Latest Fieldnotes

‘Visited’ 29.4.11
Royal Wedding? – not for me – although the extra day off work was most welcome!
So, having taken the opportunity to knock another couple of English Heritage sites off the list, I found myself in sunny Oxfordshire.
Although there is now no sign of the Barrows which once stood here I did see a sign proclaiming Abingdon as ‘the oldest town in Britain – since the Iron Age’.
As Barrows once stood here perhaps this should be revised to ‘since the Bronze Age’?

Visited 5.5.11
Whilst holidaying in Torquay I took the opportunity to visit this Hillfort on the outskirts of Newton Abbot.

WARNING – I found this to be a dangerous site to visit due to the very busy road which runs right through the middle of the site.
Parking was difficult (found a place to pull in outside the entrance to Milber Down Farm – padlocked and barbed wire gate!
Walking back up the road was quite hairy and I had to repeatedly jump up onto the bank to avoid getting run over! (no pavement or an space to walk alongside the road)

The Southern half of the site’s defences are easy to spot – an outer single ditch/rampart about 2 to 3 metres high and an inner ditch/rampart with about the same dimensions.
The two lines of defence are separated by approximately 20 metres of flat grass.

The Northern half of the site is a different matter. Totally overgrown with trees, bushes, brambles etc. Very difficult to make anything out. With cars whizzing past my ear I decided to head back to the car – as quickly and safely as possible!

Not a place I can recommend on safety grounds.

Visited 4.5.11
This was a cracking place to visit and well worth the hike uphill from Torquay harbour. We arrived just in time for the last tour (4.00pm) and had a thoroughly good time. There were only 4 of us in the group (including little Dafydd) and our tour guide was both knowledgeable and entertaining. It is an easy walk through the caves and it reminded me a lot of Dan Y Ogof caves in Wales (although smaller). The guided tour lasted about 45 minutes.

It cost £9 for adults and £8 for children – a bit pricy to be honest.

The very good guidebook gives lots of information about the prehistoric finds from the caves.
There are some glass cabinets with finds to view including some knapped flint / pottery.
A gift shop and eating areas (inside and out) are also available.

The place to park is at Gladbach youth hostel or at the carpark three hudred yards back up the road. Go straight through the youth hostel grounds like you own the place, as the footpath goes this way you kind of do. Following the obvious path that is well trodden, with the sounds of a babbling brook to our right, bluebells up the hill to our left and the oh so welcome sound of Swifts circling about us, it should have been idillic, however I had brought both of the kids and they were all but at each others throats no matter how growly the voice I use, i’m beginning to wonder if they’ll ever get on.
The path comes to the bridge over the river, twenty yards further on it meets with another and carries on under the name of the River Dane.
From the bridge its all up hill i’m afraid up to the big tree (you’ll know it) up some more then the path turns right and takes us all the way to Castle cliffs rocks.
This, on my first visit to Luds church had me fooled as being the big gorge, especially as there is a gorge behind the rocks, and if you hadnt paid too much attention to previous information, you might be a bit dissapointed, its a really nice place, worthy of being a site on its own, but its not jaw dropping awsome. That strange face is saved for another five minutes, for just two minutes away the path branches, one carries on in the light of day but the other branches off into a low light abode of the fairies.

The entrance into this gargantuan grotto is quite small....at first, then it turns left and goes down all the way to the deepest part of the gorge, it often gets quite muddy here. If memory serves this is also diectly below where the wooden statue used to be. The walls (if your looking down ...cliffs) are totally sheer and barely six feet apart, but whilst your wondering and wandering down this twenty meter stretch
you soon get to the corner, the kink in the serpentine, and then your jaw drops.
The gorge stretches away into the distance, it’s difficult to guage how far it is, the walls are so high and steep and the far end is a lot more narrow than this end, almost like one of those optical illusions.
Not far infront of us is a young art student painting the scene, we have a nosey and decide he isnt bad, but then he has a captive and very showy muse. We pass him by hoping not to get included in his painting and start to climb, nothing strenuous or testing but it is a bit slippy.
Now the gorge splits in two, the left junction is a tight and dark squeeze to who knew where, the right junction has stairs carved into it and light is pouring through the narrow gap, I go this way the kids go the other way, and for a while it goes super natural, not supenatural just nature being super. I stand blinking in bright sunlight, a light oasis, the gorge opens and widens and in this light oasis plants just go for it, everywhere you look there are plants, ferns and mosses mostly but when they’re evereywhere it’s just stunning.
Further on the gorgre begins to peter out untill it completely stops. I get out and walk above it all trying to get a good look into the church, it’s quite impossible though, the bushes and undergrowth grow right up to the cliffs edge, I really wouldnt want to stumble upon it this way.
Only back at the entrance and above can you look down into it.

A thoroughly beautiful and well hidden jewel, well worth the walk and bickering kids, who still havent stopped now.

Visited 5.5.11
The two Barrows in the middle of the Hillfort are quite easy to spot despite the area being overgrown with ferns and brambles.
Walking in an anti-clockwise direction around the inner bank of the Hillfort, the first Barrow you come to is next to the path. It is about 2.5 metres high x 15 metres x 10 metres.
The second Barrow is only 20 metres away and is about 1.5 metres high x 20 metres x 20 metres. This is the Barrow which has the standing stone poking out the top – about 2ft x 1ft x 8 inches – covered in moss and surrounded by ferns.

Visited 5.5.11
I parked on the outskirts of Denbury village, outside some houses, in Denbury Down Lane.
Opposite is the track that leads directly to the Hillfort. DO NOT try to drive up this track.
A lovely 10 minute walk takes you up to the Hillfort; the hedgerows full of flowers, birds singing, Denbury church bells peeling away in the distance – it felt like stepping back in time!
There is public access to the site as the gate at the top of the track informs you that this is indeed Denbury Hillfort (please close the gate).
On going through the gate you are immediately confronted by a large rampart – perhaps 3 metres in height. I followed the path in an anti-clockwise direction and walked the entire circumference of the Hillfort – it doesn’t take long. There is a path which runs around the outer ditch and another which runs around the interior of the Hillfort.
The defences to the North West are the best preserved; some as high as 5 metres.
The rest of the rampart varies in height from about 2 to 6 metres in height.
There are good views to be had and I would highly recommend a visit to this site when you are in the area – don’t forget to check out the two Barrows – easy to spot.

Visited 22.4.11
On the way home from visiting the Barrows on Garth hill/mountain I took the opportunity to have a look at this Hillfort. Heading south along a minor road there is a turning on your left which is sign posted as being a dead end. You can drive right the way up the hill and there is just room enough to squeeze in at the metal field gate on your left at the top of the hill.
The field in question is oval shaped and the boundary fence seems to follow the outline of the Hillfort? The remains of the rampart only stand about 1 metre high.
Not much to recommend a visit I’m afraid although the bluebells were pretty!
Coflein describes the site:

Hillfort with damaged and partly destroyed defences originally comprising two ramparts and ditches enclosing an egg-shaped area (0.4ha) measuring 85m (NE-SW) by 60m with the entrance at the smaller (SW) end. Outer circuit largely obliterated. Bank height 2.5m max. above ditch bottom.

Visited 25.4.11
Whilst spending a sunny bank holiday with the family at Ogmore Castle (CADW) I took the opportunity (as you do) to take a look at the remains of this promontory fort.
I walked up the road from the castle car park and as you come to Ivy Cottage on your right, there is a track leading uphill. (There is also room to park a couple of cars in a lay-by – saving you the car park fee!)
Follow the track up the hill and as you reach the top (the track changes from tarmac to gravel) you come to a fork. Take the track to the left and you will see the remains of the ditch/rampart in the field across the gorge. Over the metal field gate and you are soon in the afore mentioned field.
The defences are pretty well preserved and range in height from between 2 to 3 metres – when standing at the bottom of the ditch. This was a lovely spot to visit in the warm weather and there were coastal views to be had to the south west.
It only took me 15 minutes to walk from Ogmore castle to the promontory fort – well worth the effort when in the area.

Coflein describes the site:
‘A promontory defended by a substantial bank and ditch c 90m long built across its East side’.

Visited 2.4.11
I was due to attend a Lifesaving course in Bridgend on the Saturday so I thought I would take the opportunity to check out this site whilst in the area.
Although close to Junction 35 of the M4 you do have to go through several narrow country lanes to get to the site – not too difficult.
I parked at the gates of St Mary’s church and stepped over the wooden stile of the public footpath to the left of the church.
Across the field behind the church you will see a rusty field gate to your right. From here you will see a low narrow bank on the brow of the hill which defines the remains of the enclosure.
It was surprising to see what an elevated position this site gives. Megalithic has the site recorded as a Hillfort but I suspect some sort of enclosure is more accurate?
Coflein describes the site thus:
An E-W bank and ditch define an area, c.150m NE-SW by 120m, at the NW end of a ridge, defined elsewhere by steep natural slopes.
Not a site I can recommend – very little to see. However, I had a nice visit as I got to walk through a field of newly born lambs – very cute despite the ‘April showers’.

This time young kie present so kept out to avoid the curious creatures trampling the evidence as they followed (as is their wont)

It’s an easy stroll down here from Pen-y-Beacon circle (28.4.2011). On the way, I notice a couple of low stones protruding from the turf on the east side of the road. They may be natural, but they are reminiscent of the low stones used in the circle.

Twyn-y-Beddau (“The Mound of Graves”) is a prominent barrow. It has been – and continues to be – ill-treated, but still stands 2m tall. From bits of stonework protruding through the turf it seems to be more of a cairn than its grassy appearance might suggest. It unfortunately seems to be in use an impromptu golf tee, judging by the number of plastic tees scattered around. It has also been damaged by the road that passes very close to (through) its west side. The worst damage has been caused by excavation, resulting in an unevenly slumped top.

Still, it commands extensive views across the Brecon Beacons, with a Black Mountains backdrop that would be the envy of just about any barrow. Just to the northwest across the road, in an area that has seen quarrying, are a couple more low “upright” stones, no more than a foot high, which may also be natural.

Visited 28.4.2011. Leaving Pen-y-Beacon cist, the path (an alternative route for Offa’s Dyke Path) drops away northwards, with the stone circle straight ahead.

The car park sits right next to the circle, undermining some of its atmosphere. As a site, it is also pretty much a ruin. But at an altitude of about 460m, with the ground falling away to the west and north, the views are breathtaking on a clear day. Just to add to the wonder of the circle’s location, the Black Mountains escarpment forms the backdrop to the south.

There is probably more left of the circle than a casual glance might imply though. Next to the upright (the obvious remnant), there are a number of stones. A few yards to the immediate north, a low stump protrudes from the turf which is on a similar plane to the upright, placed with the long-side at a right angle to the arc of the circle. A further low stone stands a few yards further north along the arc, with only its top breaking the surface. Apparently inside the arc of the circle, a further two flat stones are visible, presumably moved from their original positions in the arc. A square block associated with the car park has intruded itself into the circle, just to confuse matters further.

Following the projected arc round, it is quite a large circle. As I get round to the western arc, more low stones protrude from the turf, mostly placed long-side on to the circle. A few picnicers mooch about with folding chairs, looking at me askance. But I’m not the one wandering blindly through the middle of a stone circle!

On the plus side, the car park boasts an ice cream van (I have a toffee waffle cone, since you ask).

Overall, this is a lovely setting somewhat spoilt by the proximity to the parking area. But if you can ignore that (or find it empty!), the views and sense of space hold more than enough reward.

From here I head off to the nearby Twyn-y-Beddau cairn.

Leaving Y Das with mixed feelings – failure to find the barrow, exhilaration at the joyous views – I head northeast to Rhos Dirion (28.4.2011). Rhos Dirion tops the 700m mark, but is a strangely flat and featureless summit marked only with a slowly-cracking trig point. However, it does have the advantage of views of all of the highest points in the Brecon Beacons National Park, from Fan Brycheiniog in the west, past Pen-y-Fan (Corn Du hidden behind), to Waun Fach and Pen y Gadair Fawr close at hand. To the north, the patchwork fields of east Wales and Herefordshire stretch away into the distance.

The next summit, Twmpa, has much more of a “proper” summit feel to it. It is marked by a fairly unimpressive modern walkers’ cairn, which sits on a flattened stoney platform. There’s nothing on the OS (or Coflein) to indicate any prehistoric monument ever crowned this hilltop, but I am strongly reminded of the similarly-positioned cairns of Y Mynydd Du – Tor-y-Fan Foel and Fan Foel in particular. This is a terrific spot anyway, and it is very difficult to imagine that the Bronze Age people who built the cist on nearby Pen-y-Beacon (Hay Bluff) and the cairns on other Black Mountains tops would not have viewed it as a worthy place for such a monument.

From here, the ground drops fairly gently down a well-made path to Gospel Pass, the road that leads up through the mountains from Hay on Wye to Capel-y-Ffin. Across the road, the path climbs again, much more steeply and first and then – thankfully – more gently to the trig point that marks the top of Hay Bluff. The cist is right at the sharp, northern end of the Bluff. Below, the ground drops away dramatically to the ruined stone circle at Pen-y-Beacon. What an amazing place for a burial, with magificent views stretching ahead for many miles.

And it is this direction that I am taking, off the edge of the Bluff and down to the circle below.

Sited a little below and to the approx south of the Llyndwr Fawr alignment, this trio of cairns – what, just the three? – form an arguably much more substantial grouping of monuments than their summit neighbours..... much more pleasing on the eye, too.

Arranged in a north-west/south-east alignment, the central cairn of the three is the most upstanding, despite having been internally altered to form a sheep shelter. Such is life in Wales, I suppose... and at least it’s not been fashioned into the more usual criminal-idiot shelter, but something of far more practical use. Its companion, to the south-east, is also pretty substantial, albeit grassed over and bearing a central hollow, no doubt made by treasure seekers or what-not in antiquity. To be sure, I’ve seen worse, such as the final cairn of the triumvirate to the north-west. Unfortunately, this example has received by far the shortest straw in the preservation stakes, now much denuded.

Although the view of Nant Garw, to the east of the alignment, is somewhat restricted by forestry, that to the north by the bulk of the rising mountain, there’s something about this grouping of cairns that just feels ‘right’, you know? Landscape and monuments simply complement each other. The cairns just ‘tick all the boxes’ required for a fine afternoon’s hang. A local family, the husband a typical rollicking ‘outdoor type’, pass by with a greeting, the only people I encounter upon this otherwise deserted, special mountain all day. In fact, time runs out before I know it – a sure sign you’re having fun, apparently – and I’m not able to inspect the Bwlchgarw monuments following another look at the Llyndwr Fawr alignment. Another time, perhaps?

Reality bites as I descend back to the ‘goldfish bowl’ that is Abergwynfi... and the car... people staring as I approach, suggesting they perhaps don’t see many people walking these hills for the sheer fun of it. Whatever would anyone do that for? Must be English.

Easter Friday afternoon is mine to do with as I so wish. However it has to be conceded, with some justification, that a trip to the ‘industrial highlands’ of South Wales might well not be high upon most people’s lists. Nevertheless my trip to nearby Carn-yr-Hyrddod back in February has made a visit here essential. Simple as that.

The inhabitants of Abergwynfi are most probably a friendly sort, given the chance. However I decide not to risk parking beside a group of youths ‘mending’ a motorbike in the road and instead leave the car a little way to the east near a cattle grid, incidentally opposite a gate warning visitors to keep out in no uncertain terms. That’s nice..... anyway, the map shows a public footpath giving access to Mynydd y Gelli running beside the eastern extremity of the village. There’s no sign, however, and the going is very, very steep indeed. Nonetheless I crest the escarpment without problems and set a bearing for Llyndwr Fawr to the approx south. Not sure why, to be honest, since the weather’s fine. Habit, I guess, but never a bad one to develop upon the hills. Upon crossing the (dry) Cwm Ffos Griffiths, Bwlchgarw is not long coming, the landscape worthy of serious aesthetic consideration, in my opinion. In fact I feel suitably chastised for my patronising surprise. Here the map depicts not only a dyke (boundary or defensive?), but also a ‘Tumulus’. Later, perhaps?

For now I veer south-westwards (right, in other words) and once again ascend very, very steeply up the escarpment edge towards the OS trig pillar at the summit of the mountain. Here, heavy haze limits distant panoramas – where not restricted by the treeline – until several passing showers duly cleanse the atmosphere and reveal the summit plateau to be a superb viewpoint. Particularly coastwards to The Gower and approx northwards towards the mountains of the National Park, occassional wisps of smoke highlighting moorland fires sparked by the unusually dry weather of late. And moronic muppets throwing cigarettes from car windows.... it’s therefore a little disappointing at first that the NE/SW linear alignment of seven (count ‘em) grassed-over cairns are not more prominent in the landscape. In fact only that bearing the OS trig pillar is immediately recognisable as such. The others are denuded to varying degrees.... nonetheless, taken as a whole, what we have here crowning this mountain top is pretty special indeed. Why, there is even a possible eighth monument a little to the immediate south-west.

So why here, then? Perhaps this was just the nearest/most prominent hilltop to the settlement site of these people? Or then again, perhaps the rising of the Nant Garw in several springs just below and to the approx east of Bwlchgarw might have been the deciding factor? To my mind the frequency of the cairn/river source association is fast becoming too high to be dismissed as mere coincidence. A point worthy of debate, perhaps? For now, however, a further trio of cairns await discovery a little south of the summit upon Mynydd Caerau..

themodernantiquarian.com/site/13804#post-96336

This much overgrown, yet nonetheless impressive hillfort, is sited upon Greensand Ridge within The Hurtwood, an area of private woodland above Holmbury St Mary which was dedicated for public “air and exercise” in 1926, apparently thanks to the efforts of Reginald and Jocelyn Bray.... which by coincidence also happens to be my mother’s maiden name. Right on, lads!

The easiest way to access the site would appear to be – appropriately enough – via Holmbury Hill Road, which leaves the B2126 a little way past the prominent hillside church, heading south. This leads to a large off road car park, the hillfort a short walk away to the approx south-east. Obscure site this is not, although, to be fair, a bright Bank Holiday Weekend Sunday was probably never going to be the quietest. But hey, take what you can get is my motto. And I guess the somewhat comically attired ‘mountain bikers’ have just as much right to be here as I. Yeah, unfortunately an ‘official’ bike trail actually cuts through the site.

The defences are damaged, overgrown (as mentioned), yet still substantially bi-vallate to north, west and parts of the east, with a powerful single rampart to approx south-east. It would appear that only to the south, where the hillside falls away very steeply, were minor earthworks deemed necessary. Certainly not a route for a man to take if wearing any form of body protection, hands clutching weapons. Not if he wanted to live, that is.

In my opinion Spring is without doubt the best time to visit a hillfort, and Holmbury is no exception. Wild flowers colonise the ramparts, carpets of blue bells arguably forming one of these Isles’ most beguiling natural sights (there are others, but certainly not suitable for a family web-site!). It is possible to just about walk the entire enceinte of the hillfort – probably easier in winter – so such things must be done. Then there is little finer an occupation than to lie amongst the bluebells, drink some coffee and watch the ‘cycling muppets engaged in their wacky races.

A cairn (very much modern, unfortunately), ‘toposcope’ (highlighting Chanctonbury Ring, amongst other locations) and an information board occupy the very busy 857ft summit of the hill.

Yeah, I’m glad I came.

With an hour or so to spare, following an excellent visit to nearby Holmbury, I decide to drop in and see what actually remains within Deerlap Wood. Not much, probably. Wrong! Anyway, I park in the NT car park near the memorial to Samuel Wilberforce, son of the remarkable anti-slave campaigner William (and by all accounts not a patch on his dad, judging by his alleged high profile mockery of Charles Darwin). Deerleap Wood lies on the opposite side of the road, it being immediately clear by the numerous ‘Private...’ signs that the Wotton Estate landowners are perhaps intent upon following in the tradition of ‘Soapy’ Sam, not the awesome Mr Darwin. In short, there is no official access to the woods, save a public footpath linking several houses with West Lane. Every path to the centre of the wood is fronted by one of the aforementioned signs.... except one, that is. ‘Perhaps this is intentional to allow access to the barrow?’ thinks I, full of faith in human nature and progressive, forward thinking. So, with no-one around to ask, I decide to take a look.

Upon arrival, however, the somewhat oppressive vibe suggests I’m most probably being naive, so grab a few pictures and enjoy the brief presence of a superbly preserved bell barrow – complete with well defined ditch and berm (the level terrace between ditch and mound) – before making a tactical withdrawal. What a pity, eh? The Wotton Estate could gain great kudos within the community – and beyond – with a simple concessionary path ‘to the barrow only’... (think how much excellent PR the Forestry Commission has regarding access to its land). Sadly they choose to plant a Scheduled Ancient Monument with new trees instead. One can only assume the proper legal procedure has been followed – and everything’s above board – but it still doesn’t seem morally right to me? But there you are. Different viewpoints. Here we have the paradox of a very fine Bronze Age monument, historically well preserved no doubt due to its location within a private estate, now threatened by the very same factors.

Needless to say I could never advocate trespass, so if you can manage to obtain permission from the estate, go and see this barrow before it’s too late. Seems it needs all the friends – and public exposure – it can get. Wouldn’t it be great to remove the mutual antagonism? Yeah, wouldn’t it?

Attempted to visit 28.4.2011. I walked up from Talgarth, following my route of last year. I didn’t re-visit Wern Frank round barrow, but decided to crack on with the day’s main uphill before it got too hot. It’s a stiff climb, but more than worth the effort. But not for the barrow.

Reading Mr G’s notes, I feel better, as I couldn’t find anything up here that looked comfortably like a round barrow. Plenty of heathery, peat-y lumps and bumps, but none that I would say hand on heart is “it”. Prehistory radar on the blink then. But who cares? The views, once you’ve staggered up the northern face of the Black Mountains escarpment, are absolutely terrific.

You get the whole spread of the Brecon Beacons to the west, from Allt Lwyd and Carn Pica, the central peaks of Cribyn, Pen y Fan and Corn Du, through the mountains of Fforest Fawr and all the way across to Fan Hir and Fan Brycheiniog in Y Mynydd Du. At least you do on a mist-free day (last time I was here the visibility was rather less impressive).

After wandering around for a fruitless while, I headed northeast towards Rhos Dirion, the day’s highest point.

I hate to post this but there’s some skullduggery going down at Figsbury Ring... If you visit by car – Watch Out, there’s thieves about! You should see a small notice as you enter the monument regarding windows being smashed and stuff being nicked. This happened to us. We were only there for 10 minutes as it was windy and nearly dark, but that’s all it took. Very inconvenient and it spoilt a marverlous sunset at a magical place.
Be vigilant droogs!

PS. The track is still in an atrocious state too...

As the photo suggests, the site is best viewed from above on the path to the waterfall. At ‘ground level’ its a bit hard to interpret.

ADS entry states

A well-defined trackway leads westward from the prehistoric enclosed settlement SD 69 NE 1 up the central ridge of the Cautley valley towards Cautley Spout. It takes the form of a lynchetway, a hollow way and a built-up causeway in various places and is approximately 3.2m wide. Further to the W its course is marked by some small boulders which may have been deliberately placed. This trackway seems to be connected with the settlement and may be contemporary.

First time visiting this great chamber yesterday. I drove there with my girlfriend after we’d been to St Lythans too.

Tinkinswood is so impressive, almost humbling. It’s a real shame that the pylon is so close by however! We were scared we may not be able to get in after first seeing the surrounding fence, but we went through the kissing gate at almost 7pm despite the site being “closed” at 4pm. Interesting to see that a new(ish) information board is near the gate, with the “Under the care of Cadw” information scrubbed out and replaced with “The Goddess”.

Had a great time exploring the insides of the cromlech, although slightly alarmed that someone had crudely painted a few haphazard pentagrams and the like over the insides of the support brick pillar. I suppose this place is a magnet for teenage types interested in that kind of stuff. We also passed the remains of a bonfire with cider and beer cans scattered about nearby :(

Nevertheless, it was a brilliant sight, and it’s amazing to think of the effort involved to construct this amazing piece.

We took a quick walk into the woods which were suitably creepy – someone had constructed a teepee in the woods with branches and twigs, which stopped us in our tracks when we saw it!

Will definitely be going here again, hopefully when the weather is a little brighter and the temperature a bit warmer. And also when I’ve figured out how to take decent photos without having a pylon in the background.

I’ll say one thing for the folks who built this monument. They knew how to pick a spot in the landscape.

It’s not instantly noticeable when you’re at the site, but on my most recent visit, I’d decided to tromp off from the dreaded centre Parcs just at the top of Leacet Hill, and go to lightpaint Brougham castle a few miles away. As it turned out, the castle was locked up tight, so I decided to head back via Leacet. Now bearing in mind it was a full moon, there was some light, but it was still the middle of the night, and I had no map, and was wandering cross country. But it was dead easy to find the place. It made me wonder that part of the reason for placing it here was that if you know where it is, it’s fairly straightforward to find it again by reference to the various bits of the landscape around it.

There was still no sign of the ghostly apparition, so I made one by waving a torch at the stones.

This is a wonderful site with a wonderful location. Bennachie, sits right in front, to be exact Craigshannoch and Oxen Craig sit in front. The site itself is surrounded by prehistory, the Gouk Stone is across the road, Berryhill (which I’ll add later) is near Archaeolink and there are quite a few RSCs and standing stones in the area.

As can be seen from the pics the cairn is in a garden. Permission for my visit was obtained by Amanda Betts, one of my pupil’s mum and permission was granted by the owners Susan and Tim King. Tim kindly showed me round and answered all of my questions.

To me it looks like a triple ring/kerb cairn which has seen some bad treatment thru time. It looks very similar to the ring cairns at Hill Of Selbie and Cairndale. To the North East sector a passage way can be found. At 22 meters wide it must have some place. Tim explained that previously a steep slope to the north of the cairn had been levelled out without any damage to the site. Indeed the cairn is very well looked after no stone has been moved and must provide a very thoughtful place to come and relax. Tim also explained that the picture of site becomes clearer in winter so a return visit will be organised. Aerial pics would also do the place some justice.

A good end to a good day!

Visited 2/5/2011.

Tired and cold by the time I got here, after a motorcycle rally last night, that combined with having visited a few other sites earlier and also having a chest infection stopped me from staying longer, a local farmer took me to the site in his car when he noticed me walking up the track, observed that this site was possibly completely covered by stones in the past like a cairn, the farmer agreed saying that in the past a lot of ditches in the locality were made years ago by these, strange site, never saw the like, in places it looks like there is a double stone circle surrounding the monument, beautiful views, will return during the summer to this strange place

[visited 28/4/11] This is a pretty little stone located with cracking views. I was slightly surprised it wasn’t bigger, but as with many “head of valley” stones, it is about waist height or so. If this were here just for the views, as FlopsyPete points out, it could have been sited less than 20 metres away and got much more. So, this is presumably here to be seen from the East, where it can be seen from a fair way away, possibly as a marker to a track towards the Goyt Valley.

Interestingly, it’s shape as you face Eccles Pike reflects the Pike. Angles and lengths are not exact, but topologically they seem the same. Eccles Pike being a barrowless spine of a central hill surrounded by farmland and hills, all of which have barrows.

Access is a pleasant 1/2 mile walk along a bridleway then across a field up a medium slope from the Whaley to Disley higher road.