Latest Fieldnotes

Visited August 2009.
As with most other people I took what I thought was the sesible approach and contented myself with a view from the lane which runs alongside the field in which the stone stands. Unfortunately I did make the major mistake of trying to drive down siad lane! Unless you drive a 4x4 forget it. Damage to exhaust now repaired!!!

At the north of Issel’s Stone, an altar stone made of cupmarks, on the right bank of a small stream there’s this pretty rock with a footprint’s mark; footprints testify the high sacredness of a site.
This engrave is made for offerings of the water’s cult. Water the life bringer... This area is still named “Acquasanta” that means “Holy Water”.

Visited July 2009.

For directions see Martin’s post below.
I stopped off here on the way back from a visit to Edinburgh. There is a T/A building next to where you park and signs stating that you can’t visit when the flags are flying – which means there is live firing taking place! Luckily when I visited all was peaceful and I had no trouble entering the Souterrain through the unlocked metal gate. The site reminded me very much of Fogues I visited in Cornwall this year – very similar – so much so that my guess is they were used for the same purpose. Well worth a visit if you happen to be in the area.

Visited July 2009.
This is an excellent place to visit with easy access (although there is a bit of a steep walk) from the layby. It is a bit strange with the Second World War looking hut looking completely out of place and then the large concrete dome protecting the site from the elements. I loved the fact that you had to climb down a ladder top get inside – very Indiana Jones!! I have visited a number of Historic Scotland sites and I must say that I like the way they care for their sites and in particular how well sign posted most of them are – something CADW could learn from! The views are wonderful and I spent a very enjoyable hour or so here. Highly recommended.

An easy cairn to find on my way back home from Fraserburgh, Broch in these parts. Leave fraserburgh heading east on the B9031, take the first minor road east before Sandhaven.

Follow this minor road for two miles. The cairn is situated to the left side of the road just before the small village of Peathill.

Canmore tells us that the cairn is 26 meters north to south, 24 meters east to west. All that is left is a badly shaped ruin which in it’s day must have been hugh. Sadly the cairn has been robbed of most of its stones going by the amount of dry stane dykes in the area, tho many stones can be seen on the western edges. In 1785 a cist had been found. The marks of this excavation or perhaps quarrying can be seen with a large hollow in the middle of the cairn.

The road, B9031, leads back to the B9032 which in turn leads to the cliff forts at Dundarg (near New Aberdour), Cullykhan/Fort Fiddes (near Pennan) and eventually Cleaved Head (near Macduff). Be warned this road is a coastal route steep braes and nasty corners. Beautiful coastline tho but take care!

Visited 26/5/2010.

Visited Sunday 23 May 2010
It was already very hot when we made our way mid-morning from Devizes along Quaker’s Way up by Roundway Hill to Oliver’s Castle. In restrospect it was probably unwise to embark on an 11 mile walk along a section of the Mid Wilts Way during one of our rare heatwaves. The highlight for me was definitely reaching Oliver’s Castle.

Once up there the heat was relieved by a breeze, the views, needless to say, were spectacular. I noticed a small glimpse of purple in the grass and went to investigate; was treated to the sight of a whole bank of early purple (or fragrant) orchids. I have never seen wild orchids in such abundance – on the grassy slopes of a hillfort.

Whilst in the area (and needing petrol) there was only one place to go! After paying for said petrol it was a 30 second walk to the stone and a gentle pat on the old girl’s/boy’s head. No doubt it will still be here when the petrol station is long gone. (You do get some funny looks from other motorists though!!)

Visited on a fine Spring Saturday (15.5.2010), on a walk taking in Craig Cerrig-gleisiad and Fan Fawr. Being a weekend, hordes were on their way up Corn Du and Pen y Fan on the other side of the Glyn Tarell valley, but I appeared to have Fan Frynych to myself.

Approaching the mountain from the NE end, Fan Frynych rises in a series of steps from the lower lying land to the north. It appears as an imposingly steep climb from the saddle below Twyn Dylluan-ddu and the cairn remains hidden out of sight until you reach the 600m mark. It is not situated on the mountain summit itself, which is some way to the SW and almost 30m higher. But where it has been built it has terrific views over the landscape below, taking in Mynydd Illtud. When I arrived, the summits of Corn Du and Pen y Fan (and their attendant visitors) were completely shrouded in cloud, as they had been all morning. But, after taking a few pictures and stopping for a snack, the clouds lifted and the peaks emerged. Once visible they dominate the view eastwards.

The original cairn has a greater diameter than the modern stone construct on top of it and on the south side there is a small half-buried slab protruding – could this be part of a cist?

Gladman is right that the cairn itself doesn’t really warrant a special visit, but to my mind its location and the surrounding landscape elevates (sorry) it to a much more worthwhile site to come and see.

There are supposed to be two cairns here, one large one small. I found the small one which is about 6 meters wide and 1 meter tall. It is mainly grass covered but a few stones poke their heads out. The scenery is stunning as it looks down onto the Deveron valley.

Leave the A97 and take the B9117 towards Rothiemay, which follows the Deveron. Take the first minor to the right and climb all the way to the top and park at forestry works road about 11/2 miles away. From here follow the track until it stops. Head towards the the tree line then walk west the cairn is amongst fallen trees.

Winter and snow/high winds have been cruel, almost every tree will have to come down if they haven’t already fallen. It was a hard enough job finding this cairn, the second is covered in acres of fallen trees. No matter how hard I looked I couldn’t find a way to the highest point. So hopefully the forestry people will take care when moving the trees and not damage the cairns. Luckily I’m in this area every now and again so I intend to watch for the start of the clean up so eventually I can find the second cairn.

Visited 25/5/2010.

After the sharp corner on the A97 going south from Aberchirder the road heads west and downhill. Half way down the hill look south to the other side of the road. The standing stone is next to the fence.

At its base it is 3 feet wide and about 5 feet tall and looks down onto the Arkland Burn which enters the River Deveron near the Marnoch bridge. There are no markings on the stone. So no walk involved, but watch out for speeding lunatics driving far to fast.

Visited 25/5/2010.

I thought this was a cracking site, right next to the road at a junction. No real need to enter the field as the stones are very easily seen from the roadside. There were Shetland ponies in the field which were needless to say very cute!!

When I visited the forestry barriers were up and I was able to drive through the trees right next to the barrows. It was a lovely sunny day and I sat on the tree trunk on top of the barrows while Gafydd enjoyed himself with some sticks he found! The barrows are larger than I had expected and the forest setting was very pretty.

Just to point out that the stone is in the field on the right, just after going under the motorway road bridge when travelling from Rogiet to Undy on the B4245. Parking bit tricky on side of road.
(I spent quite a while driving up and down to find the right field!)

I visited this site last year during a day out ‘old stoning’ with Dafydd. Dafydd was due a feed and a nappy change so I parek up on the lane near the house. The O/S map doesn’t show public access to the site and as it was cold I decided to view from the road. This was very easy as the stones are on the brow of the hill and easily seen from the road. I would imagine you would need to ask for permission at the house to get a closer look?

Strangely enough this was my favourite part of the Rollright complex. I don’t know why but I find tombs particularly interesting. Part collapsed but still very intriguing. Only a short flat walk from the stone circle and very much worth a look.

Pity about the metal railings but still worth a look. When I visited there were several people there with leyline rods (if that’s what you call them?). A chap said that there are many lines which converge at the stone circle from all directions.

I will probably get a bit of stick for this but I was a little disappointed when I visited. I had read so much about the stones over the years and was really looking forward to my visit. Don’t get me wrong, it is a cracking place to visit and well worth it but I just think I was expecting the ‘wow’ factor – something I never got. Probably me. Will visit again when I get a chance. I bought Burl’s book on the site in the garden centre just down the road – a good little read.

Update:
re-visited 7.8.10.
I had a lot better ‘feel’ for the stones this time. It is funny how different visits to the same sites can leave you with different impressions. The weather was good when myself and Dafydd arrived but it started to rain before too long – sending the several people present scurrying back to their cars. Myself and Dafydd sheltered under the trees and spent a few minutes observing the stones in ‘splendid isolation’. We saw a lovely red/orange butterfly on one of the stones and I found a rolled up message had been left in one of the holes. Dafydd found a small pretty orange polished stone in a hole on a different stone.

I viewed this site when visiting Woodhenge. The remaining banks to be seen indicate the circumfrance was massive and this must have been an amazing place to see when it was at the height of its glory. Definitely worth a look when visiting Woodhenge.

Visited 8.5.2010, at the end of long circular walk taking in The Gop and a section of Offa’s Dyke path. These two barrows are easily accessed from the Clwydian Way, which runs along the north side of the grassy field they stand in.

The main barrow sits on top of a conical hilltop which would be intervisible with The Gop if intervening trees were removed. It’s a decent size (33m diameter) and on the face of it has a beautifully preserved bank and ditch. Unfortunately, Coflein indicates that this is part of the remnants of the summer house which gives the barrow its name.

There are loose stones scattered about and some recent footings of a now-demolished radar building. There was also a jenga-like pile of bricks piled in the centre. The barrow has a sea-view and a good hilltop position, from where it looks down the slope WNW to the other barrow in the field.

This one is a grassy mound, ploughed down but still a metre or so high. It occupies a much lower position, maybe suggesting a subservient relationship with the large barrow above.

This site really is a puzzle. I read the information boards but still couldn’t work it out! Worth a visit if in the area. When I visited last summer there were flowers left of the grave.

I called into the car park to view the Giant last Autumn but due to the wet summer the chalk lines were not very clear as grass was starting to grow through. There was a sign on the gate in the car park stating that there was a re-chalking process due to start shortly so presumably all will be clear when visiting now? There is a gate from the car park which gives access to a path which leads to the Giant if you want a closer err.. inspection! I will visit again when in the area as Cerne Abbas village also looked very pretty.

One of those sites which is better viewed from a distance rather than up close. Although you just HAVE to have a look when visiting the Hillfort! It was nice to note that people were observing the signs asking for people not to walk on the chalk. A long hot walk finished off with an ice cream in the car park next to the National Trust lorry!!

Walked up the hill after visiting Wayland’s Smithy. Karen decided to give it a miss and went back to the car with Dafydd as it was so hot. It took a lot longer to walk up the hill than I had expected but once on top the view was well worth it. The defence ditches are still well defined and there were sooo many people about enjoying the summer sunshine. It was nice to view the horse from above!

I parked at the main car park near the Uffington White Horse and walked the Ridgeway to Wayland’s Smithy. (There is a lane where you can park closer to the site if you wish). It was a lovely sunny day and the path was dry and dusty. It is nice to be a ble to say I have walked (a little bit) of the Ridgeway although I wish I had taken the pushchair as Dafydd was starting to get heavy in the heat! This is a fantastic site and I loved it. On a sunny day, sheltered by the trees, this was a very relaxing place to be. Lots of people came and went and I had a nice photo taken sat on one of the entrance stones with Dafydd on my knee. Somthing to show him when he is older! This is a great place to visit and very highly recommended – you won’t be dissapointed.

Visited July 2009.
I must admit I was a bit dissapointed when I visited. I’m not sure why, perhaps after the long drive I was a bit tired? Anyway, easy enough to find right next to the road. When I am next in the area I will visit again and see what I think next time.