Latest Fieldnotes

Follow the directions for Corrachree, the remains of this cairn are a small distance to the east. Originally this was a tall cairn but most of the stones have gone leaving a circular bank 23 meters wide. 4 kerbs remain in place looking down onto the village of Tarland.

Further to east there is a more modern cairn dedicated to a woman who died before her time. Her husband must have loved her very much to erect this in an awkward place. Maybe the old ways of remembering those departed hasn’t gone altogether.

Visited 2/08/2010.

New find of underwhelming shallow cups ,with the promise of more . N.b. the most obvious “marking” is natural .

Two clear cups on south side with two smaller on the south .

I think we must have visited Gatcombe Lodge too yesterday; all down to friend with map – I can take no credit apart from tagging along gamely. Just across the road from the Minchinhampton Long Stone there is a tree covered long barrow, and yes we were passed by a couple of landrovers which we, perhaps naively, ignored. From here we continued into the estate, no-one challenged us; we walked up (and down) some steep slopes to eventually reach Hazel Wood in search of another long barrow. According to the map this barrow is in a field at the top of the wood – which had restricted access. Couldn’t make out more than just a raised curve to the land so must be mostly ploughed out.

The route we took was marked on OS Explorer 168 as a footpath (apart from the Gatcombe Park bit) so I guess it was ok to walk there.

Visited 5/08/10

This beautiful lichen covered standing stone is similar to the Rollright stones and I imagine it is the same oolite limestone. Positioned in a gated field near the road between Gatcombe Park and Nailsworth it is full of holes and crevices so to be enjoyed while it remains. Also noticed the nearby Cotswold stone wall had been built around second stone which seemed to be a different type of stone – no holey permeations.

Visited 5/08/10

Continuing this summer’s exploration of barrows and megaliths in the Cotswolds, friend (with a car) had plotted out a walk using OS Explorer 168. We set off this morning from the pretty village of Avening heading towards Norn’s Tump on Minchinhampton Golf Course. Norn’s Tump was overgrown with summer vegetation and hawthorns so as not too much to see we continued across the golf course towards Gatcombe Park.

Very much out of my comfort zone here but Friend seemed confident about plan to walk down an access road into Gatcombe Park to locate the Tingle Stone and barrow. What we didn’t know was that the British Eventing Festival was being set up in the same field as the Tingle Stone; there were marquees, landrovers and contractors in profusion. Feeling illicit, we slipped round the back of the marquees hoping not to be noticed; no one challenged us and we spent 15 minutes or so looking at this unusual limestone on the top of a tree covered long barrow. When we spotted a convoy of black rangerovers drive down the access road and not wishing to be introduced to royalty we beat a hasty retreat back up to the road trying to look as inconspicuous as possible.

A lone standing stone (approx 4’ tall) outside Moffat – 3.5 miles along the B7076 (street name: the Old Carlisle Road). Stone is close to the road in field opposite Poldean farm.

In fact the stone hasn’t been painted white for twenty years, and then an old guy of whom I asked directions promptly told me about the connections to Lumphanan and the Macbeth story. Then he said I sounded like a ‘Turra Loon’ (I am) and had a strong Buchan accent. This rapidly changed as I was on my way down to the football in the East End of Glasgow.

Aerial foties suggest that this might be in an enclosure, but nothing on the ground indicates this. Still the stone stands 6ft 9 inches with the white paint gradually fading away. It looks over to the Mearns Hills, including Millplough and a heap of cairns. Although in a prominent position it can’t be seen from the dual carriageway below, the A90. I pulled in at Mondynes and climbed the hill heading north west, the old guy keeping me right before I went.

With that done I resumed my journey, the first home game of the season, south.

Visited 4/08/2010.

History tells us that this must have been a massive cairn But forestry and power lines have badly damaged the surrounds. Most of the stones have long gone. What remains is a circular bank almost 20 meters in width almost resembling a small fort. A cist sits in the middle but couldn’t be seen thanks to turf, ferns and nettles.

Heading north from Logie Coldstone this is the next place up from the famous Blue Cairn RSC with its massive recumbent. I asked permission to park at Knocksoul farm and was given directions from the elderly occupant. Climb the hill behind the farm heading for the hydro electrics clearing, for their cables. Reach the south east corner of the wood then head in a north westerly direction.

Visited 2/08/2010.

Head west from the Knock Soul cairn over uneven turf until the clearing in the wood. There are three hut circles here but only one was visible today as it was built on top of a cairn. At 12.5 meters wide and 0.5 meters tall, this is the biggest of the hut circles. Glorious views looking south onto Milton Of Whitehouse.

Visited 2/08/2010.

As you can see from the pics these are right beside the road (A701) between the M74 junction and the village. They are marked on the OS map. You can legitimately park by the fence at the entrance of the small road 175 yards before and on the opposite side of the road from the stones. From there you can walk along the pavement and across to the stones. In summer long grass can partially obscure the stones – see pics.

Head direct north from Knock Hill and you will walk straight into this small cairn which nestles between two hills. (same field) Some kerbs remain with height of the cairn being 0.4 meters and width being 6 meters.

From here back to Fernyhowe is fairly easy. A track heading west should be followed until a track heading south can be found. This evenually leads to behind the bunch of cottages at Fernyhowe. Fernyhowe, Knockargety Fort, Knock Hill and Corblelack a walk containing some easy bits, climbs, bogs, fences, streams and track. A fine way to spend a morning.

Visited 31/07/2010.

Take the road west just befor entering Tarland from the south and pull in after the caravan/camp site. There are two cairns and a settlement on the Drummy Hill. Thru a field, then cross a bog and up the heathery hill.

This cairn is the furthest west on the hill. Canmore suggest that this was 12 meters but I’d say some robbing has gone on since 1968 leaving only the central ring of kerbs, some 6 meters in width. By this stage of exploring the Tarland area I’m convinced that ancients must of liked it here. Everywhere I look I find cairns, souterrains etc, etc........

Visited 2/08/2010.

All that remains of this cairn is a few boulders and a mound that is less than 0.5 meters tall. The scatter of stones measures 8 meters but this cairn has been badly robbed. Still, the views over to Morven and Logie Coldstone/Kinord are Grampian at it’s best.

From Meikle Tom, name of the cairn and hill, walk to the south west crest of the hill, about 250 meters.

Visted 2/08/2010.

This at one time must have been an impressive site/sight. Time has seen greatly reduced but the steep climb is worthwhile if just for the view over Morven (a mountain to the west 2,600 ft with an ancient cairn on top, next time in the area for this one.) It is 19 meters having at least 13 earthfast kerbs in place. Some of the pictured boulders may well be kerbs moved by farm machinery and dumped in the middle. At its highest the cairn stands at just over 0.5 meters.

From Migvie crossroads head east taking the first farm track north to Blackmill farm. From here it is a steep climb up the track thru two gates. The cairn is just short of the tree line. Very friendly cows, they ignored me altogether.

2/08/2010.

Visited 31.7.10.
I visited this site after visiting the nearby Grimsbury Castle Hillfort. This is nowhere near as good I am afraid to say. Situated near Junction 13 of the M4 the site is easy enough to get to, it’s just that there is little to see when you do! Taking the minor road immediately to the west of the Hillfort you will see a pretty thatched cottage on your left and opposite a private lane leading to Bussock Wood house. Park as best you can near this point. Walking up the private lane a little I first headed off to the left but could see no remains of the defences. I then headed towards the right and could see what appeared to be the low remains of the ramparts – very eroded and no more than low ‘lumps and bumps’. The ferns / grass etc were waist height so didn’t help things. Perhaps more could be seen during a winter visit or the defences nearer the house?
I didn’t venture too near to the house as there appeared to be a birthday party going on and no doubt the land is privately owned.

Visited 31.7.10.
I had a bit of trouble finding what is left of the long barrow as it didn’t show on the O/S map I was using! For those in a similar situation, this is how you find it:
Continue north along the road which runs past the nature reserve / field containing the Lambourn Seven Barrows. In a short while, at the point where the road bends to the right, there is a parking area on the left. Park here. To the west you will see a public right of way leading up to a small wooded area. This is where you will find the remains of the barrow. There is next to nothing to see although there is a large flat stone next to a tree trunk right next to the path – just before you reach the gate. No doubt this must once have been part of the barrow?

Visited 31.7.10.
This is one of those sites I have been meaning to visit for the last couple of years and have at last finally succeeded. Very easy to find, signposted from Lambourn village. I turned into the small track signposted ‘nature reserve’ and parked at the small parking area. The barrows are now right next to you in a fenced field / nature reserve which is accessed through a gate. The grass was high but the barrows were easily identified. I am sure they would look even more pronounced during the winter months. To have a better view of the barrows I walked up the track leading up the hill to the woods. From here you had a bit of a ‘birds eye’ view of the barrows – barrows often look better from afar rather than up close. This is a great place to visit and reminded me of the various barrow cemeteries you see around the Avebury / Stonehenge area. Well worth a visit and very, very easy to access.

Unfortunately this site has collapsed leaving faint markings on the ground. One of the biggish stones can be seen but the rest are buried under earth, trees and nettles. To make matters worse the farmer is beginning to use the site as a skip. A cattle feeder and barbed being abandoned within the sites fence. Never mind plenty of nearby cairns to see.

Go north of Logie Coldstone on the A97 taking the second road east, signposted Migvie. Keep going until the first crossroads. The site is within a clump of trees to the north west, in the middle of a field.

Visited 2/08/2010.

From Loch Kinord car park follow the road to the lochs for a few yards until a wooden post can be seen to the north. Follow the path here, thru the gate and the settlement is another 50 yards or so. Its a pity the ferns have taken over as a lot of enclosures, small cairns etc. are hidden from view. Hopefully the links section will give some idea of whats here. Winter time would probably be the best time for this place.

Visited 31/07/2010.

The main ring cairn at Altries is set amongst another 4 much smaller ring cairns. I found three of them, presumably the fourth was under vegetation or has been damaged beyond recognition. The widest of these is 4 meters in width.

Visited 1/08/2010.

From Blaikiewell I cycled west to Altries. Here is the most direct route. Leave the B9077 heading south on the B979 taking the second minor road west. Altries is on the first track in a north westerly direction. Permission was given to leave the transport. the ring cairn is atop a small hill 90 meters to the east.

This must have been some place. Unfortunately time has ravaged it but there is still enough here to set your mind wondering at what was. The ring isn’t circular its oval being almost 20 meters wide narrowing to 18 meters in width, the outer banks tallest height is 0.6 meters and at least twelve kerbs remain of the outer ring. All the stones of the inner ring have gone. Good views all round especially to the west and the Grampian mountains.

Visited 1/08/2010.

These are the easiest directions to this place. As for me I cycled from Stranog. From Milltimber take the B979, south and over the Dee, then go west on the B9077 taking the first minor road south. Take the next minor road south, very narrow, pulling in immediately after Durris forest. Plenty of room for cars and bikes as this is a stables. I asked permission to leave my stuff.

From there head south following the tree line past a pile of field clearance, probably most the cairn has been dumped here, to the top of the hill. The cairn is at the forest’s most eastern point. One half, the east side, of the cairn has been flattened whilst the other half has fir trees growing on top of it. However some of the boulder kerbs remain in place. With the stone scattering it is fairly easy to make out the cairns diameter, 14 meters. The western half of the cairn still stands at just over 1/2 meter. With that it was back down the hill accompanied by some interested horses.

Visited 1/08/2010.

Visited 31.7.10.
A cracking little place to visit with very easy access. There is a minor road running through the trees (and the hillfort) south of Hermatige. At the centre of the hillfort is a place to park and a very good information board near a large house. There are various paths you can take and the shortest walk to see the remaining ramparts will only take 2 minutes. The ditch/rampart is still quite impressive and well over head height. The ramparts can also be seen when driving through the southern defences. The message of the information board pretty well sums it up:
‘Our past is precious – enjoy and respect it’.

Visited 31.7.10.
This was a lot easier to find than I was expecting. Take the turning into Upper Lambourn off the B4000 at the junction where the cemetery is. You shortly come to a T-Junction – turn right (sign posted dead end) and follow the narrow lane up the hill to the left until you reach the cross roads and the lane in front of you turns to dirt. Park as best you can and walk up the dirt track. Shortly the track splits – take the left hand track. The stone is on your right hand side about 100 metres up the lane. The stone is about 1.5 metres high and about 0.5 metres wide at the bottom – tapering towards the top. The lane is narrow and has overhanging trees on both sides. I can well imagine children in the village daring each other to visit the stone at night! It would be quite scary in those circumstances although it was very pleasant in the summer sunshine when I visited.