Latest Fieldnotes

This cist/ring/kerb cairn has been badly robbed thru the centuries but still exists in the lovely location Tollohill which overlooks the River Dee. As canmore says (see links) some stones are scattered, some are missing whilst others remain intact. The capstone is worth a look itself.

This was the perfect remedy for a rather hellish Sunday. Just to the south of Aberdeen take the South Deeside Road, B9077, then take the first minor road south marked Banchory-Devenick. One mile on and the car park for the Tollohill Wood walks can be found. Take the south most path and head north/downhill the cist is next to the path, to the left. To be fair whoever looks after these paths should be congratulated after the winters battering they are in remarkably good condition just like the cist.

Visited 28/2/2011.

This standing stone is about 200 yards into a large farmers field. It sit’s into a slight dell, and is very hard to spot from any road.

There are a few ways to get to the stone…

The first way is through the paths than run through Camore Wood (Forestry Commission). There’s a public car park to the South of the wood on the Cuthill road, but you’ll need a map to find your way through the forest paths – but it’s a nice way to bulk out the walk.

Another way is via the main road out of Dornoch heading towards the A9. As you leave the main part of Dornoch keep your eyes to the left of the road, you’ll pass along the edge of a estate of new houses, then shortly after a lone farm – after this, as the road climbs a little, look for a very small sign on the left marking a footpath and a gate in the wall. Beside the gate is a rough, unofficial pull in for one car. Park up, go through the gate and keep heading south for a few yards, through a pretty copse of trees. You exit on a wide footpath, head right towards the edge of Camore Wood. You’ll shortly catch sight of the top of the stone in the field on your left. About two thirds along this path is a wide gate into the field, where you can enter the field without getting tangled in barbed wire. The stone is clearly visible. The field currently has a large flock of sheep in it, so best not to take dogs.

The stone itself is very odd – the south and north faces look like they are made of two entirely different types of rock (well to my untrained eye at least).I t’s well over 8 feet tall, but has developed quite a lean to the North, which along with it’s tapering shape make it feel like it could topple at any time.

In the past when I have visited the field has been smooth pasture, but this year it’s been ploughed to within 2/3 feet of the stones base to plant turnips for the livestock.

I wouldn’t normally post pics of rocks with single cup marks but as I hadn’t found anything new for 11 weeks or so ,the longest dry spell for years , I felt like celebrating . Single cup marks are only really appreciated by real anoraks but they are important in that they are the minimal amount of marking required for something to be considered rock art . So when it come to the usual question of , what does it mean ? it doesn’t leave a lot of room for creativity/bollocks . Maybe it is a recording of a monadic vision that was so powerful that was all that was required , it echoes down the years in the phrase heard everywhere in the north ” It’s a’ wan son” . On the other hand maybe the drugs were crap (cut with rock dust ?)
Altogether there four rocks with single cup marks .There were other finds too ,one on an almost vertical surface is a very uncommon occurrence in open air rock art . All the rocks except one , were found on a narrow terrace of a relatively steep hillside that coincides with the most obvious route through the Glen and the exception is found at the obvious continuation of the route . The rock with the markings on the vertical face would have been facing anyone entering the glen . The first finds here were from six years ago , two pics of the most photogenic , and despite passing the area many times I never did return for a better search until yesterday .

Attempted to visit 25/02/2011ce.

In his book Prehistoric Rock Art in Cumbria, Stan Beckensall describes the site as “a very interesting one, seldom visited as far as I know, although it lies just off a public right of way.”

Unfortunately, it would appear that the site will probably remain seldom visited, as access to the adjacent field (from which a gate led to the site) is blocked by a (brand-new?) barbed-wire fence and padlocked field-gate. As there was no stock in either field, I might have been tempted to continue had the field-gate not been padlocked, but as it was I took the hint and just went for a walk instead.

The site can be viewed from another adjacent field to the north (technically off the right of way), but unfortunately it was too misty for decent photography.

This is a very difficult site to find as it is overgrown and in amongst jabby bushes. Several kerbs remain and I pulled back 4 clumps of turf to reveal kerbs. On the south eastern side the kerbs can be felt underfoot. It is 6 meters wide and 0.6 meters tall. It also has been hollowed out at some point. Even though there isn’t much to see there is plenty in the area. Braeneil is next door and the RSC at Castle Fraser is along the road which also has several standing stones nearby.

I parked inbetween the Greenburn and Achath farms. The hill on the east side of the road being Lumphanan Hill. Luckily enough I found old railway sleepers crossing the ditch. Over the fence, thru the field, keep to the edge of the wood (east side) and keep going until the trees thin out. Fortunately the site has a gap in amongst the jabby stuff. Climbing further up hill reveals lots of wee cairns and many rocks. Sadly no rock art was found.

Visited 26/2/2011.

This big stone is only visible from the road as you drive south going into Llanwrtyd wells on the A483, but seeing as Im usually here before sunrise Ive never seen it untill now, because I got up late, I was passing on my way to Cerrig Cynant so I made a note to stop for a peak on the way back.
So on the way back I watched out for the fieldgate with two big rocks on this side and one on the other, parked by them and jumped the locked gate.
This stone is big ! roughly squarish in section and almost nine feet tall and it’s never been added untill now, it must be the most conspicuous stone in Carmarthenshire (so long as your driving south in daylight)
I felt the stone was aligned or was at least submitting in some way to the nearby hill of Garn Dwad, either that or A483.
The muck spreader had completely covered one side of the menhir, giving it a less than attractive colour and an even more unpleasant texture.
Do not touch !!

Carn Wen is located in a big dark forestry plantation, a way through exists for those who are unfamiliar with stuff like suspension and exhausts, a road winds through the lost hillside, a maze of tracks that, judging by maps and google earth shift back and forth like the staircase at Hogwarts.
We drove carefully this way and that picking our way round the labyrinth carefully, but I’m afraid to say we couldnt find it, hidden as it was behind an impenatrable but protective wall of close fitting trees. Google earth, which has a good view of it, shows that if we had approached from the north an open avenue leads the way. But as if in concalation we found another cairn (of which I have posted a pic) really close to where we thought Carn Wen would be, so close that all the time I was there I was convincing myself that this was it.
Better luck next time I guess.

[visited jan 2011] As the current holder of the dubious title “closest site to my house”, I’ve been eyeing this up for a while. Stupidly I failed (again) to read tma before hand and completely missed the other smaller circle nearby. This one though was plenty for the effort, the view alone meaning I’ll be back here in the summer for a picnic.

Its a weird site and I can see why opinion had been divided over the years. Personally I’d say ring cairn, but it is reminiscent of the disc barrows in Dorset in that with not too much work it would be a small henge. Saying that the bank is very small in comparison to the larger disc barrows. Also what’s with the bit in the middle?

Plus, its large for a ring cairn, so large in fact as stu says, it would be the best in the peaks. I can’t recall any stone walls about, but in my mind there is a real possibility this was an embanked circle and the stones have been pinched.

Access is ok. I picked seemingly the easiest route starting from the chapel to castleton road where there is a large layby by the bridle path. Walk along the path for 15-20 mins or so then its a 30m scramble up the slope to the site.

Rainster Rocks lies near the south western end of a chain of dolomitic limestone outcrops that start in the north east at Harboro’ Rocks moving through Longcliffe Crags and finishing at Black Rocks.
Smaller in area than Harboro’ or Longcliffe the outcrop at Rainster is impressive because of its height.
With both the outcrops to the NE having a prehistory, (Harboro’ Rocks where a Neolithic passage grave was erected and a Neolithic cave burial was located along with signs of Palaeolithic activity and Longcliffe Crags where Rains Cave is sited), I’ve often wondered about Rainster Rocks and whether they were an important part of the ancient landscape.
So over the last 5 or 6 years I’ve been searching the area around the rocks for any kind of evidence. At the south side of the rocks is a Romano-British settlement and lead rake and this is noted in the NMR.
The area is also heavily marked with Medieval ridge and furrow so any chance of finding a long lost barrow wasn’t on the cards....but what there was was a prolific amount of mole hills....so I took my chance with them after successes with this method elsewhere in the Peak.
After a year or two with no success I started to take the lads up there with me to help me look....I showed them a piece of flint so they knew roughly what they were looking for and the youngest promptly went to a mole hill and recovered what looked to be a flint awl.
That was all that we found and nothing more turned up for several years until this year. Checking the mole hills this year I’ve found up to now what looks to be the rough out of a small flint axe and also a small quartzite celt (at least I think thats what they are, I’m trying to get in touch with the small finds officer at Derby’s museum to confirm my beliefs).
While I know that a couple of random finds prove nothing the rocks lie within 2 miles of the Neolithic/Mesolithic sites of Minninglow Hill and Tithe Farm, the Mesolithic site at Hoe Grange and the Neolithic sites at Roystone Rocks and Curzon Lodge.

Tirai village on the brow was long a place of Highlanders before the folly of Clearances were brought upon the people. The standing stones at her eastern edge have companions in the ancient walls across the burn.

What a fine setting these old rocks, carved in times before memory, holds the mind when mist-clad. My grandfather visited this place when he was alive and would tell me stories of people he said once lived here, in the rocks, before the time of men. There was another carved stone by the burn that I knew in younger years, but it seems to have gone.

I ‘visited’ this site two years ago when visiting Lydney Park Gardens (very nice)
The gardens are not open all year round so you see to check for opening details before planning a visit.
Parking is on a grass field at the bottom of a small valley.
Directly in front of you is the hill on which the remains of the Hillfort sit. A path to the left takes you up the steep incline to the remains of the Roman Temple which lies within the Hillfort. I know the Romans are not everyone’s cup of tea who use this site but the ruins are worth checking out – temple / bath house etc.
Unfortunately I wasn’t aware of the Hillfort when I visited so didn’t make a special effort to look for clues to its remains. The centre of the Hillfort is pretty flat and has been largely kept clear of trees etc to protect the Roman remains.
There is a pretty good museum in Lydney House although I don’t remember seeing any prehistoric items.

Visited 13.2.11.
The first of 5 local sites I visited on a grey and wet Sunday morning.
Listed on Megalithic and marked on O/S map as Tumulus.
Directions:
Situated on the western outskirts of Cardiff, take the steep road up Leckwith Hill – not far from The Cardiff City Stadium. At the top of the hill take the right turning by the phone box. Then take the next right and park near the padlocked metal field gate which has a sign on it stating ‘farm entrance / keep clear / keep out’.
Should you be so inclined to ignore said sign, this is how you locate the Barrow:
Over the gate and head for the next field gate in the top right hand corner. Go through the gate and the Barrow is next to you on the right hand side. The field hedge cuts through one side of the Barrow. The Barrow itself is about 10 metres in diameter and 0.5 metres high – basically a grass covered low mound.
Clearly visitors are not encouraged and the walk was very muddy with little to see at the end of it. One for the enthusiasts only.

Visited 13.2.11
Marked on the O/S map as Tumulus, I first saw this site mentioned on Megalithic.
Coming off the very busy and very large Culverhouse Cross roundabout, take the A4050 south and then take the minor road south west off the first small roundabout you come to. Follow this road until you come to a house called Coed Rhosyn – you can park on the grass verge without too much difficulty.
Walk up the lane which goes to the house (public right of way) and when you arrive at the house you will see a wooden stile taking you into the field. Follow the ‘path’ and what is left of the barrow is in the second field you come to. The first field was used for grazing although the second field had been completely ploughed. All that is left of the poor Barrow is a low mound in the middle of the field.
Although it is an easy 10 minute walk from the road to the Barrow I wouldn’t bother as there is very little to see. Go to St Lythams and Tinkinswood burial chambers instead!

Visited 13.2.11
Marked on the O/S map as Tumulus, I saw this site mentioned on Megalithic.
Not far from the St Fagans Museum of Welsh Life which is an excellent place – well worth a visit (free entry) and has a replica Iron Age village and wooden circle/henge – amongst many other fine buildings.
Directions:
Take the minor road west out of St Fagans to St Brides Super Ely. Just before entering the village take the turning on the right signposted Parc Coed Machen Country Cottages (brown sign). Follow the narrow lane uphill and park near Pen Onn / Sant Y Nyll houses. Opposite the houses is a public foot path which leads to a pretty ruined windmill (5 minute walk) – easily seen across the field. Once you get to the windmill, go through the field gate below it (near the trees and other ruined building) and go into the next field. The Barrow is on the high point to your left.
The Barrow itself is 20 paces across and 0.5 metres in height.
It is strange how on the one side of the Barrow was a tranquil ivy covered ruined windmill and on the other a busy, noisy main road (A4232). I prefer the windmill side!
Easy site to access but very muddy walk in places.

‘Visited’ 13.2.11
I first became aware of this site after seeing it mentioned on Megalithic.
I think I viewed the Barrow across the fields between the houses although there was no chance of a closer look due to the area being fenced off. It appeared no more than a low mound – virtually ploughed out. Not worth the effort in all honesty. On the plus side it is very close to both St Lythams and Tinkinswood burial chambers which are most definitely worth a visit!

The Alter stone lies just above the ground surface in the middle of Stonehenge.

The Altar Stone (80) is the largest of all the ‘foreign stones’ at Stonehenge. It is a rectangular recumbent block of sandstone, 16 ft. long by 3.5 ft. wide by 1.75 ft. deep, embedded in the earth so that its top is level with the surface, about 15 ft. within the central sarsen trilithon.

Two fallen members of this trilithon now lie across it (stones 55 and 156), and their weight has probably pressed it down to its present position. Like the adjoining bluestones, it has been carefully dressed to shape, but its exposed surface is now considerably abraded by the feet of visitors.

[visited jan 2011] This is a weird melange of an earthwork added to by the somewhat surreal landscape immediately behind it of what’s left of eldon hill. The focus seems however to be to the west and south as that is where the landscape opens up.

According to the HER this is a bronze age round barrow on top of a neolithic long barrow. Both are obvious upon inspection, the long barrow very denuded, the round barrow somewhat damaged presumably by excavations in the 18th and 19th century. Without guidance though this could be a round barrow simply spread out in one direction. The round barrow is large and I saw a few larger stones poking through on top, presumably from the two cists which were found in the 19th century.

The barrows themselves seem similar to the injected barrows at various henges about the land including the one at Arbor Low. A new religion interposing itself onto the old perhaps.

Access is over a stile, through a gate and easily accessibly from the nearest road along a muddy track/footpath.

February 19th – belated Imbolc visit to Swallowhead Spring.

Today I was out at Avebury with a couple of friends and a young Cambodian man who was visting from London for the day. We did the Henge, Silbury and WKLB – refreshing to see this fabulous landscape through a visitor’s eyes. Coming back from WKLB we did a detour over to Swallowhead Spring – the subject of tying ribbons on trees at ‘sacred places’ came up with our Cambodian companion. He said this is common practice in Cambodia and is now used as a means of protecting trees from being chopped down. The Cambodians are deeply religious in the Buddhist sense and if a tree is deemed a ‘spirit tree’ it will not be touched.

The willow at Swallowhead was festooned today with ribbons and flags; springs flowing and water running fast. We made our way across the sarsen stepping stones to the stile that accesses the water meadow. This was the first time I had walked across this meadow from the spring or seen the Kennet from this perspective.
Very lovely, and yes, it did feel sacred.

To get here instead of going back to the Tap O Noth car park I headed east following the heather/park line which leads straight to the cairns. A walk of about 1 mile it involves a few fences otherwise under foot conditions are good. To get back to the car I wandered down onto A941.

Newseat 2 is only a few meters north of it’s neighbour but somehow I missed the first time I visited this place. It is in a badly ruined state tho some kerbs survive on it’s southern side. At 7 meters wide and 0.4 high the cairn is grass covered and hollowed out. Magical views especially in winter time.

Visited 17/2/2011.

Half way up the Tap O Noth a massive rock can be seen. It is named after St. Moluag who was a missionary. It is a good 500 yards from the path across boggy heather and many potholes. Nobody would have disturbed him up here and he most certainly would have enjoyed the views. Windy tho!

Visited 17/2/2011.

From the centre of Rhynie take the A941 west and look for the sign post to the Tap O Noth car park. The first stage of the path is grassy and boggy then turn west. At the moment the path is now a mud bath thanks to the construction of a man made lake. After a 1/2 mile of this the path turns north and starts to climb and improve. This is on the sheltered side and there still is a lot of snow on the path but as the path goes to the front of the hill the snow lessens.

The summit of the Tap O Noth supposedly an extinct volcano, the 2nd highest hillfort in Scotland, has a rampart surrounding it. On the southern side the rocks are vitrified. The reason for building it is obvious – the all round views. To the north the fort at Durn Hill, to the eastern side various hillforts including Wheedlemont, Cairnmore, Dunnydeer, Hill of Christ’s Kirk and Mither Tap can all be seen.

This is a very pleasant climb, steep in bits but the weather is changeable. Today the climb was fine but on the next hill north a blizzard raged as can be seen in some of the pics.

Visited 17/2/2011.

I visited this site a couple of years ago. Although there are two stones marked on the O/S map I could only find one. The O/S map shows two public footpaths through the field in which the stones stand although they are not there in reality! (At least not when I visited!).
After battling through brambles and bushes I arrived in the field next to the house which appeared to be used as some sort of ‘waste ground’. There was dumped material all around!
From what I remember the stone I found was about 5ft high and looking a little sorry for itself amongst the rubbish.
Directions: Take the B4281 west out of Bridgend and park where you can near the Cefn Cross junction. Careful, this is a busy little road.
I plan another visit as soon as I can to try to locate the other nearby stones. I will report back!

Tillyching 2 NJ60160499

This is a well shaped and turf covered cairn. It survives at 6m wide and 0.6m high. From Tillyching 1 go through the nearby gate and turn left.

Visited 10/2/2011.

Revisited 8/6/2017.

Tillyching 3 NJ60140498

The last time I visited here I couldn’t find the third cairn as the site was covered in vegetation. This time it was much easier to find. Somehow the jabby stuff had gone to reveal several small kerbs still in situ. It stands at approximately 6m wide and is no more than 0.4m high.

Visited 8/6/2017.

From Lumphanan I walked east along the A980 until the second farm track heading north. Once again it was hard to believe that on Tuesday this area was under 2-3 inches of snow. However the much improved conditions, it was sunny (very), had melted most of it away. Take the track going up the hill which leads past Tillyching farm following the edge of aqwood. Keep going until the track, more like a stream, runs out. To the east there is another wood follow the fence, climb the gate and the cairns are in front.

Tillyching 1 is quite easily spotted as the circular pile of stones isn’t grass covered. Sensible farmworkers rebuilt the cairn after it’s excavation in the 1800’s. It now stands at 41/2 meters wide and is 0.9 meters tall. The views are spectacular looking over to the Highlands and down Deeside. Being a Spring like day it was also nice to see plenty of snowdrops growing amongst the trees.

Visited 10/2/2011.