Viewed 14.2.2010.
I had an overnight stay in Aberystwyth but due to an allready full itinerary I didn’t have time to climb to the top. I did however view the hillfort from the top of the opposite headland (the one where the electric train takes you to the top) and a very fine view I had indeed. You could see what appeared to be the remains of ramparts amongst the fields and trees. I will have to find the time the climb the hill next time I visit Aberystwyth and give a proper report.
Latest Fieldnotes
May 24, 2010
I parked at Monthammock farm and walked across the field to the east behind the farm. This is a beautiful place, stunning in many ways also astonishing as I’d never heard about it until coming back up the road from Glasgow today. (I’d to deliver a keyboard to somebody who lived in Durris nearby!) Why oh why is this site not better known complete with a kerb cairn next door, also a cairn.
One thing was against me hunting further, thunder and lightning ensured a thorough drenching for our intrepid hero. So it was back to the safety of the car, tho the lighting show was every bit as good as the previous nights, the music was somewhat scarier!
Visited 23/05/2010.
May 23, 2010
The Grafton barrow cemetery consists of three disc barrows, two of which overlap, and a bowl barrow which form a unique site. Of the various types of round barrow, nationally disc barrows are rare, with about 250 known examples, most of which are in Wessex. While Bowl barrows are the most numerous form of round barrow, dating from the Late Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age, most examples belonging to the period 2400-1500 BC. Disc barrows, the most fragile type of round barrow are of the early Bronze Age, with most dating to a much shorter 200 year period, possibly between 1400-1200 BC. The setting of this barrow group on a gentle west-facing slope above the floor of a dry valley and not on a more level part of the undulating chalk downland, has added greatly to it’s survival.
When I visited the site in May 2009, I came along the footpath from the Fair Mile to Scots poor. The first section is a good made up road but once the path drops into the valley it becomes a dirt track. The height of the trees surrounding this barrow group makes it a frustrating site to try to photograph. It makes me wonder why the hillside was chosen. The two joined barrows sit on the lower slop with the single disc slightly higher. The Bowl barrow sits on a spur high up the side of the hill and is the most visible today.
Of the three disc barrows, two overlap and have been classified as a single monument by English heritage, although the Wiltshire SMR lists each barrow individually. The two conjoined disc barrows, aligned broadly north- south and set on the lower slope, are both about 46 m in diameter, the northern barrow has a central mound 10m in diameter and 0.75m high surrounded by a berm 7.5m wide. The southern barrow has a central mound l2m across and 0.75m high surrounded by a level berm 10m across.
Both show a hollow on the mound measuring approx 5m by 0.5m and are the results of the 1952 partial excavation by the Newbury District Field Club.
Surrounding the berm of the northern barrow, is a ditch 6m wide by 1m deep and a high outer bank on the west side of the mound, 6m wide and 1.5m high. The southern barrow’s ditch surrounds it’s central area, except to the north where it abuts the southern part of the ditch surrounding the adjacent northern barrow. This may indicate that the order of construction. The ditch has been partly in filled over the years but survives as an earthwork 5m wide and 1m deep. An outer bank defines the maximum extent of the monument, at least on the downhill side where it stands 1.5m high and is 5m across.
The other single disc barrow, SMR No.SU25NE618, National Monument 12267. is called the Heath Copse disc barrow. The English heritage report says the barrow mound stands 1m high surrounded by a berm 9m wide and a quarry ditch 3m wide, the central mound stands 1m high and is c.10m across. Surrounding this is a level berm 9m wide and a ditch, from which material was obtained during construction of the monument. The ditch has been partly in filled over the years but survives as a low earthwork 3m wide and 0.5m deep. This disc barrow is an outstanding example with no evidence for excavation.
The burials, normally cremations, are frequently accompanied by pottery vessels, tools and personal ornaments. It has been suggested that disc barrows were normally used for the burial of women, although this remains unproven. However, it is likely that the individuals buried were of high status.
To get an impression of the site size, along with the surrounding long and round barrows see this aerial view from the SMR history.wiltshire.gov.uk/smr/getsmr.php?id=17835
We came here on 8.5.2010, towards the end of a walk from Dyserth to Rhuallt along Offa’s Dyke path and then back to Prestayn, the base for the weekend, along the Clwydian Way. This one is a must-visit, an enormous, enigmatic Silbury-esque mound of mysterious origin. Steep-sided, the top has partly caved in due to various bits of poking and prodding over the years. Nice views to the south, towards Moel y Parc and the Clwydian Hills, with Moel Hiraddug prominent to the south-west.
Tired legs and few more miles still to go ruled the cave out, so we’ll have to come back for a more leisurely explore some time.
Single round barrow, a ploughed down grass-covered mound grazed by sheep when we passed (8.5.2010). Right next to the horribly busy A55.
Coflein gives a diameter of 34m, height of 1.7m. Not worth a special visit.
Passed 8.5.2010 along Offa’s Dyke path. There are three barrows here, but two are very badly ploughed down and the third may not actually be a barrow!
The ploughed down ones are better seen from a distance, as we saw them from Marian Ffrith to the north. Up close they just blend into the field.
The third (Barrow I on Coflein) is prominent and has a hedge planted across the top of it. It was also sadly being used as a place to leave farm equipment. However, despite the sorry state of the barrows now, they are still part of a landscape liberally scattered with bronze age barrows. Marian Bach barrows are visible nearby to the NW, Mynydd y Cwm to the immediate south is crowned by the three Llyn-y-Gorseddau barrows and most obvious of all is the massive cairn on The Gop to the NNE.
May 22, 2010
Visited 22 May 2010
I had arranged to spend today with my oldest and closest female friend for a general potter in the vicinity of Oxford. A beautiful summer’s day rolled out before us and I suggested we do a detour to Stanton Harcourt to see the ‘reconstructed’ stone circle I had read so much about. I knew from previous TMA posts that it was next to a recycling plant near Stanton Harcourt so we were soon tootling around the lake towards the layby opposite a portacabin office. As we pulled up a man in a yellow jacket came out in our direction, my friend said in her best posh voice “We’ve come to see the stone circle”. He was obviously taken with her as he couldn’t have been more helpful, telling us where to park and where to walk. A few minutes later he reappeared with a rather attractive information sheet produced by Wardell Armstrong, the engineering company responsible for reinstating the site. The leaflet headed “Dix Pit Landfill Devil’s Quoits” explained the background to the project; the Devil’s Quoits Circle had been one of the most important Henge sites in Britain dating back four and half thousand years, used by the local people from the Thames Valley Region. The circle was some 75m in diameter with a two metre ditch and outer Henge bank surrounding them. The three original stones were geologically assessed and the new stones were sourced locally from the same conglomerate stone.
We set off along the gravel path – lake, willows and wild fowl on one side and fairly new tree plantation on the other. The circle itself was unlike any I have yet seen; even in the brilliant mid-day sunshine the landfill site in the background initially gave it a stark feel, however, this soon disappeared. Within minutes of our arrival a pair red kites soared overhead and glided down as low as I have ever seen red kites. Their interest was clearly the landfill site but what a display. They glided on thermal currents giving us a splendid view of their reddish brown tail feathers which strangely enough echoed the colour of the stones.
Seen from the far Henge bank the circle comes to life and the knowledge that it will still be there in another hundred years when the landfill has long since been abandoned was very satisfying. Later we sat on the stones near the entrance stile while I made a few notes – my friend called for me to look up … the kites had returned to give us yet another magnificent aerial display.
A great day … and many thanks to the lovely people we met earlier who gave us clear and accurate directions.
Footnote: The gates of the recycling plant close at 5.00pm (on Saturday anyway) so only day time visits are viable by car.
Yes, it is right by the road and we did know this, but.....we still seemed to manage to walk straight past it. Sometimes I think we should concentrate a wee bit more.
We parked at the car park and set off up the left hand track but missed the little footpath to the circle and so had to double-back on ourselves. By the time we saw it, we were so pleased that we trotted straight into a very boggy bit and sank up to our calves. Take care.
This is a strange place; overgrown and boggy and yet with the traffic whizzing by it feels very odd. We had been to Giant’s Graves and East Bennan earlier and this felt like a bit of a letdown after such amazing sites.
We initially started to walk to this site from the main stones at Machrie Moor but after about 15 minutes of negotiating boggy peatland and peaty bogland, we headed back and decided to drive instead!
We parked at the rather awful Balmichael visitor centre and set off walking along the roadside. We got confused by the Scottish Water building which wasn’t on our map and after much fannying around, realised that the circle was now behind this monstrosity!
This had now become personal! We had already spent about an hour of our time trying to reach this site and nothing was going to hold us back. So, we hopped over the gate, ran across the forecourt and over another gate into a field. A combination of dead heather, gorse and bracken meant that we wandered around for another 15 minutes before FINALLY finding this diminutive circle but boy, were we happy!
The views across to Machrie Moor were spectacular and you can see the main standing stones from here. We had no idea what the circle was called but we named it the Magic Water Cuckoo Stones as we seemed to follow the sound of a cuckoo the whole time we were looking and it finally led us to our destination!
Definitely worth coming here, if only for the aspect, as you can only wonder about what this landscape must’ve looked like, littered with these stunning monuments, 5000 years ago. Fab.
There is another small, ruined 4 Poster close by – only 2 stones now remain.
Another site with cracking views across to Ailsa Craig. However, this one had less of a pull for me than East Bennan and you have to wonder why this one was “chosen” to be signposted and looked after, when other, possibly more deserving, sites aren’t?
Still, it is a lovely walk through the woods and the views are wonderful.
What a corker! I suppose it helped that the weather was stunning and the views across the water to Ailsa Craig were remarkable but this is also a real treat of a site. We spent a good deal of time wandering around and trying to guess how this would’ve once looked – it is an impressive size and the remains are much more intact than at Torrylin.
We also got to witness one of nature’s most remarkable sights – that of 2 hares, boxing in the sun, a mere 20m away from us.....
Easy-ish to get to, although we missed the initial turning a couple of times and we parked by the driveway to what appears to be a holiday cottage.
I feel that this stone deserves it’s own entry. Yep, it is similar in style and size to the stone at Dundarragh Cottage and they may well be linked (possibly moved from their original position?) but it is still a good 5 mins walk from one to the other!
This stone stands in a field next to the golf club. From the Dundarragh stone, turn right up the hill and past the golf club entrance. The stone is in the next field on the left, by a big, white house.
Another lovely stone......I like to think there is some connection between the 2.
Lots of hares bouncing around in the field and a cheeky red squirrel followed me, popping up every now and then, as I walked along the road! Lovely.
Driving north out of Sannox, you pass the old Sannox Congregational church on a right hand bend – turn into this small track and park by the old (and now closed) church.
Standing proudly in the gardens of Dundarragh Cottage at Sannox, this stone is a beaut. As the cottage is a holiday home and was unoccupied, we had a cheeky wander round. The stone which stands across the road (up past the golf club) is very similar – but some distance – so it is possible that one or both may have been moved? Or maybe they aren’t linked? Who knows?
May 20, 2010
After climbing Bennachie in the morning forgetting to take my camera and phone from the car. I felt a complete muppet as I found another cup marked rock on Little Oxen Craig. So back down I trudged on my way to the day job.
From Inverurie take the Rothienorman road, B9001 turning east at the Oldmeldrum junction. Auchencleith is the first farm after the crossroads. The rock can be found in amongst field clearance, western edge, next to the road, to the right immediately before the farm. 8 cup marks can be seen. 6 at 3cm wide 1cm deep and 2 at 6cm wide 1cm deep. Once again Bennachie is clearly in view. However this stone has been moved.
Allan Maitland, brother of Bill who owns the farm expained why the rocks had been moved. More than 25 years ago the rocks had been scattered thru the fields. They were gathered together and put into a couple piles. This enabled the field to be used for cattle grazing. What was good about this was that Allan knew about the stone at Balhalgardy and said the markings were similar. Across the road is a cup marked rock at Cuttlecraigs found by somebody who lives in Tealing.
The oasis grows by one, one more coming very soon.
Visited 19/05/2010.
This mini-Beaghmore is simply marked as stone circles on the OS map. Burl says that there are 5 circles here in all (wish I had read the book before I set out), 2 of which are immediately apparent 100 metres over the gate and into the field. These are the only 2 that I saw today, not knowing that there were 3 more in the vicinity.
Like at Beaghmore, all the stones of the circles are low, none over half a metre tall. Burl says the northern has 10 stones and the southern 14. The metre and a half tall standing stone is offset to the east.
Another site I visited last year whilst staying in Bala – another CADW site! I had a bit of difficulty finding the cross through the maze of country lanes despite having an O/S map. Eventually I asked a chap out walking his dog who pointed me in the right direction. The only advice I can give is that it is situated in a field at the crossroads of several lanes. It is not visible from the lane but there is a gate and once you get into the field it is easily seen just a short walk away. The carvings are fantastic and although I have seen several such crosses this is easily the most impressive in both size and patterns on all four sides of the cross. (The one near Carew Castle in South Wales is pretty good too).
Well worth the effort to find.
Visited Spring 2009.
During a couple of days visit to Bala I saw this site on the map and called in on the way home. It was a beautiful cloud free day, the sky blue and the sun warm. The site is sign posted off the main road and a minor road leads you to a decent car park. There are information boards and various different walks you can take – depending on how mobile you are or how much time you have. This is a lovely place – really peaceful although there were several beer cans left scattered about which I bagged and took home. I didn’t have too much time but I visited Llyn Brenig 44 which is only a short walk from the car park – through the gate and near the shoreline – easily seen. I sat and watched the fishermen in their boats and relexed and rested in the late afternoon sun – totaly at peace. I don’t know why (although no doubt the weather helped) but this is one of the most relaxing places I have ever visited. Definitely worth a visit.
I vivited this site last year as part of my on-going attempt to visit every CADW site. The mound is just up the road from Valle Crucis Abbey (another CADW site) and can actually be seen from the Abbey. The mound is quite small but in a flat field with a cross on top – so easy to spot.
Probably best to park at the abbey and walk back down the road to the mound as parking is not easy and the road is very busy.
Visited Spring 2009.
Dominating the surrounding area of Llangollen, this is a site that can be seen for miles around. There are well sign posted footpaths from the town to the top BUT it is a long, steep walk. I have walked up quite a few hillforts but this was perhaps the toughest – I was knackered when I got to the top! How on earth they managed to build a castle up here and carry all that stone up I don’t know! The views are wonderful and there are reasonable remains of the castle although I can’t say I noticed anything of any previous Iron Age defences? There is a very good small (free)museum in Llangollen which gives an account of the site over the years with the usual finds etc. Well worth a visit.
One for the fit and enegetic only!!
May 19, 2010
Fieldnotes 2nd Route.
Going east on the A98 from Macduff go past the Turriff (hard to go past this one) and New Byth junctions until Lovie’s quarry. Head to the top of this small hill and pull in. There is enough room, if not there is a layby half way up. The circle is on the south side of the road. Thru gate head diagonally across the field and climb to the next gate. The circle will be visible just follow the track. This is a far better route than the other I mention. No rubbish tip or barbed wire to trip over.
Re-visited 19/05/2010.
Visited 8.5.2010 as a “quick” stop off before doing the Dyserth – Rhuallt bit of Offa’s Dyke path. Very close to the path, it seemed rude not to.
A word of caution – there are a couple of routes up to the fort, which crowns the top of a long north-south hill reaching a maximum height of 265m. There is a footpath running along the western side of the bottom of the hill, which can be used to get onto the access land of the upper slopes. Or, there is a footpath running from the SW corner of the hill to the south end.
We chose the former (because I’m impatient and it’s more direct), which proved to be a bad idea. The footpath doesn’t go up the hill, so you have to veer off eastwards along a track into the trees, which emerges at the bottom of a scree slope. Not put off, we scrambled up the scree, which gets steeper the further up you go. At the top of the scree band, there are some nice grassy slopes, except they’re almost vertical. By the time we finally made the top of the slope, I was not particularly popular with G/F – so, use the footpath from the SW if you want a sensible route up!
Once on top, the views are great. Northwards is the sea, westwards the mountains of Snowdonia and the excellent cairn on The Gop is prominent immediately to the east.
The fort itself has been destroyed at its northern end by quarrying (an even worse route up I can only imagine!). However, there are clear earth and stone ramparts on the south and east sides, at least three lines of defences are visible. None of the ramparts survive to any great height, but it’s well worth a look if you’re in the area.
May 18, 2010
In theory, we passed these two barrows on 7.5.2010, at the start of our long-term plan to walk Offa’s Dyke Path from north to south. The OS 1:25000 map isn’t terribly helpful in locating them and a covering of gorse didn’t help.
The northern barrow is situated on a rounded limestone hill, to the east of the path. The southern barrow adjoins the west side of the path, in an area overgrown by gorse. Not sure if the vague mound I saw was even it. Great spot though, with extensive views west and south, where the nearby hillfort of Moel Hiraddug is a visible landmark – and a target for the next day’s walk.
We sloped off to the decidedly-not-prehistoric Rhuddlan Castle though...
As Dickie says this barrow has been very seriously damaged in the past. Happily the current land owner seems to value it, as they have taken the time, effort and expense to fence it off. This is a very peaceful place to be, I had it completely to myself, and saw a young fox playing in the lane which leads to it.
From the barrow, to the south west Bokerley Dyke can be seen clearly, with its barrows and the parts of Grim’s Ditch associated with it.
I parked in a small layby a couple of hundred yards into the village and walked up the road into Long Barrow lane, it’s a flat walk and I spent about half an hour at the barrow. Worth a visit if you get the chance.
May 17, 2010
Permission to visit needed, farmer was missing but his brother lives across the road close by, a real nice gent, was not too happy about a previous gang that arrived in a minibus, blocked the drive, so he arranged a tractor so that they could not leave before contacting them, saying that he was most pleasant and brought us all the way to the tomb
Some new finds from Saturday ,plus one from a while ago that was never photographed in good enough light .Nothing spectacular but there are now 30 marked rocks in this area .