Latest Fieldnotes

Due to the weather I viewed this site from the safety of the car. These horse figures cut into the hillside are cracking things to see in real life. The one at Uffington is the best of course – although it is not that easy to see properly. The Cerne Abbas giant is another story!!!

I visited the site from the lane which runs to the west of the hillfort; near the race track. There was no-one about from this side and I walked up the steep hill trying not to slip on the ice. It was a beautiful winters day – the type of day when the ground ih hard with frost, the grass white but a cloudless, dark blue sky which you could see your breath against – wonderful! I was a bit pushed for time so didn’t get chance to walk right apund the ramparts and settled for a ‘mini walk’ whilst admiring the views, peace and solitude.

Visited last year as part of my on-going project to try to visit every E.H. site (all 400 of them!). The site can be seen for miles around and is well sign posted. There is a car park with toilets, although you do have to pay to enter the centre of the site. The outer sections can be seen without having to pay. Nice views down into Salisbury which I hope to have a day exploring sometime in the future.

On a number of occasions I have tried to spot this stone from the A48 which runs to the west – failed every time. So, only one thing for it – I suggested to my better half that it would be nice to have a day out which didn’t involve ‘old stones’. How about a train trip to Gloucester and look around the shops? You can guess the rest!!!

A very easy site to visit with lovely views. When I visited a hot air balloon was drifting silently overhead and we gave the people in the basket a wave! There were lots of walkers about. I went to the wrong hill first (bit further down the road) but didn’t realise until I had battled my way through the trees and reached the top! On the plus side I did see two roe deer which more than made the effort worthwhile. I really like this part of the world.

This site is soooooo easy to access. Large car park with wonderful views down the valley. You can spend a lovely day in this area visiting the sites and on a nice day enjoy a picnic. Something for everyone. Visit and enjoy!

Failed to spot this one. I parked near the entrance to the golf course (very posh club house) and confidently walked up the drive past green jacketed club officials who were watching a competition. I expected to be stopped and questioned but despite a few odd looks managed to get by. I spent a long time trying to spot the barrow but with all the other man made golf bunkers etc I couldn’t. Well, I don’t think I did – but maybe I did without realising it?!!

As Postman has said, this stone is right next to the road but parking is difficult – especially if you have children with you. I settled for a slow ‘drive by’ viewing.

I visited this site earlier this year and the barrow is still blocked. Despite a cold, frosty morning there were a few people about and I had a nice chat walking across the field to the site from the main road. Given the other tombs and Hillfort near by (plus the large car park and picnic facilities) I thought that this would be a great place to bring school children to teach them about prehistoric times etc?

I drove up and down looking for this stone which appeared easy to see from my map. Eventually I spotted it – and sure enough it was easy to spot – once you were looking in the right place! I viewed the stone from the road as there didn’t appear to be any easy access due to the river and difficulty parking.

When I visited I parked next to a water treatment? plant which had a barrier blocking the entrance. As it was a sunday morning I guessed no-one would be likely to want entry. I couldn’t find the path at first but a helpful dog walker pointed me in the right direction. Up through the trees and I was at the entrance to the hillfort. I was surprised by how well preserved this site was. There was a clear path along the grass which ran right through the centre of the hillfort. Fairly easy to access and one to recommend.

Whilst on a short camping holiday two years ago on a campsite on Brean Down I took the opportunity to walk along the headland. There is a car park at the base of the cliffs next to tropical bird garden / cafe. You then need to undertake a very steep set of steps which take you to the top. Just as you get to the top of the steps there are the remains of a small hillfort to be seen – corner section. Only small but fairly well preserved. I also managed to obtain a N.T. visitor leaflet on the site from the cafe. This gave details of the prehistoric, Roman and WW2 defences found on the headland. It’s quite a long walk but there is a circular walkway which takes you right around the headland and past the various sites. A good way to spend and hour or two.

The first time I visited Stanton Drew I didn’t even know this circle existed. Therefore I made sure I had a look the next time I was in the area. Access was easy enough from the main stone circle (2 minute walk) and despite quite a few people about, I had this site to myself. Well worth a look when visiting Stanton Drew.

As Moth said ‘You will think ‘is that it?’ You almost certainly will think ‘why did I bother?’!!
In saying that, when in the area anyway why not have a quick look?

I have visited this site on a couple of occasions and can’t really add much to what has already been said other than this place is well worth a visit. It is very large with many large stones. The last time I visited the field had cows in it which made little Dafydd very happy! The honesty box and information sheets were still there when I last visited.

Visited 14.2.2007.
Bath is a lovely place to visit if you have never been and the Roman Baths are a ‘must see’. As Rhiannon says, despite lots of tourists, there are some areas of the Baths which are very quiet and peaceful. I know the Romans are not everyone’s cup of tea who may be reading this but don’t let that put you off. Visit and enjoy!

Visited last summer after a day on the beach in Weston Super Mare. The site is easy to get to and had a large car park with plenty of people about – including a very welcome ice cream van on a hot day. Whilst the others sat and ate their ice creams I followed the path right out into the headland. The views along the coast each side were lovely. However, I can’t say I spotted anything which looked much like a barrow! Don’t let that put you off because the walk alone on a nice summers day makes the effort wothwhile.

Visited 14.2.2007.
I remember the date well because as a special Valentine’s day treat I took Karen for a day trip to Bath (she likes Bath and it gives me a chance to re-visit the Roman Baths). I also thought it would be a good chance to visit this hillfort. We drove up the steep narrow lane which takes you to the gate leading into the hillfort. Karen stayed in the car as I walked up the steep snow covered slope onto the top of the hillfort. It was a lovely sunny day and the views over Bath are great. I thought Karen would enjoy this view of Bath and persuded her to walk up for a look whilst I sat in the car. This was where it all went wrong! I didn’t notice that Karen got stuck on the muddy slope and couldn’t get down. I saw here sat there but thought she was admiring the view. I didn’t realise she was crying in frustration and anger as she was getting her new boots (Xmas present from yours truly) covered in mud! After being helped by a stranger walking his dog and getting back into the car she wasn’t very happy. However, we are still together so I must be doing something right!!

As per my notes on Lansdown Camp Barrow Cemetery I couldn’t make out any barrows for this site either. I did visit in the middle of summer so perhaps the grass was too high to make them out? Either way, they can’t be very big.

I had a look for the barrows when In the area visiting the English Civil War battlefield site (E.H). I must admit that despite spending a fair bit of time looking for the barrows I couldn’t see any. Perhaps the sun needed to be lower on the horizon to show them better?

I visited this site back last summer.
Take the minor road off the A431 and drive into North Stoke village. (The road is a dead end) Park near the church and take the public footpath which runs through the graveyard and around the back of the church. Follow the path up the hill and the hillfort is on your right. Unfortunately, the whole site seems to be fenced off and I couldn’t see any easy access points over the fence (it is also very overgrown by the fence). The views down the valley do however make the walk worthwhile.

This is s cracking little site I visited last summer.
Follow the lane north east through Bettws Newydd up Clytha Hill. You can pak right next to the edge of the hillfort and access is very easy through a gate. The scenery is lovely and a 10 minute walk will take you right around the hillfort. Despite being so easy to get to, the site has a fairly ‘remote’ feel to it. This is probably why I stumbled across a ‘courting couple’ when I visited – sorry for the interuption!!!!

Monzie’s been on ‘the list’ for a while now.... but always seemed to be a little too far off tour routes to be worth the deviation. Not for just ‘a couple of circle stones and some cup marks’. Well, that’s all the photos I’d ever seen appeared to show. Should’ve known better. True, the camera never lies, but it doesn’t necessarily always tell the whole truth, either. Indeed not.

However this year Monzie happens to sit more or less across my path. Hell, why not? Worth a quick look. Needless to say the ‘quick look’ all too soon becomes an all morning and early afternoon hang. The weather is suitably memorable, if bizzare, with a sharp, freezing wind requiring the traveller to donne jacket, only for the sun to periodically peer from beyond a fast moving, broken cloud base to boil him alive. Why, I love Scotland, me.

I find the approach a little off putting, through one of those awful ‘mock castle’ gatehouses once so favoured by the self proclaimed, higher echelons of society. Follow the Monzie Castle drive for a short duration and... there it is, the ‘circle virtually engulfed by nettles and some of the most verdant grass around, to the right. No wonder the cows across the way munch away contentedly and don’t give a monkey’s about the approach of the visitor.

Much to my surprise, the circumferance of the ring is not that far away from being chock full of orthostats. Ha! Clearly the vegetation is adept at camouflaging the true extent of this fine little monument from the lens of the lazy photographer and some gardening is therefore required. Just to sit down, in fact. There is much more to Monzie than a fine little ‘circle, however, the most enigmatic feature of the site being a large, recumbent slab a little beyond the SW arc, this bearing numerous cup and ring marks. A much needed session of ‘de-forestation’ later, the rock art is more or less visible... and one wonders how long the coins placed within the cup marks have been in situ? Furthermore, the orthostat at the SE corner of the ‘circle also bears rock art...... unfathomable, haunting, timeless.

Yeah, this is some place, it really is, the art adding immeasurably to the vibe here. Just to complete the picture, there’s also a large standing stone visible further along the drive, perhaps too distant to be classed an ‘outlier’? Maybe... guess that depends whether it acts as a sighting point for any astronomical event, or not. Dunno. Whatever, don’t be a muppet like I was. Come to Monzie as soon as you get the chance.

From Upper Broomhill the Barmekin is a fairly steep climb. I headed cross country from the track, a mistake, and headed for burnt heather which led part of the way up the hill. After this ran out the real fun began no paths, as Bill Watt said, knee deep heather and unseen holes at least two at waist deep. For quite a few yards I was able to sing in a much higher key. It is steeper than it looks but 3/4s of the way I found the/a path which led to the top. It must be said that this path is hardly ever used but at least there are no holes.

After a steepish climb the walls suddenly come into view. This is quite simply a magnificent site, one of the best (in Britain I’d say) with its 5 walls. The top two walls can be seen quite clearly all round the hill with many parts of original building remaining. It has to be said that the three other walls can be seen but are grass and heather covered but they are complete and also circle the hill entirely. Big stones can be seen dotted up and down the slopes which made me wonder if they were used for hidden bow/spearmen. Still they made a handy seat.

I’ve often wondered if the various tribes were allied as the fort at Mither Tap is quite clearly seen as can some of Dee forts. More astonishingly Durn Hill at Portsoy can just be made out some forty miles to the north. Beacons, warnings of attack who knows?

One thing I do know is that aerial photos would be the ideal here. It made the sadness, about the condition, of the Broomhill and Orde sites go away a little bit.

Luckily for me I’d found a path and followed it as zig zagged to the bottom of hill. This path would lead to Culfosie Farm, two weeks earlier the farmer here said that it was nothing but a pile of stones.............wrong!!!!!!!!!! So I headed back north following the track back to Middle Broomhill.

On the Sunday thunder and lightning had attacked Bennachie, even the phone was affected, but by Monday the rain had gone. However Mr Watts advice in his fieldnotes hold good, water proofs are essential when visiting this wonderful site.

Visited 13/06/2010.

Visited today; a pleasant walk across north Wiltshire meadows from the village of Purton near Swindon. This hillfort is unlike the other Wiltshire downland hillforts as the landscape is meadowland against the backdrop of Brockurst Wood.

If you are planning a visit – go soon! Just by the north side of the hillfort is Brockhurst Meadow, now owned and managed by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. Today there were common and spotted orchids growing in great abundance, along with a profusion of other wild flowers and grasses. A wonderful and unexpected treat as I was unaware of the meadow until today. It is cut in July and then given over to grazing, so don’t delay if you want the simple and glorious sight of a wildflower meadow and a  peaceful wander around ancient hillfort set in wooodland.