Latest Fieldnotes

Didn’t really want to approach this mound, though it is right beside a public right-of-way. The Delvin river here cuts through a small gorge and the mound is placed on a prominent shelf above this on the south side.

With the lochan low went over causeway yesterday, seemed even more exposed than last time I managed to do this. To call it a causeway is to over-egg the pudding as it is more a line of stepping stones (warning -halfway across you have to jump onto the edge of a slab to get between stones). Saturday I had the feeling that the stones could be re-used from the original prehistoric structure on the islet, perhaps when the kirk was founded. Looking back along the mound’s northern side from the far end there is a kind of stepping to the turf – one of the two contenders for causing this is a broch of course

Visited 6th April 2013

Well this a strange little place. I stopped off after a visit to Stoney Littleton, having discovered the village of Faulkland was only a couple of miles from that site (thanks TMA website!).

It’s easy enough to park next to the village green, which stands next to the unexpectedly busy A366, and I get out to have a poke around the stones.

Two weathered old stones flank a rickety pair of stocks, with a stumpy square stone having been thoughfully provided as a seat for the unfortunate penitent. There are also a couple of other stones evident sticking up from the manicured grass of the green. The stones undoudtedly have some age to them, but I’m sure that any alignment or structure they once belonged to has long gone, and they were repurposed, effectively a glorifed field clearence doing double duty as a prominent site of local punishment.

A couple of benches and a flagpole on the well tended green add to the overall incongruency of the site, but the continual whizz of traffic through the village doesn’t inspire me to sit here for long.

Visited 6th April 2013

It feels like the first proper day of spring today, so a trip out is definitely in order. I’ve a great fondness for Stoney Littleton, it was the first site I visited as a result of buying the papery TMA all those years ago from a bookshop in Glastonbury, prompting me to visit it that same day, and firing an obsession that has lead me to many wonderful sites over the years.

Take note if you’ve not visited before that the small brown signpost pointing the way up the lane to the barrow as you enter Wellow is now completely obscured by vegetation, so it’s easy to miss the sharp right-hand turn as soon as you enter the village.

After negotiating the narrow lane I parked up in the small parking spot, idyllically placed next to the bubbling Wellow brook, and walked up the hill towards the barrow. It felt good to be out and about, surrounded only by the call of birds and bleating of the sheep (and some very cute lambs).

The barrow was looking neat and tidy, and as I descended into the long passage, which really does seem to stretch back forever, I was heartened not to find any old tealights, litter or other ‘offerings’ which on previous occasions have been mouldering away in the inner chambers. Instead I just crouch at the back of the barrow and contemplate for a bit.

Stoney Littleton has a sort of understated grandeur, it’s not the largest long barrow, and doesn’t have an impressive portalled frontage, just the fine artistic eye of whoever selected that amazing fosillised ammonite for the entranceway, but it doesn’t need them. This is a place that feels right, a perfect example of the barrow builders art.

Outside I sit against the barrow to write my fieldnotes. The warm yellow Cotswold stone of the perimeter dry stone walling of the barrow infuses the place with a warmth, no sombre feelings of death here, just a glorious remembrance and re-birth. Sitting here I’m pervaded with what I can only describe as a mellow vibe. The barrow sits perfectly in the bright spring landscape, even the old nearby landfill site has now blended into the landscape, and the concrete plaque cemented to the barrow entrance, proudly proclaiming it’s restoration by affixing a great anachronism to its frontage, which normally irritates me, now seems rather quaint, an antique in itself as most of the inscription has now worn away, a signifier of the monument’s more recent past, like the old Ministry of Works signs you still find from time to time at megalithic sites.

Days like today just underline to me everything that’s great about visiting the remains of our prehistory, and why I love this hobby so much, Stoney Littleton is truely special place to be, and one of the best barrows you can visit.

Two standing stones at the end of a stony pathway beyond a water treatment plant, please close the gates, the stones are adjacent to each other next to a lovely lake with beautiful scenery, very secluded settings

wikimapia.org/7874044/Cullaba-Hill-603m

Visited 30.3.13

Directions:
Either side of a minor road, south of Chilcompton, off the B3139.

Both Barrows are right next to the road and can be identified as low grass covered mounds. Although you probably wouldn’t know they were there unless you were specifically looking out for them.

Don’t go out of your way to visit.

E.H. have nothing to report.

Redhill Farm visited 30.3.13

Directions:
A short distance west of the B3114 / B3139 junction, North West of Binegar.

A public right of way runs past the Barrow which was easily spotted as a ‘rough grass mound’.

E.H. state:
‘A mound 30m in diameter and 1.8m high with a gently sloping profile. Situated on a south facing slope, immediately below the crest of a hill 205m south east of Redhill Farm’.

Visited 30.3.13

Directions:
Located on the southern side of Radstock, along a minor road off the main A367 / A362 junction in the middle of the town.

Driving south out of Radstock, this Barrow is very noticeable sitting right on top of a prominent hill overlooking the town.

We were on our way to the village of Kilmersdon to see the ‘Jack and Jill Hill’ as in the famous nursery rhyme – which is also well worth a visit.
(Karen thinks I’m mad – perhaps I am?)

The Barrow is now a rough-grass covered mound approximately 1.5m high x 10m across.

Access is over a wooden fence with a single piece of barbed wire on top; from the road to the east of the site

There are fine views to be had from the top of the hill overlooking the town.

Strangely enough E.H. doesn’t appear to have any info on the Barrow although it does show on the O/S map.

Another Dublin city curiosity. I have passed this mound/barrow so many times and said to myself, if that’s not a barrow then I’ll never know what is. I’ve photographed it maybe 10 times, but to no great extent as I’ve never had the confidence to put it up here – try as one might but there is no mention of it anywhere that I can find, either in print or on the ‘net (slight edit – wouldn’t you know, it’s on the national monuments database as a mound).

So imagine my surprise today as I brought my daughter to the playground nearby – there was the ‘barrow’ tightly surrounded by a temporary fence, with a mechanical digger not 10 metres from it and a woman in a hi-vis vest overseeing the operations.

I parked the car and headed over. I asked the woman what was going on. She said that works were underway to help with the drainage of this part of the park. It’s the site of the popular, annual garden show ‘Bloom’ and the area has become flooded in recent years due to our great weather. Oh I see, said I, and why is that lump over there fenced off? Well that’s a mound, says she, that could be very old. And are you an archaeologist, I asked. I am, she replied. So I took the plunge and said I was interested in that sort of thing and that for years I’ve believed it to be a prehistoric barrow. Well you just might be right, said she, but do you know the history of Ashtown Castle over there? Ah, I’m not really interested in that to the extent that I’m interested in this, says I, but thanks anyway, and off I headed.

So there you have it. An unmentioned barrow in the Phoenix Park where there have been other bronze-age burial finds.

Much like Lord’s Piece a few miles further west this is one of those strange little heathlands that doesn’t quite fit in with the rest of the Sussex landscape, more New Forest with gorse, heather and pines, than rolling open downland. There were once probably large tracts of land similar to this dotted all along the bottom of the escarpment north of the South Downs, but gradually with the expansion of villages and agricultural clearance these spaces are now surrounded by the houses of the well-to-do, oblivious of what’s really on their doorstep.

Sullington Warren is not big by any means, probably less than a ¼ of a square mile, but the minute you enter it you have the feeling that it’s an ancient landscape. There are nine, possibly ten barrows in the vicinity, but it’s really quite difficult to make any of them out as they’re all hopelessly overgrown. There is one linear group of three, which is reasonably easy to see, and the rest are scattered randomly. Also you can’t quite work out whether they’re small barrows on top of ‘small hills’ or if the ‘small hills’ are in fact huge barrows! Intriguing. The other thing of note is a small cross dyke/boundary marker which runs roughly east-west and stands out quite well, but having looked at the site on Magic this isn’t shown so could actually be relatively modern.

A word of warning! There is a car parking space in Water Lane to the east of the site, but I made the mistake of parking in Heather Lane, which apparently is private and there was a snidey little note on my windscreen when I got back saying that my number plate had been noted by the local Neighbourhood Watch. Goodness, I’m quaking! Otherwise a nice place to wander.

Visited 30.3.13

Directions:
South of Farrington Gurney, right next to the A37, just after the junction with the A39. The Barrow is directly opposite Home Farm.

This is a busy road although you can pull in at the farm drive entrance next to the Barrow.

This is a cracker of a Barrow and given its location next to the A37 I am surprised no one has previously made mention to it?

The Barrow is very prominent on the brow of a hill and has a single large tree growing out of the top of it. A couple of sheep seemed to enjoy the view from the top.

A very nice Barrow to visit and well worth the minimal effort required.

E.H. state:
‘A bowl barrow situated 100m east of Home Farm Cottage. The barrow is a flat topped mound 21m in diameter and 2.25m high. There is a slight hollow in the centre of the mound which is probably the result of an unrecorded antiquarian excavation’.

Visited 30.3.13

Directions:
To the west of Binegar, either side of the B3139

I observed both Barrows from the side of the road.

The Barrow immediately to the south of the road is no more than a small grass covered mound. It looked smaller to me that what E.H. state. Either it has since been ploughed out or I was looking at the wrong thing!

E.H. state: ‘A mound 35m in diameter and 2.15m high’.

The Barrow to the north of the road was much easier to spot.
The grass covering this Barrow has been worn away on one side and appeared brown and bare.
E.H. state:
‘A flat topped mound 18m in diameter and 2m high’

Worth a quick look when driving down the road but not much more than that.

Visited 30.3.13

Directions:
To the north of Radstock, next to a minor road off the busy A367.
Access is via a stile next to a wooden field gate.

The start of a day of ‘Barrow hunting’ and what a good one to start with!

The Barrow is an impressive sight approximately 4m high x 30m across
It is covered in trees with a particularly tall tree right in the centre.
The Barrow has a barbed wire topped wooden fence all around it.

Access to the Barrow is easy and given its size is well worth a visit when in the area.

We visited Gwern-y-Cleppa on 30th March 2013. We began by taking the X16 bus from Newport Bus Station to the stop just by the entrance to the Cleppa Park industrial estate.

As previously mentioned, just after the track crosses the motorway there is an obvious gap in the fence on the left hand side. However, we found the “gap” had been filled with several strands of barbed wire, which we squeezed through with some difficulty.

An easier route to the stones, which we discovered only after visiting them, is to ignore the gap in the fence, continue up the track, and then climb a gate to gain entry into the first field. After climbing the gate, there is a farm track that skirts the edge of the first field and leads to an open gate into the second field. The stones are then just a short walk downhill.

I headed up here one evening. It is only a short walk and is easy to get to. There is ample parking behind the houses at the entrance to Clough head quarry.

Sadly there is only one stone remaining upright and it looks quite new almost as if it has been placed upright only over the past few hundred years.

It is a desolate place. Be prepared to come across sheep but no other walkers.

There are still some stones that are collapsed and lying in the ground but it is easy to see that this is a neglected site. Very sad!

I wasn’t aware of the wishing side of things to this outcrop.....
I remember it from raves in the Butts Quarry in the early 90’s when we would set off across Ashover and up the hill to watch sunrise from here.....and maybe try to break into the cold war listening station that’s buried 30ft away.
On the rocks that surround the Fabrick are also nicely carved animals such as ducks, dogs and a donkey.

Parking spots at the T-Junction at the top of the hill and the rock is a pleasant flat walk of a quarter of a mile.

Nice one Rhiannon for adding it.

Visited March 30, 2013

From Shieldon it is just a mile or so to Kirkton of Bourtie stone circle. Despite a frosty night the morning sunshine was melting the snow apace and the ploughed field was sticking to my boots like treacle.
But the effort in approaching the circle was well worth it to see the giant stones with snow-capped Bennachie in the background. Truly, late winter can produce some magical imagery of stone circles.

Visited March 30, 2013

After a succession of freezing cold and windy weeks I took advantage of a fine, though still wintry, day to venture out to Shieldon Stone Circle. I had hoped to find it well snowed up, and much of the field below it was still ‘in snow’. But the hilltop circle itself was virtually clear. The long winter had also ensured that the usual encumbrance of rank vegetation was gone. I had never seen the circle so pristine.
The accompanying image is a panorama of two photographs, taken from aloft using a monopod, to give an unusually revealing picture of the circle.

22/03/2013 – Classed as an unfinished hillfort but there is still a bit to see. Ramparts are quite easy to follow and the view is very good. Easiest access is from the minor road at Upper Marchbank through a couple of fields.

22/03/2013 – Visited this cairn on the way to Knock Hill hillfort. We left the Annandale Way just west of the cairn and a quick cross of the Dog Burn brought us to the field with the cairn situated pretty much in the middle of it. I had looked at Google Earth before we went and it looked quite impressive. There certainly are a lot of stones but according to Canmore most of them are field clearance. The original cairn seems to be the turf-covered mound but I quite like the look of some of the exposed stones as well.

After almost (but not quite) making it to Dinas Emrys last October – actually ending up on the hill opposite, like a prize muppet... must do better next time – an opportunity to visit another site associated with the legendary sorcerer is some recompense. To be fair the name does give prospective visitors a hint of sorts...

Merlin’s Hill is (very) prominently sited a little to the approx east of the busy former Roman port of Carmarthen, the latter cited by Gerald of Wales, in 1188, as being nothing less than the wizard’s birthplace. Needless to say yer man Emrys wasn’t around to contradict such tomfoolery, allowing Gerald to no doubt dine out on the local innkeepers’ generosity for months.

The locals are still in touch with the Arthurian vibe, the Alltyfyrddin Farm playing host to the ‘Merlin’s Hill Centre’ offering activities (presumably) for those with children – B&B as well if you like, something which would certainly get you in the little blighters’ good books... for a while, anyway. Of course some of the more traditional heads out there (he says) may well tremble at the prospect, like I did... but there is no need to fret... a public footpath ascending the hill from the approx west through woodland. In short everyone’s a winner. The centre is signposted from the A40, those not visiting the farm currently able to park at a left hand junction some way beyond and walk back, the hillfort towering above to the south.

Upon arrival at the summit, following a somewhat steep clamber up the aforementioned public footpath, this visitor initially doesn’t see a lot of ‘hillfort’, to be honest. The site is more subtle than that. What is immediately apparent, however, is the inspired setting, the enclosure completely dominating the Dyffryn Tywi to the south, the Afon Tywi executing a series of wondrous, lazy loops as it meanders its way to Carmarthen Bay to the south-west, incidentally beneath the watchful gaze of another Iron Age enclosure (surmounted by later medieval castle) at Llansteffan. Perhaps the best view, however, is that beside the main entrance to the east looking toward another distant castle at Dryslwyn. Unfortunately the defences of said entrance – pretty substantial, it should be noted – are located behind a barbed wire fence, as are what transpire to be equally formidable (if disintegrating) univallate earthworks upon the southern and western flanks, the terrain here sloping away sharply. Arguably there is a case for some serious conservation activity here? Happily, however, the northern bank – again, apparently univallate – is accessible to everyone and remains very powerful indeed, facing the direction of probable attack in times past.

So, clearly Merlin’s Hill was an Iron Age enclosure of some stature, well worth the diversion if you happen to be in the area. And of course we’re all suckers for legendary tomes of sorcery permeating our past like the wreathes of mist clinging to our mountain tops. Here is a place to linger a while and appreciate why this is so. Hey, why not follow the Twyi’s example and let the mind ‘go serpentine’ for a few hours? And if you do happen to discover the old dude imprisoned up here, kindly inform the local police. Oh, and needless to say keep him away from that J.K Rowling woman... he would no doubt have suffered enough across the centuries as it is.

22/03/2013 – As cairns go this is not the most exciting to visit. Just down the road from Beattock Hill hillfort, the heavily robbed cairn sits on a small knoll with little still showing. Probably of more interest is its name. Witch’s Wate is the spot just north of the Crooked Road where travellers would arm themselves with a rowan tree “rung” and two pieces of red thread as protection against witches lying in wait there.

22/03/2013 – Nice hillfort just off the Southern Upland Way, west of Beattock. Good location with nice view south east. Bit cold today.

Visited 22.3.13

Directions:
Take the A465 south out of Hereford and then the B4349.
Take the minor road on the right (north) signposted Ruckhall.
The Hillfort lies immediately to the east of the hamlet.

As we headed along the narrow road to Ruckhall we were met by a sign stating that the road ahead was closed ‘at the bridge’. Karen was not keen on driving any further and due to the fact that we had to make sure we were home in time to pick Dafydd up from school suggested we turn around and come back another day. I on the other hand was keen to see the Hillfort being so close. We drove on a little further but were then met by a steep hill and a further warning sign that the road ahead was closed. Karen refused to drive down the hill and reluctantly parked up in a passing place whilst I jogged down the road promising to be back asap in order not to be late for the school run. Karen did not appear to be too happy!

The sleet from earlier on had now turned to heavy rain and the narrow road now resembled a stream. I reached the small stone bridge to find it had been fenced off at each end. I suspect it has been closed for safety reasons due to the swollen river far below? I of course chose to ignore the warning signs and made my way around the obstacles and across the bridge. It is very pretty here.

I walked up into Ruckhall and made my way along the sign posted public footpath past the appropriately named ‘Hill Fort House’. The footpath was little more than a quagmire, deep mud and no other option but to squelch my way through it. I wasn’t about to turn back now. Several bedraggled sheep looked at me with a look of curiosity and pity I was waded on through the mud.

I then came to a set of wooded steps on the left which gave access to one of the fields inside the Hillfort. The field was surrounded by hedges and overlooked by several houses so I didn’t venture too far into the field. In the next field appeared to be a raised bank about 1.5m high but I have no idea if this is part of the Hillfort construction or a natural feature? The rain got heavier and my hands got colder. I went back down the steps and carried on a little further along the footpath.

The path became even muddier and I slipped and slid down my way down. It then dawned on me that this footpath ran along the Hillfort’s eastern defences – about half way up the steep slope. I would say it was about 3m up to the top of the rampart and another 3m down to the bottom field. The footpath carried on around the northern section of the Hillfort but my time was up.

I battled my way back up the muddy path, down the road, across the bridge and up the steep hill back to the patiently waiting Karen. By the time I got back in the car I was pretty well drenched although to be fair my coat and boots did a good job of keeping most of the moisture out.

‘Will we be back in time to pick Dafydd up?’ quizzed Karen.
‘Of course’ said I with a worried glance at my watch. I knew it would be tight.
‘You know I hate to be late’ warned Karen. ‘Yes’ I meekly replied.
(If we are late I can forget any idea of any nookie this year) I thought to myself (just a fair bit of nagging)

The site is worth a visit when in the area but don’t expect to see too much and pick a dry day!
On the plus side the footpath around the Hillfort gives easy access.
I am surprised I am the first person to post Fieldnotes on this site given this ease of access.

p.s. luckily we hit minimal traffic and I arrived at the school with less than 5 minutes to spare.

p.p.s still waiting for the nookie though…………………!!!

Situated more or less due west of Twr Pen-cyrn’s summit cairns – the monuments just about intervisible – this smaller cairn possesses a less spartan vibe than its peers owing to the absence of surrounding boulder field. Then again I guess such considerations are relative... the terrain not exactly offering up a staggering diversity of exotic flora. You want tussocky grass? You got it. Anything else, jog on.

Nevertheless with more time at our disposal this would have provided a great place for an extended stop.... I’d reckon the odds on being disturbed here are about as high as a bar of Dairy Milk surviving an afternoon in the Mam C’s rucksack. You do the maths.... All things considered well worth the continuation from the summit of the ridge, then. As TSC notes Nature has clearly taken a greater ‘hands on’ interest here, the central hollow (presumably the work of ‘treasure seekers’ as opposed to walkers?) having been reclaimed by organic matter. Having said that there is enough bare stone in situ to ensure an impression of a fine upland cairn.

Briefly we consider heading directly north to visit (yet) another cairn a little south of Eglwys Faen; however this is duly vetoed so as to provide an excuse to return and enjoy the exquisite northern views some other time. Yeah quality, not quantity... that is the byword for this, Pelagius’s Day.