Latest Fieldnotes

Two fine sites a few minutes apart by car, again both well signposted with easy access and good parking

Re-Visit 19.6.11
This is another site which has been ‘bugging’ me for a re-visit to try to locate the Barrow.
Being a bit more experienced in these matters since my last visit I now had no heitation in hopping over the padlocked field gate and heading towards the railway embankment where the Barrow is supposed to be.
The bushes/brambles are even higher than I remeber them – up to 10ft in places!
There was no way I could get anywhere near the embankment and it was impossible to make anything out.
IF the Barrow is still there, there can’t be much of it left i’m sorry to report.
The horse is still in the field though.

‘Visited’ 19.6.11
Since my last visit I have read the COFLEIN site report and just ‘had’ to have another look for the Barrow. Unfortunately I am still none the wiser.
I did see what appeared to be a concrete plinth which COFLEIN mentions but this seemed too close to the edge of the field compared to where the O/S map shows it to be.
On the other hand, where the O/S shows it to be was a field chest high in crop. Needless to say nothing could be seen.
Is the O/S map correct and the Barrow hidden in the field or was it the low grass bank I saw below the possible feeding trough?
Either way, there can’t be much to see.

This gem of a site lies less than one km from the more well known Bocan stone circle, a local pointed it out to me and it was of the highlights of my two week trip to the north west, access again is no problem here

Re-Visited 19.6.11
As I approached the site I realised I had been here before! I am sure I am not the first person to make this mistake!
Still, while I was here a quick ‘shifty’ was in order.
I parked at the same place as last time, hopped over the metal field gate headed off into the trees. Not surprisingly there is no change from my last visit. The two banks / ditches are overgrown but pretty well preserved – over head height in places. The central site being fenced off.

Visited 12.5.11
There are 3 Barrows in this cemetery which straddle the road south east out of the village of Wick. We parked at the turn off for Macross village and Karen and the children sat in the car while I crossed the road, jumped over the field gate and walked along the edge of the field towards the most eastern Barrow. The field was in crop so I made sure I stayed to the hedgerow next to the road.
At first I couldn’t see the Barrow (the wheat was waist high) until I was actually stood on top of it. I then only realised it because I could now see over the top of the hedge where normally the hedge was above head height! Ploughed down and perhaps only a metre high? It was impossible to tell how far the spread of the Barrow was due to the crop.
From my vantage point on top of the Barrow I could see across the road into the field opposite. There stood the second of the 3 Barrows, visible as a low mound. Again the field was full of crop so I didn’t see the point of investigating further.
I didn’t attempt to look for the third Barrow.
By now the rain was getting heavier (it hadn’t stopped all day) so I headed back to the car.
One of a group of three barrows (see also Nprn’s307622 & 307623), c.42m in diameter and 1.2m high, damaged by road construction on the SW.

I visited the caves a couple of years ago with Karen and Dafydd. The caves are well sign posted from the A48 and have a large car park, shop/café, toilets etc. The visitor’s guide states that the caves have been in use since the Bronze Age. The self-guide tour is an easy walk and we were able to take the push chair all the way around – about a 45 minute walk.
All in all we spent a good afternoon here.
A visit I would recommend.

In the same field as Ballymote standing stone (90 metres away), directly in front of the field gate is this Barrow. Covered in the dreaded gorse and various bushes. It is approximately 2 metres high and 10 metres across. I didn’t venture into the field, choosing instead to observe from the gate.

Following a serious hammering by the Aberdeenshire weather upon Cairn O’Mount, this lovely, frankly bonkers RSC is just the ticket before bedtime. Despite no let up in the downpour.

I first came here back in June 2004, and I’m pleased to say that the intervening years have not eroded the charm of the place, set within a forestry clearing, one bit. That’s right, not one bit. Unfortunately, however, like the aforementioned cairn, the Nine Stanes are too accessible to have escaped the ravages of the modern world. In the stone circle’s case, it is moronic ‘happy campers’ who are no doubt responsible for the damage, the all too clear remains of a campfire defacing what Burl describes as ‘one of the most splendid of all central spaces’ within the internal ring cairn. Indefensible, even for the most myopic of creatures. I hate to think what might happen should I ever stumble upon such a scene in progress... let’s hope it never comes to that, eh?

The monument is one of the most idiosyncratic I’ve seen... consider the analogy of a group of people being passed instructions concerning ‘how to erect an RSC’ via a game of ‘Chinese Whispers’... and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Nine Stanes was the result. Having said that, to paraphrase the great Eric Morecombe, ‘everything’s here, but not necessarily in the right order’. Yeah, architecturally speaking it would perhaps be kinder to say that the Nine Stanes is in a class of its, er, own, and leave it at that. Burl cites the sort-of-central ring cairn as ‘a travesty..... a warped oval of indifferent kerbing...badly designed’, the recumbent and flankers as ‘not on the circumference..... carelessly placed’. You get the picture. But, for me, that is precisely what gives the ring its charm, its sense of innate ‘humanity’, its overwhelming vibe which no legions of ‘Carry on Camping’ muppets can remove. It doesn’t abide by the standard RSC rules and so is therefore all wrong, yet paradoxically so right at the same time. As if it was built by you and I. Burl concurs, describing the monument as ‘wondrous to behold’. Right on, Mr B!

Suffice to say I retire for the night soggy and dripping, yet more than happy I came back to Garrol Wood for another look at this punk stone circle masterpiece.

This is quite possibly one of the easiest major upland cairns to visit in the UK, being just a very short walk from the B974. Consequently – as you would no doubt expect – it’s by no means a classic, having inevitably suffered somewhat from the unwanted attentions of motor travellers ‘stretching their legs’ – if not their minds – over the years .... note however that, most unusually, there would appear to have been little removal of mass... rather the opposite, in fact, giving the cairn a rather contemporary ‘feel’, shall we say? Yeah, somehow I don’t think they used concrete slabs back in the Bronze Age, although whether these form the remnants of an OS triangulation pillar, which apparently once crowned the cairn, is a moot point.

Despite the in truly appalling conditions of driving rain, I’m joined by several passing visitors during my hour on site... the Germans, at least, quite receptive to my ‘most probably Bronze Age’ explanations. I say ‘most probably’ because, somehow, Cairn O’Mount seems almost too well positioned to be true, perfectly located to take in a truly exceptional view towards the coast to the south. Having said that, though, Canmore appears quite convinced, so more than happy with that. The other points of the compass present vistas of rounded, heather-clad hills swept by opaque clouds of vapour this late afternoon. No doubt on better days the effect is sublime, rather than brutal... but there is no denying the vibe today.

There are a number of other cairns in the vicinity, that mentioned by Drewbhoy, immediately beside the road, a fragment of its (presumed) former self. Another, St Ringan’s Cairn, downhill to the approx south [NO 6549 7944], apparently formed the base of a Pictish Cross Slab found within during 1965. Not Bronze Age, then – unless an existing cairn was ‘recycled’ – but any surviving link to the Picts should be treasured. The latter monument suggests a long standing continuity of local ritualist practice upon this high ground which has continued to this very day in the guise of a myriad deposits of flowers and more personal offerings covering the immediate environs of Cairn O’Mount. I’m normally against such things but.... well.... the examples I looked at were so heartbreakingly poignant in content – not to mention overtly Christian (which I admit was most unexpected) – as to banish any thought of negative reservations. Hey, I guess you have to (try to) cope with the loss of loved ones in any way you can.

Cairn O’Mount. Still relevant after millennia, still serving the local community.

Unlike the (not too distant) paired Caterthun enclosures, the hillfort at Finavon is not sign-posted.... consequently I made a bit of a meal of finding it, even climbing a hill to the east before establishing where it actually was. Perhaps a proper OS map would have been a good idea, then? The effort is worth it, however, since I would cite this as a very fine hillfort indeed.

Not feeling the need to ingest anything stronger than a few pints of ‘Hobgoblin’, I’m not qualified to comment upon MatThe Cat’s previous notes... except to agree that, in my opinion, Finavon certainly does possess a haunting vibe. However, as with medieval castles, the visitor should remember that – as well as this being a home – the encircling ramparts were built for a brutal reason. Yeah, ritual, prestige and ‘bling’ surely played a part, but there have been far too many discoveries of mass graves at hillforts to confirm that it was a dangerous world back then. Finavon reflects this, the rampart (according to excavations carried out in 1933-4 by Childe) originally being approx 20’ thick and 16’ high externally. A powerful defence line indeed. Of greater interest, perhaps, is the heavily vitrified nature of the wall, vitrification being the processes by which timber-laced ramparts were fused to a very hard, glass-like substance through extreme heat – i.e. fire. The key question is, of course, whether this process occurred through storming by hostile forces, or by a deliberate act to render the rampart ‘fireproof’... or even to ‘ritually terminate’ occupation when it was felt it was time to move elsewhere? Dunno. Obviously....

Finavon remains a powerful enclosure – even factoring in what I think may be some significant internal quarry damage to the west (?) – further protected by a ‘barbican-like’ outwork to the east. A prominent internal feature is a very large cistern-cum-well. So the water supply was sorted, then. The views are excellent, particularly looking out across the coastal plains to the north, although that towards the Hill of Finavon itself isn’t bad, either. Despite – or possibly even enhanced by – the wind, the vibe is great – nay, superb – thanks in no small measure to the absence of any other visitors. No doubt a perceptive visitor to the site will sense an aura combining a feeling of well-being and of melancholia. But isn’t that to embrace the human experience itself? I believe it is.

To reach Finavon leave the A90 as indicated (the village is signposted), head uphill and park by a wooden 4-beam gate on the right-hand side of the road, just beyond a track on the left with double wooden gate. Go through the double wooden gate (past a tree with fine root structure) and head uphill to the right through a gap in the deer fence. Head towards, then past a telecom antenna and keep going...

Yesterday’s Balmuick visit was the reason I returned to Loch Turret this year, thoughts of climbing Choinneachain Hill to see its ancient cairn placed firmly upon the ‘maybe’ list, the possibility of acting upon them seemingly deteriorating as rapidly as the weather which assaults the car during the night.

However dawn brings some rays of sunlight – literally – although a patchy, white mantle coating the western flank of Glen Turret does counteract the hopeful vibe somewhat. Hmm. Snow in late May? Thought it was a bit chilly last night, but blamed it on getting old, you know? As the estate warden does his daily ‘rounds’ I decide to postpone Aberdeen for yet another day and have a go. Onward! For all Sassenachs and Kenneth IV! (well ‘Braveheart’ wasn’t exactly true, either....) The way appears straight forward enough, the Allt Choinneachain having conveniently carved a deep gulley in the mountain, the left hand flank of which – as viewed from the dam – promises a nice, natural line of ascent. Initial impressions, however, are often misleading in this game, the hillside rising above the eastern shore of Loch Turret actually cloaked in a thick covering of knee deep heather concealing hidden drops. Yeah, this is far from an easy skate, despite the mountain’s ‘modest’ (in Scottish terms) 2,582ft altitude. As I jump the Allt Choinneachain, its cascading course leads the eye unerringly northwards towards my objective. The crags of Creag Dhearg are soon reached, complete with what I assume to be a prominent glacial erratic and small (modern) cairn, not to mention superb views of Loch Turret and Ben Chonzie. To the north another, larger cairn crowns the western apex of the mountain. A well built effort, the modern origin of it is sadly betrayed by the lack of any underlying cairn spread. The real deal – Cairn Coinneachan – lies to the approx east, rising beyond wetland, the source of the aforementioned Allt Choinneachain, no less. A winding, substantial track ensures dry feet although, to be honest, it does detract a little from the wildness of this mountain plateau. As if to compensate, a series of increasingly frequent hail showers proceed to provide a violent tailwind for the final approach.

The monument isn’t the most impressive I’ve seen – not by a long chalk – even if the frankly awesome Tinto cairn is discounted. Canmore gives its dimensions as ‘A circular cairn 18.0m in diameter with a general height of 1.2m; a shepherd’s cairn, 0.20m high, stands on top’. Nevertheless still pretty substantial and interestingly, clearly sited so as to NOT quite give superb views into Corrie Barvick. It’s not located at the mountain’s summit, either, but a little below, to the approx south-east (the summit itself is crowned by a rather pathetic effort). Nonetheless the view from the cairn across the Creag Chaisean is sensational to these eyes. To the north-east a fine cliff-line, known as Blue Craigs, cradles a waterfall forming the nascent Barvick Burn. Another one. The water association may, of course, be coincidental... but, well.... wouldn’t it be great if these cairns were originally sited in reference to life springs?

The hail showers morph into a full on snow storm... but what an atmosphere this mountain top cairn possesses, the ‘shepherd’s cairn’ perched upon the significant footprint of its ancient forerunner providing at least some lee shelter. Eventually I begin my descent, via the obvious track crossing Creag Chaisean, which would also provide a somewhat easier alternative ascent than mine. Looking back, the Cairn Coinneachan stands in silhouetted profile above the beautiful glen of the Barvick Burn as, ignoring a left hand fork, I leave the track a little way beyond (where it begins to swing to the left)and slowly descend to Loch Turret once more. The view up the glacial glen cradling the reservoir is outstanding... OK, the original, natural loch is now long engulfed... but it is tempting to think that water, in all its forms, has held major significance here for millennia.

Stunning location less than a mile from Claggan Court tomb (thanks for the land owner there for informing me about this site) Tory island is visible from the top of the hill, spent two hours relaxing here, wonderful place and as with the court tomb down the road, easy access

Founded by Saint Connell in the 6th century the island of Inishkeel is accessible by foot at low tide, Inishkeel lies just off the village of Naran, you should have about two and three hours to walk around here before the island gets cut off again, the site in question lies near the sandbar at the east side of the island.
The site contains the ruins of two churches, a walled graveyard with some wonderful carved slabs and stones

[Sorry Bogman. Although interesting this is rather too modern for TMA unless you can give it some prehistoric provenance.

TMA Ed.]

This would be a wonderful small and compact circle of seven stones all less than a meter in height if the stones still stood but lovely it still is. The circle is on the eastern side of Knock Hill, a major landmark in Moray, looking over to the Hill Of Cairns and Edingight (home to a cairn).

Leave the A95 after Glenbarry taking the first minor road north, marked Edingight. About 1/2 a mile along this road I pulled over and walked north on a forestry track. Keep looking to the edge of the trees and eventually a blue fence climb will be spotted. Over this and head to the north west corner of the clearing.

Sadly I wasn’t the first person here today. Somebody on one of these four wheeled cross country motor bike thingies had made straight for the circle and driven thru the middle of it. Somewhere else, on TMA’s pages I’d read about cow damage. At least cow damage isn’t deliberate or done thru a lack of knowledge. The promised fence hasn’t appeared so incidents like this will, sadly, happen again.

Still on a night like tonight, there is no finer place to be.

Visited 17/06/2011.

As I recall, I was left with a choice between visiting this excellent site and the wondrous Dunruchan standing stones last year – a bit like Ron Greenwood having to choose between Peter Shilton and Ray Clemence, you might say? Frankly – in retrospect – I was ‘on a winner’ either way, just like the former England manager. The bizarre Dunruchan monoliths eventually got the nod... and vindicated the decision by keeping the proverbial clean sheet. And then some. Nevertheless thoughts of Balmuick wouldn’t do as they were told and stay conveniently filed away in the subconscious. Oh no. Not with an (apparently) sublime mountain backdrop like that. Nothing for it, then.

I choose as my starting point the car park below the dam holding back the waters of Loch Turret, Choinneachain Hill rising to the north, crowned by a Bronze Age cairn. Crossing the dam, the track veers south for about a mile before heading west towards distant mountains ... or hills, as the Scots refer to them. Upon clearing forestry, which initially cloaks the landscape below, the expanding views help take the edge off what is actually more of a slog than I had anticipated.... some 6km either way, in fact. To see a virtually destroyed stone circle? Hmm.... perhaps this is not such a good idea after all? The seriously isolated, and consequently somewhat forlorn-looking farmhouse of Braefordie (eventually) appears below, allowing me to fix my position. A little way further on it’s time to leave the track (which later peters out to the north-west) and descend over grass and bog, maintaining an westerly direction towards a large, circular sheep enclosure below the craggy hill of Cluain. Balmuick stone circle lies – unseen – upon the low ridge beyond, still to the west, reached by a proper green track which joins another arriving from the south.

As I clamber through deep heather to the summit a deer decides not to hang around and say ‘hello’, bounding off into the distance, whilst some bird of prey circles above, keeping a watchful eye upon the intruder. Then, there it is. A single, large stone remains erect beside several other prostrate stones. And that is that. Tiompan’s observation that the monument is probably more accurately described as a ‘stone setting’ is appropriate. However, not to put too fine a point on it, the location simply blows me away! A mountainous backdrop through more or less 360 degrees instantly elevates Balmuick into the company of the finest-sited stone circles I’ve seen to date, in my opinion even challenging the likes of Ardgroom and Moel Goedog. Awesome, particularly the serrated skyline to north-west, looking across a small loch to the waters of Carroglen and Lurg Burns rushing to join the River Lednock. I sit, buffeted by the wind, and watch the sun vie for supremacy with the dark, brooding sky, neither quite able to deliver the coup de grace. Ha! This circle may not be physically impressive... but, hell, they sure knew where to put it! According to the map two cairns lie within trees below to the west. No can do – at least not this time – since that 6km return awaits me. But it is a small price to pay for an audience with this shattered, yet – for me – magnificent ancient monument.

It would appear that the locals of the small settlement of Lawers – instead of embracing this excellent little stone circle as an integral part of their heritage – regard Machuim as, at best, an inconvenience. More fool them, I say. Since, as Mr Cope observed during the course of ‘Autogedden’, ‘there are more of us a’ coming... more like me ‘.... and the horn carver could probably make a few bob by combining parking with a little horny memento of the monument itself. With a bit of foresight, that is.

Yeah, I can only confirm previous members’ posts that parking is a downright pain in the proverbial. Even though I arrived well past business hours, ‘the horned one’ was still in his lair.... and, like Greywether before me, I was worried I might place a carving where the sun don’t shine, so to speak, if he wound me up too much. However all was not lost for, since it was evening, I felt justified in breaking a cardinal rule (for once) by parking blocking a nearby field gate [just before the Lawers sign, left side of road when approaching from Kenmore – the space BigSweetie mentions in his Miscellaneous post, I think].

Access to the monument is via two field gates (both securely fastened, albeit not actually chained shut) so I guess visitors must decide for themselves whether to seek permission from the appropriate residence overlooking the site. Or not. Whatever, don’t be put off a visit since, despite the frequent, violent downpours, I was impressed with Machuim, staying for approx an hour, I guess. The five stones remaining upright are substantial... nice ‘n’ chunky... according to Burl ‘from 3ft 7ins to 4ft 10ins’ high. Several others are now fallen, sundry debris, most probably field clearance, lying within the incomplete arc. Machuim hasn’t been treated well, that’s for sure. Nevertheless it remains upon its little mound (natural, I think), the long grass the stuff a cow’s dreams are made of. Probably.

The location is pretty good, too, with Ben Lawers rearing up impressively behind, not surprisingly in much the same way as the Kiltyrie tomb to the approx south-west. Loch Tay adds the ‘water feature’. Some water feature...

Visited 25.5.11
Well, here we are, my last site to visit on a fantastic weeks holiday in Ireland.
I started with a cracker and it is only right that I finish with a cracker.
And that is exactly what this site is.
The tomb is once more surrounded by green grass and is easily visible from the road.
It is as perfect a little dolmen as you could wish to find. Despite the nearby road the site felt very calm and standing on top of the cap stone you can see a fair distance.
I liked this place a lot – as I have liked nearly every site I have visited this week.
I sat inside the chamber for a short while and contemplated the long journey home.
I was hoping to see a few sites this week but have been very fortunate to see so many. I far exceeded my expectations and I have Karen and the children to thank for their patience.
We hope to return in two years and spend a week along the west coast.
I imagine I will find something of interest to visit……………………….

Visited 25.5.11
My last but one site visit on my week’s holiday in Ireland – and what a site!!
This is one of the ‘touristy’ sites with a large car park, information boards and a dedicated path leading to the tomb. When we arrived there was no one else there and myself and Dafydd strolled up to the tomb – which by the way is easily visible from the car park.
The capstone is very, very large – the info board says it is between 130 – 150 tonnes.
Whatever its true weight it certainly would have taken some serious shifting!
I must admit to having tried to scramble up the capstone but failed miserably – well done do those who have managed it! In the end I contented myself with sitting inside and admiring the surroundings. I did take a photo of Dafydd sitting on the upright in front to the tomb which is now on my desk in work and I am looking at whilst typing this site report.
As we were about to leave a coach load of American tourists arrived who managed to walk to the tomb, take photos and get back on the coach before we had even managed to get back to the car!
This is one of the most famous prehistoric sites in Ireland – and quite rightly so.
A ‘must visit’ when in the area and a site very easy to access.

Visited 25.5.11
Just down the road from Athgreany and equally worth a visit.
You can park next to the field where the stone circle is and it is only a short, flat walk.
(The circle is visible from the road)
As with nearly every site I have visited in Ireland I had the place to myself (Newgrange excepted of course!)
There is an information board, brand new wooden stile and fencing which takes you to the circle.
The grass was knee high and there were lots of bluebells about which helped compensate for the wind and rain.
The bank around the circle is about 0.5 metres high and the tallest stone about 2 metres high.
The stone which (to me anyway) was the most interesting was the one with 5 grooves cut into it. I assume this was to split the stone as there is another stone just outside the circle with 7 grooves cut into it which has clearly split that stone. The cut forms an arc in the stone.
There as a jumble of 5 large fallen stones in the centre of the circle.

Visited 25.5.11
We parked in a small lay by and I walked over the wooden stile towards the information board. (The site is signposted – Pipers stone circle)
It was a good start to the walk to the stone circle – some kind soul had started to kill off the dreaded gorse in the field approaching the stone circle!!
(I hate gorse!)
As I walked up the hill I thought I could see the tops of the stones starting to appear – only to realise that they were in fact sheep!!
The weather had taken a turn for the worse and it had started to rain, with increased wind.
Undeterred I spent a fair bit of time here admiring the stone circle – it really is a cracking site.
Several of the stones are very large, one above head height.
There is a large quartz outliner that appeared to have a groove across the top?
This is another easy site to access and yet another that is well worth a visit when in the area.

Visited 25.5.11
This is an easy site to visit with a place to pull in right next to the field in which the stone circle stands. A quick hop over the fence and a short walk and you are there.
I counted 29 stones which were more boulders than standing stones. The field was full of sheep and two lambs were standing on top of one of the stones!
Over the far side of the field was a bull which I didn’t notice until I was making my way back to the car. Luckily he either didn’t see me or didn’t take any notice of me!
This is a lovely little circle and well worth a visit when in the area.

Canmore (A S Henshall 1972) cites this as a ‘possible long cairn..... measuring 105’ along the ENE-WNW axis, and about 5’ high. Across the E end it is about 30’ wide, across the centre it is about 38’, and about the same across the W end’. Now I’m all for pragmatism – realism, even – and fully understand that, in the absence of dateable finds obtained through excavation, we’ll never be certain of the prehistoric ancestry of any monument.... but – bearing in mind the dimensions quoted – perhaps having the mother of all clearance cairns located in this fine spot above the River Lyon is rather more unlikely than the ‘real thing’? Perhaps.

The more-or-less dry morning at Na Carraigean becomes a volatile (very) late Spring afternoon of sunshine and violent showers. For some reason this long cairn has never really fired my imagination enough to spare the time for a visit before, although in retrospect this was perhaps due to the remnants of dyke somewhat obscuring form when viewing from the road. Not that this is a viable excuse, since it’s possible to park nearby and gates at either end of the field are (currently) both unlocked. Easy, then. What’s more this small effort will reveal a quite upstanding, substantial long cairn, looking for all the world like a long barrow in its ‘grassed-over’ state. OK, as Greywether notes, there is no hint of a chamber, but the setting, within a fertile valley surrounded by hills, is about as good as you could wish for. The course of the River Lyon is mostly obscured by trees from the long cairn.... however to my mind the pieces of the jigsaw are all in place.

Let’s just say you would have to be a first class muppet to (allegedly) wash your hands of this gorgeous landscape for the sake of a bit of power in Palestine. Mentioning no names....

Attempted to visit this fine – very fine – four poster last year.... only to find the Allean Forest ‘closed due to forestry operations’. Ha! Be warned. You wouldn’t exactly expect a forest to be closed, would you? No matter, since Clachan An Diridh saved the day then and, furthermore, gave me the opportunity to return with a more cunning plan than I had at the time, that of simply blundering through the forest on a compass bearing. Approach via Glen Fincastle! Yeah, that’ll work. Surprisingly... it does.

Glen Fincastle is reached by a signposted, minor road from the B8019 some way east of The Queen’s View (past the hotel and dam, that is). I follow said road through the sleepy valley to the farm house of Chapleton, the occupant readily agreeing to my request to park ‘so as not to block the road’. Nice one. Clearly not local, he reckons his girlfriend will be interested to know about the circle. Some guys have all the luck, eh? The road veers to the right, but I carry straight on along a rough – although no doubt still driveable – track heading west past the farm of Drumnagowan, arriving eventually at the cluster of buildings know as ‘Edintian’. Here a green track continues westwards to ascend to the forest-line, the retrospective of the glen well worth pausing a moment or so to take in, complete with a peak very reminiscent of my beloved Moel Siabod rising on the skyline. The path veers left, goes a little ‘serpentine’ for a distance, and then resumes a westward heading. Ignore a sharp, obvious left hand turn some way along and, just before the track begins to descend – having passed high ground to the right – take a relatively obscure green track to the approx north-west (right). The lovely little four poster should appear before you.... as it did for me.

Jeez. It’s a beauty, in every possible respect, the skyline to the west-south-west(ish) dominated by the seriously enigmatic Schiehallion, the mountain rising above (apparent) Gladman ancestral lands in the vicinity of Loch Rannoch. The circle stones themselves are not that tall – although those familiar with other upland ‘circles may well disagree, relatively speaking – but are nevertheless of substantial girth, shall we say? An unusual feature – for me, anyway – is the placement upon a quite significant artificial platform, or mound, even, with traces of possible kerbing visible here and there. However it is the location which ‘pushes all the right buttons’ for me. You know, I sometimes think I eulogise a little too much about sites such as this? Perhaps. However assuming some monuments were intentionally placed at locations as exquisite as Na Carraigean to achieve a desired ‘reverential’ – if not awestruck – response in a visitor, who am I to argue when I’m caught ‘hook, line and sinker?’ It’s a fair cop, guv’nor. Yeah, this isolated four poster has me truly ‘bang to rights’. Well worth the effort, especially when you can keep ‘forestry bashing’ to a minimum with an approach from the east, too. Top hang.

This 18 foot tall square pillar is visible for a good distance and is located in an old graveyard 2 miles outside Ballycastle and is pre Christian