Latest Fieldnotes

The first signed bullaun stone that I’ve seen – I’m guessing that this was dragged here to its current location before they drowned the valley for the reservoir. I’ve seen shots of this semi-submerged, but we were here after a fairly decent summer and the lake was about 5 metres away.

I was searching for a bullaun stone south of Roundwood recently and the woman of the house told me of this stone – seems it’s well known in the locality and has ‘offerings’ in the basin. the stone itself is quite large, a metre-and-a-half long, by a metre high and three-quarters of a metre wide. The basin is, fairly typically, set off centre towards the west end of the stone.

We crossed the field to this stone, not knowing that there is a path along the reservoir to the other stone down by the lakeside. This is the better of the two at Knocktemple, the basin cut into the slope of the stone giving it one deep arc and one shallow. It’s bang in the middle of the field, just west of the old church site.

Slowly getting eaten up by the surrounding vegetation, the 24 cups on this earthfast boulder are the most distinct of the 4 cup-marked stones in the vicinity of Drummin, beside Keocha’s Brook.

Located approx midway between the two other monuments completing this fine trio clustered beneath Cnoc Chaornaidh, this enigmatic stone pile is depicted as simply ‘cairn’ upon my 1:50k OS map. As such I was (shamefully, it has to be said) settling for merely a passing view en route from the superb north-western monument back to the car .... until a number of prominent protruding stones decided otherwise, that is. I am glad I saw sense since this one also blew me away.

Not for the first time, I concur with the fieldwork of archaeologist A S Henshall way back during 1963.... “A probable chambered cairn, 13.0m in diameter and 2.4m in maximum height, partly ruined on the south and SE but otherwise undisturbed and grass-grown. Two large slabs are visible on the south side, neither at nor leading to the centre and behind them to the NW is a cavity with a side slab and lintel just visible. Other large slabs lie about. The cairn seems to have been chambered but the present remains are impossible to interpret.”

So, not a certain chambered cairn, then. But I will add the weight of my experience, such as it is, to that of Audrey 50 years before me. Suffice to say that the substantial orthostats remaining in situ in no way suggest that the cairn originally possessed a kerb... and if they represent field clearance, hell, I’ll eat my hat. And that is not a very appetising thought, believe me. Although perhaps with a touch of garlic? So what else could these (more or less) upright stones represent, save the remnants of a collapsed chamber subsumed within the cairn?

But perhaps this is a moot point, what with the sensational view toward the jagged tops of Cul Mor and the landscape representation of Suil, the ‘Eye Goddess’ of lore – the unique Suilven – making this such an enigmatic location for a cairn, such a memorable visit. I wish I had longer to linger, but Loch Borralan is just up the road! It is all too much. Really, it is. Still, no rest for the inquisitive.

This, the first of many chambered cairns encountered along the A837 by the megalithically-minded traveller salivating in anticipation of sampling the wonders – natural or otherwise – of Coigach and Assynt is, in my opinion, a worthy introduction to the area. OK, as Nick states, there is very little cairn remaining; however it would appear that the majority of a series of impressively substantial orthostats remain in situ forming a polygonal chamber archetypal of apparent immovable permanence. Or so it would appear to me today... a constant reference point in an ever changing world often verging upon the ludicrous. But there you are. We must be thankful – although to what, if anything, I do not know – that some such ‘anchors’ continue to survive as bench marks to (arguably) preserve the sanity of an oft’ bewildered homo sapien such as I. Anyway....

An initial glance at the map is not promising, the monument depicted as being set only a little back from the A837, occupying a shallow rise to the approx SW of the antennae-crowned, craggy summit of Cnoc Chaornaidh. Noisy, then? Er no. Prospective visitors should bear in mind that, although designated an ‘A’ road, the A837 at this point is one of those ‘single track with passing places’ so idiosyncratic of the northern Highlands. Yeah, things are different up here. If approaching from the SE, note Loch Craggie and the more diminutive Loch Eileag to your left.... then, just after crossing the Allt Eileag (river), look for the stones rising from the hillside to the right, a little beyond the existing forestry boundary. Incidentally the map shows another chambered cairn within said trees... Handily there is a layby nearby which is just about ideal to reverse into. Hey, or nose into. Your prerogative. Then hope over the fence, negotiate the rough grassland and hang out for a while.

As mentioned there is a real sense of solidity at this monument – the slipped cap stone notwithstanding – the sweeping view NW toward the beckoning uplands of Inverpolly hinting at what is to come. Speaking of which, these bare bones of a chambered cairn are just for starters, two more beauties lying just beyond Cnoc Chaornaidh. It’d be rude not to go and have a look while I’m here.

Despite entering Scotsburn Wood to the south-west.... this is the first of the immediate area’s trio of obvious (or perhaps not so obvious) great cairns that I end up visiting, if only by default. Yeah, having summarily failed to locate the western monument at the first time of asking, a distant glimpse of stone shining through trees above and to the north of the main west/east forestry track ensures there will be no such issues finding the eastern cairn.

Standing within a clearing upon the southern flank of Beinn an Lochain the cairn, according to the wondrous A S Henshall [1972], “...has been c.50’ in diameter and the remains are 3’ to 4’ high.” It is most certainly ‘chambered’, too, although I found it difficult to discern any coherent detail from a series of orthostats remaining in situ within the surviving stone pile.... aside from the odd capstone. Or two. Again according to Henshall... “the passage is 10’6” long and the chamber entrance 1’9” wide, The chamber, c.14’6” long, has two compartments divided by a pair of transverse slabs with an entry between them”. So, all in all this is a pretty decent, substantial monument, if lacking the wildly overgrown vibe of its western neighbour. In fact it might be suggested that the pair complement each other perfectly. Like Manic Street Preachers and Nina Persson, perhaps?

Speaking of vibe... that experienced today in this isolated forestry clearing is unfortunately not all that I would have wished due to tannoy announcements emanating from a gymkhana being held down in the valley. However since this is a local event, for local people, the annoyance is limited and most probably not justified. Whatever, my indignation soon more or less dissipates and I enjoy my time in the company of the great cairn. [Interestingly, I later discover that Strathspey was in attendance at said event.... small world, is it not?]

So please come to Scotsburn Wood. If – unlike myself – you manage to locate the western monument beforehand... head north until you bisect a major forestry track. Veer to the right (approx east) along this for a short distance, keeping eyes a’peeled for a hint of path ascending the hillside to your left (north). This should (ahem) lead you to the wondrous megalithic oasis within the trees. Or something like that.

Owing to the unanticipated (duh!) excellence of the nearby Kinrive cairns.... consuming much more time than I reckoned ... I ended up kipping overnight at Newmore Wood in order to facilitate a megalithic foray into Scotsburn Wood this beautiful, sunny morning. Well, I might never come here again, you know? No time like the present. So, parking up to the east at Dalnaclach, as suggested by Greywether, I duly follow the track skirting the southern fringe of the wood, heading west. Upon negotiating a stile set overlooking extensive buildings in the valley below, I veer right to ascend a forestry track defining the western localised limit of the wood... assuming that makes sense? The chambered cairn lies a little way up this track, just within the trees, that is more or less to the north. Not that there is any indication of its existence to the (increasingly exasperated) traveller whatsoever. At least in late Spring.

Yeah, it looks ‘relatively easy’ upon the map. But appearances are often deceptive. Suffice to say I struggle... greatly.... to find the monument, only succeeding after a number of ‘sweeps’, and then after having blundered into the presence of Scotsburn Wood East first of all, this happy eventuality allowing me to fix my position and take a bearing.

In retrospect my difficulty was not surprising, the monument more or less completely engulfed by vegetation, so much so that camouflage netting would’ve probably made it more visible! Having said that, once located, I found myself revelling in the unkempt state of this hidden gem of a site boasting a quite substantial surviving chamber. As for cairn.... I didn’t see much evidence, although, of course, that could have been hidden under the extensive vegetation. Tell me about it. But no matter. Persevere to find this ‘un since I reckon it is the ideal companion to the better defined site to the approx north-east, that obligingly set within its woodland clearing. Yeah, there is no clearing here, it being no small feat to see the monument for the trees. But I can live with that.

As with local man Strathspey before me... I struggle to devise a coherent reconstruction of this fabulous site in my ‘mind’s eye’ since, unlike the nearby long monument, cairn material is very much notable by its absence. The orientation of the chamber is perplexing, somewhat paradoxically so since a great deal of the skeletal structure remains upstanding. These are substantial stones, too. Perhaps this mild sense of disorientation has its source in the intimate environment of this sun-dappled wood... the trees – birches, or so the Mam C would no doubt have informed me if she had been here – all but negating what would have been a fine view toward the Cromarty Firth to the approx south. Guess the entrance would’ve faced that-a-way, then... what I initially took to be part of a facade, on second thoughts constituting the rear of a very large chamber.

Best hear from the experts, Canmore citing the King’s Head cairn as being:

‘Round with polygonal chamber of Orkney-Cromarty type. The cairn itself is almost entirely removed but its edge is quite distinct showing a diameter of 85ft EW and 75ft NS. The chamber is constructed of large slabs and stands clear and almost intact..... Seven feet NW of the back of the chamber is a cist with four side stones measuring 3 by 4ft and at least 3ft 6ins deep. [A S Henshall 1963]‘

The cist mentioned above is a beautiful example of the genre, albeit without cap stone. Well worth a visit in its own right and no mere supporting act, even to such an impressive, if dishevelled chamber as we have here. Dishevelled? I reckon so, but in such a manner as to impart oodles and oodles of vibe of the highest order. Thankfully a birch tree formerly mentioned by Canmore ‘whose roots envelope the structure’ is no more, suggesting consolidation. Or perhaps it simply expired of old age? Whatever the truth, the sum of the King’s Head’s parts, to me, represent the best of all worlds. Again, as with Strathspey, I am compelled to sit and simply do nothing except watch trees throw shadows across ancient stones... which I can do all day, to be fair. Oh, and silently curse that bloke from Boyzone – I think – for being right all along. The chambered cairn within Kinrive Wood certainly does say it best.... by saying nothing at all.

To sample the delights of this excellent site head downhill from the equally fine long cairn to follow the fence line to the approx south-west. Exquisite.

Our time in Cornwall is almost at an end, and as it started with a stone circle I thought it only right and good to end with one as well. Time however is, as it usually is, against me, so I decide upon this Nine stones circle, which surprisingly, or not, has nine stones to it. It’s reasonably close to the A30, the main road in and out of Cornwall, so I hoped to get to a parking place quickly and easily and get to the stones with enough time to sit and appreciate the place for a while.
Looking at the map it was plainly going to be easiest approaching from the south, I did not read up on any directions, I just went for it. Turned off the A30 onto the B3257 towards Callington, at Congdons Shop (That’s what the village is called, honest) turn right onto the B3254 then right again and head for Trebartha, the road, if memory serves, kind of takes you straight to the quick and easy parking place.

Now I’m home I know this is the way Mr Hamhead suggests and the route Sanctuary took 18 months ago. The kids decided that it was too far for them so they stayed at the car and mucked about with their bows and arrows bought from Restormel castle the day before, (I knew they’d come in handy) whilst I yomped up and over the hill at double speed. I noted the stone cross , but didn’t go over, instead I followed the wall up the hill, until it ran out, someone with more time might have been able to go over the wall and perhaps search out two hut circles the map says are there, not me though its stone circle or bust.
Cresting the ridge that is seemingly known only as Ridge, again someone with more time might have gone to look for the tumulus at the east end of the ridge, I however ignore it utterly and trot down the hill towards the stone circle that is easily spotted from the ridge, I fail to see another hut circle in between the ridge and the circle, but ho hum, I’m just here for the circle and what a good one it is.
There are indeed nine stones, sometimes when they get people naming these sites they are clearly not able to count, but he was bang on the money here, although the ninth stone is the center stone, but I wont split hairs. There is a wide stoneless gap at the north east, one stone is down and one is going, slowly, down. But the others are holding up their end of the circle well. When I saw the triangular stone, I was reminded of Sanctuary, and when I saw the center stone I was reminded of a, well, lets not put a name to it, suffice to say it rules the world, or thinks it does.
A very good circle is this, blue skies, no clouds, it’s only detractor is the sheep worn ditches around the stones, usually full of water but in the hot summer of 2013 it is medium to hard baked mud, and a small puddleit’s not very good is it ? I do detest sheep, a little strong I know, but I just don’t see the point in them. Extinction beckons, don’t fight it.
On my way back I’m fairly sure I found a couple of hut circles that aren’t on the map, there is much more in the vicinity, ring cairns, cairns, tumuli and hut circles galore, but i’ll leave those for someone with more time, there are TMA’ers in Cornwall too arent there ? If I lived down here Id have been to every single one by now.

The final site of the day proves to be a winner. By the time we reach Bannau Sir Gaer, all but one of my friends has had enough, and don’t even make the effort to leave the path the look for this. The one who is left at least comes to the circle, but isn’t massively impressed, to be honest. Which just shows that this game isn’t for everyone!

And so it comes to be that I’m left here on my own for a while, just as the sun re-emerges to illuminate the site in a golden glow, while the mountain backdrop is silhouetted into a wall of dark browns and black shadow. Spectacular. The circle is a wreck, it doesn’t matter a bit. A fine addition to the utterly compelling megalithic complex spread across these wild uplands.

One of the main attractions of this walk for me, apart from the brilliance of the summit cairns, is the two stone circles shown on the OS map along our return route. The second, Bannau Sir Gaer, is the better known, already visited and chronicled by Postie. But the first is virgin TMA territory. Coflein are dismissive of the site, and on getting here it’s easy to see why.

We found the narrow track that the OS map shows as bisecting the site easily enough, but it crosses an area of plentiful small stones. Some are vaguely upright, but it would take a determined eye to be convinced that there is a circle here, unless we’ve missed something. My companions were certainly not impressed! Not far from the site, we came across a neat little spiral of blocks, half-hidden in the tufty grass. Someone has spent time here, to make that. To be fair, the setting is lovely, with the pointed prows of be-cairned Twr-y-Fan Foel and Fan Foel providing the main focal points. To the north, the land gradually slopes away towards Nant Tarw, although the circles aren’t visible from here, as far as I could tell.

We head away from the setting across the tussocky, peaty moor of Waun Lwyd, close to the source of the river Usk/Afon Wsyg, one of South Wales’ major rivers, which passes close to the Nant Tarw circles as well. It may be significant that the Tawe, another important river, rises not far away to the east, before passing Cerrig Duon & The Maen Mawr. There’s certainly plenty of scope for water-based theory and speculation about the siting of these monuments.

From Fan Foel, it’s not far at all to the next of today’s cairns, Twr y Fan Foel. Last time I came here from Fan Hir, a walk that is do-able using the Neath-Brecon bus service, but there’s no doubt that today’s approach is more satisfying. The cairn itself is a bit of a wreck, eroded at its base and piled into a silly cone. Purely as a structure of earth and stone, it lacks the charm of the wonderful ring on Fan Foel. But the view is astonishing. The ground drops away to north and east, and this is perfect viewpoint for the second of today’s mountain lakes, Llyn y Fan Fawr. From up here, it’s hard to believe that the lake itself is located at as-near-as-dammit 2,000 feet up. The cairn is at the highest point of Y Mynydd’s Du magnificent escarpment and boy, what a place for a monument. Worth every bit of energy and effort to get up here.

Sadly we don’t linger so long at this one, my companions are getting hungry and a bit further along the escarpment, at the southern summit, there is a drystone shelter that has been identified as our lunch spot. There’s nothing on Coflein to suggest that this shelter has been fashioned from an ancient cairn, so I can feel relaxed about making use of it. For all that the sun is shining, it’s still bitterly cold up here and a stop of any duration is going to see a sudden drop in body temperature. It’s here that we meet the only other people that we’ll see today. Not far to the SW of the summit is the spot where an Avro Anson crashed in thick cloud and rain, back in peacetime 1939, a stark reminder of just how bad the weather can get in and above these mountains.

The route from Picws Du to the next cairn, on Fan Foel, is easy enough but includes a fairly steep up-and-down, via Bwlch Blaen-Twrch (“pass of the boar’s summit”). Once negotiated, there is a fine high-level retrospective view of Picws Du summit before we head over to the magnificent cairn placed right at the apex of the escarpment, the point where Carmarthenshire meets Powys/Brecknockshire.

Was this always a territorial marker? If it was, it’s a high place for the people of power to agree upon their frontier. And perhaps such a person was laid to rest here, interred within a sizeable kerb of red sandstone blocks. If he or she were the monarch of all they surveyed, they certainly ruled over a far-reaching territory, for the views are extensive indeed, stretching eastwards to the twin summits of Pen-y-Fan and Corn Du then further away to the Black Mountains, with many other cairned summits in between. And yet the archaeological record reveals perhaps something rather more intriguing and human than a story of powerful warriors. A child was buried here, possibly garlanded with meadowsweet flowers. If only these stones and mountains would share the memory of that little sliver of history, what a tale they might tell.

This cairn is ignored by many walkers, hurrying between the “tops” of Piws Du and Twr y Fan Foel/Fan Brycheiniog. But sadly enough come here to cause damage to the structure, which is what prompted the excavation and exposure of the magnificent kerb and half-buried cist. Probably the best of cairns on the main escarpment of Y Mynydd Du, this place will richly reward any TMAer making the trip.

As the Picws Du summit cairn comes into view, it becomes apparent that it has a very decent sized footprint, but is now quite low, with a smaller walkers’ cairn plonked on the top, possibly/probably made from stones from the original monument. There are some pretty big blocks in the original though and the footprint suggests it would have been a big cairn. In any case, the setting more than compensates for any deficiencies in the cairn itself. The views north over the escarpment edge are awe-inspiring, even on a day of fairly short visibility like today. And as we stop to take it all in, the mist lifts properly and blue skies open above us. Ah, what a wonderful world. And what a place to be interred.

Incidentally, the name is obscure – the Nuttalls translate it as “Black Peak”, but I’ve not managed to find a translation for “picws” in any Welsh dictionary yet, so I’m not sure of this. Any ideas?

Visited 30.7.13

Directions:
From Torrin take the B8083 west. After about 3 miles the road bends around the top of the loch. There is a large area you can park. From the parking area follow the ‘path’ north towards Loch na Sguabaidh – a stream will be on your left. Within a few minutes you will see Clach Oscar directly in front of you. Can’t miss it.

Clach Oscar is a large erratic approximately 1m square, covered in lichen and moss.
It appears that the 3 large pieces were originally all part of the same stone?

The stone is certainly worth visiting for the walk and views which are fantastic.
When the weather is kind (as it is today) this is an unbelievably scenic place to visit.

Directions:
A short distance south of St Paul’s Epistle.
Access is via a public right of way (over a gate) into a field of sheep.

I spotted this on my O/S map but could find no reference to it by E.H.

The Barrow is barely, and I mean barely, visible as very slight bump cut in half by a wire field fence. I would put it as approximately 0.1m high. It requires the ‘eye of faith’ – assuming it was the Barrow I was looking at!

Whereas St Paul’s Epistle is worth visiting – this one isn’t.

Visited 24.8.13

Very easy to see right next to the minor road.
Tree covered at a prominent location with great views to the east

Nice one.

Visited 24.8.13

My last site of the day.

After parking next to a field gate I approached from the north along the Cotswold Way. This was not ideal as there is a stone wall and barbed wire fence to scale from the path into the required field. It is much easier to climb over the metal field gate and walk diagonally across the field to the Barrow. You can actually just about see the Barrow from the gate as a patch of rough, scruffy ground next to far hedgerow.

The Barrow is pretty mangled with the centre hollowed out. It looks like a nettled covered doughnut. Lots of small stones were sticking out of the grass showing how the Barrow was constructed.

Not much to recommend a visit I am afraid to say.

Visited 24.8.13

Marked on my map as ‘settlement’ which I would say is a more accurate description, given its location in a fairly flat area which would offer little protection to attack.

You can drive all the way to the site but the road becomes rougher the closer you get. In hindsight it would have been better to park near the phone box (a little to the east) and walked up the road.

‘An electric fence’ noted Karen.
‘A wooden gate’ I replied.
60 seconds later I was checking the southern bank out whilst Karen was turning the car around.

The surviving banks that I saw (southern and western) ranged from being completely ploughed out to about 2m in height.
I didn’t have time to look at the condition of the other two sides of this rectangular enclosure.

The banks are exposed in places and you could easily see how they were constructed of the local Cotswold stone. Not much to add really.

Worth a look when in the area. Watch out for the electric fence!

Visited 24.8.13

Directions:
From Bishops’s Cleeve (not much there) take the minor road north to Gotherington. From Gotheringto follow the signs east for Dixton. The Hillfort is to the north of Dixton House, east of Manor Farm.

I chose to opt for access via the Goucestershire Way (approaching from the east). You can park next to the metal field gate where the road turns sharply to the right. The sun was shining and the air was still. A pleasant walk across the field and then through another gate. At this point the ground starts to rise as you head towards the trees. If you want to go blackberry picking, this is the place for you!

I followed the path uphill and it was apparent there was no way through the chest high nettles and masses of brambles – particularly when wearing shorts. I then came across a newly cut path through the nettles to my right; so I followed it hoping for the best.
I then came to a padlocked rusty gate and jumped over it. This brought me out into the trees and a very steep climb – but few nettles. I scrambled my way up the bare slope but on several occasions had to use the trees to pull myself up it was so steep. This was not easy as all the trees seemed to be hawthorns and the spikes were sticking into me. Eventually I got to the top but was confronted by a ‘sea of nettles’, chest high and no way through. The entire top of the Hillfort (open field) appeared to be covered in nettles. This was as far as I was going today.

I didn’t have time to try the other approach, via Manor Farm to the west, but I would imagine you would have hit the same problem with the nettles? No wonder no-one has added fieldnotes to this site before!
If you are planning to come I would suggest a winter visit, approaching from the west.
The approach I took was a difficult climb up the steep hill and I wouldn’t fancy attempting it in the winter. Not sure there is actually anything to see though?

Translated as Friaochs carn, it was the inaugeration site of the O’Connor clan in Connaught.

From Wikipedia

It is a small mound about one and a half meters high that sinks slightly at the top and is covered on one side by a dressing of stone. Up until the mid-nineteenth century a proclamation stone stood nearby that featured two sunken footprints, the stone now resides at Clonalis House near Castlerea.

Regarding the inaugeration stone archaeology.ie has this to say

When a portion was broken off the inauguration stone of the O’Conor kings at Carnfree (RO028-69001-) it was moved to the avenue of Cargin House near Tulsk c. 1840 by Daniel Kelly to prevent further damage by quarrying at the original site (Jones 1922-3). It has since been moved to the grounds of Clonalis House in the 1970s, although its authenticity is doubtful (FitzPatrick 2004, 113-5). Roughly rectangular limestone block (dims. of base 0.8m x 0.4m; H 0.45-0.55m) with a subrectangular upper surface (dims. 0.9m x 0.35-0.6m) which has an oval hollow (dims. 0.3 x 0.1m; D 0.7m) divided in two by a ridge at the base to represent a footprint.

Here is an aerial view of the bowl barrow and the unusual water feature to the west of it.

binged.it/12Efrjy

Taken from archaeology.ie

On a slight rise of the broad WNW-ESE ridge of Carnfree. It has been re-identified as Carn Lamha (FitzPatrick 2004, 65). Circular, conical and grass-covered mound (diam. of base 16m.3m N-S; H 3.5m) surrounded by a slight berm (Wth 1-1.2m) and fosse (Wth of top 5.5-9m; D 0.3m) (max. ext. diam. 35m N-S). There are also slight traces of an outer bank S-W, but this may be a field bank. The barrow is contained within a triangular area defined by field banks of the field system (RO028-056----). Ditch-barrows (RO028-071----; RO028-072001-; RO028-073----) are c. 60m to the W, c. 60m th the SSW and c. 90m SE respectively. (Herity 1983, 126-7; Waddell 1988, 15-6)

Broken & fallen standing stone.

From Archaeology.ie

At the crest of the N-facing slope of a WNW-ESE ridge, c. 250m N of the broad WNW-ESE ridge of Carnfree. A limestone slab (L 3.7m; Wth 0.35-1m; T c. 0.25-0.45m) is lying prone and broken in two, 40m E of the ring-barrow

After a good meeting with the Stripple stones and a good sit upon Hawks Tor I came here, not through the farm but more to the west and then coming at the stones from the north east over the forded stream.
The Trippet stones are now, by default, my most visited ancient site in Cornwall, I say default because I have no real attachment to them per se, I don’t love them any more than any other stone circle, it’s just they always seem to be in the way of where I am going or coming from., last time it was King Arthur’s hall, and as its so easy to get to them , well, you just have to go over don’t you?

A lovely little foal was among the stones when I got there, but she went over to her mum who was very similarly coloured, leaving me to once more inspect the stones. There is no sign of any tractor tracks going through the ring, who knew the ground could be so resilient ?
I don’t know why, but I always expect the stones to be bigger than they are, they always leave me with a memory of bigness.

An early morning visit this one, the hotel was just a fifteen minute drive away so by 7.30 I was locking the car door and making my way east towards Hawks Tor farm.
No noise or movement was coming from the farm so I just walked right through it, I saw no one and I think no one saw me, unhindered and unchallenged I made good progress. As I started to go up towards the top of Hawks Tor a great pillow of cold white mist swamped the whole area, it held a chill to it, and I began to wonder whether I would be able to find the henge and it’s stones. But the low cloud was short lived, and as it moved away I turned right, away from Hawks Tor, climbed a fence and moved towards where I thought the stones should be. Then out of the thinning mist and green grasses I could see poking up dark shapes, and blammo, i’m here.
I sit for a while on the old wall that is being held responsible for wiping out the west end of the henge and the destruction of at least several stones. But it doesn’t sadden me too much, it is regrettable to be sure, but it’s done, and we have what we have.
The mist is all gone now so I release my camera from it’s bag and start to walk round and round, at least five times round it’s circumference, and regarding the stones in detail, unlike Sanctuary I only counted eight fallen stones including the central stone, there was a couple of stony bits that looked more like bedrock, perhaps they are fallen stones, but they are too bulky and misshapen, not at all like the other fallen stones and not really in the line of the circle.

The henge is indeed worn and mostly filled in but enough remains to recognise it for what it is, I’ve seen henges more worn than this.
Together with the fallen stones and the four good up right ones this is turning into a great site. It is a pity it’s not been better looked after, and some restoration of fallen stones back into their vertical positions would go along way to secure more visitors.
A path leading from the south from the A30 by the old quarry would be nice too, instead of having to sneak through or go round the farm.

Twice I’ve been to the very close by Trippet stones, but only now am I able to spend some time up here, it has been time well spent, and worth the wait. This is a very good site, with much still left to see, there really should have been more pictures of this place before now.
Leaving the henge and stones behind I climb up the Tor of Hawks for a general overview, as you do, and I can see for miles in all directions, this is also the first time ive been able to look at Brown Willy, with out laughing, I mean and be able to identify it as what it is, the highest point in Cornwall, it may be further up than me but I am definitely higher.
The henge sits in the middle of a massive bowl of hills, or rather the Tor on whose side it sits does. I can appreciate why it is where it is.
Ninety degrees in a clock wise direction and I can see the far off Trippet stones, I zoom a few photos pack up and move off towards them, not through the farm this time, there is some activity there now, but down to the west, the same way Sanctuary and Mr Hamhead went, it is a good walk.