Latest Fieldnotes

Unless you are walking Harland Edge then there’s not a lot to make you want to find this cairn. It’s roughly 5x4m in diameter and just visible above the scrub and heather.
From its position just below Harland Edge proper I would say it’s more than likely related to the settlement on Harewood Moor or perhaps one below the ‘edge’ itself rather than those on Beeley or Gibbet Moor.
Excellent views south over the remaining Eastern Moors to the White Peak in the south.

Small area consisting of a cairnfield and linear field clearance just about visible above the moorland grass a couple of hundred metres from the Millstone Sick. The NMR states that a house stance/platform is also visible but I couldn’t find or make that bit out for certain.

The NMR also records the possibility of a stone circle on Harewood Moor. In his books John Barnatt does not mention it however, and my search of the area has yielded nothing up to now.

In all the remains are not really worth the effort of a special journey, although the boundary stone that stands in an improved field and is known from the 16th century perambulations as Shirle Forke, approx. SK305670 and engraved with crosses is worth checking out in itself.

There are said to be 6 small cairns here, 2 of which are said to be definitely funerary because of their formal lay out i.e kerbs and dished interiors, but the area is so overgrown in thick heather or last years bracken that there is nothing to be seen on the surface.
Approximately 300m from the cairn at Fallinge Edge.

As Postman says very overgrown now...only two of the cairns remain visible and a small section of the kerbstones.
The rectangular setting nearby is now completely heather covered.

It’s not really worth the effort of the 800m or so rough and wet moorland crossing from the Raven Tor Triple Cairn to this small funerary cairn on Fallinge Edge.
It’s hard to tell whether the cairn’s been excavated at some time in the past or not. Although some of the stone has been robbed, no doubt when the nearby quarries were working, as half the cairn is only discernable from the ring of kerbstones that remain.
Around 7m in diameter and perhaps 0.4m in height.

Visited 24.2.11
As part of my on-going ambition to visit all 401 English Heritage sites I called in on Beeston Castle. I had no idea about its prehistoric founding but was pleasantly surprised when reading the guide book which has 3 pages on this (pages 19, 20, 21). This includes photos of flint arrowheads and bronze axe heads found at the site.
It is a bit of a steep climb up to the top of the castle (well it is when you are carrying a 3 year old!) but the view makes it well worth the effort.
The views really are stunning.
All in all a nice place to visit. Entrance fee applies.

Rounding off the day following a long overdue visit to Dunraven, I’m sad to report that this poor round barrow has been mutilated almost to the point of destruction. Hey, ho. Bearing in mind the complete lack of protection afforded the monument from the users of the nearby minor road – not to mention reports of the apparent aggressive/ignorant ‘attitude’ of some local landowners (one of whom, a sour-faced old bint, tried unsuccessfully to force me off the road as we passed) – I guess this is no great surprise.

Nevertheless worth a quick look if/by taking the ‘short-cut’ across the coastal hills from St Brides Major to Ogmore, via Norton (the site of crop-marks indicating an apparent causewayed enclosure, no less)

Slowly it dawns upon me just how special this Glamorgan coastline really is.... although, to be fair, the prehistoric treasures are not exactly obvious, particularly in the absence of an OS map. And again, who in their right mind would shell out for one covering the urban sprawl of Bridgend? Indeed. Nevertheless it would be a fine investment, as even a cursory glance at my newly purchased ‘library sell-off’ copy confirms. Numerous round barrows apart, a whole string of cliff/promontory forts are shown crowning the coastline. Duh! Only been visiting the Mam C here for 25-odd years....

Perhaps the most accessible of these Iron Age enclosures is that which overlooks Dunraven Bay, a little south-east of the seaside town of Ogmore-by-Sea and its near neighbour Southerndown. A newly refurbished road heads southwards from the latter (according to the Mam C the original was in dire danger of falling into the sea) to its terminus at a large ‘official’ carpark, a magnet for the locality upon those hot summer days which sometimes occur in South Wales. Today, with a hint of drizzle hanging in the air – or is it sea mist caused by the violent pounding of the cliffline by breakers? – there are still a fair few people about, walking dogs and what not. The majority head for the remains of Dunraven Castle, the ruins of a rather dodgy mansion which defile the north-eastern flank of the much older enclosure, presumably having destroyed the defences in that area.

The Mam and I, of course, head for the cliff line and sit a-while upon the relatively upstanding northern ramparts which still bar the direct approach from the car park. OK, these aren’t in themselves that particularly inspiring.... but the setting and coastal views most certainly are! A cliff-fort upon a cliff... whatever next? Pragmatic bunch, these ancient inhabitants of what was later to become Wales. The map shows additional ramparts to the south facing any approach from Trwyn y Witch (see Rhiannon’s post), although these are – to my mind – nowhere near as obvious. We go for a wander down to the aforementioned Trwyn y Witch... from here the cliff line is simply magnificent, the strata comprising the vertical rock faces, compressed and buckled by primeaval forces too powerful to even contemplate, rising above a raging malestrom of water. Fishermen have apparently been swept off this coastline to their deaths, and it’s not difficult to see why. Incidentally legend tells of how locals used to lure shipping onto the lethal offshore rocks, which are a prominent feature of these waters, in order to collect the resultant booty. Today surfer dudes brave the waves in search of spiritual enlightment.

The iconic coastline stretches away to the south-eastern horizon and, according to the map, bears numerous other Iron Age fortifications upon its dizzy heights – the nearest just a little along at Cwm Bach. Well there you are. Just when I thought the ‘list’ was diminishing....way to go, TMA’s Carl. The Mam is captivated by a bird of prey which perches upon a post to keep its beady little eyes upon us. Perhaps the greatest compliment I can accord Dunraven is that such a creature does not appear at all out of place here.

I tried to visit the barrows today and found the site very overgrown (mostly with holly) and access was very difficult to the point where I left without getting a look at the barrows.

The footpath from the road runs next to Grim’s Ditch which can be seen where the undergrowth (or overgrowth!) is less dense but the barrows are on private land and I didn’t want to spend too much time battling through the bushes.

Forming the final visit to a triumvirate of long barrows today – and preceded by the mighty Crippets and evocative Coberley – Lamborough Banks was, in retrospect, perhaps on a hiding to nothing in the Gladman appreciation stakes.

The unusual nature of the visit to come was perhaps foretold by a village sign along the B4425 duly announcing ‘Barnsley’.... now my route finding is bad, granted. But not that bad, I’d have thought? It’s not, the Ablington turn off at Bibury leading me past the former to an seemingly abandoned farm within trees to the left of the minor road. With no sign of a farm house (that I could see) and a deserted commercial concern of some description to my right, I decide to go walkabout down the seriously muddy track, veering right as suggested in previous posts. Sure enough, a break in the trees heads left past a large enclosure of chicken wire.... and there it is. A seriously overgrown long barrow.

And I mean seriously overgrown, a single orthostat upon the southern end of the mound all but consumed by brambles. So then, not a place to hang out unless you have a cast iron constitution... or happen to be a devotee of the Marquis de Sade. But hey, who am I to judge? Despite this, a walkabout hacking one’s way through the undergrowth reveals Lamborough Banks to be quite an upstanding monument, one featuring traces of what may well be chambers in addition to the previous mentioned stone.

And then the shooting starts.... shotgun reports to my north, south, east and.... yeah, there it goes... west. I’m surrounded by ‘individuals’ with guns, the sort who think shooting ‘things’ is fun. Oh dear. Time to leave unless I fancy a walk on/carry out part in a remake of ‘Southern Comfort’. Speaking of which, a man lurks silently in the trees as I return to the car. To be fair, however, a landrover parked in the yard suggests this to be the farmer not wishing to make a big deal. If so, I appreciate the gesture.

So, self preservation took precedence over the study of antiquity this time around – although the visit did last an hour. Come to Lamborough Banks when the guns remain silent and no doubt a great time can be had by all.

If visited following a sojourn at its not too distant neighbour, the Crippets long barrow, Coberley will always prove something of an anti-climax, I guess. Yeah, but not a disappointment.... since, although crudely dismembered by a lateral trench and subjected to numerous other horrors, Coberley nevertheless remains an upstanding, well positioned monument.

I approach from the east along what the map reveals to be the ‘Gloucestershire Way’, having parked upon the nearby minor road just before a sharp left hand descent to Coberley village. It is certainly an aesthetically pleasing approach above Coldwell Bottom to the south, the valley cradling what I assume to be the nascent River Churn? Ha! A long barrow upon a hillside overlooking a fledgling water course... whatever next?

The Gloucestershire Way veers to the south-west beside the monument, perhaps following the same contours of millennia past, an unlocked gate providing access to the long barrow itself. Once upon the barrow, the wanton damage to ancient fabric somehow becomes irrelevant – after the moral indignation has subsided, that is – as vast, billowing clouds take centre stage and raise both the visitor’s gaze and spirits (if not consciousness, but hey, one day perhaps?) to, quite literally, another level. The stratosphere itself, no less. The notion recurs.... is it just me or were these monuments designed as viewing galleries for a theatre where the very landscape itself was the stage?

Needless to say, it still is to me.

You know how it is... you love your job so much that you find yourself in the ‘use it or lose it’ annual leave situation upon entering February. How the hell did that happen. Again? So a week at The Mam C’s in South Wales it is, then. En-route, however, the usual Gladman improvisation kicks in and I arrive a little past 8am just south of Cheltenham. As you do. Ah, Crickley Hill....

However, having visited the Cold Slad some years back, I’ve my little eye focussed instead upon an apparently rather fine long barrow the Sweatcheat kindly brought to my attention a while back. A minor road leaves the A436 near the A417 roundabout and, in a short while, a bridleway leads to the left beside woodland.... where it is possible to park a car. The path, initially very muddy – hey, this is a field after all – leads gently uphill to a further belt of trees, Crickley Hill rising to my left. The long barrow lies within the field beyond to the north, the field best entered by the gate mentioned by SC in its western (left) flank.

First impressions count for a lot, or so they say. Sadly I concur.... sadly, since I’ve no doubt we miss out upon so much which is not readily and immediately apparent at first glance. But not here. One glance is enough to completely entrall this early morning visitor, a classic copse of trees surmounting what appears to be a very substantial long barrow indeed. For once a foreshortened aspect does not deceive – not in the slightest. Horses grazing the surrounding pasture approach to check out the intruder and – apparently satisfied – resume what horses do best. Hey, perhaps that ‘horse whispering’ stuff actually works? Or perhaps I simply told them to ‘piss off’ in horsey language? I hope not.

As I climb the mound and settle down for coffee the sun breaks through the morning mist, sending well defined shadows of monument and tree line across the field. The moment resonates with abstract meaning I cannot define....

The long barrow is in pretty good nick, it has to be said, despite some obvious damage at the eastern end where, presumably, a chamber was once located? Not sure whether this was the result of ‘excavation’ or treasure seeking muppets, but needless to say the end result was the same. The visit turns into a full morning hang, the munching horses adding to the aura of calm and well being here. No reason to leave.

N.B – According to the OS map a ‘tumulus’ lies a little way to the approx south of the long barrow. Perhaps I’m not that perceptive, but it would appear very little remains save an almost imperceptible rise. If this is not the case, I guess the former applies!

This is a single round barrow south of the group in Puddletown Forest which in cludes the Rain barrows. It is situated on farmland, north of Boswell’s Plantation, just off the heathland which used to stretch all the way to the New Forest. Just off a farm track, it is on private land and can be seen from the road and from the large round barrow south of the Rainbarrows. It appears to be in fair condition and of medium size.
The hedgerow goes over the middle of the barrow.

From Lyneham Long Barrow we walked in a more or less straight line along the Darcy Dalton Way to Sarsden then onto Churchill.
Just as you walk up into the village across the lovely Sars Brook the moss-covered remains of what may have been a chambered tomb stand at the entrance to the Old Rectory on the right hand side of the road. Stones on either side of the driveway – the village church of All Saints was just in view behind the larger stones resonating with the Cove at Stanton Drew.

We concluded our day out Oxfordshire trip to look at the ‘other stones’ by sitting in the now warm spring sunshine on the bench outside the church. Next to the bench is a magnificent line of standing limestones .. intriguing indeed.

Once again, many thanks to Ocifant for posting this information on The Heritage Journal thus facilitating a truly memorable stony day out.

Four miles west of Chipping Norton at the side of the A361. We parked by the sign pointing to Chadlington and Chilson and walked back to the barrow across a field. The most striking thing about it was the large standing stone which is now separated from the barrow by a barbed wire fence (evidence of sheep but none in the field today). We walked along the corner of the field and climbed over a wooden bit of the fence to gain access to the barrow. A tangle of moss covered stones littered about, the barrow is now completely covered with either hawthorn or blackthorn bushes.

We parked on the Charlbury Road to visit this enchanting scheduled ancient monument – the remains of a what must have been a magnificent chambered tomb perhaps once on a par with Waylands Smithy. One very large stone and a few smaller ones, it stands within a Cotswold stone enclosure surrounded by holly trees. The overall impression was one of dark green coolness. A place of tranquillity in spite of the nearby busy road.

A tall stone, leaning rather than standing, against a Cotswold stone wall opposite the stone cross in the centre of the lovely little village of Taston. After spending some time with the stone,we went down the steep narrow lane and by chance came across a spring spilling into a pool that fed a fast flowing stream. The cottages by the spring were called Thorstone Cottage and Spring Cottage respectively (a Victorian monument circa 1869 stands next to the spring-head).

Part of Ocifant’s Tour of the Other Stones in Oxfordshire.

With acknowledgement and thanks to Ocifant for his notes elsewhere, we did his tour of the ‘Other Oxfordshire Stones’ on this bright and beautiful day. I met my friend in Highworth and we headed off in the direction of Lechlade and Burford.

Parked up in the village of Dean in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds; a tranquil walk along a sunlit country lane, tranquil with birdsong, until we came to a gap in the hedgerow. The Hawk Stone was clearly visible from two fields away – we followed the field boundaries until we came to a way mark and another hedge gap. This beautiful standing stone stands proud about 8’ tall, obviously similar to the Rollrights, very holey.

Visited today, and in comparison with Hamish’s photo, the stone is currently surrounded by a three feet wide moat of mud at least ten inches deep! I hope the stone is well bedded in.

It’s obviously being used as a rubbing stone by the horses in the field – their hoof prints were much in evidence in the mud, hence the depth estimation.

Hopefully LAN will be able to do something about this when the drier weather comes. I’ll be raising it with them later this week.

Visited 27.2.11

After having a rather nice lunch in the pretty market town of Cowbridge, I managed to pursuade Karen that a slight detour on the way home would do no harm! Travelling west out of Cowbridge, take the turning south signposted Colwinston. Immediately after the turuning park as best you can near Twmpath house. The Barrow is in the trees to the left of the drive.
Covered in brambles, nettles, ivy and trees the Barrow is not that easy to spot but appears to be about 0.5 metres high and about 10 metres across.
Not worth making a special journey for but wortha quick look if in the area.

Coflein describes the site:
A much disturbed and mutilated round barrow, about 27m north-east to south-west by 20m and 1.4m high: excavations through the 19th century demonstrated that the mound, originally about 17.7m in diameter and 1.5m high, contained 13 in-urned cremations placed in a central drystone-walled enclosure; there were also five secondary burials.

I have ‘visited’ this site a couple of times in the past but have never been able to spot anything. In saying that, it has tended to be summer visits. Perhaps these Barrows may be able to be seen in the winter months?

Coflein describes as site as:
One of a pair of round barrows (its neighbour NPRN 91939 is not scheduled) lies in a pasture field immediately N of the A48.
Clearly spread by ploughing it now measures about 35m in overall diameter but its profile suggests an original diameter of nearer 25m. Nowhere does its height exceed 0.75m.
On top of the mound is a concrete plinth measuring 6m by 4m which supports a feeding trough.

‘Visited’ 18.2.11
An ‘ad hoc’ visit on my home from work. There was no rush for me to get home, the nights are starting to draw out a bit and I happened to have my O/S map in the car – reason enough to visit a new site!
It took me a lot longer than expected to find the right place to stop along the maze of country lanes to the north east or Cardiff. The lanes are narrow, have few parking places and have hedges both sides which must be about 10ft high! At this time of year it was just possible to see through the leafless hedges – you would have no chance in the summer. I eventually parked in a small passing place near the entrance to Cefn Porth Farm (on Graig Llywn road). When I walked to the entrance of the farm (which looked to be the only way to get access to the site) I was stopped by a padlocked gate which had signs on it stating ‘Private’ and ‘Warning – loose dogs’. Looking at the O/S map what remains there are of the ‘fort’ appear to be at the northern end of the field. I couldn’t see anything of note at the southern end nearest the lane.
By now it was getting dark and starting to rain. To be honest I didn’t fancy climbing over the gate and possibly being bit on the bum by a ‘loose dog’.
I decided to go home and have my tea instead!

I visited this site a few years ago – this is what I can remember:
Directions – Head north towards Penmark off the B4265 / A4226 roundabout near Cardiff Airport. Before reaching the village take the turning on the right and head towards Llancarfan. Before you reach Llancarfan take the turning on the right signposted Moulton. This road runs along the southern defences of the Hillfort.
The lane is narrow and due to a hedge there was no obvious access to the site. In the end I parked at the farm and knocked on the door to ask for permission. There was no answer although it looked as though there was someone in. I took the opportunity for a quick look.
Access is easy from the farm (I seem to remember they had their own little path up to the site?) The inner Hillfort is fenced off and there were sheep grazing when I visited. There didn’t appear to be much left of the defences although the middle of the site was pretty flat. I was conscious of being ‘spotted’ so I didn’t climb over the fence and didn’t stay too long.
I have since discovered that there is a public footpath which runs along the northern edge of the site but not into the Hillfort itself. Perhaps the defences are better preserved on the northern side?

Visited 20.2.11
This was an ‘ad hoc’ visit as the main reason I was in the area was to have a family meal in the attractive Captain’s Wife pub which overlooks Sully Island. The pub is signposted off the main road (brown sign) and there is a fairly large free car park
Following the meal I was pleasantly surprised to find the tide was still out and as luck would have it my wellies were in the boot!
It is only a 15 minute stroll across the beach to the island and you pass the rotting remains of an old ship sunk into the sand. The wellies came in handy as parts of the walk were very muddy with that grey type sludge you sometimes find at the beach.
The island is not very big and the remains of the ditches / banks can be found on the highest part of the island – left hand side when viewing from the beach. I spotted two definite banks/ditches, the first about 6ft high and the second about 5ft high. There was also a smaller bank on the outer edge but I do not know if this was man made or natural? Other than nice views over to Flat Holm and Steep Holme there is not much else I can add about my visit. Not very often I do an island field note!
Coflein records the possibility of a Barrow on the highest point but I couldn’t see any trace of it. Perhaps it has been worn away over the years?

*** WARNING ***
You do need to be careful of the tides when planning a visit. In this part of the world they come in very quickly and each year several people get caught out and the inshore lifeboat has to be called upon. Unfortunately people do occasionally drown when caught in an in-coming tide. It is perfectly safe to visit the island as long as you are sensible with tide times. If you happen to visit when it is not possible to walk out onto the island the larger ditch is easily seen from the beach.

This cairn is almost forgotten thanks to the 4 more famous cairns on nearby Tullos Hill, now 5 cairns thanks to Ian Suddaby’s discoveries. The cairn at Kincorth remains but has been half removed by the construction of a path.

The cairn itself is almost 6 meters wide and 0.5m tall. It is best preserved on the southern side. Some kerbs remain in place despite the path and the houking. It looks towards Tollo Hill on its southern side.

Going up Wellington Road, the A956, to Altens leave at the Hareness roundabout and take the sharp turn to Redwood Road, then take the first road north, Abbotswell, and find the hill walks. Once on Kincorth Hill head west, past another cairn, until the first sharp corner. Follow the walkers path west over some rocks and bogs. This will lead straight to the cairn.

Visited 28/2/2011.

Revisited 18/1/2018.