Latest Fieldnotes

Standing by several walling stone quarries. Measuring around 17 x 14m in diameter, several kerbstones are visible, the low mound looks very messed about with. Maybe the wall builders stripped most of the usable stone before sinking their quarry.

To the north of the Lauchentilly road and up the hill from the other Leylodge School stone this stone stands looking down onto its near neighbour. Closer still is the brilliantly shaped The Knock to the north west, heading east is South Leylodge RSC and to the west the sadly fallen Lauchentilly. So lots going on including a direct line of stones from Castle Fraser involving all of the mentioned.

Fairly easy walk, going slightly uphill with just the underfoot conditions both cow and man made giving cause for concern. All in all a doddle!

Visited 7/10/2010.

Situated in a field just south of the Lauchentilly road just east of the old Leylodge school, long since converted. The red granite stone stands at 1.1 meters and has great views looking east towards South Leylodge RSC. Slightly to the north are the other Leylodge standing stone and the Knock.

Very easy walk but with amount of rain recently poured on top of us boots are essential.

Visited 7/10/2010.

Leave Inverurie going north on the Brandsbutt road going towards the A96 stopping opposite Conglas farm. The stone, which stands at 1.1 meters was noted by Coles, is in the middle of a field to the west of the farm on the lower slopes of Dilly Hill.

Brilliant views of Bennachie especially the Mither Tap which it seems to be aligned with. Perfect symmetry almost. Also close by is the River Urie, the stones at Drimmies and Dilly Hill as well as Balquhain RSC.

Visited 7/10.2010.

This stone can be found on the southern side of the A96 just north after Inverurie. About a mile, first farm track south, from there a short climb up the Dilly Hill.

The stone itself stands at almost a meter high and has been used as rubbing stone. however I was told look at what it was aligned with. Almost matchs the Mither Tap section of Bennachie. there are numerous standing stones here which are part of Chris’s (and my own) ideas of various strands leaving and surrounding Broomend Of Crichie, this the northern end is pretty close to Balquhain RSC.

Visited 7/10/2010.

Visited 18.9.10
Directions:
Take the minor road east out of Shap which takes you past the cemetery and over the M6.
The stone is pretty much unmisable on the right hand side of the road – it’s a huge lump of rock.
I dread to think how much it must weigh?

Visited 18.9.10
I really liked this place. Easy to get to but with a feeling of remoteness.
Take the minor road east out of Shap which takes you past the cemetery and over the M6. Once you have gone over the motorway take the first turning on the right and you will see the stone circle in the field at the turning. There is plenty of room to park and it is a simple matter of climbing over the locked gate to get up close to the stones. (Even if you are unable to climb the gate the stones are easy to see) Up close the stones are a nice warm pink colour. I counted 10 stones. There are decent views to be had and I would well recommend a visit. As with all the sites I visited this week in the north of England I had the place to myself.

Visited 18.9.10
I parked at Fell Garage (left hand side when approaching Shap from the south) and the first thing I noticed was that a car had been turned into a rockery!! I walked back down the road for 5 minutes and came to the field in which the stones lay. It was then a quick ‘over the gate’ and up to the stones. I counted 6 large boulders and numerous smaller stones nearby. It was a strange experience – on the one side you have a modern electric railway and on the other, in the distance, ancient moorland. The stones are clearly visible from the busy A6 when driving past.

‘Visited’ 18.9.10
I spotted this stone over the wall when visiting the Goggleby Stone. I hadn’t done my research on this stone beforehand so didn’t realise it had cup / ring marks on it – doh! That will teach me. Another visit required when next in the area.
I have since read that this stone makes up part of the Shap Avenue.

Visited 18.9.10
Fairly easy to access but don’t look out for a Lilliput Lane sign as they are now gone!
Directions: Come off the M6 at Junction 40 and take the first exit (if heading north). Then take the first small turning on your left – easy to miss as it looks like a private drive. The road actually leads you to a pretty little business park – it has a well and a thatched cottage! Park in the visitor’s car park and look to your left for a long, white walled, single storey building (not pretty!). This is where Lilliput Lane was – empty when I visited. To the right of the building you will see a metal gate (by the fire exit). Immediately next to the gate on the left is a small overgrown area of bushes. Amongst these bushes you will find the standing stone.
It is difficult to see the stone properly due to the bushes but it is worth checking out when in the area.

Visited 18.9.10
Simple to visit being just off the A6 on the road to Newtown, south of Clifton.
Once you take the Newtown turning the Barrow is about 100 yards on your right – can’t miss it, very large amongst the trees.
I know there is some debate as to whether this is a Barrow or a pile of earth left over from road works but it certainly does look like a barrow. Besides, if it is just a pile of earth, why aren’t there any other piles of earth in the area?

Visited 18.9.10
If you are happy to get up quite close to the stone (other side of railway line) but not actually tough it, this is an easy one to visit. Come off the M6 at Junction 41 and take the minor road north signposted Calthwaite (road is sandwiched by the M6 and railway line). Just Past the turning on your right you will see the stone clearly on the right – the other side of the train tracks.
It is a large, nice looking stone and well worth seeking out when in the area.

Visited 18.9.10
Directions: From Shap take the turning on the left signposted Shap Abbey (E.H. site) / Keld Chapel (N.T. site) – both worth a visit by the way. Then take the first turning on the left signposted Keld Chapel and look out for the public footpath sign on the left. Park near the sign and take the short but muddy footpath to the left. The stone will quickly come into view in the field on your left. The public footpath takes you right to the stone. It is a large stone approximately 7ft x 6ft x 3ft.
It appears the stone has been re-erected at some point as it is set in a concrete base. Well worth getting muddy boots for!

Visited 18.9.10
Directions: From Shap take the turning on the left signposted Shap Abbey (E.H. site). Then take the first turning on the right (keep an eye out for the barrow just before the turning) and the Thunder Stone will come into view just beyond the farm turning on your left hand side.
There doesn’t appear to be any public right of way to the stone and I would imagine you would need to ask permission at the farm. Otherwise, do what I did and view from the lane – easily seen.

Visited 18.9.10
Quite easy to find although it is not visible from the main road.
When you arrive in Shap, park near the Kings Arms pub. Between the pub and the house next door is a public footpath sign. Follow this sign although it looks like you are walking up someone’s garden. Over the stone stile and follow the path to the right. The footpath takes you straight past the stone.
The stone was much bigger than I expected – approximately 1 metre high by 2 metres square. For some reason I really liked this stone and would recommend a look when visiting the other sites around Shap.

Visited 20.9.10
You can’t fail to see this site when making your way to the Great Swinburne standing stone.
As you walk down the path towards the stone, the large terracing is along the bank on your left. Must say that they looked like medieval strip lynchets to me.
Perhaps more interesting are the two fairly well preserved Barrows right next to the same path at the bottom of the hill near the metal gate. They are only a short distance apart and are well worth having a look when visiting the standing stone / terraces.

Over the last 6 years since making my misc post I’ve been back to Long Dale too many times to recall looking for some kinda evidence of the Neolithic settlement/camp that is said to be in the area of the barrow of the same date. Nothing remains on the surface as in earthworks or depressions so I’ve been going solely on flint finds from the many mole hills in the area. And so my best guess is it would’ve probably been around 100m to the east of the barrow as I’ve found, getting on for several hundred pieces of waste flint flakes here but nothing else in the area.

Shouldn’t really be up here at Cow Low as it’s located on land belonging to the huge limestone quarry of Tunstead Works. It lies in a small plantation on the edge of the quarry which when in it’s original context would’ve enjoyed views south across Wye Dale to Topley Pike and east across Great Rocks Dale and possibly Woo Dale to the west. As for the north who knows the massive gaping quarry has seen to the landscape here.
Through all this there are still the remains of Romano-British field system and settlement that survive in the form of low earthworks.
Still quite impressive at 28x24m and a little under 2m in height, I couldn’t resist coming here because of the burials the barrow was found to contain (see misc post below).

Located on private land in the Low Plantation...there is a path in the fields south of the barrow that leads from Home Farm, just off the Fairfield estate, to Lowfoot Farm.
Measuring around the 19m mark in diameter and around 1m in height the barrow is in fairly good condition although overgrown.
Nothing really here to make you want to visit it especially

Visited 20.9.10
This was a bit tricky to find but worth the effort in the end.
Take the turning off the A68 signposted Great Swinburne. Before you reach the castle there is an area you can park near the public footpath sign on the left. Go over the gate and follow the path – woods on you right. When the path forks (in front of a large tree) go to the left and keep walking. You will soon see a stone field boundary wall on your left and a gateway into the field. Through the entrance and follow the tractor tracks up the field towards the brow of the hill heading left. The stone is visible when you get to the brow of the hill but NOT from the public footpath.
** As I was walking through the field I was stopped by a chap in a land rover who I assume was an estate worker. He wanted to know what I was doing and when I explained he reluctantly gave me permission to go to the stone although he did point out that there was no public right of way to the stone. Something I was aware of! **

‘Visited’ 24.9.10.
Where the Barrow is supposed to be there is a long line of fir trees. I snooped about the trees as best I could but could see no sign of a Barrow. If it was the other side of the trees it has been completely ploughed out.

‘Visited’ 24.9.10.
As expected nothing at all to see other than a grass field.

‘Visited’ 24.9.10.
As expected nothing at all to see other than a grass field.

‘Visited’ 24.9.10.
Looked for Barrow but could see no trace – ploughed out?

Visited 24.9.10
The Barrows were easy enough to see as they were grassy islands in a sea of ploughed earth. I viewed from the field edge as I didn’t fancy getting covered in mud. The Barrows appeared to be approximately 0.5 metres high.