Latest Fieldnotes

14/05/2012 – There is parking and a signpost pointing to the broch in Polglass but we parked at the Burial Ground (NC 0364 0614) and made the short walk along the coast. I really liked this one. Not in great condition though as a number of buildings have been added over the years.

14/05/2012 – Parked at jetties (NB 9952 1077) just past Old Dornie after a stunning 16 mile drive down a single track road off the A835. The cairn is just a short walk south along the coast or if you have time via the little hill Meall Dearg, with it’s great view from the top. The cairn is a bit worse for wear to be honest but the view from it is worth the trip.

Just like the last time I parked at the layby just north of Mains Of Afforsk, this time with a lot of gorse, grass etc being cut down or flattened by snow a forestry track could now be seen. This isn’t the safest of paths, it is littered with fallen trees and branches, the recent rain has turned it into a series of small lochs. Still as it meanders west all over the place it climbs steadily until it meets another track in a clearing. In the south east quadrant at the crossroads sits the ring cairn.

It reeks of age probably due to the trees and Mither Tap which looks down on top. (It was busy today!) Although badly overgrown and damaged by forestry the ring cairn survives. Sitting at 14 meters wide and 1 meter tall. The inner section isn’t central and is 4 meters in width. I wonder what a ‘dig’ would show.

The other cairn complete with cross incised and ogham marked stone is also quite difficult to find but can be found by heading west and uphill amongst another clearing.

Lovely area, lovely walk but drenched on the way back.

Visited 17/5/2012.

A couple of new finds , ctually from about a month ago but light was poor so had to go back a couple of weeks later to get better pics . The possible standing stone was noted about six years ago but despite the packing I didn’t feel like suggesting as a possible as they are so common but a recent visitcoupled with burnt heather led to the discovery of a sub circular enclosure that is not a hut circle ,too small and entrance is in the north and a cairn within 60 metres si I decided to consider it as a possible ,plus there is nothing upstanding like this for a couple of miles .

Sadly only scattered cairn material and one stone of this circle remains and even it is drill damaged. It is housed in a fenced section just north of the steading at Westpark. The other stones were taken away to help build the nearby Mill Of Tynet. Like the King’s cairn there is excellent views south, the views north somewhat hidden by trees and the Meikle Hill.

The easiest way to get here is to go south on the B9016 and take the first minor road east thru the wee village of Clochan, shortly afterwards head south at the next minor road. This road comes to an end but head east on the track stopping at Westpark. Here I was met by the occupant who kindly allowed me park. The remains of the circle are behind the building, a short walk of 200 meters to the fenced section.

Visited 15/5/2012.

Thank you Hamish for another wonderful twa hours. A fortnight ago Orcadians went for free, but that weekend the weather was pish poor so I came now. Still a bargain – not much comes from a fiver in life nowadays and he has made vast improvements for folk, like new signage and a fresh tarmac-ed road for starters. In the near future Hamish is looking to have his farmland geofizzed for a day, but needs must he pays for it his sen. Apart from the passage in the tomb is now fully roofed (with contrasting slabs to show the differ). In the rotunda by the fishpond the feed from the tomb is now shown on a peedie widescreen monitor, the output being guidable to boot.
At the inner end of the passage you now have to kneel down and step down backwards – better for most than a trolley but you canna stand up straight once inside.Of course this tomb hasn’t been excavated there completelyto the natural, so one day this stae of affairs might change. Since my previous, chance, visit the other chamber has been opened to the public and the one facin the passage too. There isn’t much to see as yet of the new chamber he found (contrary to some archaeologists opinions) under the passage itself though it does go back aways, as revealed by penlight. I had had visions of sticking my digital under the lintel and revealing wonders, but at the moment entry is blocked by the original closure material with just mebbe an inch open directly under the lintel ! Of course some would object to poking in a fingerhole (oops, pardon my French, void) even with a camera. However the way one should look at it is photographic record is essential in case something changes before it is professionally looked at, mistakes are made in excavation and (in the present archaeological climate) promised weeks can turn into decades or even never. Unfortunately the completed roof does make the in situ markings less easy to have a proper gander out.
Luckily there are several fine examples of marked slabs in the rotunda exhibition. Here we were then shown some of the organic material recovered to date. Hamish was very pleased withe the deep interest shown in the skeletal remains shown by not only those with a general interest in physiology but also those of a professional bent such as surgeons and dentists. We were allowed to handle very healthy looking teeth and also less healthy bones that showied clear evidence of arthritis [?osteoporosis]. One tooth the size of a small pearl came from a toddler. As well as limbs we saw ribs and the kneebone of a ten or eleven year old. Intersting though these were best were the fragments of skulls, every one of them rather thin apart from a very thick piece that had protected the brain stem. Even so it looked overthick, like four heavy-duty homemade ashtrays welded together. Finally Hamish passed round pieces of shaped pot decorated in various ways. If I heard him correctly there are thought to be two different traditions present. Certainly there are also several kinds of decoration, both by stroke and impression. We agreed with him that the stand-out potsherd was one very dark piece, almost black, that appeared as if someone had made downward slashes with a knife point all the way around the rim – apparently this one is very much a mystery at present, perhaps ?? a one-off.

Opposite the Buckie junction (A942) on the A98 take the minor road south to Drybridge and keep going until the road stops at the Redburn Farm track. Unfortunately, for me, I misread the map and headed up the wrong track and ended up having to go cross country to the correct track. However I was rescued by the farmer who told about me about Meikle Hill, local musicians and re-energised me with a cup of tea. I should have gone by Redburn track and then taken the first track south. This heads up over the Addie Hill into the trees. At the top the trees clear with the cairn being to the east of the track just before a forestry track about a 1/4 mile south

King Indulphus wouldn’t be to impressed with what has happened since he was laid to rest. The cairn has been houked, ploughed and even worse drilled and blasted. It is somewhat nothing short of a miracle that anything remains but somehow despite everything it survives, just. To the east a sunken path contains cairn material which has fallen, to the west the forestry people haven’t been to careful. It stands at 8 meters wide and almost reaches 0.5 meters in height. Two very large boulders remain, as well as cairn material, showing damage caused by drilling. The old king certainly had beautiful views to keep him company.

With that it was back over the hill and back to the car via the proper route, which was much easier and much, much shorter.

Visited 15/5/2012.

Cairns and stones circles have often been recycled for places of execution, courts, towers, beacons, bases for crosses, roads, houses etc etc. This is the first one I’ve seen rebuilt into a windmill on the spot where it stood. Originally a stone circle probably surrounded the cairn, also in the same field, to the west, a barrow stood. Wonderful views to the Moray Firth and south to Durn Hill.

Situated to the north of the A98 between Portsoy and Cullen just east of the Sandend junction. Pull in at the Glasshaugh Distillery (tragically closed, or it looked closed as it was deserted). The unusual remains of the cairn are in the field to the west.

Visited 15/5/2012.

The mound is now on the edge of the new housing development

The burnt mound is on the LH side of the road onto the new Hatston pier amongst the new industrial development. Unfortunately it is now fully enclosed by a fence with not even a gate for access. An opportunity for excavation missed.

Visited 5.5.12

Saw this on the map and just had to try to check it out.

The Hillfort is in the eastern suburbs of Cheltenham in the Charlton Kings district.

This is another of those Hillfort which is slowly but surely being swallowed up by housing.

Taking the minor road north off the very busy A40 we tried to access the site from the north. However we were met by private housing with various ‘Private Road – no access’ signs. At least the Hillfort is being recognised in some of the road signs – ‘The Camp’ and ‘Battledown’. No way in from this direction.

We then drove around to the south of the site which is more rural and looks a more likely access point. There is no public access across the fields but from the road I could see a row of trees in the distance which I suspect is where you would find what remains of the defences? We were heading home as Karen had to get to work so I didn’t have time to try to cross the field for a closer look – maybe next time?

E.H. has nothing to report on this site.

Craddock Moor Stone Circle 13th May 2012.

Mr Hamheads directions are spot on but I’ll add a couple of minor details. From the Hurlers car park at Minions take the track NW with the Hurlers stone circles on your right. Continue along and past a track to the left leading to some concrete crane bases and the track rises in front of you until you come to where it branches into three. (It was two until recently when yet another between the two was formed). Whatever the situation take the extreme left one! As this track begins to veer back to the right you will come to a low tumuli to the left edge of the track and a few yards on a rather large tyre from an earthmoving machine blocking the path. Stand on the path immediately behind the tumulus and look beyond it to Tregarrick Tor to the SW. Craddock stone circle is on a direct line to the tor about 300 yards in from the path.
Not a lot to see now as many of the stones are under the turf/gorsey surface. I re-discovered the truely triangular stone which is common in many Cornish stone circles under the turf having to lift the surface layer of carpet-like turf/gorse to observe and photograph it. In the not too distant future the major bulk of this circle will be lost from sight if remedial work is not undertaken to clear the overgrown recumbant stones in the setting as the stones are gradually slipping further into the peaty/boggyish ground.

Visited 5.5.12

Access to Cleeve Hill is very easy and there are many footpaths which lead all over the site – particularly as there is a golf course over most of it!

We parked in the lay by next to the telephone box on the B4632 although there is also a smaller parking area directly opposite.
Much to Karen’s frustration the toilets shown on the O/S map is now closed!

The lower slopes were covered in sheep and lambs and a dog was running around in a ‘playful’ mood. Although it meant no harm it was obviously worrying the sheep. As I walked up through the sheep an irate farmer came over thinking the dog was mine – which wasn’t helped when the dog ran straight over to me as if we were the best of friends! I think the farmer believed me when the dog eventually ran off into the distance!

I carried on to the top of the hill (short but steep) and headed for the obelisk which has one on those metal diagrams on top which points out the various places in the distance. (You have to walk around a golfing green to reach it – hole 13 I think?)

I then had a look at the Dyke before heading for the ‘Ring’.
There were quite a few golfers about and although golf isn’t my thing I have to admit it is a great place to play golf. The views across to Wales are stunning – you can see for miles. (Although I am sure the wind causes havoc with the golf handicap!)

As well as the golf course and its associated bunkers etc an awful lot of quarrying has taken place here in the past. I found the ‘lumps and bumps’ made it difficult to be sure I found the ‘Ring’. I had a photo with me and I know I was in the right area so I am pretty sure I found it but if I did, it isn’t much to write home about. It consists of little more than shallow earthen banks. If you weren’t looking for it specifically you would never know it was here.

Although the ‘Ring’ was a disappointment it was more than made up for by that view – wow!

I was planning to visit the Hillfort but time was against me and I headed back to the car. On the way down the hill I spotted an information board near one of the quarry sites. It gave information on the geological make up of the hill – types of rock to look out for etc.

I can’t comment on the preservation of the Hillfort as I didn’t see it but there isn’t a lot to see of the other sites to be honest. However, the views are so fantastic I would recommend a visit for that alone.
Just one warning – watch out for flying golf balls!

Visited 8th May 2012

One of the joys of the TMA website is discovering lovely places you never knew existed, and after many years of quite regular trips down to Glastonbury and never knowing about these nearby stones until I read about them here, I took this opportunity to pay a visit.

Whilst Ellen trawled the shops in Glastonbury I headed out to Wookey Hole, and following the High Street around the back of the huge car park for the caves, until it became Kennel Batch lane, I continued uphill until I saw the Ebbor Gorge National Trust carpark. Leaving the car there (although the gorge itself is definitely worth a vist, as I had a walk around it on my return to the car) I continued uphill until reaching the second signed public footpath to the left. From the stile into the field I could see the stones to my right.

The two stubby stones are modest in size, but have a fantastic aspect, looking out over the Somerset levels, Glastonbury Tor being particularly prominent. The stones must be a good 50’ apart, and the high meadow in which they stand is a sea of yellow dandelions today.

It’s lovely and peaceful here, with only the rumbling of the occasional tractor or car in the nearby lane, but you are perfectly screened here from the road and feel remote from the cares of the world.

I lay my coat on the damp grass so I can stretch out in the sunshine by the stones and relax. Buzzards cry overhead, and the wind sends clouds scudding across the sky, for me this beats retail therapy any day!

As I doze in the sunshine I’m awoken by a thundering roar as the ground vibrates and a dark shadow passes overhead, startled I look up to see a Hercules aircraft sweep low overhead, probably only a hundred feet above the field, affording me the opportunity to get some great shots of the low flying plane.

It’s been great here, worth it for the views alone, but it does still feel like a magical place, despite the fact that the stones have been messed around with in the past, and one of them is not original. As the great man JC (Julian Cope) might say, it’s a ‘righteous hangout’.

Visited 6th May 2012

For our day trip out on the Beltane bank holiday we were heading up to Alderley Edge, but with the Bridestones being on the way (sort of) and also nicely accesible it seemed rude not to pay them a visit.

It must have been fifteen years since I was last here, shocking really since they are only around thirty miles from home. Parking up on the drive right by the access to the chamber, the first thing that struck me was the peace and quiet. I had distinct memories last time of a continual barking from the manic pack of hounds that lived at the farm next door, but the days of canine cacophony now seem to have passed.

The huge portal orthostats, and overall size of the tomb impress, and everything was a lot neater and tidier than I remember it last, when the chamber was strewn with rubbish, and undergrowth choked the stones. Today though everything is neat and tidy and lovely, not a scrap of rubbish to be found, and apart from the slight incursion of the rhodedendrons, which are in need of a prune, the site seems much better looked after than before.

The sun is out, but chill winds sweep clouds across the horizon as I sit in the chamber writing my notes. As I’m writing I hear voices as a pair of walkers sidle up to the stones. As they talk about how the stones were built by ‘Druids’ for sacrificial rites, I feel compelled to give them a brief history lesson on the Beaker peoples and the actual purpose of the site. They thanked me for the information (although I’m sure I could bore for England on matters megalithic!) and we are left alone again at the stones.

It has been lovely to revisit this place, which has been even better than my memories of it, I certainly won’t be waiting another fifteen years to come back, in fact the next warm and sunny weekend we get I think this might be the perfect place for a picnic!

12/05/2012 – Parked (NH 1054 9679) on the bend of the road to Rhue, just off A835, 3 miles north of Ullapool. Main hut circle is 50m to the north, on the slopes of Meall Mor. Easy to make out, 10m diameter. Another smaller circle is just north of this. Settlement also has many clearance cairns. One of the circles was marked out for a dig when we visited. Best thing about this site is the view across Loch Broom. What a place to live. If you have time, it is worth a little walk to top of Meall Mor.

Frankly, it’s not that easy to know how to follow a visit to the not too distant Bigbury, the mind a veritable cauldron swirling with tales of heroic deeds and defiance against the Roman invader. Go for the smooth ‘chill-out’ option at Jullieberrie’s or Bodsham long barrows, perhaps? However I saw those a few years back, the eye instead settling upon a group of barrows, these of the ‘round’ variety, situated in chestnut (?) woodland a little east of Godmersham, not far from Ashford. Yeah, that’ll do. To be honest I could have chosen a number of others in an arc around Canterbury.... clearly there’s a lot more to Prehistoric Kent than I’ve thought to date.

Anyway, leaving the A28 at Godmersham, a minor road sneeks beneath a viaduct and proceeds to snake its way this way and that... as all good country roads should do... eventually arriving at the hamlet of Sole Street. Needless to say, take care... single track leading from a pretty popular pub... need I say more? A little way beyond, ‘Penny Pot Lane’ heads left (north) to pass through Eggringe Wood. There is a parking area on the right, but carry on to a much larger area and park here. You’ll know it’s the right one since, looking to the left (south-west) you’ll see two large round barrows – not that tall, but of pretty substantial area – within a clearing either side of a forestry track. Somewhat overgrown and unkempt, but hey, what can you do? And at least the trail bikers haven’t destroyed them. Yet. According to Pastscape these monuments are:

TR 09665035 : 24.0m in diameter, 1.0m high.
TR 09635041 : 27.0m 1.7m

Not bad for starters. However follow the (much smaller) track into the woods to the approx north-east – albeit more akin to a stream during the official ‘drought conditions’ of May 2012 – and two more, with in my opinion a far superior vibe, can be visited with relative ease. Trending left, follow the track to a crossroads at a clearing. Ignore the left branch and carry on for a little while before veering left. Here, if you’re lucky, competent (or whatever) the barrow at TR09965091 (according to Pastscape c27m diameter, 1.0m high) sits in a clearing. Blue bells adorn the damaged mound, birds give it all they’ve got – quite a bit, it has to be said – and innumerable ants turn a decaying tree stump into a shimmering mass of industry. Nice. So that’s where several fierce looking soldiers ants clambering over me live, then? Belieing the not too promising forecast, great white clouds advance across the otherwise pristine blue sky in serried procession. Yeah, this is a spot to lie back and think of England. No, literally. Although if you happen to get carried away by the ‘moment’...........

But wait, there’s more. Returning whence I came, a short distance beyond the cross-roads... a very indistinct path leads through the trees to my right (west) to the boundary of a field. Here sits another damaged round barrow within another, much more isolated clearing, literally engulfed with blue bells today (Pastscape – TR09795069: 21.0m, by 1.7m). The feathery remains of some species of bird beside a burrow suggest the occupant isn’t to be trifled with. So I don’t. Sunshine streams through the fringe canopy and, just for a while, everything’s all right with the world. It’s good to ‘recharge’, you know? And Eggringe Wood is the ideal spot.

Visited 5.5.12

I was a bit disappointed by this.

I was expecting a sort of Offa’s Dyke type construction but the section I saw was not much more than a shallow ditch.

I think my expectation levels were a bit high!
(At least I didn’t get hit by a golf ball)

Visited 5.5.12

Access to the site is very easy (for a Hillfort!).
Just north of Woodmancote via a minor road off the B4632.
There is a free parking area a short walk to the south of the Hillfort and a public access track takes you right through the middle of the site.
However, when I visited this track was extremely muddy so be warned.

Karen Stayed in the car park with the sleeping Sophie while myself and Dafydd walked up the track. Dafydd was doing his usual ‘faffing’ so I walked on ahead.
I soon reached the ditch and bank at the southern end of the Hillfort and was pleasantly surprised to see the ramparts still standing to a height of about 2.5m.
This section of the Hillfort is covered in trees although the interior is open grass.

At this point I heard the cry ‘Dad – help!’
I looked around to see Dafydd stood in the middle of the track up to his ankles in mud.
‘Come on’ said I – ‘I can’t’ said Dafydd.
‘Why not?’ I asked? – ‘I can’t move, I’m stuck!’ came the reply.
I walked back down the track and luckily had his plastic sword I had just bought.
I was able to reach over and pull him out without getting covered in mud myself!

This is a good place to visit but unless we are in a drought – bring your wellies!

Visited 20.4.12

The information board near the car park states that the wall is not prehistoric.
I think it said it was mediaeval but I can’t be sure.
I tried to write the information down but it was raining so my paper got wet and I couldn’t write on it!

The walls in question are easy enough to spot around the stones – in fact you need to climb over one section to get closer to some of the rocks.

Visited 20.4.12

As I have said in previous field notes I am ‘drawn’ to natural rock outcrops so on my last full day in Cornwall I wanted to make time to visit one.

This would be my last visit of the day on our way back to the caravan and despite the rain was determined to have a look around.

Although Helman Tor can be seen for miles around we had difficulty finding the car park and had to rely on a very helpful local to show us the way. The lady started to give directions but in the end said ‘follow me’ and guided us right there (throwing her recently poured cup of tea away in the process!) – thank you!

The rain was falling and Karen and Sophie stayed in the car while myself and Dafydd headed through the gate up to the rocks. We then spotted a couple of rock climbers all kitted out in their gear and helmets. We on the other hand just clambered up and over the stones and Dafydd enjoyed his own version on ‘rock climbing’.

This would be a cracking spot for a picnic in nice weather – but not today!
I really enjoyed myself here despite the rain and on a clear day you would be able to see for miles. The stone carved with a small cross was easy enough to find.

In the end the weather got the better of us and we had to return too soon to the car.
By the way, the Logan stone doesn’t move!
A rainbow came out to bid us farewell.

Well worth a visit.

Having read in the past – some time or other – that Bigbury had been seriously damaged by gravel digging (you can’t make it up), it’s consequently taken a while to finally pay a visit to this legendary site. Legendary? Well, yeah. It would appear that most authorities are happy that this is (well, probably) the place where the Cantii ‘retired on the woods, where they had a strongly fortified position of great natural strength’... the words of a certain Julius Caesar in 54 BCE, the Vain One having repulsed a mobile assault by the locals near the Great Stour. Needless to say the Cantii stood no chance against the siege techniques of the VII legion during Caesar’s abortive invasion of these Isles. The rest, as they say, is history. Or at least the master propagandist’s version of it, helping to cement his inexorable rise to ultimate power.

To be honest it is worth coming to Bigbury for that alone.... to stand upon the ramparts and just IMAGINE what it must have been like to see the Romans advance, see your missiles bounce harmlessly off their testudo shield formation.... and realise you would most probably die this day as the siege ramp grew higher. But there is much more to Bigbury than that. Tangible remains, too, giving credence to the fact that Bigbury was probably the most important hillfort (south of the Thames) in Caesar’s path. According to yer man, ‘they [the Cantii] did nothing unworthy’... which of course may have been a quote designed to inflate his ‘achievements’... but I reckon reflects the fatalistic last ditch defence by the local warriors... a defence which may well have contributed to the Romans’ eventual retreat back across the Channel for a century. And, in all probability, it happened here. Jeez.

Needless to say I nearly don’t make it here at all ... in-car navigation is not my forte. However I eventually locate Harbledown and, crossing the A2, via a bridge, park just beyond upon Bigbury Road. The ‘North Downs Way’ long distance path cuts through the site from here, pretty substantial earthworks, clad in a beguiling May carpet of blue bells, soon materialising within the woodland. I’m confused, however. Why does the hillside rise steeply to the south, apparently bearing an outward facing rampart? It takes a while.... not to mention much clambering about... to suss that the blue bell adorned ramparts actually represent a north-western annexe.... albeit a pretty powerful one, possibly (according to Dyer) a cattle pound? Some cattle pound! Yeah, the defences of this additional area are substantial, particularly those linking it to the main enclosure upon the western flank. Ascending this bank the penny drops... the OS 1:25K map helps, to be fair... that most of the southern defences of Bigbury, beyond Bigbury Road, are no more. However the northern, towering above the aforementioned annexe, leave no doubt that this was once a major fortress, indeed. But no match for you know who? Damn him and his dodgy haircut to blazes! Although, to be fair, the discovery of a slave chain at Bigbury emphasises that these were extreme, violent – hell, inhuman – times. We need to keep things in perspective.

Fallen trees currently lie stacked upon Bigbury... notices state that this is an official attempt to clear more of the Iron Age ramparts, the back breaking work, I believe, undertaken by volunteers of the Kent Wildlife Trust. Now although regular TMA-ers will know that I’m your archetypal ‘tree-hugger’, it appears that the mature examples are being spared. Hey, I can live with that. Well done Kent Wildlife Trust. Come to Bigbury and celebrate the defiance of the Britons to the invader. Yeah, sing their praises in the Mead Hall. Or failing that, the Slug and Lettuce.... that’ll wind up the punters no end.

Turrerich has proved to be a happy hunting ground over the past few years with 10 “new ” finds to add to the single site (not pictured ) first noted in the 1960’s . These are the most photogenic .The grid ref is a pretty central for most .

Visited 20.4.12

Two Barrows are shown on the O/S map a short distance south of the Trippet Stones; to the west of the lane leading to the main road.

The terrain here is very ‘lump bumby’ (technical term!) and the Barrows are not obvious – in fact I couldn’t find them!

E.H. has nothing to say on the matter.

Visited 20.4.12

The lane running south of the burial chamber is very narrow and parking is difficult.
However, we did manage to park at the turning which leads to the transmitter.

The rain was falling and everyone opted to stay in the car while I walked back down the lane to try to spot the burial chamber. This was not easy as the bank is high and topped with a hedge. Coupled with the wet grass I slipped on several occasions before finding the right spot to see the stones.

There are 3 large stones remaining but there was no way through the hedge to get into the field for a closer look. One of the stones was holding the largest up on an angle. Unfortunately I didn’t read pure joy’s notes before visiting so didn’t realise access was via a gate opposite the sub-power station.

When I returned to the car I realised I had dropped my notes and had to walk back along the lane (in the now pouring rain) to retrieve them!