damp-loving plants an ideal spot to take hold in. This could easily completely cover the stone in time as no-one seems to know they’re here, let alone look after them.

I’ve checked the National Monuments Database and there are just two stones recorded here – the broken double and the five-basined stone. The last site visit here was in November 2012 and there would be less vegetation at that time so I’m wondering how they missed the other three. Oh well, maybe somebody will notice this in time.

Visited: September 2, 2013 and May 29, 2016.

Just a kilometre and a half north of the much more famous Dunvegan Castle lies the Fiadhairt peninsula, an island but for a connecting strip of land barely 50 metres wide. Invisible from the road, here lies the magnificent Dùn Fiadhairt, in my view, its interior the best preserved of all the brochs on Skye save Dùn Beag.

Just before the main road north crosses Loch Suardal there is space to park, and less than 100 metres farther on a prominent path leads left through a gate on to the peninsula. Follow this path and it takes you to the broch.

The first aspect of Dùn Fiadhairt reveals its eastern portal, complete with a triangular lintel. The main entrance, at the west, is a passageway lined with stones, which leads to a wide entranceway with a further internal portal on each side leading into the impressive ground-level galleries. The double walls, which rise internally to between 6 and 8 courses almost everywhere around the broch are well preserved, as is the gallery between them. Near the diminuative eastern entranceway, a flight of steps leads up to a long destroyed second level.

If there is one particular ‘must see’, unrestored broch on Skye, this is it. It may seem to be in the back of beyond, but access is easy: it takes just a leisurely 20 minute stroll through delightful lochside scenery to reach it.

There’s lots more to learn about this magnificent broch at Canmore.

Visited: September 2, 2013

Dùn Colbost stands atop a small hill just southwest of the junction between the Glendale road and the main coastal route through the village of Colbost, though the broch is not actually visible from there. Turn along the Glendale road where there is convenient parking on the left at a disused quarry after about 100 metres. Continue on foot for a further 50 metres where a gate leads to a good path that curves upwards to the summit of the hill (just a five minute ascent – it is quite a small hill).

By now the target can be seen ahead, and another five minutes walk across heathery terrain brings you to the broch. This broch is little more than a stoneheap. Short stretches of external walling still stand up to six courses high but none remains in the interior, though the eye of faith will still detect traces of a ground-level gallery. The broch entrance is blocked by a ‘Danger – Keep Out’ notice. If the broch itself is a disappointment, the views across Loch Dunvegan are not, and are to be greatly recommended.

Read more at Canmore.

Visited: September 5, 2013

Unnamed on the OS Map, Dun Alighlinn (also variously known as Dun Abhainn Bhaile Mheadhonaich, or Dun Sleadale) stands on a low hill just south of the telephone box and the Abhainn Bhaile Mheadhonaich (this is the name of the river) near the head of Loch Caroy. Park near the phone box and head south on foot for about 200 metres till you arrive at a gate on the left. Cross the gate and head for the top of the hill, which should take all of five minutes.

When I arrived, three sheep were grazing in the bowl of this badly ruined broch. Even so, some structure remains at ground level, and you can see how thick the original walls were. To the east lies the remnant of an entranceway.

Despite being badly ruined with just a scattering of blocks marking the foundation course of the broch, it is a great viewpoint and well worth accessing for this reason alone: Macleods Tables and the vista along Loch Caroy are magnificent.

Read more at Canmore.

Visited: September 5, 2013

Dùn Garsin lies a couple of hundred metres along the Glen Bracadale side-road that leads off from the main Bracadale – Portree road, where a large parking area will be found. To the left stands an imposing bastion of rock, and the broch lies on its summit. A footpath leads the way, starting up the grassy slopes just to the north of it and, though the broch is a ruin, the views from it across Loch Bracadale are superb. The broch itself is a grassy hollow surrounded by a mound with a sprinkling of the original walling blocks. Piles of rubble lie in several places.

Read more at Canmore.

Visited: September 5, 2013

Located on a prominent hill adjacent to Skeabost cemetery at the head of Loch Snizort, Dùn a’Cheitechin is a broch now reduced to little more than a grassy saucer surrounded by a low grass-covered bank. Any evidence of walling or any other structure remains hidden under vegetation.

To access the broch, cross the field opposite the cemetery (take note of the ‘Beware of Bull’ notice) provided it is not being used by grazing cattle and contour round the crag-girt hill. The hill has twin tops, but the steep crags mean that the only access is up the gulley between the tops. Dùn a’Cheitechin is on the southern, slightly higher top.

More details of this broch are to be found at Canmore.

Visited: September 2, 2013

Dùn Feorlig stands on an isolated lump of rock standing on the western foreshore of Loch Caroy, some 1½ kilometres along the minor road that leaves the A863 at the head of this loch.

The situation is impressive, a grassy dome of rock rising steeply from the sea and only accessible from the north. There is little of the original broch to be seen now. The summit is covered with deep tussocks of grass and no discrete walling can be seen, but individual stones do peek up through the undergrowth from place to place. Utterly ruined the broch may be, but this must have been a wonderful and secure situation for its inhabitants many centuries ago.

Read more at Canmore.

Visited: September 3, 2013

It’s perhaps not surprising that this is the first fieldnote concerning Dùn Sleadale to appear on TMA. You cannot see this broch from any road. It cannot be accessed by a gentle walk. It is located on a plateau flanked by steep hillsides at an elevation of 136 metres, and the ascent starts from sea-level.

Moreover, there is no clear path to the broch. The starting point for a visit to Dùn Sleadale is the small car park used by walkers heading for Talisker Bay. But about 200 metres into this walk, immediately after the path crosses the Sleadale Burn, a rusted gate provides access to the field on the left.

From here the route is an ascending traverse, firstly through grass tussocks and bracken, then on shorter sheep-grazed grass on the higher slopes. Continue for about half a kilometre until you encounter a stream flowing downhill to join the the Sleadale Burn, and follow this to the plateau.

Still, Dùn Sleadale is hidden from view but, carrying on in the same direction for another 200 or so metres, to the right of a prominent outcrop that rises ahead, the broch suddenly springs into view.

This broch is well worth the effort of visiting, as it retains several courses of walling round almost its entire external circumference, with an entranceway on the east. Almost no internal structure remains alas, as the interior—including the entrance—is buried beneath a wasteland of collapsed masonry. A lichen-encrusted ash tree struggles to survive within its shelter. Only on the southern face of the broch is there slight evidence of a gallery, which is for most of its length buried under tonnes of rubble.

You can learn more about this broch at Canmore.

Visited: September 2, 2013

Dùn Boreraig stands proudly on a hilltop eminence on the coastline at Boreraig, perhaps half a kilometre—as the crow flies—south of the prominent hilltop monument on Gob na Hoe. A path heads towards some coastal cottages: then it’s a short tramp across the field and round the coast to the broch.

Impressive on the approach, Dùn Boreraig proves rather a disappointment at close quarters: much of the walling has simply collapsed both into and outside the broch, although there is an extensive stretch running up to six courses high, and there are clear signs of a gallery at base level. The interior also supported a substantial crop of nettles. In its day this would have provided a superb lookout point, and would have been visible from afar.

You can read more about this broch at Canmore.

Very accessible standing stone in the forestry here, close to the Glen of Imaal. On the day we were there in early September, 2013, the army were practicing their artillery fire – made us feel relieved to live in a peaceful country.

The stone itself is really rather beautiful, partially covered with a red lichen and heart-shaped. It’s well over two metres tall, and aligned east-west on its longer axis. The southern side curiously seems the more ‘hidden’ side, craggy and pitted as opposed to the flat northern side. The Ogham is in the north-east ‘corner’ and reads MAQI Ni/eLI (’of the son of Níall?’)(According to the Arch. Inventory.)

Visited: September 5, 2013

Dùn Kingsburgh (north) stands a kilometre west of the A87 Portree to Uig road, just south of Hinnisdal Bridge and two kilometres north of the community of Kingsburgh.

This broch has been reduced to a grassy saucer surrounded by a vegetated bank of varying height. A small section of outer walling is visible through the undergrowth to the east.

There is ample parkng at the entrance to Hinnisdal Community Woodland, and the route to the broch starts from the farm track just before the first cottage to the south on the opposite side of the road. After just a few metres, a footpath slants off to the right, soon connecting with a wide farm road which curves towards the River Hinnisdal, then back again to cross a tributary stream. Pass through the gate ahead and follow the path until it curves left in a broad arc. As soon as the path starts to straighten, ascend the low rise to the left: the broch stands on its summit.

Although this is in theory just a gentle stroll, the farm track was extremely muddy at the time of my visit: stout footwear, preferably boots, is recommended.

Visited: September 6, 2013

Dùn Peinduin is an Iron-Age fort, now just an unsymmetrical grassy basin in the crown of a low hill with the remnants of a stony bank around much of its circumference. Easiest access is from the A856 Uig road, about a kilometre north of Hinnisdale Community Woodland, where the road starts to curve away from the sea. Now just make for the top of the nearest high ground.

If you plan to visit Dun Peinduin following Dun Kingsburgh (north), note that the River Hinnisdal can be a formidable, deep and fast flowing barrier. You will have to retrace your steps all the way back to the road bridge to cross the river and make your way overland from there. There is a tributary stream to cross, and after rain this too can be a problem. Counter this by following the north bank of the river Hinnisdale to this stream, where there is a footbridge across it, then make for the highest ground to the northwest.