Latest Fieldnotes

This group of huts and a cairn can be found a short distance uphill from the reservoir, turning left up a track soon after passing the visitor centre car park.
Though not signposted from the track they do have short posts beside them with identification numbers on.....if only the corresponding list was available to point out where the other antiquities could be found within the plantation!

The hut circles were easy to find and it was obvious that the forestry had kept them clear of any growth apart from grass.

I did not find the cairn circle as I was unclear just quite where it was and away from the track and the huts the terrain was overgrown and uneven...and it was too bloody hot to go too far off piste...

The second cairn on Bar Hill is some 40 meters south of the summit. Easily spotted as it is fenced. Like its near neighbour it is covered in turf and has been hollowed, probably an excavation. It is also crowned with various jabby things so I left it undisturbed. At 11 meters wide and half a meter in height it looks down onto the River Deveron which in turn leads me home.

Visited 2/07/2010.

This cairn has been badly damaged over the years. It has been excavated with the hollow indicating the work done. It is 10 meters wide and about a half meter tall. The wooden shed that Canmore mentions has long gone. Views are of the Deveron valley and several hills with sites can be seen, Backtack, Cairnborrow, Glenshee and Knock Hill. Unfotunately the boulders pictured are field clearance. I looked for the hut circles but they have vanished underneath heavy growth or they have been demolished by farm machinery.

Travel east on the A920, from Huntly, taking the first minor road south eastish, marked Edinglassie. About a mile on take the first minor road direct south and pull in at the entrance to Bowman Hillock. In the overgrown field is the stone circle with the same name. (also known as Garran Burn) From here jump the gate and climb in a south easterly direction, this leads to a track, which in turn leads to the top of the hill and the first cairn. Not a steep climb this time!

Visited 2/07/2010.

This stone is pretty well travelled. I had read about it existing in the leeds government archaeology listings, which had it placed somewhere in the grounds of Kirkstall abbey. I found directions to the stone which had it placed a short distance west of the ruins of the abbey guest house in the public park. No stone fitting the description was to be found.

Further (google!) research showed it had been moved to horsforth outside the museum next to the millenium stone, and had originally been found when Low Hall, the oldest building in horsforth, had been renovated in the 1960s. The stone had been temporarily placed in the grounds of kirkstall abbey for safe keeping where it featured in a display of rocks from around the world.

Its current position next to the fairly busy Fink Hill road isnt ideal, but it is a short walk from the road down to Low Hall, which is fairly difficult to get to across the ring road. It is a really nice example, but looking a little worse for wear with a few recent chips and scrapes next to the carving.

According to the owner of the B/B where The Milestone stands these stones in the field next to him were knocked down by farmers over the last few hundred years

Not visible from the main road this is a lovely stone with great views, it is over the brow of the hill, the land owner told me that the inclined stone fell over after a bad spell of wet weather 30 years ago, his father got a JCB and with the help of a few friends re erected it

As you approach this from Ventry drive past the old quarry to the first gate on your right, walk straight up the hill and over two stone ditches, there are some cows here but should not pose a problem, views are stunning from up here.

The landowner a farmer will not entertain visitors to the site unfortunately, these images were taken from the road with a zoom lens on my second visit there, he wants the National monuments to buy a strip of land leading to the site and fence it off, little chance of that im afraid.
This is the only site in the whole country I have been denied access to.

I have been to Wayland’s Smithy about half a dozen times since I have lived in the north Wilts area, not really that often considering it is one of my favourite places.

One of the aspects I love about visiting this site is the walk of about half a mile or so along the Ridgeway from the nearest parking area; this gets you in the right frame of mind. Yesterday afternoon, I had spent some time with a friend who is a garden enthusiast – I mention this as an aside because earlier we had visited the Woolstone Mill garden which has one of the best views of Uffington White Horse (seeing the White Horse from their little tree house there was a true delight).

The friend later obliged by driving up to the Ridgeway from village of Ashbury; this is also the best place to head for if you are visiting by public transport: take the 47* (Newbury) bus from Swindon to Ashbury, picking up a downland path by the church which leads up to the Ridgeway (this just in itself is a lovely walk) then about a mile along the Ridgeway towards Uffington.

Yesterday, late afternoon it was still quite hot and we had neither hat nor drink with us (not clever when walking the Ridgeway). We walked briskly along this particularly beautiful section of the Ridgeway, ancient hedgerows on both sides. Walking into the Wayland’s enclosure, with its massive beeches, on a hot summer’s day is like walking into an oasis of shade and cool; thirst disappeared and for once the site was completely deserted. I was able to go inside the two small side chambers which are like West Kennet Long Barrow in miniature – the shafting afternoon sunlight playing on the stones as I examined their surfaces. Like most of the long barrows in the Wiltshire/Cotswold area some reconstruction has obviously taken place to the entrance.

As we walked around the barrow a couple turned up, headed for the end of the long barrow and lay down in the long grass looking up at the sky. Their presence only added to the peaceful ambience, probably my best visit yet.

Note: The small EH information board near the entrance of the enclosure is discreet and helpful.

*Public transport information below:
thamesdown-transport.co.uk/times/047.htm

Truly a site for a King. Nearby Fathom Hill (Flagstaff) is a superb vantage point looking for miles over the Lough and the Mourne mountains

There has been recent new building – conversions – nearby and it is possible to imagine the abundant new dry stone walling repositioned as the cairn stones they possibly were.

Impressive monument and well kept. Lots more under the ground to stimulate the imagination

Possibly several cairns existed here at some point but only the remnants of one remain. Good views are all around giving a faint reminder of far better, historically speaking, times.

What is left is a shell of a cairn which was near 4 meters in width standing at just over a 1/2 meter tall. Some good folks in the past surrounded the site with a dry stane dyke at 9 meters in width. The site is overgrown, possibly a winter visit might glean more details. Unfortunately when heavy rain or snow happens the site becomes a bog. Fortunately, today it was dry so no unexpected drenching.

The easiest way to find the cairn is heading west past the Boyndlie Hall on the A98 and take the second minor road north. Blink and this will be missed. Follow the road, thru Hindstones farm, till it ends. Then head west taking the first track south, to Crookahill, the cairn is to the east at the end of the first straight. The area is fenced. Although badly damaged it is still inspiring as Bennachie could be spied in the gathering gloom.

Visited 30/06/2010.

Thought id seen a lot until I visited this yesterday, stunning is all I can say, I was captivated, both by the tomb and the views from the summit, Minard wedge tomb one of the smallest wedge tombs I have visited is only 300m N/W of Puicin an Chairn, Graigue stone less than 1km, Ardmore 3 stone row plus another in the same field less than 1km, Lugnagappul Cairn & 3 Ogham stones about 1.5km and Foheraghmore standing stone about 2km distance, what a place

Although hailed as one of the most important megalith sites in France, this seems to be relatively unknown. We only found out about it through a sentence in a guide book of Brittany.
The site is on the D776 a mile or so NW out of Monteneuf towards Guer (which is about 40k SW of Rennes)
It is right by the road side and you can’t miss it.
There is a huge car park on the other side of the road and a map showing walks through the woods and local area.
The stones were only rediscovered 30 odd years ago when a forest fire revealed them.
Only a handful of the 400+ stones were still standing and since then many have been re-erected.

It is difficult to make sense of the site – there are just so many stones here, and while my mind tried to sort it out into this line and that line, my feelings were running away with themselves. This is an awesome place!

The visitor centre was not open when we were there (mid June) but there are some interpretive boards around and about. It seems like this is an ongoing project of discovery for the French archeos.

There seems to be many more stones/ dolmens in the surrounding woodlands.

I reckon this has to be one of the must visit sites in Brittany – and if you do go allow plenty of time for wandering and discovering.

Near the bottom of Knock on its south eastern side there are a few hut circles of which this is the best preserved. Canmore says the hut is 13 meters NW-SE and a 11 meters traversely with the huts entrance on the south eastern side. The surrounding bank is heather covered being 3 meters wide and 1 meter tall. Forestation seems to have been fairly kind, then again I didn’t see the other huts (or the stone circle) to make any further comment.

Once again a beautiful part of the NE, this time looking back to the Monk’s Cairn, which I had just visited. From Glenbarry on the A95 take the first minor road heading in a north westerly direction. About 1/2 a mile along this road there is a track heading north. Follow this, past the new fencing, until the first style. Climb this then head back west for 100 meters approx, the hut is just to the north of the so called path, look for a pile of dried out tree trunks.

Visited 28/06/2010.

The Monks’s Cairn is set in one of the most beautiful parts of the North East of Scotland with tremendous views north and east. With a free night, not often that happens, I headed up to Moray via the A95 heading west. Take the second minor road south after B9117 meets the A95. This leads thru the hamlet of Garrowood, keep going east under the railway bridge stopping at the second forestry track indicated by the Balloch Wood sign.

By foot head south for a 1/2 mile, then take the track east basically going back to Garrowood south of the railway line. Today its warm and fleas have had an excellent feed, but in winter this would probably be a nightmare. (so I’ll go back then). Keep going until the track has a severe corner and piles of logs are all around. After a short climb a lonely looking gate can be seen. The cairn is only a few metres away.

It is then that you realise how clever the builders have been. The views are stunning. The forestry people have kept their side of the bargain as the cairn appears relatively undamaged. It is 9 meters wide, standing 1.5 meters on the east and 1 meter on the west. Today it is covered in ferns and heather but some of the stones still poke their noses thru.

This is an easy walk thru beautiful countryside that I’m proud to say is on my doorstep. Today has been a good day.

Visited 28/06/2010.

I wasn’t really expecting the barrows to be so low in the landscape. They’re kind of in a dip with very little view – so I guess the view is all focused on them (although trees have been planted one side of the road, so I don’t know what the view that way would be). They seem to follow the lie of the valley.

I read Wysefool’s suggestion that maybe a now-lost spring here was the reason for their location. (although what about the significance of his beloved nearby long barrow?) But in support I can tell you that I didn’t dare drive my car up the track to the small car park, because there was a huge patch of deep mud I was scared to get it stuck in – surely the only mud in the whole county on this baking Sunday, so maybe there’s still something springish here.

There’s a kissing gate into the field, which is a nature reserve, and currently full of rough vegetation that you have to kind of wade through. I spent a lot of time looking at all the weird plants (dropwort, quaking grass, knotted clover, I won’t go on) but my best moment was when I suddenly realised I was looking at a disc barrow, its shape suddenly leapt out at me. It was extremely serene here and I lounged under a beech tree on one of the barrows. The only noise was the occasional passing car and the sound of hundreds of crickets like tiny machine guns constantly firing away.

I liked it here although there wasn’t much to really see. You wouldn’t really know there was anything here at all if you hadn’t been forewarned. The barrow is where there’s a rough patch of ground (awash with lovely pyramidal orchids at the moment) and across some confusing lumps in the edge of the wood. So it’s hard to understand what’s what. I was totally taken though with the huge flattish stone lurking under one of the trees, I was very pleased to spot that, I had to give it a pat. Perhaps others would be easier to find at another time of year when there’s fewer leaves about. Also it didn’t help that the sun was extremely hot and I was starting to feel a bit odd. Fortunately it’s only a short flat jaunt back to the road (there’s masses of space where you can park your car).

I took a wander up to Castle Hill at Broad Blunsdon this morning. A very easy walk up a single track road called Burytown Lane which leads to Upper Burytown Farm. I had been unaware of this hillfort until I heard recently that the farmer wants to fence off the ‘right of way’ ... at least I think it is a right of way. There are two notices at the gate into the hillfort; one says “bull in field” the other indicates by a dotted line the path across the hillfort with the emphatic statement that there is no permissive circular path around the fort.

There is a superb view to the north and on this beautiful sunny morning it did look impressive. The hillfort has open access to a herd of pedigree cattle though today they had congregated in a lower field. I understand the farmer wants to fence the path off so that the cattle are not harrassed by dogs not on leads. Its quite hard to visualise a hillfort with a fence across the middle, even one as relatively low profile such as this one.

Another sign of the times, I noticed on my walk back down that the attractive village church has had a load of its roof tiles nicked. Sigh!

New find from a couple of days ago , right by one of the main paths up Ben lawers and just a few metres from a shieling .Never been noted before probabaly due to being under turf .
The central fissure seems to have quite an impact on siting of markings with only a few on one side .The ” busier side ” is also in two sections with one part cups , (some with single rings ) and the other markings that are similar to con-joined cups or “dumb-bells ” with neither description being quite right . At 410 metres OD it’s quite high for rock art .

I caught sight of this in the corner of my eye as I hurtled past down the hill. After a rapid bit of uphill reversing to the space opposite the top cottage, I trotted cheerfully across. It’s so nice that such curious things have managed to survive, and its neighbours are clearly proud of it, judging by the boldness of their house signs for ‘blowing stone cottages’.

I ought to admit that the first thing that popped into my head was that cheesy film from my childhood, Flash Gordon. You know, that stupid bit where the bloke off Blue Peter plunged his arm into the tree stump full of holes and got fatally mauled. Surely you remember. My point is that there are just so many holes in the Blowing Stone. How would you know which one to try blowing into? You could be there all day without instruction. Quite a few of them contained snails. I balked and chickened out. Partly because of the snails and partly because I could hear the occupants of the nearest cottage in their garden. I thought I’d save them from having to listen to me spitting and coughing.

There’s a little box containing postcards and leaflets – the leaflet by good old Mr Grinsell.

There’s a round flat stone right in front of the Stone – I’m intrigued to see it’s probably the same one raised up in Wysefool’s vintage photo?

Head east from Gardenstown along the B9031 towards Macduff. After some very severe twists and steep drops/climbs follow the signpost to St John’s Church. The road/track leads to car park the rest of the journey is by foot. Follow the path to church, well worth a look if only for the view, taking the path downhill immediately before the church. Follow this for at least a mile jumping over (made a change from not into!) the Kirk Burn. (just after the second wooden bridge) From here to the top is very steep and I would advise that you don’t walk alone on this route. If there is a fall then it will be all the way back down.

Remnants of ditches can be seen and vitrified rock has been found. It is easy to see why this was built – the views are spectacular with clear views all round, very similar to the fairly close Troup e.g. the meeting place of three valleys. Natural harbours can be seen at both sides, plus fresh water from the burn, an ideal place for a fort.

The way back down proved to be dangerous but safe but yet again very steep. Luckily we had ropes and tackle for the steepest parts. When at the top a much easier route would be to park at Findon farm and walk north westerly thru the fields.

Not for me tho, no fun!

Visited 26/06/2010.

This is for those minimalists amongst us who truly believe that less can be more. I mean, the people who erected this little monument – assuming it is, indeed, a monument – were not exactly looking to overawe with the scope of their vision, were they? Then again perhaps that was the whole point, in the shadow of the mighty Y Mynydd Du....

The site really is to filed in the ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ category, the motorist’s – nay everyone’s – eyes being irrecoverably drawn to the skyline, the stones barely breaking cover of the tall, moorland grass. So full marks to the SC for spotting this good ‘un. I disagree that the site is not worth a special trip for I was quite prepared to hang out for quite a while longer if not for other commitments.

The best description I can give, I guess, is that of a tiny four poster, with additional central stone. Interestingly I spot what may be an outlier a little way to the approx SW. Then again, maybe not, since there are numerous erratics visible on the far bank of the Afon Tawe? As for the stone setting itself, however, I agree that it appears far too regular to have been of natural origin. Perhaps the location is significant, not only near the actual source of the Tawe, but also close to where a myriad small streams feed the fledgling main water course? I guess I will have to return one day to properly assess the vibe here.

Not only is the gate padlocked, but its also very rickety so those of us who are a little on the plumper side of slim are best photographing from the lane. The barbed wire surrounding the wall seems a little mean too. AND the farmer had parked a water butt directly behind the circle, as if to stop you from any kind of pleasure from this pretty little circle. Charming. I considered driving my car through the gate but little Ralf is already a scratched and battered mess so I opted against it.

A return visit.. without the Mam C this time.. but taking the opportunity to approach from the NW, via the fine standing stone a little south of Bwlch Cerrig Duon.

The ascent is of a far gentler gradient than that experienced from the west, although the terrain is just as rough, jarring the ankles and knees of the unwary. In short, there are no footpaths here. Striding – or perhaps more accurately, ‘stumbling’ – uphill from the monolith, several unusual stone features are encountered before the walkers’ cairns, crowning the denuded remains of the summit round barrows, are achieved. One, in particular, looks suspiciously like an artificially placed orthostat to me [see image], although Coflein has nothing to say in this respect. Who knows?

The summit barrows, it has to be said, are distinctly underwhelming in terms of size. Not so their positionning, which is in every aspect exquisite. Bronze Age barrows also surmount virtually every other visible hill/mountain top, the ever present, decapitated tops of Pen-y-Fan and Corn Du rising beyond, and to the left of, an unusually radiant Fan Gyhirych to the east. This is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, for across the valley to the west rise the elegant summits of Y Mynydd Du, similarly endowed, their flanks riven by deep rain water gulleys. I lie back and simply enjoy the moment, a sharp wind requiring me to retrieve a jacket from my rucksack, despite the sunshine and resultant heat enjoyed by the pic-nicking punters down below.

Descending a little to the west of the summit, the panorama is of the infant Afon Tawe, flowing towards the sea at distant Swansea (hence Abertawe, of course) from its source a little to the north-east of Llyn y Fan Fawr, with the Maen Mawr and its tiny flock splendidly sited above. The correlation between the two is obvious from up here, the fearsome gash carved by the Nant-y-Llyn, outflow of the aforementioned lake, well, dramatic to say the least. To the south, the grassy ridge of Cefn Cul leads the eye towards the Sacred Hill of Cribarth, with its attendant stone row. There is so much to take in, there really is.

So, don’t ascend to the summit of Waun Leuci expecting to see any prominent megalithic cairns; there are none. What the traveller is rewarded with, however, is a sense of the ‘Big Picture’. And boy, is it expansive, or what?

Firstly, I should say ‘thanks’ to the Sweetcheat for finally giving me the inclination to pay a long overdue visit to this fine, fine, mountain monolith upon the flanks of my beloved Y Mynydd Du.

I’m spending the weekend in South Wales for the Mam C’s confirmation of her wedding vows, so megaliths and such-like are most definately off the agenda... until a communual visit to the Bridgend Designer Outlet is decided upon. Horror of horrors! Time for Gladman to make a quick exit....I therefore find myself heading westwards down the M4 before it dawns upon me that I haven’t a clue where I’m going. Nothing new there, except, on this occasion, the statement is literal. SC’s recent post pops into my mind. Ah.. Waun Leuci will do for a few hours.

Passing the tacky – in my opinion – Dan-yr-Ogof follies, my worst fears are confirmed as I head up the Trecastle road below Fan Hir. Yep, the valley ‘chavs’ are out in force in the sunshine, cars choking the eastern bank of the infant Tawe as their former occupants enjoy their communual barbecues. And to hell with everyone else..... Needless to say I very much doubt if their rubbish will leave with them, at least in a physical sense. Thankfully I manage to procure a parking space a little south of Bwlch Cerrig Duon and set off for the sanctuary of the hills.

The standing stone is taller than I expected, and of far less girth, in direct contrast to the Maen Mawr down the valley. I agree with Postie that the traveller is inclined to believe that the two were to some degree symbolically linked. It is therefore curious that the monoliths are not inter-visible, although it must be said there is very little in it, just a small ‘slither’ of hillside. However I’m not so sure about the profile of the stone mirroring the soaring escarpment of Y Mynydd Du across the valley. Mind you, if I am being a little too cynical in this respect, there’s no denying that the aforementioned mountain massif simply had to be the focal point for all monuments in the area. Surely?

Whatever the truth of the matter, the standing stone is most certainly a focal point for some gorgeous lichen, not to mention local cattle, which have churned the surrounding ground to oblivion. But now I must ascend a little higher.