Latest Fieldnotes

Closed for business unless you want to make a telephone call and organise a viewing, not to worry, plenty to see nearby

Spotted this on the O/S map and found a description of the site on Megalithic.
‘Chambered Tomb with badly damaged long mound in Gloucestershire’.

Directions: take the turn off north from the B4077 just before you get to the village of Condicote. Shortly after, pull into the lay by and head through the trees on your left. A ‘path’ was easy to follow through the trees so someone must be walking here?
Once out of the trees you come to a metal field gate and from here the Long Barrow is easy to spot on the brow of the hill in the middle of the field.

I left Karen to take photos of the flora and fauna in the woods and I headed off across the field.
The Barrow is oval shaped about 1 metre high x 30 metres x 20 metres.
Oddly enough a tree has been planted in each ‘corner’ – 3 of the trees still had protective fences around them.

Not much else I can add in all honesty but I am glad I stopped by.

Visited 5.8.11

I spotted this on the O/S map and as I was in the area I thought –why not’?

Directions: Heading west out of the village of Naunton you soon come to a transmitter mast and a lay by where you can park. Walk a little way back along the road and you will see what remains of the Barrow on the other side of a drystone field wall next to the road.
Not much to see, just a long low mound about 1 metre high and 20 metres long.

If you didn’t know it was there you would easily drive right past oblivious to its existence.

Visited10.8.11

The last site of our trip to Shropshire visiting a couple more English Heritage sites.
I missed this site on the way up to Telford but managed to visit it on the way home.
Heading south towards the hamlet of Adforton, there are plenty of field gates you can park in front of just after the A4113 forks with the A4110.
Park on the verge, up and over the gate and basically head up hill.
Warning – this does involve climbing over two barbed wire fences.

As for the Hillfort itself there isn’t a massive amount to see although the ramparts in places are still up to 2 metres high.
The remaining defences consist of a single bank which runs in an arc around the eastern side on the site. The western defences appear to have relied on the steepness of the slope. The bank varies in height from 0.3 metres to a maximum of 2 metres.

The fields are now used for grazing sheep.
Just about worth the effort. No public right of access.

Visited 9.8.11

I really don’t know where to start with this site report.
I was completely blown away by this Hillfort
It is simply a wonderful place to visit – fabulous.
In fact I would go as far to say that this was one of the best Hillforts I have ever been to, perhaps second only to the mighty Maiden Castle (this has better views).

Situated just outside the hamlet of Chapel Lawn, access is fairly easy although I did have to climb over two barbed wire fences. (15 minute walk)
You can park at the field gate and follow the rough track uphill. When you come to the next gate you will see the top of the ramparts sticking out on the horizon.
I continued to follow the track straight up towards a small copse of trees and then walked along the top of the hill, requiring the climbing over the fences. Perhaps if I had followed the permissive footpath to the north of the Hillfort and then headed uphill I may have avoided having to do this?

Why did I like this site so much?
Firstly, it is in very good condition. The northern defences consists of 3
Ramparts / ditches – very well preserved. The outer rampart being about 5 metres high from the bottom of the ditch, the middle rampart about 6 metres and the inner rampart a mighty 9 metres high! Amazing they have survived so well.
Secondly, the views – WOW!!
I sat on top of the inner rampart and just admired the scenery in front of me. Fields fading miles into the distance like a green patchwork quilt – the odd field dotted with sheep or cows. The shadows of the clouds slowly making their way up the valley. Birds of prey screeching and hovering overhead. Butterflies dancing across the tall grass and pockets of gorse – idyllic.
I could have happily spent hours here but needless to say that was never possible with Karen and the children waiting patiently for me back in the car. This is one site I will definitely re-visit in the future when I have more time to spend here.
This has to be the best site I have visited this year. Certainly the one which has had the most effect on me. I can’t recommend a visit highly enough. Wonderful.

Visited 9.8.11
I parked at the metal field gate, hopped over and walked back along the field hedgerow towards the mound (2 minute walk).
The mound itself was easy to spot as a raised area covered in scrub. It is about 1.5 metres high and 10 metres across – doughnut shaped.
It looked to me to be some sort of enclosure?
One for the enthusiasts only.

‘Visited’ 9.8.11
No so much a visit, more a ‘view from afar’.
Taking the lane north east out of the hamlet of Norbury (***d lane) you can see the Barrow silhouetted on the brow of the hill.
Parking in the narrow lane is difficult and access would have required finding a way through the hedgerow, crossing a field full of cows and then over a barbed wire fence to climb the hill (there is no public right).
In the end I decided it wasn’t worth it and settled from my view from the lane.

Visited 10.8.11
I was a little frustrated by my visit to Bradley as I was only to find one of the three stones mentioned.
The one I found couldn’t have been easier – right in front of the pub next to the car park entrance. Interestingly, another large stone has now been propped up against the standing stone. To protect it against being hit by a car perhaps?
As for the other two stones I am afraid to say I failed miserably. Despite following the directions given I couldn’t find either. I walked up and down the lanes with Dafydd dawdling behind but had no joy.
There was one largish stone Dafydd spotted but after reading the descriptions given I ruled it out.
So only a partially successful visit.

Visited 10.8.11
Directions: Travelling south west out of Stafford along the A518, just after you drive under the M6, you will see a sign to Derrington on your right. Keep on the A518 but take the immediate next turning right towards Dearnsdale Farm. Park where you can.
There is a public right of way along the farm drive and across the fields north.
The drive actually runs around the western defences of the Hillfort.
There is about a 2 metre drop on the left of the drive which I assume is the remains of the outer rampart? and a smaller 1 metre rampart can be made out amongst the bushes to the right hand side of the drive.
There is a high barbed wire fence running around the site which is further ‘protected’ with chest high nettles. The Hillfort is completely overgrown with trees, bushes, brambles etc and access to its interior would be very difficult.
I peered through the fence from the drive but was unable to make anything else out. There is a small house on the drive appropriately named Berry Ring Cottage.
I can’t recommend a visit as access to the actual Hillfort would be very difficult although the outer rampart is easy enough to see.

I guess it takes a pretty special site to follow such a gem as nearby Torbreck and – arguably – surpass it. There are a myriad factors to be taken into account, of course... all of them subjective. But, for me, Tordarroch not only rises to the challenge, but leaves it trailing in its wake with the arrogance of a megalithic Eric Cantona, so to speak. Yeah, this is one slumbering giant of a monument, if ever there was one. Needless to say, however, I very nearly don’t get an audience..... having not purchased an OS map (and thus relying on a scribbled representation of the immediate locality) I struggle to orientate myself and somehow all but convince myself that Tordarroch and Mains of Gask are actually one and the same! Muppet. Well, there can’t be two monuments that special so near to each other, can there? Er, yes. There can. In Strathnairn.

Look for the signpost to the church (of something or other – sorry I honestly can’t recall) just north of Milton of Farr on the B851. Pass this whitewashed (ha!) building and park near a grey 5-bar gate a little beyond, on the left. To your right will be a red gate (currently featuring a ‘bull in field’ sign) with a pylon visible in the field beyond. Go through this red gate and, hugging the right hand field boundary to avoid any bull-related shite, the monument will soon be yours. It is worth the effort.

At first, however, this traveller is somewhat overwhelmed by the sheer volume of stones – both upright and fallen – to be seen here. What is going on? Burl, naturally, has the answers:-

“Even in ruin, this Clava ring-cairn is impressive. The big stone circle [yeah!] is in fair condition... with seven of perhaps eleven original stones standing... inside is a badly-ruined ring-cairn, a long arc of kerbstones fallen at the south and wide gaps at the east and north....Little remains of the cairn itself.... A large kerbstone, fallen outwards....has over thirty cupmarks on what would have been its inner face...”

So, large stone circle, ring cairn.... and rock art. Is there a reason not to come to Tordarroch? Well, the attitude of the landowner might be considered one for those of a nervous disposition. The monument is badly churned up by cattle, yet he has the temerity to insist visitors do not enter due to ‘lambing’ long since concluded. Short term profit more important than local heritage, perhaps? No, Tordarroch cannot be allowed to drift into obscurity... if only to ensure its survival people need to visit this dishevelled, battered beauty of a clava. Several of the circle stones remind me of Lewissian Gneiss in respect of their grain and texture.... and surely there can be no finer compliment? The kerb is thick set, featuring radial orthostats..... and then there is the fabulous cupmarked slab.

Yeah, I almost missed out on Tordarroch..... sure, that would have saved me yet another soaking. But it would also have cost me much, much more in terms of those intangible ‘things’ I believe we need to ‘top up’ on now and again in order to keep a perspective on life, you know?

Visited on 17th April 2011

We’d been thinking about visiting this site for a while, so it being a gloriously sunny day we thought it’d be nice to take a trip down to Oxfordshire.

Nice and easy to find, just headed for Stanton Harcourt and followed the signs for the landfill site. Parked off at the first available layby (fortunately no problems were encountered from officious men in hi-vis jackets) and trekked off around the lake looking for the stones.

Well you can’t really miss them as you get near, a huge embanked henge dotted with twenty-eight satisfyingly chunky large stones. The henge has the classic entranceway leading into and out of the circle, and it looked like there was an outlying stone to the south.

The stones themselves are of a strange type of local conglomerate rock, which looked as if it was about to come apart at any moment, most of them are modern replacements, the older stones seemingly identifyable by their darker more weathered colour.

The monument itself originated as a henge, with evidence of postholes having once been in the centre, before the final phase of the erection of the stones around 2,500 BCE.

We had a picnic in the circle, the only sounds the cries of birds and the honking of the geese in the nearby lake, and the ground around us scattered in bones scavenged from the tip by the ever present birds. It certainly has a different atmosphere here, with the landfill site looming incongruously in front of you, somehow you can just tell it’s a reconstruction and not an ‘authentic’ site, even if no-one had told you so, but it is nice that someone has bothered to reconstruct the circle after all it has suffered in the past, and don’t let it put you off visiting, for it is an impressive place.

Visited 4.8.2011. Slightly disappointed, as so few of the stones were visible, even after clambering into the field. The lush summer growth of the hedge probably didn’t help, or the fact that we’d walked for quite a distance up from the Cwm Gwaun valley to get here.

Only a tadd difficult to find as the immediate route to it is on two OS maps, just follow the dead end side lane to Hethpool, keeping to the main branch when you cross a cattle grid parking is immediately left, in the big car park.
From here it was difficult to see the stones, theyre less than a metre high (bar one) and really well camoflagued amongst the fearless sheep, and I mean fearless they wouldnt budge a bit.
Fortunately there is a black and white map at the carpark showing just where the stones are, about 150 metres up the single track.
These stone circles have been badly wrecked and now are only just recognisable as such, well one of them is, the other is so wrecked that we must take it on trust that this is two circles.
The first and best of the two has now only five stones, unless a couple are much smaller than the others and were expertly hid by strangely unafraid sheep, it reminded me of a small Twelve Apostles near Dumfries.
At the time I was there I was ignorant of there being two circles, and I presumed that the tallest stone here was an outlier, and the two low stones nearby just an oddity, but both Hob and Burl state quite clearly that there were two circles.
I scrambled up the next to them hillside for a better look around and over the site, and discovered that this is a nice place and if the two circles were still complete, it would be a grand place. The close and audible river, the hills dissappearing into the distance (and the mist) and Yeavering Bell too. That hillfort and Old Bewick convinced me to come back as soon as possible,
I wont hold my breath its been maybe seven years since I last said that.

Bwlch ym Mhwll-le is the name of the gap between Moel Faban and Moel Lefn. (it means gap of the pool room?)
It’s a locally a famous feature and can be seen from a great distance.

One of the easiest ways to get here is to drive through the village of Llanllechid passing the church on the left. Then passing a farm called Cobri also on the left. Take the right hand turn which is marked as a “no through road” this leads to the old quarry.

Park up at the end of this road before the left hand bend next to a huge slate wall.
Walk up passed the the water filled quarry and then turn right down a wide dirt track with slate waste on either side.
Walk down to the metal farm gate and follow the dry stone wall up towards Lefn.
When the wall turns right you will see the path at the bottom of Moel Lefn ahead of you.
Follow this path passed the really nice dry stone sheepfold and you will see the big boulder ahead. This marks the site of the cairn to your left.

The cairn has been robbed out with a wide slice through it from the west.
It is in a great spot with excellent views of the Carneddau range to the south and the sea to the west.
You have fine views of the cairns on north slope of Moel Faban.

There is possibly another smaller cairn near by just to the north east.

If you follow along the path to the end of Bwlch Ym Mhwll-le you come to the burnt mound and settlement of Moel Faban.

Visited 19.7.11

Directions:
Take the B3224 west from the hamlet of Elworthy and then take the first turning on the left. You will see a transmitter sticking out above the tree tops.
There is plenty of room to park near the gate leading to the transmitter.

To be honest there wasn’t a lot to see although I think I could make out some ‘lumps and bumps’ in the trees on the east side of the site. The transmitter has been built on a modern artificial platform.
There is no official public right of way to the fields around the Hillfort and I was running late so I didn’t have too much time for a good mooch.
It appeared the easiest bit of the Hillfort to access would be western end which was more field than wood.
There are stunning views to be had driving back down Brendon Hill – fantastic!

‘Visited’ 19.7.11

Spotted this on the O/S map and thought I would have a quick look when visiting the nearby Elworthy Barrows Hillfort.

I parked at a field gate on the B3224 (south of site) but could see no sign of the Barrow. There were several field heading north towards a wood but I didn’t have time for a proper look through the fields. I couldn’t see anything from the field gate.

Visited 19.7.11

My 700th fieldnote!

Another site marked on the O/S map and mentioned on Megalithic.

Parking on this stretch of the B3224 is very difficult and I had to park rather dodgy on the grass verge.
The Barrow is just to the south of the road but I couldn’t find any access into the field.
I didn’t feel comfortable leaving the car too long where I had parked it and settled for a view of the Barrow through the high hedgerow. Not idea but at least I managed to see it. The Barrow appeared to be approximately 2 metres high x 15 metres across.
The Barrow looked to be in good nick – very similar to the nearby Leather Barrow)

Visited 19.7.11

I nearly missed this site, just spotting it on the map as I was leaving the nearby Huish Champflower Barrow. This is opposite the Ralegh’s Cross Inn.

Directions: heading east along the B3190 from Huish Champflower, there is room to park where the road forks. Opposite the turning is a private lane leading to Tripp Farm. The Barrow is on the right hand side of this lane; a 10 minute walk away.
The Barrow can be seen from the lane as a low mound on the brow of the hill – approximately 1 metre tall x 10 metres across. A small tree is growing out of the side of the Barrow.

The O/S map also shows another Barrow a little further up the lane but I couldn’t see any trace of this on the ground.

Visited 19.7.11
Saw this site marked on the O/S map.

Directions: head west along the B3224 from Wiveliscombe Barrow until you see the turning on the left for Withiel Florey. Park on the junction opposite this turning.

There is a gap in the hedge which takes you through a small copse of trees and into the field in which the Barrow stands. (There is a fence to climb over).
Once in the field head uphill and the Barrow will become apparent.
The Barrow looks to be in good condition and not dug into.
Several large stones are sticking out of the grass on top.
The Barrow is approximately 3 metres high and 10 metres across.

Visited 19.7.11

Spotted this on the O/S map.

Directions: heading east along the B3190 from Huish Champflower, there is room to park where the road forks. This is opposite the Ralegh’s Cross Inn.

The Barrow is in the field directly opposite the pub.
There is no public right of way into the field but the Barrow is easily seen from the road.
It is approximately 1.5 metres high x 20 metres across.

Visited 19.7.11

Saw this site marked on the O/S map and mentioned on Megalithic.
I parked next to the Brendon Hill Methodist Church (just off the B3190).
Then it was a short walk across the road, over the new wooden stile and a flat walk to the Barrow. Access is easy as there is a public right of way to the Barrow.
This was an unusual site which I liked a lot, despite the Barrow being much mangled.
Someone in the past has planted a ring of trees around the Barrow which are now fully matured and whose roots have interlocked with each other. This has formed a sort of low ‘wall’ of roots. (Reminded me of the tree roots you see at the ruins in Jungle Book – where Baloo the bear has his song/dance!!)
Despite being quite close to the road the site feels fairly secluded and quiet.

I would heartily recommend a visit when you happen to be in the area.

Visited 19.7.11

What an odd name for a stone? (which by the way looks nothing like a boy – naked or not!)

This is a very easy stone to visit – you don’t even have to get out of your car if you don’t want to!
Heading east along the B3224, take the first turning on the right after Wiveliscombe Barrow. A little way along this lane you will see the stone on the left.
The stone itself is a large lump of quartz approximately 1.5 metres tall x 1.5 metres wide. The stone was largely covered in moss.

Certainly worth a look when in the area.

Failed Visit 21.7.11

Following a successful visit to the nearby Barrow in Uphill I thought I would check this Barrow out I had spotted on the O/S map.
Unfortunately despite my best efforts I failed to get anywhere near it!

I planned to walk to the site from the hamlet of Loxton but there were major road works going on and every route I tried had a sign up stating the road was closed. How the good folk of Loxton managed to get home I don’t know?
I then tried to access the Barrow from Bleadon Hill to the north but this time I was met with signs warning of ‘Private Road’.
The closest I could get was the viewpoint car park on Bleadon Hill which would have meant a long walk in the wind and rain.
I decided not to bother!

Visited 21.7.11

Spotted this on the O/S map and couldn’t resist a visit!

Taking the A370 south out of Weston-Super-Mare you come to the suburb of Uphill.
Take the minor road west next to the hospital and look for a shop selling Kayaks – there is a lay by you can park in opposite the shop.
You should then see an information sign pointing you to ‘Uphill Hill nature reserve’.
This involves a short but steep climb up the hill which has the derelict Old St Nicholas Church sitting on the top. Despite being derelict it is in good nick and it was only when I went to go in for a look I discovered it was derelict!
Go through the church yard and head for the ruined wind mill which has been used as a beacon in recent times.
Look ahead to the next rise in the hill and you will see the Barrow. Not much left to see, now only about 1 metre high and 20 metres across.
The wind had picked up by now and I was sheltering from the wind and rain against the wind mill wall. Nothing like the Great British summer is it?
I have to say that the ruined wind mill and church had more to offer than the Barrow!
There were also good views of the marina from the top of the hill to recommend a visit.

Visited 30.7.11

This visit turned out to be a bit ‘problematic’.
I read on the Megalithic site that the Hillfort had been turned into a caravan park, so I therefore assumed access would be easy enough? Wrong!
After visiting the nearby Haughmound Abbey (another EH site ticked off the list1) I drove a bit further along the B5062 and turned left – following the brown camping/caravan site sign.
This lead to the caravan site entrance where the barrier was open so I saw no harm in driving past reception to look for any remains of the Hillfort. I saw a woman looking at me but though no more of it.
The caravan site is on 3 levels so I followed the road round to the highest section – logically assuming that this is where the Hillfort would be.
Just as I arrived and noticed what appeared to be the decent remains of the single bank/ditch of the southern defences (approximately 2 metres from bottom of ditch to top of rampart – in amongst a line of trees) I was flagged down by a man on a bike!
The woman I had seen earlier had reported me and the owner wanted to know what I was doing, suspecting me of wanting to steal a caravan! Despite my little car not having a tow bar (and even if it did being incapable of pulling a caravan!) he took a little convincing. It was only when he saw the children in the car did he accept my story – although he wasn’t too happy.
I offered my apologies and thought it best I leave. As I drove out of the site I discovered that they had dropped the barrier and locked me in. I had to wait for the man to follow behind and let me out!

If you do plan a visit I suggest you ask for permission from the site owners first. Don’t be surprised if your request is refused.