Latest Fieldnotes

Visited 29.7.13

This is a great site to visit and access couldn’t be easier.
Park in the car park (complete with info board) and a short walk brings you to the Souterrain.
Next to the Souterrain is a sign which states this is the site of a roundhouse but to be honest if the sign didn’t tell you, you wouldn’t know it was there!

Dafydd and Sophie joined me whilst Karen opted to stay in the car. There was only one hard hat at the entrance (no torch) which I gave to Dafydd. Sophie was short enough not to need it and I guess I don’t matter – despite hitting my head a few times! The children went ahead of me as they had the two head lights while I grouped in the dark behind them.

A short distance in we were met by a large puddle which Sophie happily splashed through (she had Peppa Pig wellies on) but Dafydd had to turn back as he didn’t. I now used Dafydd’s light and squelched through the puddle/mud.

This is an excellent Souterrain to explore and despite the obviously reconstructed bits, and the small window inserted at the far end, it shows off the builders skills to good affect.
There is a small side chamber on the left hand at the beginning of the passageway.
The information board states the Souterrain is 17m long x 1.5m high.

As we exited a man was waiting to go in and I offered him Dafydd’s light so he could have a look around himself. This involved Dafydd instructing the man on what he should and shouldn’t do when entering the Souterrain. The man nodded patiently and thanked him for the advice!

This is an excellent place to visit and I would say is a ‘must see’ when on Skye.

Visited today. Some one has decided to ‘improve’ the site by placing an upright stone in the centre. Considering the time and effort needed to reach it, its incredibly depressing to find it vandalized.

Visited 19.8.13

Directions:
A short distance north west of the village of Ystradowen, off the A4222

I parked on the grass verge outside Ash Hall and battled my way through the chest high ferns and brambles to get to the public footpath wooden stile. Once over the stile it is only a short uphill walk to the site.

The site consists of a shallow bank and ditch – about 0.5m deep – semi-circular.

The enclosure occupies a surprisingly prominent position in the fairly flat countryside and offers good views to the south and east.

There’s not much to see in all honesty but with blue skies, warm sun, no wind and dry underfoot I enjoyed my short visit here.

Coflein has nothing to say about the site other than having it recorded as a ‘defended enclosure’.

Visited 19.7.13

This is one of those sites where, although I had been before, I always felt I had ‘unfinished business’ with. The last time I visited I was still new to visiting sites and I didn’t have the benefit of an O/S map. As a result I made the mistake of approaching the Hillfort from the south (no public right of way) and was worried about being spotted by someone in the farm opposite so I didn’t hang around long.
This was something I had wanted to put right ever since. Today was the day!

Going straight from work I drove through Rhiwsaeson and parked next to a field fate to the east of the Hillfort. There is a public right of way from this point via a kissing gate (Glamorgan Ridgeway Walk) which runs slightly to the north of the site.

I got out of the car and realised I had left my boots home. Luckily my wellies were in the car so problem solved. Through the gate I was met by a flock of sheep that were quite nervous of me. I reassured the sheep I meant no harm but it didn’t convince them and they soon scattered.

After a long day stuck in the office it felt good to back in the countryside once again. The sky was blue and there wasn’t a hint of wind. The sun felt warm on my back as I strolled up the hill. No fences/barbed wire or farmers to negotiate – this is the life!

I soon arrived at the outer ramparts and strolled clock-wise around the Hillfort. All was peaceful except the bleating of the sheep. I spotted several large stones scattered around the perimeter, one looked like a standing stone but no doubt it isn’t. There are good views to be had in all directions. Far below me I could see the busy roads full with rush hour traffic – boy was I glad to be here and not there. I even managed to pick my first blackberry – yes, it was sour!

Upon reaching the northern edge of the Hillfort I noticed a narrow track that had been made through the ferns by the sheep leading down the hill. They had worn away the grass and beneath the surface could be seen the banks of stones making up the ramparts. The inner ditch/rampart was about 2m deep and the outer ditch/rampart about 3m deep.

By the time I returned to the car all the stresses of the day were behind me. I guess I am lucky in that I am able to de-stress simply by taking a walk in the country. Some people have to resort to other, more harmful, ways. Not wishing to sound judgemental but I am sure my way would be preferential?

Caerau Hillfort is a good place to visit and comes highly recommended.

Visited 19.8.13

Directions:
On the outskirts of Llanharry; north of the pretty market town of Cowbridge.
The Barrow is in a field adjacent to the Fox and Hounds pub. Parking is available either in the pub or in a lay by next to the field gate giving access to the field.

I thought I had visited all the Barrows in the Vale but somehow I missed this one until I spotted it on an O/S map I recently purchased. Time to put that right!

It was a pleasant late summers evening and I was able to hop over the rusty gate and walk over to Barrow without getting wet – for a change. The Barrow is actually easily visible from the gate if you would rather not trespass.

For this part of the world the Barrow is large and in good condition. It is approximately 1m high x 25m across. The field was in pasture with no animals present so access was no problem.

When I reached the Barrow I noticed the remains of a small brick building and some sort of concrete ‘box’ structure which had been built into the eastern side of the Barrow.

As I said, the Barrow is a good one and well worth a quick look when in the area.

Visited 29.7.13

Directions:
To the east of the main A87 heading north to Uig – in Kingsburgh.
You can park next to the field gate which gives access to the old quarry.

I hopped over the gate and squelched my way along the muddy track leading past a few farm sheds and nervous sheep. I then started the steep climb up to the Fort. This also involved getting over a few barbed wire fences.

A large section of the rock outcrop had been quarried away and at one point this meant I had to carefully walk across a ridge no more than 1m wide with a vertical 10m drop either side. Thinking back I guess this was a little dodgy!

Upon reaching the Fort the remains of a collapsed stone wall could be seen on the eastern side. Also, what appeared to be the remains of 3 hut circles could be made out within the Fort – which was a nice bonus.

The Fort is not large but very defensible. There are good views to be had.

If you do plan to visit this site please take care as it is quite dangerous.

Another fort (Dun Adhamh) is a little further to the south but I didn’t have the opportunity to investigate – there is only so long you can expect people to sit in a car for you!

Canmore states:
‘On Creag nam Mean are the remains of a stone-walled fort. An irregular oval plan measuring 170ft in length by 82ft in breadth at its widest part. It has been defended by a stone wall practically obliterated on the W flank and appearing as a tumbled mass of stones 2ft high on the opposite side. Immediately within the outer defence is a hut circle 13ft in diameter abutting on the inside of the wall and there are traces of two impinging hut circles further W. Within the fort are 3 more circular stone huts and in the SW are indications of two large curvilinear enclosures’.

The cairn is located on the plateau above White Edge with commanding views of the surrounding countryside. I comprises of a number of large boulders of which several appear to radiate from the center of the cairn. I didn’t have a tape measure with me when I visited it but would estimate it to about 8m in diameter.

To find this cairn park in the lay-by South of the Grouse Inn on the A625. Walk back up the road, go past the Grouse Inn and turn right along the bridleway across the field towards White Edge (geograph.org.uk/photo/1735778). Go through the birch woods and where the path divides turn right up the escarpment. Soon you will have a dry stone wall to the right of the footpath. When you reach the top you will see a large head-shaped rock (geograph.org.uk/photo/746962) jutting out from the edge off to the right. Don’t follow the path which leads towards this distinctive rock feature, instead carry on in the same direction (East-southeast) but now make sure the line of the wall is to your left. The wall turns through an acute angle which is marked by an ancient boundary marker, the Hurkling Stone. (geograph.org.uk/photo/1730704) Stop here and turn South West. The cairn is about 50 from the boundary marker.

No real trace of Fingerem Stone can be found today. In 1888 Sidney Addy stated: “As we continue our journey towards Fox House we come to a place which, on Fairbank’s map, is called Fingerem Stone. No such word is now known to the people of the district whom I have questioned. The position of Fingerem Stone is nevertheless made clear by the map. It is on the left-hand side of the road as one travels from Ringinglow to Fox House and near to the last-named place. I was not permitted to approach the spot for fear of disturbing the young grouse, but as far as one could judge from the road it is a heap of stones scattered here and there. I cannot say more without a nearer examination. As Fingerem Stone is about three hundred yards from an old earth-circle (Cicely Low) to be presently mentioned, one may be pretty sure that Fingerem stands for Thingeram, the th having been changed to f, just as swarth has become swarf (wheel-swarf). Indeed the change from th to f is common. What, then, is Thingeram? Thingar may possibly be A.S. pingere, an advocate, or priest. The final syllable may be hám, home, house. It will be noticed that a place called Parson’s House, on the other side of the road, is adjacent. Parson’s House, however, is not connected with Thingeram, for it was built, I am told, or owned by the Rev. Thomas Bingham early in the present century, after the enclosure of the commoms.”

Taken from Archaeology.ie

At the crest of a N-facing slope of a WNW-ESE ridge, c. 250m N of the broad WNW-ESE ridge of Carnfree, and a little S of the centre of ring-barrow (RO028-068001-). Limestone upright with a rectangular cross-section (dims. 0.5m x 0.4m) which expands over the grass-line and is aligned E-W. It has a pointed top (H 3.2m).

Also known as Cloch Fada na gCarn or the longstone of cairns, it rests within a barrow. On the wiki page for Carnfree en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnfree it compares this barrow and standing stone with some of the features on the hill of tara.

View from the P.O.

Directions:
In the middle of a field, west of the A87, on the outskirts of Uig.

After visiting the nearby ‘Faerie Glen’ we parked outside the Post Office on the main road and the Cairn could be easily seen in the fields beyond. It is next to a metal shed and some trees. It is seen as an area of rough ground covered in tall grass and bushes. Several bits of old farm machinery were left next to the Cairn.
If it were not for the trees there would be good views out across Uig Bay.

Canmore states:
‘On the brow of a sharp dip in the low-lying ground at the head of Uig Bay, is a cairn of stones of irregular outline overgrown with grass. It measures 54ft by 48ft and rises 5ft above the higher ground to the E and 12ft above the low ground to the W. There is a large depression on the top of the cairn and the surface has been considerably disturbed in places.’

Visited 29.7.13

Directions:
To the east of the A850 / A87 junction.
Right next to the minor road.

The two taller stones are about 5ft high. The smaller standing stone is about 2ft high.
Between the two taller stones I noticed the stump of another standing stone?

All the stones were covered in lichen.
Good views to the south.

Worth a quick look when in the area.

Easter Ross – that part of Scotland lying between the Cromarty and Dornoch Firths – presents a softer, less brutal aspect to soothe the ragged psyche of a traveller perhaps overwhelmed by the dramatic, mountainous landscape to the west. There are no towering crags of Torridonian sandstone here, no surfeit of sedimentary cliff face to conjure up introspective images of grandeur perhaps more relevant to the so called metaphysical word than the here and now. In lieu Easter Ross possesses contours of a more subtle, less abrasive nature.... greener, too. More welcoming, more ‘feminine’ perhaps? Ripe for settlement by wandering family units of homo sapiens content to reserve the uplands of Wester Ross as the ‘abode of the gods’, if only out of practical necessity. Thankfully the archaeological evidence remains to bear mute testimony to such musings, the low, afforested coastal hills liberally endowed with ancient rock piles, focal points of individual communities’ pioneering attempts to cut the apron-strings of Mother Nature. The foci of the landscape no longer, these monuments appear unknown to all but a few locals... and the odd (no pun intended!) inquisitive traveller possessing OS map, attitude and a perchance to dream.

The long cairns upon the eastern flank of Kinrive Hill, a few miles north of Invergordon, are a case in point. They do not advertise their presence to the casual passer by nowadays, as I assume – if only to judge by their landscape context – they must have done back in days of lore. In fact I’m none the wiser as I approach Kinrive Farm along its extended, very straight access track. Signs warn the pedestrian to beware of that idiosyncratic breed of person to be found brandishing firearms for fun. And therefore to check in at the site office, or words to that effect. I notice the farmer working a nearby field in his tractor, so go have a word. Contrary to expectations, he’s very friendly, points out I’m actually on a right of way (so don’t need his permission) and that the cairns do indeed lie beyond the farm buildings further along the track. At these buildings I encounter a trio of men engaged in moving sheep to the upper slopes.... the broad age range represented provides for some interesting banter, the elder man confirming that there are indeed ‘standing stones’ located in the trees beyond, if his memory of events 30 years ago hasn’t failed him (it hasn’t). Leaving them to their work – I’m on holiday! – I ascend the final section of the track to find a veritable behemoth of a long cairn upon the crest of the hill standing in tandem with a sadly more or less completely trashed example a little to the east.

The western is a magnificent monument, Strathspey’s assertion that it is in ‘excess of 200ft long’ appearing perfectly feasible. Light woodland obscures what would have been a fantastic panoramic vista toward Cromarty Firth... however the trees compensate by creating a cool, intimate vibe, welcomingly diffusing the harsh mid-morning sun of late May. As well as preserving length, an overwhelming volume of stone remains in situ to engender a feeling of timeless permanence, although I have to concede that a number of very large boulders lining the northern flank – presumably field clearance – do detract somewhat from the overall symmetry. But there you are. Given the choice of ancient cairns being used as sources or depositories of stone.... I’ll take the latter option.

As I sit upon the eastern extremity of this fabulous long cairn, the youngest of the trio of farm workers arrives to send a stream of sheep cascading into the field. The (unintended) water analogy is fitting, perhaps, it being difficult to think of a more appropriate scene at that precise moment. The young man is superseded, in short order, by a couple of Forestry Commission men in a land rover. Initial mutual distrust instantly dissipates as I explain why I’m taking pictures of a pile of old rocks. For their part, it seems the gentlemen are keeping tabs on reports of Capercaillie... not the wondrous golden-throated Karen Matheson and chaps (sadly) but the elusively enigmatic species of grouse. Unfortunately I don’t make the acquaintance of the little blighter(s); but knowing they might have chosen to set up home around these parts just seems right, you know?

From a distance this round barrow looks well defined and does not seem any different from the rest of the humps and bumps that scatter this section of the downs. Only when you get up close can the modern brick and concrete be seen, revealing this barrows’ mutilated core. I’ve seen lots of disfigured barrows, most the result of ploughing, some the result of quarrying and some the result of ancient treasure hunters. This one stands out though, not as the result of what was originally inside but what was placed inside in modern times.

This barrow has the misfortune to overlook Yatesbury Field on the north, West Down to the east and North Down to the south. During the dark days of 1940 when invasion by Nazi Germany was a real possibility, this site was chosen as a Royal Observer Core lookout post and its Bronze Age contents sacrificed for the good of the nation. When Sir Edmund Ironside, Commander-in-Chief Home Forces, laid out plans for the defence of Britain, this area was designated a stop-line where the opposing forces would be expected to fight to the death to stop any advance north.

The WWII structures are well preserved if very overgrown. I did not get into the slip trenches to examine the insides of the bunker as the site smelt like the dumping ground for dead badgers. The remains of the barrow are cut into by the old coach road and I wonder if the height of the barrow was extended by the spoil from the core digging.

Access
I parked up at the Knoll Down lay-by just off the A4 and walked down the old coach road which is now a bridleway. This site was one of the many barrows that are spread over the West Down area. On the south side dry valley below this barrow, runs the Knoll Down earthwork and further south and directly opposite are the two West Down Gallops Barrows.

Of the three barrows listed here, only the larger Bell Barrow survives and this too has been partly ploughed out to the north. Thankfully this northern area has now been set aside and planted up with young Beech trees. The east side of this barrow contains a row of mature beech trees which although interfering with the original ditch, do give the barrow a feeling of shelter and was welcome shade on a hot Lammas day.

The most striking feature of this barrow is the upright sarsen mounted on its summit. Closer examination revealed two more sarsens dumped in the barrows ditch. I read on Pastscape that a lot of the barrows around here had sarsens mounted on them. This may be the result of antiquarian digging, as it seems some of the barrows were originally built over earlier structures or pits. When the barrows were first cut into, the sarsens were probably covering the original feature. One of the barrows to the north, West Down Gallops Barrows, was noted as having a sarsen.

Access
Park in the lay-by on the A361 near to where the Roman Road cut across it. Follow the Roman Road up the hill and the barrow is in the clump of beech trees to your right.

These barrows look easy enough to spot from the O.S. map but the layout of the gallops and field boundaries seem to have changed since the map was printed. The changing use of the land and the management policies followed preserve some sites while others are destroyed forever. These two barrows seem to have survived well, as compared to the earthworks which surround them. I could only spot the Knoll Down Earthwork when I visited, mainly because it was halfway down a hillside and is impossible to plough out. The same cannot be said of the ancient field boundaries which surround these two barrows, which can now only be seen from the air or Google Earth.

The two barrows are covered in thick, course grass which I believe is a form of primitive barley. I don’t know but the area around the gallops looks like unimproved grass land and it is certainly not a good quality pasture suitable for sheep grazing. This felt like a fragment of ancient agriculture and made me wonder as to its purpose in the Bronze Age. If the Beckhampton Avenue did start/end here, what relation did these barrows have to it? Silbury Hill is directly between here and the Sanctuary and the top of Silbury seemed level with this point.

Access
I got the impression by the number of dog walkers I met that although this is not public access land, walkers were tolerated while there was no horse riding activity. I walked around the headlands from the Roman Road to the car park at Knoll Down. Car parking is provided on the A361 lay-by and the lay-by off the A4 at Knoll Down. Beware of thieves in both of these areas and lock away valuables or take them with you.

This site covers a large area with the busy A361 Beckhampton to Devizes road running through the middle. Sections of this road may well be pre-historic and if you follow lay-lines through long barrow orientations, the pre-historic mind set would suggest this to be a major route into Avebury.

Dividing the area up into walkable sections, the most convenient place to park is at SU 05894 67518, marked on the O.S. map as Three Barrows. Although not an official parking place, (the official one being a mile or so further east towards Beckhampton), this spot would allow you to walk and view the cluster of barrows around the original Long Barrow. This field is usually pasture and the barrows can be viewed up close without damage to a crop. Bare in mind this is not public access land. The barrows in this cluster have been excavated by different people over the course of hundreds of years with the result leaving them much reduced in height and shape. The same is true of the barrows on the opposite side of the A361 to the north, which stand out as islands in a sea of corn.

The barrows to the west of Three Barrows are easier to view due to the byways that run across the area. Following the byway that joins the A361 at Three Barrows north, turn right when you meet the Wessex Ridgeway trail and walk up to the plantation strip. On the left are the remains of a ploughed out Bowl barrow, Bishops Cannings 16. In 1951, a large sarsen was removed from this barrow when it was ploughed up. This may indicate that the barrow was built over the top of an earlier site, which was the case of Hemp Knoll Barrow, on the other side of the A361.

Once you reach the point where the Wessex Ridgeway trail meets the Roman Road, SU 04829 68005, turn left and follow the old Roman Road up in the direction of Morgan’s Hill. The barrows here are very impressive and well preserved but alas we know nothing of their contents. They were thought to have been dug into by Hoare and possibly later antiquarians but no firm records exist.

By now your mind will be on your car and the contents. When I travel around this area I usually do so on a bike and don’t have to worry about parking or re-tracing my steps. You will find that the fields have large unploughed headlands and you can easily make your way towards Baltic farm and the byway back to Three Barrows.

An alternative parking place would be the Small Grain Picnic area, next to the North Wilts Golf Club SU 01949 67148. Although a safer place to park, the walk down to North Down is much longer but covers many more sites. If you decide to explore this side of the hill, check out Furze Knoll which is an unexcavated flint mine. On the North of this area is Ranscombe Bottom, a natural fold in the chalk and the source of the River Marden. This would have been a very sacred site to the ancients and a source of pure water for both them and their cattle. Worth viewing but not listed on TMA.

The Stripple Stones…Hawks Tor Downs, Blisland, Cornwall. (SX14357521)
Visit date: 5th July 2013

With just two more stone circles to visit on Bodmin’s moors (Leaze would be the last one after this visit) I set out on a beautiful Friday morning to search out the Stripple Stones on Hawks Tor Downs.
This one was of special interest to me because it is a stone circle 47 yards in diameter set within a henge some 58 yards in diameter and the only such one in Cornwall, so I was really looking forward to that moment when you cast your eyes on a new circle for the first time, especially one so special.

I began my walk from the Trippet Stones on Manor Common which reaches down to the main A30 road through Cornwall. The turn-off to the Trippet Stones on the A30 is from the Temple crossroads about four miles from the Jamaica Inn away to the east. Take the right turn signposted St Breward and a mile or so up this moorland road take the road/track to the right at a small crossroad signposted Treswigga to the left. About 200 yards up this gravelled track and the Trippets can be seen on the left. Park just off the track but please don’t drive up to the circle as the ground is very peaty here and cuts up easily.

As the land leading to the Stripple Stones is mainly private you either have to seek permission from the landowner at Hawks Tor Farm at the end of the track, or, take a chance and do what I did and take a round-about route to get there via a well worn working track leading up to the lower reaches of Hawks Tor.

So, from the Trippet Stones and with Hawkstor to the east in front of you away in the distance, I headed off diagonally to the left of Hawkstor Farm until I met the boundary wall/hedge and followed it down to a gate. Lovely old stone walling on the left leading up to the gate. This is the route the local landowner and probably other Commoners take to bring cattle on and off this part of the moor so it is well worn.
Through the gate and begin the walk up a longish track past a ‘working area’ on the left and a series of cattle pens and runs. Note the huge flat upright stones set into the walling on the right alongside a gateway to the right. Two more gates to negotiate (I had to climb both as they were secure to keep the cattle in) then the gate leading onto the open moor.
Ahead of you to the right are the lower reaches of Hawks Tor and it was then that I remembered why I had decided not to bring my Border Collie Chief with me for the first time ever. Gorse, rocks, dense shrub grass…and the possibility of adders! I’d heard on the news just two days earlier that 13 dogs had been bitten over the moors in a month so there was no way I was going to let my normally constant travelling companion risk running the gauntlet here.

A bit of a climb gets you to the top with the usual outstanding views around Cornwall on display. Off to the north are our two national landmarks of Roughtor and Brown Willy and forward of them, Garrow Tor. What tales they could collectively tell of the goings on over the centuries that’s for sure! To the south is the A30 and beyond it Colliford Lake.

From here I walked due south to the base of the Tor until meeting a timber gate leading into a large paddock with sheep enclosed. In the distance but slightly to the left I could just make out the circular shape of the henge and a few standing stones which were well apart. I had only just began to walk toward them when I realised there was a lower fence-line so had to turn immediately left from the gateway I had only just passed through and follow the fence-line until reaching another gate about 100 yards away. Through that then immediately turn right and the Stripple Stones are about 300 yards ahead of you.

Well, the moment had come, but I have to admit to feeling rather disappointed on first close up view as the henge is only these days a mere shadow of its former self. Cattle and mans determination to totally disregard our heritage have played their hand yet again! Just four stones left standing and ten more lying prostrate, including a central pillar, were all I could find from what is believed to have been around 28-30.
Worse was to come. Built right across the north-eastern sector of the stone circle, ditch and bank is a stone and earthen boundary wall/bank which no doubt included the broken remains of those removed stones. It beggars belief that in this landscape of nothingness other than an area of outstanding beauty, the perpetrators of this – what to my mind is a criminal act – could not have avoided the henge altogether.

To me it is quite simple and I no longer accept excuses. Generation after generation of landowners simply don’t care and are prepared to see our past destroyed because it is of no interest or value to them. Even though there are thousands of acres of Bodmin Moor for stock to roam over, nobody it seems is prepared to give up the comparatively small areas of land these circles are built on and erect protective fencing or traditionally built walls in keeping with the environment to keep them safe! This is a henge site for heavens sake and the only one in Cornwall with a stone circle within it. How much more important must a site be before someone takes this matter seriously? Out of sight, out of mind, would appear to be the case here due to its location.

Little remains to be seen now of the ditch or bank as again they are being wiped out by wondering stock. It has almost certainly been accelerated over the past decade as Highland Cattle have become very popular over the moor. These massive beasts are like tanks wondering the landscape with not much standing in their way and particularly noticed near the Trippet Stones circle just a stones throw away on Manor Common. It has been said that the cattle do very little damage to the archaeology taking into account just how long in the main most of the sites have been here, but surely they are living in cloud-cuckoo land if they really believe that! A herd will walk through a stone circle using every stone as rubbing posts if the mood takes them and for every altercation between beasts every stone in their path is in imminent danger due to the soft peaty soil many are erected on!

I took the reverse route back but on descending the Tor noticed farmer workers along the lower track removing cattle from a trailer so hung back for a few minutes. On completion they then drove a quad bike up the trailer ramp before moving off. I thought I was safe but on emerging out of the track-way noticed they had parked up and were letting three or four collies loose for a drink in the stream that passes through at this point. I manned-up for a confrontation and continued walking but other than a cursory glance back by the driver, they paid no further attention to me and drove off.

On reaching my car some 15 minutes later, I was to get the shock of my life, for in the distance I could see and hear the same guys returning both in the truck and quad bike, but this time driving cattle across the common – directly toward the Trippet Stones!
I quickly got out my camcorder and filmed them drive the cattle straight through the stone circle without an apparent care in the world. youtu.be/sYOs73GLvrs
It’s as I have already said, nobody cares! Just one week earlier the Commoners had been warned about driving vehicles and stock through the circle by Natural England so this just proved the total disregard shown by them. On this occasion neither vehicle passed through the circle although the truck was pretty close but the cattle sure did! I am at a complete loss as to why sites such as this can’t be protected efficiently but sympathetically. I reported the incident to English Heritage and sent them the clip of the video but have now all but given up my fight to have these sites protected as nobody listens. The ongoing excuse is always the same…lack of funds, but they seem to be found for other projects felt more interesting and potentially money making!

There are up to 19 hut circles in this group and I probably found up to ten of them. Most are pretty badly smashed but the hut circle at NO10025694 is the best preserved example of this type I’ve ever seen. The Canmore link gives all the details and has some nice aerial pics. The terrain between various cairns, circles and standing stones is littered with boulders and circular mounds. Highland agriculture has probably dislodged more than it’s fair share.

Visited 8/8/2013.

From the standing standing I walked to the top of the hill and followed the ridge south across deep heather and burnt heather. Eventually a track appears and this kerb or ring cairn is on the mound on the other side.

This must have been an impressive place. Today only the southern kerbs, graded in size, can be seen. The other kerbs are there but are hidden by the heather. A possible double ring exists but the vegetation makes it hard to photograph, but it is there. Still the cairn has tremendous all round views and is over 12 meters wide/0.4 eters high. The central cist mentioned by Canmore has sadly vanished.

Visited 8/8/2013.

Although this site is on private property, it has an information board etc and as such I would think that there is no issue with access.
If you happen to be going from Athlone to the Northwest this is a nice place to stop off on the way. It is one of only three la tene style stones in ireland.
It was not found near any other sites and with very little context so you have to wonder where it came from.

Walking in a NNE direction from the Grey Cairn keep going for almost a mile across the heather and past the battered hut circle. The farmer at Stylemouth mentioned that there was a standing stone and being the first person, probably since NB, on the go I received the info first.

The stone stands at over 1 meter, and looks down on the Ardle valley except in the direction of Grey Cairn which is blocked by a wood.

Visited 8/8/2013.

50 meters east of The Grey Cairn is the remnants of a cairn which was been robbed, houked and trenched. Despite all of this some kebs remain in place and in some parts it still stands at almost a meter high, 12 meters wide.

Visited 8/8/2013.

Visited 28.7.13

Ah! – another Historic Scotland site ticked off the list. And a Broch at that!

I had been looking forward to visiting this Broch and despite the foul weather I wasn’t disappointed. After parking in the large car park it is a short walk uphill to the Broch.

The walls are standing up to 2m I places and the Broch occupies a prominent position. In better weather it would offer superb views over Skye and out to sea (but not today).
A small section of the internal stairway survives so is a ‘must do’.

Not as in good condition as the (relatively nearby) Glen Elg Brochs but it has a better view and is well worth a visit when holidaying on Skye.

Skye, the ‘misty Isle’ – they got that bit right!

Visited 28.7.13

Directions:
Park in the car park for the Coral Beaches (personally I didn’t think they were worth the effort of the long walk, although seeing a herd of cows on the beach was a novelty!) Walk up the track opposite the car park and then over the metal field gate which was locked and had barbed wire looped over it. Once you have negotiated that, keep on the track and do the same at the next locked/barbed wire gate. The 3rd gate had neither a lock nor barbed wire (I guess the owner probably thought you would have given up by that point. But he didn’t reckon on a determined TMAer!).
Continue on track until it curves to the right and you will see a tiny ‘ravine’ on the left. The Souterrain is the other side of the ‘ravine’ and is NOT visible from the track.
It takes about 10 minutes to walk from the car park to the Souterrain.

Upon locating the Souterrain the next tricky bit was to get inside. The entrance is very small and I had to ‘command crawl’ on my belly in the mud to get into the chamber. Once past the narrow entrance it opens us a bit and I was able to waddle, which is just as well as it was very wet and muddy inside. The passageway is about 3ft high x 2ft wide – no good if you are claustrophobic!

I had got about 8 metres in and as I was starting to admire the excellent stonework the batteries in my head light started to fail. (Spares back at the car) Slowly but surely my light grew dimmer and dimmer. I was just about able to note that the end of the chamber seemed to curve upward and grow narrower. Soon it was completely dark except from the light from the entrance. It was time to gingerly make my way out.

I crawled back out into the bright light and noticed a lot of animal droppings on the floor – luckily no one was home!

This is an excellent site to visit and if you are able to get over the fences and crawl into a narrow passageway (and don’t mind getting muddy) this is well worth the effort.

I was really pleased to have seen this one.

Visited 28.7.13

Directions:
Head for Edinbane (A850) and park near the Lodge Hotel. The Cairn is in the field (north of the road) opposite a sign for a campsite. Access is over a field gate and a short walk along a rough track.

Our first day on Skye produced rain and mist; something we had to get used to on our visit! Luckily this site is only a short walk from the road and the Cairn is easy enough to spot.

The Cairn is a good one to visit. It sits in a field of sheep and spiky grass and is next to a stream. Good views are to be had out across the loch. Although the Cairn is disturbed and grass covered, the outer ring of kerb stones are in good condition and are easily visible.

Well worth a visit when on Skye.

Canmore states:
‘The cairn is situated on the W side of a kink in an unnamed burn, 40m NNE of the Portree road. It measures 19m in diameter and stands 1.2m in height’.