Latest Fieldnotes

This area is absolutely littered with caves and potholes.
Yordas cave lies in a small wood just off road so no major walking to this one and theres a layby right next to it.
My pictures in no way do justice to this cave it’s stunning, well worth a visit this is one of those places i’ll come back to again and again.

Easy to miss but worth a look if your in the area and is situated within the Counter Hill Earthworks. The farmer was very helpfull and pleasant to.

This is a nice, if battered, stone circle. It is not a great stone circle however and hardly likely to cause awe in the casual visitor. Why then, when surrounded by some dramatic and downright jaw-dropping circles so nearby, are those with whetted appetites asked to fork out €2 to spend some time trying to figure out which end is up at Shronebirrane? No getting past it though and despite my indignant and incredulous look I had to hand over the cash to gain entry and a photocopied sheet with one of those B&W pics that is really just a square of blobs, if you stare long enough you might see the face of Jesus Christ or Juda Priest.

If you are really flush though you can walk the mountain path for another €4.

The circle itself is reduced to an arc of disjointed limbs, cowering nervously at the bottom of the cavernous hills surrounding it. The valley setting is spectacular but any sense of wonder is completly shattered by the bungalow plonked right beside the circle.

Much easier to find than I expected, it is well signposted from the centre of Castletownbere. Clearly a monument of local importance, it has very easy access and plenty of field space to allow you to stand back and consider how impressive it once must have been in its complete state. It would seem that destroying either one or both of the portals of these stone circles was sufficient to see off the pagan spectre and plenty of the stone circles in this part of the country have a buck-toothed appearance as a result.

Somehow this only adds to this site, the remaining stones couldn’t possibly appear more defiant and proud, this is one of those circles which seems to have a personality ot itself, apart from the human effort put into making and breaking it. A great site.

This is a very impressive stone, it stands on a knoll with views over the coast but inland it is surrounded on all sides by hills and mountains.

Clearly visible from the road as you drive down the hill into the harbour, it was surely a beacon for ancient mariners, given the sheer number of ancient remains in the area it possibly marks one of the busiest places for trade and rest along the coast.

Its worth knowing before visiting that you will be greeted on arrival by the people who own the land and for a €2 coin you will be given the nod and a badly printed sheet of info taken directly from the stonepages website.

This is a worrying trend in the locality, some landowners leave a donation box for you to exchange courtesies with a small contribution and there are few places that aren’t worth parting with a euro or two to visit if your getting signageand a decent trackway. Charging people up front though does leave you feeling ripped off when there is no service or added value being offered to the traveller.

It stands 5.3m tall and though it is clearly quite ancient it looks surprisingly modern, its shape and colour brings to mind the stones of Callanish and its weather beaten location with fine views of the harbour takes some beating.

The ogham insciption is fairly worn and very high up on the stone, it was also in the shade on my visit so did not come out in any photographs.

This is a beautiful circle in a wonderful location. It didn’t really stand out when I browsed through TME but when I looked up some pics on Megalithomania.com I knew this would be near the top of the list for the next tour of Cork/Kerry.

I took the words of those who were here previously seriously and left myself plenty of time to get here. It’s not incredibly far in terms of distance but it is a bit of a hairy journey. I could find no trace of any of the signs and walkways mentioned in TME and ended up relying on the sometimes dodgy combination of GPS and ‘as the crow flies’ navigation. I’m pretty sure I picked the most difficult route to get here, when I got to the circle I passed one of the Beara Way markers but looking back it seemed this track would lead me past the herd of crazy eyed bulls that loitered around the gate to the lane that would make the most direct route.
After getting mugged for €2 at both Ballycrovane and Shronebirrane I would not have been one bit surprised if the cows wanted a feckin toll to cross as well.

After falling through two hedges and over and under countless barbed wire fences, slipping into drainage trenches and getting torn on thorns I finally spotted the portal stone framed under a lovely tree. The sun was really scorching the ground when I finally sat and caught my breath against one of the old stones.

This circle is far better than in the photos, although overgrown it is wonderfully complete and the stones are perfectly chosen. It’s location is probably only second to Uragh, you can survey for miles withoug seeing a single bungalow and it takes no effort to cast your mind back to when these craggy charmers were dragged to this spot.

The only thing that detracted from this place was some clever person leaving a sheep skull and a slab of stone with a hand perfectly painted in sparkly pink nail varnish on the boulder burial...

Next to the Roman Road south of Bradford Peveral, marked on most OS maps. Uninspiring and unkempt.

From Black Tor, walk down into the stream valley (keeping the aqueduct about 400 yards to your right). On the opposite hillside, you should be able to make out the avenue/row ahead of you. Cross the stream using one of the metal bridges.

I’m surprised this site, despite the countless other ones in the area, hasn’t been more greatly celebrated. Great location!

Marked on most OS maps, not the most inspiring of places as the local farmers and hoteliers appear to use the cairn as a dumping ground.

After the gradient-related excitement of Porlock Hill you feel on top of the world up here. You can see for miles and miles – back up to the Quantocks and out over the (yesterday, gloriously blue) Severn estuary to Wales. Exmoor ponies nibble around you while you lie back on the heathery/bilberried slope.

Typically I had no idea at the time that this site or the Whit Stones were up here.. but they’re in the perfect spot and I can’t say I’m surprised (which is why I feel justified in my fieldnote despite not seeing them..)

After a disastrous time trying to find the circle last summer I was heartened to hear that a pathway had been cleared. But I have to admit to feeling a little sad at the quite obvious wooden sign put up in the layby on the A30. When we did finally find it last year it was totally isolated and so tranquil. I didn’t want that spoilt by hoardes of coach tours or the like. I needn’t have worried, as the circle wove its magic once more.

It really is so much easier to get to now, though. Parking in the layby you simply walk down the clear path until at the bottom it branches both ways to go around the circle itself, the entrance to the clearing being just on the left. The walk only takes a couple of minutes and is not taxing in the slightest. (Even for me!)

The weather was putting on its best show for us, and the circle was dressed in bluebells inside and outside. Even my two non-stoney friends were impressed!

Whilst walking from Pikestones in search (unsuccessfully) for Devils ditch I passed the site at 58 degrees . This looks like a settlement site rather than a stone circle. On our way back with the sun at a very low angle (8.45pm late May) about 100 yards from the settlement site towards Pikestones, and directly on the path I came across this stone showing clear signs of having been worked. The striations are parallel and deep. First thoughts were plough marks although any one who knows this area will doubt it has ever been ploughed. The marks are very evenly spaced to be anything other than intentional. Comment welcome.

Firstly, I would like to assure visitors to the White Spring that the water running from both sides of the lane, the Red Spring on the outside of Chalice Well Gardens, and the White Spring next to the old cafe is perfectly drinkable. I drank nothing else for several years. I understand that both are regularly tested.

Secondly, it may be of interest that the latest interpretations of the site dig conducted during the 1960s on top of the Tor, centering on the point where the Christian altar would have been before the second chapel building was shaken down, indicate the remains of a circular Celtic-Romano Temple. Double-headed axe heads and many spiral fossils (in heaps) were found in and around the temple. I believe the Glastonbury Antiquarian Society has access to the finds.

As far as energy is concerned, Glastonbury Tor grabbed me the first time I came here. I came to stay with a friend for a few weeks... that was over 6 years ago! There’s transformative magic a plenty for me in the area, though I feel the Tor itself is just a beacon... the real magic exists throughout the surrounding area from the Tor to the coast at Breen Down and Brent Knoll.

You could approach Seefingan from an alternative route to Seefin, but why would you want to? Seefin Hill ought to be your first stop if you’re heading this way. From Seefin Hill passage tomb the distance across to the cairn on Seefingan looks deceptively short. Don’t be fooled: it’s quite a hike. And whereas the ascent to Seefin is relatively dry, the dip and the ascent across to Seefingan was boggy the day I was there on the last day of May 2006.

My anticipation at what I was going to encounter on Seefingan was heightened as I approached and saw the cairn up close for the first time. It’s slightly larger that the tomb on Seefin and I thought that there must be a passage and a chamber, but sadly no, there isn’t. It’s still impressive, with amazing views across the city towards Howth. So what was it’s purpose? (Pure speculation warning) Sitting there atop the hill it seemed to mirror Howth peninsula way in the distance, as if its builders were paying homage. Others have noticed the significance of Howth before and in my travels around some of the other sites near here I have tended to agree.

I had a very short time up here as light was fading fast and I didn’t want to be caught heading down the mountain in the dark. There is an indentation on the east side of the cairn that looks like it could have been a passage entrance, though I guess this is just wishful thinking. There are quite a few quartz boulders peppered about the cairn surface and below. Overall, a bit of a disappointment, especially after Seefin, but worth the extra slog nonetheless.

There are 3 hills around here with megalithic significance. I met some hill-walkers and they were on a tour of the 3: Seahan (648 metres), Seefingan (724 m) and Seefin (621m). If you had an afternoon and were feeling energetic, this could be an ideal way to work off some pounds. (If you start at Seahan you would need to take in Corrig mountain (618 m) on your way across to Seefingan.)

My family and I were lucky enough to ‘happen’ across this place, after a very disappointing and busy trip to nearby Stonehenge...We sat a while, and had a lovely picnic in what I can only describe as one of the prettiest, albeit windiest (on that day 30/05/06) places in England. I took a lot of pictures, but have only posted the beautiful views. Enjoy! I have no idea what this place is, at the gate it tells of being built in 500BC, as a fort, although the whole write up was somewhat ambiguous, and didn’t really divulge any information.

Wild place. I was up here in March watching snow storms rushing down the Eden valley.

I read somewhere that this was originally three concentric circles. There are also various stone lines up here. Some unusual weathering on several of the stones. Very interesting and atmospheric place.
Castle Folds is clearly visible to the south.

Just down the slope and over the wall from White Hag stone circle, it would be a shame not to take a look at this while you’re there.

AKA The Cornwood Maidens.

We parked at New Waste (SX 625 611), having come off the A38 at Lee Mill, followed the signs to Cornwood, turned right out of Cornwood, left then right out of Torr and followed the road to the very end. You can park on the moor side of the gate where the road ends.

Then on foot, follow the concrete track up to the water treatment works, turn right to circle the water works, cross the brook and turn uphill to find a stile over a dry stone wall to give you access to the moor. The stone row is visible on the skyline.

I visited this site on a classic early spring evening with a low setting sun in a cloudless sky and a hot air balloon drifting aimlessly by. I approached the stone by following the footpath from the south east corner of Sandford Brake electrical substation and entering the copse from the footpath atits north west edge and crossing a small wooden step bridge just in front of the stone.

The stone is becoming ever more overgrown and while it is still quite easy to spot at the moment I can see it becoming quite easily obscured in a couple of years.

I agree, well worth a visit.

27/05/06 You tend to stumble across these cairns, rather than look for them. From The Cockpit you head SSE, then see a suspicious upright stone, which turns out to be an old estate boundary stone, not an ancient outlier of the stone circle, discovered for archaeological posterity by your good self.
They are mostly overgrown, which is understandable, considering their lonely nature. Who, apart from a few lone, romantic souls, with a faraway look in their eyes, bother to seek them out for their worth? Most concentrate on the likes of Castlerigg, thus depriving those sites of their mystique, for who can fully feel the spirit of place when it’s shared with so many.
Give me the solitude of the lonely Cockpit cairns any day, with only the larks for company, and the sound of the wind soughing through the long grass.

27/05/06 My latest visit, the first been in the formative years of a child at junior school, when a threatening sky lay low over the ridge that takes the High Street Roman road. A defining moment, with the atmosphere making an impression that turned me onto prehistory for life.
Today there were four people in the circle, two with a playful puppy, up there for the exercise, and two backpackers, resting, yet seemingly unaware of the significance of the fact that they lay on old, damp ground, which wasn’t any old, damp ground. It was old, yes, and damp, but not any old, damp ground. They lay back oblivious, more concerned with the water from the nearby beck, and its quality. Not once did they mention the circle. Heathens.
I wished they would go away, but no loitering with a camera would shift them , so I had to make do with avoiding them in the shots.
The circle is set in a green sward of close-cropped grass, all around being rough scrub. The views aren’t bad, but are better from Arthur’s Pike to the SW.

Just for the record, it’s still raining up there! The horizontal stuff that soaks you right through...

The bracken was only just sprouting, so I had no problem in finding it, though for some reason I had some doubts until a passing(!) farmer confirmed that this was indeed what I was looking for.

I can only re-iterate Mr Hamhead’s directions – it’s actually a relatively easy walk up the hill, with a couple of streams to cross, but the upright stone is quite distinctive and easily spotted from below.

27/05/06,
A showery, overcast, windy Whit Saturday saw me visiting a number of old favourites, with a day on th’ill thrown in for good measure.
Parking at Martindale new church, I was heading for The Cockpit on Moor Divock, followed by Swarth Fell stone circle.
Round the back of the church, a grassy path takes you over a low rise, then descends to a well-worn track. Here are the cairns, described as “Bronze Age cairnfield” on the ADS website. They are very overgrown, the only sign being the protruding rocks in an otherwise grassy area. It’s not worth visiting for the sake of it, but if you’re ever passing it’s only five minutes from the car, and in a beautiful setting, and there is a good view of Dunmallard
Hill sitting proud at the northern end of Ullswater. I wonger if anything of interest lies within?

Found it! The 1:7500 print I took from MAGIC helped! Basically, go up the path by the side of the house, and continue until you get to another gate. Go through this gate. On the right is a smallish enclosed field. The hut circles (as far as I could see) are in the next field beyond this. Stay on the path.

The hedge on the right eventually opens up to an area of bracken and gorse. There was a trodden path through this that I followed, that led directkly to a large upright stone, hidden in the far hedge.

Take care, as the disused quarry starts in the adjoining ‘field’, and may be the various stones that purejoy found.