Going from Ythanbank to Ellon, on the B9005, take the north turning signposted Drumwhindle. The stone cannot be missed as it looms large on the horizon on the west side of the road opposite the former Auchreddie Schoolhouse. It towers at 31/2 meters and can be seen clearly in each direction just beneath the top of the small hill. Bennachie can quite clearly be seen in the west.
Visited with John Porter 7/4/09
All that is left is the recumbent and a flanker. Go up the Balloch Brae road from Turriff until the Auchterless/Fortrie crossroads. The site is about 1/4 mile up the Fortrie road being 50 meters into a field to the north. Stones rumoured to be from the circle can be found at Mid Pitgalssie.
Visited repeatedly 2004-2009.
Just before the A947 reaches it end at the Deveron Bridge take the road to Macduff Distillery. Miss the distillery, try it later, and go straight on over a cattle grid. Walk another 400 yards, turn left, up the hill and over the fence, the stones are about 200 yards away in a field. Two stones stand, or one has weathered, whilst others lay prone. It is easy to see why this might have been built. Good all round views which include the Deveron entering the North Sea/Moray Firth. Lovely place.
Visited 6/4/09.
There are four stones, of varying lengths, sitting near the edge of a small loch at the entrance to the Bankhead of Clatt farm/machine shop. Somehow it doesn’t seem to be very old! Further along the road to Rhynie is the Corrstone Wood circle.
Visited September 08.
I found this rock while out prospecting for gold. Don’t worry I didn’t hit it with my hammer!!
It’s very important I know about megaliths as hevan forbid I damage any of these prehistoric wonders. But this one did not appear to be on any maps.
It is located behind a small quarry at the top of the lower north eastern mound at Gortmonly Hill in Co. Derry, Northern Ireland.
GR: 240769 408652
It has recently been uncovered by farmer who has chopped down a lot of bush. Maybe he intends to extend his quarry so this site must be recognised before it is lost.
The stone needs a proper clean up and inspection. If anyone wishes to go have a look with me please e-mail me. Maybe there is more in the surrounding area if anyone wishes to explore.
There are 4 bullaun stones in the vicinity of the Moone High Cross Inn that I could find (there may be more), 3 singles and a double. We’d stopped here for a spot of lunch and when I spotted the rough-hewn boulder outside the bar I thought; it couldn’t be – a bullaun stone being used as an ashtray!
On further investigation I encountered the other three around the pub amongst various modern stone circles and follies. I asked the landlady where the bullauns had come from and she said that her husband had dug them out of a wall under the road outside the inn.
These are not on archaeology.ie and I’ve never come across any mention of them elsewhere. Strange.
Visited on the return leg of a walk from Painswick to Honeycombe Farm long barrow. Easily accessible, the two barrows here are well worth a visit, lying right next to the road.
The southern barrow is of round barrow proportions and in a bit of a sorry state. There is a deep excavation crater, filled with corrugated iron and weeds.
The northern barrow is massive, with exposed megaliths still in something like situ. Again it has been very badly treated by excavators, to the point where it is almost two separate mounds. At the southern end there is a huge excavation crater. In the middle of the barrow are the remains of a central chamber, with three upright megaliths and some other flat stones disappearing back into the earth. The mound flattens out on the north side where it is crossed by a fence, on the other side of which it appears to continue as a low feature into the next field.
The sedimentary origins of the exposed megaliths show clearly, with the southern of the three exhibiting thick strata.
A nice spot, despite the busy road running past. The exposed stones add greatly to the sense of the monument, even in their ruined state (a note for the managers of Notgrove perhaps).
Not much to be seen here. A footpath crosses the field, running passed the NE end of the barrow. This was a long barrow worthy of the name, but sadly unless you know it was there you wouldn’t even notice it.
The barrow has been ploughed down to the point of non-existence, leaving only a long, low rise in the field. There are no records of excavation here, so it is not possible to know whether or not it was an earthen barrow or whether it ever had any chambers.
Still, there’s a nice pub at Miserden, so it was almost worth the walk from Painswick!
Adjoining Tibbiwell Lane in Painswick (a derivative from the well’s name), this stone lined holy well produces a clear flow of water from a simple stone spout, which runs eastwards downhill along the side of the lane into the stream at Brookhouse Mill.
This must be one of the most inspiring places I’ve ever been. A fantastic sight that can create all sorts of pictures in your mind. From behind looking east towards Newmachar the stone looks like a world weary red granite sentinel, bent down with worry and old age looking after the nearby village. From the village, west, side, it stands 71/2 feet proud, bravely and stern facing, repelling all attackers and elements.
Farmers over the years have piled field clearance stones around but, to me, this adds to the picture. Fortunately it looks like no rubble has been added for years.
It is set on a small hill just north of Monykebbuck farm, due south west of Newmachar. This would make it seem unlikely that this was part of a circle. Although at least one site thinks it was. (see links)
Fantastic, went at 7.30 pm, the sun is going down behind the hill, the chill of night coming on. Brilliant!!
Visited 7.30pm 5/4/09
A pair of round barrows to the south of the Ox Drove. Both are bowl types, are low in height and appear to have been excavated at some time. The pair of barrows on Trow down are about 1/2 a mile to the west and Winklebury hillfort is another mile further.
Two round barrows north of the Ox Drove, Winklebury hillfort is about a mile to the west of these mounds.
The remains of this circle are found beside the Auchterless to Fortrie road before the crossroads at Charlesfield, on the north side overlooking Mains Of Hatton farm. Several stones are here but as folklore correctly points out farmers have moved things around. Sometimes the circle sits alone in a field but more recently a pig farm uses the land. They, the pigs, surround the site which can often be very muddy. Two years ago the site achieved some fame as planning for wind turbines was knocked back because of the sites historical significance.
Visited July 08.
It is best to ask permission from the Frendraught House secretary before looking as shooting parties are often in the area. The chequered history of the house is well worth discovering.
From the office climb the hill until the road ends at its Bogcup junction. Turn right, walk 500 yards, turn right again. Keep going downhill and the path will gradually veer north into the woods. The remains of the ruined circle will come into view as the track leads straight to the recumbent. This has been battered, weathered, cracked and most likely moved but defiantly it remains along with it’s fallen flankers. About 50 yards a stone from the northern arc of the circle can be seen. Unfortunately nothing else can be seen as the vegetation covers it although there is plenty cairn material lying about. Take good boots.
As said elsewhere when making enquiries it was obvious that the secretary and other staff didn’t have a clue about the existance of this circle.
Visited June 08.
There are several ways to reach this ruined circle, probably similar to Raich, but the most pleasant is to leave from Forgue Primary School. Follow the lane by its side for about two or so miles until a clearing is reached on the north side. Look for a gap in the trees near to the path and the site is reached. Be careful as the ground may look dry but isn’t. Hence the name Bogcup. The original circle, whatever it was, has fallen and land owners have piled land clearance stones on top of it. But it is worth a visit with Frendraught, Raich, Cairnton and Yonder Bognie all close by. Worth noting that the secretary and land workers, at the estate office, although the secretary knew about Clochforbie, didn’t know that the Fullerton or Frendraught ruins existed.
Surprised that the Portal people said destroyed.
Visited June 08.
Yet another site beside the Turriff – Glendronach road, the B9024. This can be found about 300 meters in a field to the north side of the road after its junction with Armiddle mains, leaving from Turriff. It is a gentle slope which gives good views back down the valley towards “Turra”. There are no markings of any kind on the stone and it stands about 11/2 meters tall.
Visited 5/06/09.
Corrie can be found 260 meters up into the Drumbarton Hill between Tepersie Castle, to the west, and South Warrackston Farm, to the east and on the Suie road (Clatt-Tullynessle). It is quite a steep climb but on a day like today its fantastic, quite warm but windy, sunny and scenery for miles and miles. Carefully cross a couple of barbed wire fences and some whin bushes. Some words of warning, today smoke appeared from nowhere and I accidentally wandered into it, as the wind changed direction. Smouldering bales were amongst the whins and bushes were beginning to spark into life as I made my way back down the hill.
This is called a cairn, it certainly has been “battered” and ruined, but I feel sure that at some stage this was a RSC. The large stone standing is like a normal recumbent, with several cup marks. It has become part of the dyke by being moved from its original position. Another stone stands and is being used as a gatepost that holds up barbed wire fences.
2/4/09
The farmer at Scotsmill farm, William Lawson, kindly led the way to the remains of the circle. Two stones still stand, in amongst farm machinery, beside the back wall of the farm yard. Cross a small stream, don’t fall in and the site is found.
Visited 2/4/09
Some new finds from the area . The “sun symbol” motif is particularly rare .
Mill of Kelly can be found beside the B9005 between Methlick and Ythanbank, on the south side of the River Ythan road. Follow the lane to the buildings. The wall is made up of stones from the circle which was originally in the a field behind the farm. Move to the far corner, south west, of this field and a small single standing can be seen beside Craigmuir Wood. On the north side of the Ythan moving back to Methlick are many hut circles. On the hills above Ythanbank can be found the Fedderat Cairn, cup marked stones and more hut circles.
I’m amazed there are so few posts for the Thornborough Henges as they are such an important part of our Neolithic inheritance and, as a triple henge, unique in the UK if not the world.
Given the link with Orion’s belt posited by Jan Harding, readers might like to compare the excellent Orkneyjar website which compares the layout of the 3 main Orkney henges with Thornborough:
orkneyjar.com/archaeology/orion.htm
Coincidence or not?
Maybe Yorkshire folk should campaign for the whole ‘sacred vale’ from the Devil’s Arrows through the various henges to Thornborough and beyond to become a World Heritage Site. It might help to stop the area becoming like another Eurodisney-esque ‘nature reserve’ once Tarmac Northern have finished with it.
If someone wanted to built a motorway through the Great Pyramids at Giza there would be global outrage: why not at Thornborough too?
The Titan, Atlas, was ordered to stand and support the high heavens on his shoulders, a comparison that often comes to mind at portal tombs; all those vast blocks held from plummeting by ancient limbs and ingenuity. None is held higher than here, the tallest (portal tomb) portal stones in the British Isles; 3.6m and 3.5m from the ground and capped by a great horned firmament, starred, appropriately, with blazing quartz.
Equally impressive is the symbiosis between this primus and the secondary capstone. Neither, being otherwise supported on just one side, would stay aloft without its companion. The former rests on one portal and the doorstone, then pins the latter onto the backstone and a pad on one sidestone. Have a look at Ryaner’s photograph, from behind the monument, for a partial illustration.
*Measurements taken from the (very, very thorough): Kytmannow, ‘Portal Tombs In The Landscape’, BAR 455, 2008, 37. Great book.
Another circle near the B9024, what a historical road this is!! Leaving Turriff keep going until the Auchterless road is passed. The next road, marked Harestone and going south, is required. Follow the steep uphill until Hillhead of Tollo is reached. A little further and a lane, heading east, is found. Go to the end of this and keep going in a straight line for half a mile. the site is in a middle of a field. Wrap up, it is always windy/wet on Feith Hill and it can be very muddy. Only the recumbent and a small flanker remain but what scenery! Visited April 08.
This is easily found in a middle of a field just off the B9024, behind Shielburn Croft, near the Backhill of Drachlaw and the Carlin stone. Both of these sites are on the other side of the road. Easy stroll! Canmore says only one stone survives but I counted two as the images will show. It is almost like a small Carlin Stone, which is across the road!
Re-visited 13/07/09.
Second visit to the barrow, much earlier in the year this time (29.3.2009). The field is now covered in cropped grass making access possible.
As is apparent from the footpath along the south, the excavation damage is extensive, the trench almost cutting the barrow in two. Round on the north side, there is also plenty of animal damage, with a number of holes and burrows in the side of the monument (it again reminds me of Lower Swell long barrow). More interestingly, there is much visible limestone on the north side, showing the construction of the mound to be more stone that soil. I could see no megaliths though.
A busy spot this, five couples and a large group of ramblers passed while I was here today.
