Latest Fieldnotes

Another unmarked Wicklow bullaun that shows up in the Arch. Inventory of Co. Wicklow, this is 100 metres south-east from Aghowle Lower church and is 4 basin stone. An earthfast boulder, the northernmost basin has eroded away at the edge of the stone and can no longer hold water. The easternmost basin is the largest of the 4.

What a wonderful monument! What superb scenery! Gortnavern is worth the trouble of tracking down, and there is some trouble.

The tomb itself has shifted in on itself but is really quite a fine example of the type, and the location couldn’t be better. IF the gorse was cut back a bit.

It’s not far at all from the village of Kerrykeel (called Carrowkeel on most maps) but the sign points in the wrong direction, this may have something to do with it being battered by shotgun pellets! After a while in the Irish countryside you learn to read the telltale signs that a sign has been turned the wrong direction and this one is of the more obvious type. I followed my GPS to the nearest road and this brought me to an accurate sign, I also spoke to the farmer on the lane and the little I could gather from his thickly accented directions was that you need boots. Well, bog standard now aren’t they? Well, yes, the signpost points you to a stream that was almost a foot deep after the recent rain.

Turning back onto the main road, I found the lane leading to the abandoned cottages. This way involves only some small streams, a number of tied gates, capsized trees blocking the lane, ankle deep mud, barbed wire and thick gorse bushes. Dont attempt this with kids or if your only popping in out of curiosity, only the most hardened stone seeker in the sturdiest of boots will happily take this trip. It is worth it.

Raedykes is a bit of a misnomer; Raedykes itself is a Roman camp on nearby Garrison Hill, while the ring cairns are actually on a different hill, Campstone Hill. There are four ring cairns, one obvious, one less obvious and two dubious. The most intact cairn, on the very top of the hill, features three large stones which Watt* suggests could be “the precursor of a great recumbent stone circle without a ring cairn”, the kind of circle most prevalent in this region.

The choice of location is obvious, commanding a great view across to more modern monuments in the form of the masts on Cairn-Mon-Earn and at Durris in one direction, and Stonehaven and the sea in the other. The nearby Hill of Cairneymore, as the name suggests, would have been a superb source of materials.

Getting there: Take the A597 out of Stonehaven for just over 3 miles; you’ll cross one bridge, the Findlayston Bridge, about half way there. Eventually you’ll come to a place where there’s a turn off the road to the right, up a small hill, with a post box in the wall on your left. Go up this hill and you’ll quickly come to a fork in the road.

If, as I did, you want to access the cairns via the Roman camp, carry on up the hill (right fork), and use a map to get across to Campstone Hill! This is an interesting way to go, as you’ll go through Cairneymore Hill – which is fairly obviously the source of all the stones in the cairns.

If you want to go straight to the cairns, take the left fork, and carry on until you’re looking down on a small cottage, called Union Cottage. There should be three green gates in a ‘T’ on your right; follow the middle of the ‘T’ up to the crest of the hill and you’re there. Either way, taking an OS Explorer map is a very good idea.

Video of the main ring cairn

*Archibald Watt, “Early Stonehaven Settlers”, Stonehaven Heritage Society 1994.

One of those places you felt like saying aloud “well at least someone cares that you’re here” when you stood aghast 4 or 5 years ago. But strangely, as reported, the locals must have decided to stop the flytipping [God knows how they get in there with the barriers all over the place] and protect it a bit more at last. A treasure in the midst has an effect, now as always.

Also overlooked, on the South-East corner of the churchyard wall adjoining the site, there are the remains of a Neolithic barrow-on-a-barrow , hardly more than a hump now but evidence that this immediate area [actually quite flat but horribly exposed to the East] may be a bit of an eyesore now, but was once considered more important.

In Dove Holes defence, the lanes surrounding the station contain beautiful tiny cottages, and if it wasn’t for the A6 ploughing through it, leaving traces of the quarried muck everywhere, it would be just another Peak village.

The wonderful sandstone trail starts near here and passes right by the hillfort but I bet not all who come by here know of it.
There is a car park on the edge of Frodsham but it’s a long walk to the hilltop , I parked on the B5393 and followed the footpath up the hill .I’m not sure there were any built defences on the western side I couldn’t find any and there are ten foot cliffs there anyway so the(so called) defences may have been semi-circular ,D shaped as it were ,like at Maiden castle further south.
The bank on the eastern side reaches about 6ft tall in places with an identifiable if vague entrance.
Looking westish one can see the hillfort on Helsby hill and to the north, well ,lets just say it would have looked better in prehistoric times,the sea once came a lot closer until the Manchester ship canal was built .Still, a good view

This bullaun is right beside a house. I met the farmer and he said the whole house is within an enclosure which I had spotted myself. It is a very deep bullaun and the farmer said he was happy to show it to anyone (although I think I was the first to look at it).

I visited the site on 22 December 2006. It may be quite difficult to find if driving on the busy A45 dual carriageway and the following may help. If coming from the Rugby direction take the second left after the Fosse Way roundabout near Stretton on Dunsmore – this is Freeboard Lane and you can park immediately on the right. Cross the cariageways and take the signed public footpath to the left of the houses opposite – the site is easily visible a few yards to the left. If you miss Freeboard lane there is a lay-by a few hundred yards down the road.

If coming from the Coventry direction I suggest locating the site as above and trying to park outsie the houses described, or else go to the Fosse Wat roundabout and come back towards Rugby.

In any event, a pleasant site and well screened from the main road.

This standing stone is close to the town of Eyrecourt. When you come into the town from Portuma turn left then left and then left again. The stone can be seen on a small hill. Its about 0.5m high.

The stone here is gone. There was noone around to ask what happened to it.

There is meant to be a standing stone here, however there is no sign of it at ground-level. What is here are the remains of a raised rath.

This wedge tomb isnt far from Portuma in Galway. It is situated on a small mound and is aligned west to east. It is approx 6-7m long. On the N65 from Portuma to Killamor take the first left and then left again. You pass a few farmhouses on the right and pull in at a gate just before the next farmhouse on the right.
Follow the track that is inside this gate and it takes you out into a field adjacent to the field with the tomb in it.
You should be able to see a new house in the distance, walk towards it and climb the stone wall and you should be able to see the tomb easily.
Although from the OS Map it looks like there may be some interaction with Church Hill you cant actually see it because of a ditch in the way.

These stones are down as a standing stone on the map. It is easy to find following a track along by the Clare river. It is in a pin for keeping bullocks. They all took a mad run at me, luckily they were well fenced in.
There are two stones here not one, I didnt get up close to really see the details of them. They must be about 0.75m.

This tomb is close to Murroe in Co. Limerick and to Glenstall Abbey. Follow the OS Map past about 2 houses on the left. The map shows a track into the woods. Best to follow this because one track where the break that looks the obvious way on OS map takes you alongside a house and they keep horses.
Follow the track to the end and then it naturally tails left following the tree-line (Not shown on the map). Head North west for about 300m and there is a gap on the right into a field. Once in the field you should be able to see the tomb to the north west in the corner of the field.
When i visited the tomb was water-logged. However it is in good condition, about 5m long and I think that all of the stones are there. To the North West is Sliabh Eibhlinne and the North is Sliabh Kimalta. However both are obscured by the trees.

This mound is not marked on the map and to me looks like it is forming an artifical horizon to the east of the tomb.
It must be approx 25m diameter and about a height of 2m.

This tomb is just off the road not far from Adare. Turn right it adare and follow a winding road (I would recommend an OS map and a GPS). There is a place to park across from the gate into the field. The tomb is two fields in from the road. There will be a ring-fort on your left as you walk south towards the tomb (in the adjacent field) and this is not marked on the map.
The tomb points east-west and there is a mound to the east that is also not marked on the map.
It is about 5-7m in length and is made from an unusual looking rock for a wedge tomb. There are a lot of rock outcrops in the area and many stones lying about. I think with a bit of imagination some of them could be the remains of tombs/rows.

I never got to see this tomb the last time I went to Knockfeerina. This time i got here just as the sun was beginning to go down and although it was a beautiful time of the evening it wasn’t great for photography with my camera.
To get there, take the track leading up to Knockfeerina and where it branches off at the bottom of the hill take the left branch.
Follow this until it ends and you should be able to see the tomb away in the distance to your left over one ditch.
The tomb itself is big, I measured it roughly 11m long by about 2m wide. It is aligned East-West with the east end pointing towards a rock outcrop.

I came here on New Years Eve 2006, it was very windy but dry.There had been some sort of ceremony near the Obelisk when I arrived but they had dispersed when I got to that area, wonder what they were doing.

The main part of the burnt mound is somewhat over two metres across and reasonably level despite the slight scoop of excavation on the downhill portion, with a few middling stones and quite a number of flattish burnt stones in various hues. Close up I see that this central portion is probably less than the whole. Downhill there is a steeper slope to it (with at least one slightly projecting orthostat by the base) and behind it a long tail. Tempted to call it tadpole-shaped but its really more of a ramp, reminding me of a very tiny Hawell with most of the stone gone.

28/12/06 12:25-13:30
Missing the sign along the road I headed up a track between Stonetown Farm and the local pub, where I was greeted with an excellent view of the stones. Backtracking I found the signpost and headed up the path. Rather than the icy cold I had expected, the stones seemed warm and inviting. There were nine, including the recent addition, which at first glance seemed appropriate, but upon closer inspection it appeared less gritty and more polished than the surrounding stones, and almost devoid of their numerous species of lichens. Still, I thought the circle would look less complete without it. Sheep were grazing in the field and a ginger cat was rubbing its head against the most western stone.

The midday sun could be seen over the tall stone to the south. A previous visitor had left markers with the compass directions on, which corresponded with my map. Several small shells lay in the centre of the stone circle, surrounded by a circle of small stones.

In “A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany” Burl claims that the name Duloe means ‘two Looes’ due to being close to both the east and west Looe rivers. However in Appendix 1 of his recently published “Stonehenge” he claims the word “Du” to be Cornish for “Black”. A possible link to villages past? And how stange, as this is the whitest stone circle I have come across!

Apparent boundary earthwork (Scheduled Ancient Monument) at foot of Warden Hill and Galley Hill (bronze age barrows on top of latter), close to Icknield Way

‘One of these Iron Age dykes lies on the [Luton] Borough boundary near Warden Hill. It is known as Drays Ditches and consisted of three V shaped ditches, each 6 feet deep and 15 feet wide, separated from each other by massive palisades of posts and packed chalk.‘

The Story of Luton (1964) – J. Dyer, F. Stygall and J. Dony

The site still looks fine, and is being looked after. Obviously, the locals use it – kids will gather at such places, obviously!

As you come through Dove Holes not fromt he Buxton end – fromt he other end – at exactly 30 mph because this is Britain’s numer one speed trap zone – seriously, do only 30... and look out for the bus shelter as you come in to Dove Holes – that is where the police like to hide with their camera!.... go past that and you see the cricket pavilion set back from the road on the left, about 45 seconds in to Dove Holes... The Bull Ring is right behind the cricket pavillion... Turn left, off the main road and just drive up and park up outside the cricket pavillion and you are virtually parked on the site!

A really nice place, obvuously some of the magic has gone, what with the proximity to the houses etc... but, I went up recently on the full moon and it was magical. I think it is a little smaller than Arbor Low, but is clearly a sister site of some kind – very similar design. Obviously some connection between these people – unless it was some kind of competition?? Either way, a really nice place, and for those coming that way to get to other sites, well worth stopping off and paying a little visit – it’s literraly ten steps away from where you park the car.

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Agreed with what everyone says! Access seems shady -but we walked right up, keeping out of sight of the farm – all a bit *Frodo in Mordor* lol... This is the place that you can see from all around – stand on the King’s Mound at Arbor Low facing out and you see Minning low a little to your right – a tall hill with a crown of beech trees.

Park in the car park and follow the track – then over the fence and up the hill! Amusingly, we got tothe top and clambered over the fence, only to get inside and see that it has an open gate! Aya! It’s a very special place – enclosed by shrubs and a fence, it has a totally different feel to many of the more exposed places – no horizon, you are totally inside it. Some of the burial chambers are exposed, and you can lie inside if you want! But, they aren’t very long!

The place seems to mess with time a little bit – a bit *Picnic at Hanging Rock* if you get my meaning! Very isolated in a way – not a big tourist place – I figure you could spend to or three days there undisturbed! Don’t know about a fire – maybe, if you were careful, and coverd it back up – but it’s such a small area really that a fire would damage the look of the place. More of a wrap up warm thing. But I figure you could camp there no problem.

It’s a place to spend some time – bring a picnic, do your thing – whatever you do – spend some time with the dead! Left this place feeling revitalised.

If you’re looking for it, on the path you see the farm to your right – go past that and when the farm is pretty much out of sight look up the big hill to where there are some very tall beech trees in a shrub-enclosed area at the crown of the hill – it’s in there – so up the hill!

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Alderley Edge is a top place – something about it, from the sign saying *To the edge* lol – for those on the edge – to everything else! Something about this place unlocks thoughts, sights – all kinds of things – I don’t know why.

Explore! It is much bigger than it looks! Easy to get lost. It’s one of those places where you don’t want to tell too much, because each time you go you find new areas. Some people think it is much smaller, lol – it’s a strange one. Behind the farm is a path that leads to ahidden valley with a waterfall, and that leads up to an awesome set of beech trees – a truly magical *heart of the forest* kind of place. Down at the river crossing there there is a ledge on the rock you can sit on, and at night, I guarantee you will hear strange, strange stuff!

Shrouded in folklore and history, it has a magical vibe. In the day, lots of tourists, kids, dog walkers... in the evening also, but less and less. At night, often groups of kids go up to the main edge points – particularly the one near the layby – smoking pot, drinking – can be intimidating and best avoided. On a moonless night it is pitch black in the forest. Cool with a few friends, but on your own, treacherous. Most of the to your death falls have been fenced off now, lol! But the paths have steep drops and ankle-breakers all around.

I’ve been there late in to the night and had fires there – others report being told off for having fires. Get right off the beaten track is probably the best bet for a camp out.

There’s a *folly* stone circle that is nice to have a fire in – but you may get bothered!

The well is near the lay by entrance – up the path and to the left – but down first – not immediate left in to some trees – down the steps.

The spring and cave are the opposite direction – right from the look out point, then down in to the valley. To the right, before then is the Beacon Mound, where an armada beacon was placed. I hear tell it is a barrow, and it looks and feels like one.

A nice long walk is hare hill and across to some national trust gardens about two miles away – quite a trek though!

Back In the main area, there is a pub *the wizzard* and a tea room that is open in season in the day – very nice. Fromt he tea room/Wizzard – not the same building, by the way – there is a path that goes in to the woods. Bear left as much as possible, or, fromt he middle layby go right and stick by the road-side path (which is inside the fence – you can just see the road) and you come to a big cliff – it’s pretty much two minutes behind the wizzard, next to the road-ish – and there is a deep horizontal mine working there that you can go in – like a deep cave... cool!

All in all – lovely, magical place. Enjoy – and look out for Merlin!

X

PS – here be adders! Once found a dead one – and they are HUGE! I was expecting them to be small – but this had a body as big as my forearm! And I’m quite big! So look out for them!

If you’re on the right road, with Stanton Moor to your right look to the left! Or t’other way around! It’s nearer one end of the road than the other! You;r elooking for the Andle stone first... Eyes open for lots of rhodedendrhum shrubs, and a wall that has been tumbled down by lots of people climbing over it – you’d think the farmer would just put a style in and allow reasonable access – but,t here you go! The Andle stone is an awesome thing – liek a mini ayre’s rock – but don’t let that make you think it is massive – it isn’t! Easily missed if you are expecting somethign else! You can see it across the field, surrounded by shrubs. Top vibe from it though. You can climb on it – it has *’andles!* Personally, I would not camp there – lots of litter and smells like people just use it for – well, whatever!

OK – Doll Tor – stepping back from the Andle stone so that you can see the next fields, ahead and to your left is a forest. It’s NOT that forest! Lol – just behind that forest is another forest, with a dry stone wall behind it! It’s THAT one! Walk through the field, through the gate, towards it – there’s a gate at the entrance to the forested area. Keep the dry stone wall on your right and the circle is ahead, about three or four minutes if that – it’s on your left, just off the path. The stones are small, and it is easy to miss, so look out for the information plaque – that should be easier to spot. If you go more than five minutes, you’ve gone past it – it is quite near the gate – just a stroll!

Lovely place – proper fairy circle. Seems to be popular with Wiccans but although often see signs of visitors, I’ve met few people there.

There is a cairn next to it – and lots of stones everywhere- ankle breakers, so beware! At the back is a quarry – careful if you go for a wee! The quarry looks like it must lead somewhere awesome – but I’ve been down there and it was chock full of undergrowth.

If possible, advise taking a big candle in a jar and putting it in the centre – it really has a magical look to it like that.

Don’t know about camping – it’s quite far from the farm so I reckon no one would bother you – a small fire maybe. Looks like some do – I haven’t so I don’t know. I get a feeling that the farmers are less than welcoming, so low profile, stealth mission!

Everyoen loves Doll Tor, and to me, it feels somehow linked with Nine Laides, like yin and yang.

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The stones and stride are public access. Nearby you will see some cliffs – through the forest – well, you can just about see the back of them from the stride, as the face of the cliffs is slightly out of view. It is well worth a climb up on to those cliffs – a powerful place, whcih resonates deeply with me. Be careful though – very dangerous – no place for kids! The drop is sheer, and very high – certain death! But you can sit on the edge and look at the fantastic view.

Beneath the cliffs is a hermit’s cave, with a cross carved in the wall, and some candle shelves. If you are thin enough, you can get through the railings and leave a candle to burn! Magnificent yew tree there also.

The circle is lovely, the stride is magical – a lot of graffiti carvings – some ancient – cup and ring stuff, and has a centre stone that feels like some sorecerous alter – ripe for ye devlishe sorceries – if you are in to that sort of thing! Who isn’t?? Lol... The forest nearby is nice as well, with a few out of view camping areas. Farmer says no camping, but as ever, if you’re quiet – well, maybe. I have stayed there with a fire many times and never been bothered.

Behind the farm is a hill fort – not very dramatic though. Nice feel though.

A lot of climbers and tourists come here, some stay later. Comes alive at night – worth an over night, little camp, little fire, and a wander about.

Ont he other side of the cliffs – if you should be curious, lol – is a steep incline, lots of trees – found a small cave once, but never found it again, and then in to a connifer plantation. Fromt he cliffs you can see the road at the bottom of the cliffs – there’s a way to this site from both sides – the lower road can be crossed, and there is a path up to some rocks on the other side that you can see atop the hill. Thise are nice as well, and from there, you can walk down in to the village and up to Doll Tor – a nice walk, not too far. I’ve even done as far as Nine Ladies and back! But I was pretty tired!

All in all, magical site – take time to explore all around, in the woods – many hidden nooks and interesting things for the seeker!

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