Latest Fieldnotes

This stone sat for thousands of years before being caught up in Scotland and it’s wars. Legend has it that Macbeth was beheaded here after Macduff’s forces had overtaken their opponent. Sitting beside an old railway line it represents a significant piece of history.

Head south thru Lumphanan, don’t follow the A980 go the opposite way west following the sign for the Peel Of Lumphanan (excellent medieval fort and moat, good place to park as the info board explains much of what happened in the area. The stone sits 300 meters south west over the road with a small climb to the stone. Good views over to the Grampian mountains.

Visited 8/07/2010.

After reading a book about the real story of Macbeth, instead of William Shakespeare’s portrayal (surely the Mel Gibson of his day concerning Scottish history) I decided it was time to find this cairn. (Rhiannon’s folklore giving an also necessary prod)

The cairn is situated 1 mile north west of the village of Lumphanan (good pub) fairly clos to the A980. Pull in at the first track on the north side side of the road. I asked permission to park, so everybody was happy.

Immediately behind the farmhouse, a fairly steepish climb of 500 meters, on Perkhill lies the bronze age cairn with tremendous views up and down the valley. Poor Macbeths body was taken here after being defeated and beheaded by Macduff. At least he had a nice spot to rest. The cairn is 13 meters wide and 3/4s of a meter high. A kerb surrounds most of the site, with a large slab/boulder being a possible cist.

(On the way to cairn a sheepdog and lamb befriended me on my way. The lamb obviously supports Rangers :-( as it seemed to try to trip me up every now and again. On this form the lamb would get in their team now.)

This is an area steeped in history so plenty for the visitor to see and do in this, one of the most scenic parts of Aberdeenshire.

Visited 8/07/2010.

Visited 29.6.10.
Despite the weather being in the mid 70’s with plenty of sunshine on the coast (I was heading for the beach via a small ‘detour’) it was misty with drizzle up in the mountains!!
Travelling west along the A4107 from the A4061 you come to a road sign which states ‘Welcome to Bridgend District’. Park near the sign on the grass verge and walk up the tractor tyre tracks heading up the hill parallel to the trees. After about 5 minutes the cair comes into view. Luckily I had my wellies in the car otherwise I would have got soaked. The cairn was a lot bigger than I expected and had been dug into. An old car tyre and concrete lump had been dumped in the cairn’s hollow. Despite this, it was very atmospheric – probably due to the weather?
The cairn is NOT visible from the road.

Tried to visit 29.6.10.
Grrrrrrrrr….. not happy!
‘Jobsworth’ on the gate refused me entry and said that the public were not allowed beyond the large locked metal gates. He said he would need permission from his boss to allow me access. I explained that I had come a fair way and could he ring his boss to ask? He wouldn’t!!!!!
Unfortunately I didn’t have Burl’s directions with me so another visit required.

Visited 30.6.10.
There is a wooden field gate next to Mercury Garage on the A478 which gives access to the stone. The stone is easily seen about 100 metres away. I was tempted to go and have a closer look but there was a bloke in the garden opposite who never took his eyes off me so I settled for a view from the gate instead.

Visited 30.6.10.
Right next to the road but nowhere to park.
I had to settle for 2 slow ‘drive bys’!
Luckily someone keeps the hedge cut back where the stone is so easy enough to see from the car.

Visited 30.6.10.
WOW,WOW,WOW – what a great site!!!!!!!!!!
I have been to many dolmens but for views this has to be the best – stunning.
Easy to access, parking next to Longhouse Farm. Luckily it hadn’t rained for several weeks so the mud/much from the ever present cows was not a problem – although I am sure it would be in wet weather. There was a group of artists present when I visited who were painting the dolmen for ever possible angle! The dolmen was a lot bigger than I expected and it was no problem walking underneath. I would put this burial site in my top 3, alongside Pentre Ifan and West Kennett. Did I mention the views???

Visited 30.6.10.
This is a superb site. Very easy to access and a type of site I have never seen before.
Driving along the A487 (towards Newport) you will see a sign for Oakfield Lodge on your right. Keep driving north and in a couple of hundred yards you will see a public footpath sign on your left with a wide grass verge you can park on. This is the closest parking space to the burial chamber. Walk back down the road – take care, this road is very busy with traffic speeding – until you come about opposite Oakfield Lodge. You will see a wooden field gate with a ‘please close the gate’ sign on it. Although there is no public right of way into the field I assume the owners don’t mind judging by the sign on the gate? This is a ‘wow’ place – very unusual. It seems to me that this site should be far better known than it is. Burial chambers with a large flat stone lying 100 paces away at the opposite end of the field – must be to do with the chambers? There is also the treat of great views towards Dinas Head and the coastline. As long as you take care with the road this is a great place to visit.

Visited 30.6.10.
Penlan farm is not signposted from the main road but there is a public footpath sign. Take the turning up the concrete track but DO NOT drive any further up the track when the concrete section ends as the road is extremely rutted – you would need to be driving a 4x4 or tractor (not sure if my little Fiesta has recovered yet?!). Walk up to the field the Dolmen stands in (on your right) which is easy to identify as there are metal steps into the field! The Dolmen is only a little way into the field and has the usual large chunky capstone seen in this area. The capstone is high enough to crouch under. Fairly easy to access although I would suggest leaving your car on the main road and walking all the way if you have a decent car which you don’t want ‘tested’.

99.9% of this field has been recently dug up with a large Hymac and so close to this huge stone im surprised its still standing, access via the gate is a little awkward as a deep dyke has been dug at least on the road side of the field, well worth visiting, didnt get to see Oughtihery W circle this trip

Another wedge tomb with easy access and visible from the road, the area around Bweeng and Mushera is laden with Megaliths

Visited 30.6.10.
This was a lot easier to find than I expected it to be although I have to say I was a little disappointed by the site. I don’t know why but I was expecting it to have more of a ‘wow’ factor. The only thing I can add is that one of the fallen stones built into the wall is under a telegraph pole. May make it a little easier to find?

‘Visited’ 30.6.10.
When I say visited I should say viewed from the top of Garnwnda rock outcrop. There was no obvious or easy access to the stone so I settled for a view from afar. The stone is easily seen.

Visited 30.6.10.
Seen on the horizon when approaching St David’s Head Camp along the costal footpath. However, as you get closer it disappears from sight. Before you get to St David’s Camp there is a very small ‘path’ up the steep bank off to the right. This is near the small cove you pass on your left. Up the ‘path’ to the top and you will see the tomb. An easier but longer way is to walk from St David’s Camp along the headland. However, taking this route you only see the tomb when you are pretty much right on top of it. Lovely costal views to be had and the capstone is tall enough to sit under, although the tomb was not as big as it looked from a distance.

Visited 30.6.10.
I parked at the Whitesands Beach car park (charge) and took a lovely 30 minute walk up to the hillfort. It was a beautiful summer’s morning and was ‘picture postcard’ perfect. The sun was warm, the sand white and the sea crystal clear – wonderful. Makes you feel good to be alive. Be careful when walking along the costal path as it is right next to the cliff edge at places with no fences and a deadly drop! There are stone ramparts remaining in places about 8ft high – collapsed walls to the front. It goes without saying there are great costal views.

‘Visited’ 30.6.10.
Failed to find this one I am afraid to report. Despite walking around and around, climbing up and down, getting stung by nettles and twice getting zapped by an electric animal fence I failed. I can only assume I couldn’t see the burial chamber due to the height of the gorse / brambles? I am sure I was in the right place. Perhaps it is one to visit in the winter months?

Visited 30.6.10.
Really easy to visit. Park by the large car park next to the two stone monuments. There is an interesting plaque next to one of the modern standing stones about how the bluestones from Stonehenge came from the area. Walk north to edge of field and look over the wall – the stones are right in front of you. To get closer you need to hop over the fence and walk through waist high nettles and ‘spikey grass’. One stone is about 6ft high – the other about 5ft. Great views od Carn Meini mountains to the north.

I visited this site about two years ago.
As you drive along the lane which runs next to the stones, there is one stone to be seen amongst the undergrowth. To get to the stone you need to climb over a fence and scramble up the bank. This isn’t too difficult if you are reasonably mobile. If my memory serves me right there is barbed wire on top of the fence. The stone has fallen and I couldn’t see the other stone which is recorded. It is possible it was in the undergrowth somewhere?

Originally 5 large stones, 4 lay on the ground, just one standing, easy access, later on I saw this mentioned to the Aghinagh Way map, I will find out its proper name and sort that out later

These are easy to find, just inside a gate on the other side of the road and to the left of the wedge tomb and stone circle

The remains of Oldbury long barrow lies on the narrow neck of a prominent chalk ridge towards the west end of Cherhill Down, 85m west of the Cherhill Monument.
The area around the barrow has been greatly disturbed by chalk digging which makes it difficult to define, although a mound 31m long by 20m wide and up to 2.2m high still survives, orientated east to west along the ridge top. This is thought to be the truncated end section of the barrow, the eastern portion having been levelled. The barrows’ original length may have been up to 52m. It’s stated dimensions in 1864 was length 60 feet, breadth 26 feet, and about 3 feet high.
Due to the barrows position on its narrow ridge, there are no surface indications of flanking ditches from which long barrows are normally constructed. These may have been destroyed by slope erosion or the construction method may have been different. The subsequent and extensive chalk workings have reduced any investigations to mere speculation.

Inspired by Scubi’s recent little solstice film, I was determined to see this barrow. Tonight (or rather yesterday) I seized on the opportunity on our way to Box to persuade a friend to drive by and stop for a bit.

A quiet country lane under an M4 bridge, somehow we just went straight to it. The barrow was at the far end of a field of maze so we walked along the hedgerow then carefully stepped through the maze crop to take a closer look. Although the grass around the barrow had been cut back, the barrow itself was very overgrown. The elder tree has sprung back into life, as elders seem to do; the most resilient of hedgerow trees. I’m not sure that it can be thwarted even though it presence is not welcome.

I spotted the Cove stones in the ‘pub garden’ as the bus had pulled into Stanton Drew and my first impression was that they were in the churchyard. We bought lunch and a drink at the Druid Arms just before it closed though the landlord said we were welcome to stay in the Cove Garden for as long as we wanted. Probably the best pub garden I have ever sat in; I found the relationship of the Cove Stones and the nearby church very interesting – the Cove Stones feel as though they belong to the same ‘site’ as the church as are really quite separate from the pub, there are steps leading up to them from the road. It felt once again like a church superimposed on an ancient site.

Note: the pub closed at 2.15pm though there is access to the garden at all times from the road.

Today met up with Bristol based Friend for another little stony adventure; same Friend as I got lost in Cornwall with. Some reservations as a very limited bus service served by the *672 small bus (see below for details) which went the scenic Chew Valley route. Friend said the driver bore a striking resemblance to Otto from the Simpsons as he was wearing a bandana and dark glasses. When he asked us if we were going to the Stones somehow it boded well for the visit.

I had printed off the field notes from TMA which I read on train; all were distinguished contributors though Treaclechops of 2003 shone out with a sense of fun and wit (as her field notes always do when by chance I stumble upon them). I will try therefore not to duplicate what has already been written and just give a few impressions of our visit. We picked up the helpful English Heritage leaflet from the gate and dropped some money in the empty sounding honesty box.

I found the diagram in the leaflet very helpful as we made our way slowly down the slope to look at the stones from all perspectives. Looking uphill in the diagonal direction of the church tower seems to give the impression of walking towards and into a ‘ritual site’. After half an hour or so we made our way back up to the South West Circle though needed to circumnavigate a small field of dairy cows to get to it. All the stones in this circle are now lying flat; it was however an interesting perspective to look downhill towards the Great Circle and small NE circle.

* Details of how to get to Stanton Drew by public transport:
The 672 from Stop CP on Colston Avenue, leaves 11.35am arrives Stanton Drew (Druid Arms) 12.46pm. Although just over an hour it was a drive through along scenic lanes with fabulous views.
Return journey from outside the Druid Arms at 15.11pm.
NB: These are the only two journeys to run but give well over two hours for visit.

Visited 30.6.10.
An easy place to access but a bit of a walk to get to the top – took me 20 minutes from the parking area alongside the road. At the top are 3 huge cairns, the largest of which has been ‘excavated’ by ramblers to make a rather comfortable shelter, with views across to the mountains. Good views all around although there is little to be seen of the hillfort defences.