Latest Fieldnotes

This is an easy stone to find, it sits in a little fenced enclosure by the field wall about 20mtrs from the road.The nettles are vicious so take a stick.

This is a delight. I didn’t read Greywether’s account , wish I had. Got hopelessly lost, found an old railway track scaled the embankment with the help of saplings and was rewarded with this.

I grew up in the small town just south of this stone, Dalgety Bay.

It’s great to hear it’s still standing as last time I visited about 10 years ago the farmer told me that it was getting knocked down and houses were being built on top of it.

You can get to this stone quite easily. Get the train to Dalgety Bay from Edinburgh, come out the station and head left along the main road. You will have to walk on the opposite side of the road as last time I was there there was no path. The entrance to the farm is the first turning on the left if I remember correctly, and the stone should be clearly visible as soon as you turn in – it stands on a hill on a field to the left.

You can also get a 55 bus from Edinburgh to St Andrews and get off at the first stop in Dalgety Bay and walk up to the station – only takes a few minutes.

As you go down towards Gyre you can see Konger’s Knowe on the left a couple of field’s away from the road, so I decided to try a direct approach first. Unfortunately the old field dyke boundary is a formidable obstacle still, broad and deep and mired in vegetation, so I had to content myself with standing on top of the almost buried wall this side of the dyke. On trying to find a way further down I thought I was in luck when I saw two tall stones across the dyke, but though I thought there were other materials there I could not see through the plants. [Only after I came back did I realise that this was the old gate in the boundary referred to by Johnston (HY34440489) else I would certainly have taken preliminary photos and measurements. I had not expected an actual physical entity surviving to now. Think of a farm gate using middling {1.1m}standing stones for posts only with a seperation{1.3m} nearer to that of a domestic garden gate. Quite the thing. I shall have to go back next year when the entire site is rather more visible !]. Kongar is either named for being a ’ king’s farm’ or after someone of that name lost to history.

After visiting the ‘chambered cinerary urns’ site above Gyre I went back up the road and entered the quarry field (used for building the slab fences hereabouts in the early to mid-19th century) and from the opposite corner (whose ‘Orkney gate’ was thankfully down) walked across into the Kongarsknowe field. At present there is a large circular pool of water by the lower half of the turf-covered mound, probably in a natural depression. What was most necessary was to find out the knowe’s composition. Even from afar I had seen exposed bits. Looked like the usual earth with a few small stones. Only up real close did this reveal itself to be mostly ?decayed rock, probably sandstone. Though Johnston called this a tumulus there appeared to be no signs of structure. On the other hand I cannot believe this to be a (wholly) natural mound. Unable to tell its shape and there was too much wind for the tape measure. It paced out to about 70m around the steeper, unploughed, main bit. From here the mound slopes more gradually until it peters out somewhat over 90m circumference. The central portion (? rocky core) is well over two meters high (possibly three) and the ‘base’ another metre below that.

Spotted this from the M6 because the sun was catching it... on the way back north we came off at junction 41 and took the road for Calthwaite, followed our noses until it was unveiled...

But... no!!! coos!!! Field was full of young playful cows, bah!

Undeterred, I decided to take a shot from the road that runs alongside the railway line ;)

Then sodded it and tried to get in through the field. Chickened out when the cows were getting just a little bit toooooo friendly... jumped behind the sandstone wall and got pics from there; unfortunately the sun was right behind so only got a sillouette. Made our way back towards the car and the coos (who we’d perhaps not given enough credit to) had blocked our way out, and we had to make a dash for it through the river!!!!

We’ll go back after market day.

August 2006 :-

Had a good mooch about here on a number of occasions over the space of a week at Slockavullin. The top couple of houses of Slockavullin are the ones visible up the bank from the circle. Not far at all, offering the opportunity to easily visit at night.

It has a much nicer atmosphere in the dark. Had the place to myself for hours. Must be careful on those loose cobbles in the nightime rain though.

Much of the time there was spent pondering the possible connection between the spiral carvings here, and the whilpool/waterspout at the nearby Gulf of Corryvreckan. Supposedly, it’s sometimes possible to hear the roaring of the whirlpool from around Kilmartin.

I’m not convinced the double ring is totally artificial. It looks like ‘enhanced natural’ at best. Maybe it’s one of these ones that needs the right light.

August 2005 :-

In terms of accessibility for wheelchairs/buggies, templewood is about as good as it gets. I was immensey chuffed to see it has it’s own disabled parking bay, though it’s also accessible via the car park for the Nether Largie stones (The great X), though this involves a substantially longer route, but then any route would be longer as the Templewood disabled bay couldn’t really be any closer without being in the circle.

Oh, and the spirals are nice too.

One thing that struck me about this place was the excellent view that standing the terrace to the north would give. I didn’t have the time or inclination to run up to check it out, but I bet a good view of the remains of the cairn could be had from up there.

The ground around the cairn is ridiculously uneven, the fairly dry parts were ankle-twistingly rutted, the surface obscured by grass, and the boggier bits were at least 8 inches deep in quagmire (They may have been deeper, but I pulled my foot out).

Yet the cairn itself is rather nice. I’d love to see it in winter when the undergrowth is asleep.

Visited 13th August 2004: I confess that we drove up the track, which got us pretty close to the stones. I don’t think you’re supposed to do this though, and it was very tricky turning the car round.

I can’t add much to Nick’s notes. The sheep in the field where the row lies are extremely friendly, which entertained the kids loads. Also, there’s an exclellent view of Josie Jump’s house from the stones.

Visited 15th August 2004: We decided to approach Greycroft from the east, but weren’t ready for the eeriness of approaching the nuclear power station down the main access road. Wide and straight, the road has ‘ready for trouble’ stamped all over it.

We parked near Seascale Hall (specifically NY040027) and took the footpath under the access road. This turned out to be a bad idea because the underpass was very muddy and culminated in a field with a big bull in it. We edged into the adjoining field, which was probably a good idea anyway because the footpath (now on the other side of the fence) looked impassable.

Skirting the perimeter of the field that Greycroft Circle sits in, we went past the point where the footpath goes onto the golf course (that looked impassable too because of giant bracken, so glad we didn’t approach that way). We kept on skirting the perimeter of the field (spotting a Grass Snake on the way) and eventually landed up to the south of the circle. This was the point at which there is the least cultivated land between the field boundary and the stone, so we went for it, following an existing path through the crops.

OK, that’s how we got there. It took quite a while, especially as it was hot and the kids were tired. As for the place itself, well I think everyone except me thought it was rubbish. Even I’d have to admit that the circle is a tad disappointing. Knowing that it’s heavily ‘reconstructed’ doesn’t help much. Basically you’re faced with a load of randomly placed boulders in a field near a nuclear power station. While I wanted to be struck by the way the site has withstood centuries of abuse, I couldn’t muster it. It has to be said that although the power station is menacing, Greycroft would still be a sad place to visit even if it weren’t there.

On the way back I tried to cheer the boys up by collecting golf balls (recommended as a pick-you-up). We went over the access road on our return journey, avoiding a load of bull.

The way the outcrop seems to be the edge of a ledge, got me to wondering if the whole ‘terraced’ aspect of the Kilmartin landscape might have been subtly different in ages gone by. Particularly in that at some point, there may have been lots more outcrop, before the soil built up. The theorised processional routes may have been lined with stone ridges I got to thinking. Then again, it could be that the edge here is the result of quarrying at some point? That happens a lot with Northumbrian rock art, but I don’t know if Kilmartin rock art ever suffered in the same way.

Wheelchair access is not good, even though the path is fenced off from here to Dunchraigaig cairn, it’s on a serious camber, so chairs would probably tip to the side.

The carpark opposite the cairn is the starting point to visit the cairn, then to the left north), Baluachraig and then to the right, Ballymeanoch stones and henge. Paths lead from Dunchraigaig to each of the other sites.

Disabled access to Dunchraigaig is possible, but involves a short hop over the main road, which could be a bit hairy.

Dunchraigaig cairn has a couple of cists, the outer one easiest to see, with another peeking from the top. There’s also a small group of stones to the left of the cairn (as you’re looking from the road), I have no idea what these might be, but they may be connected with the cairn in some way.

We found this site barely accessible with a 3-wheeler buggy. It’s pretty steep and rocky on the way up, and very rough, bumpy stuff up at the top. Some of the bumps and ridges between the two panels have hints of natural features used as enclosure/boundaries. Difficult to say though as he natural strata appear to just go their own way and not ay heed to what humans might expect them to do.

The first panel you come to is the one which is allegedly makes use of natural cracks in the schist to create a fishlike motif. It takes a bit of a stretch of the imagination, but I suppose it could be a fish, but only just. It’s not exactly fishlike in the way that the Australian rock engravings look like fish, but I suspect the person who first suggested the fish theme may well have seen some of the Aboriginal motifs and may have just imposed the idea onto some otherwise random cracks in the surface at Cairnbaan.

The top panel is a joy to behold. I loved the way the different elements contribute and connect into the whole. High quality rock art.

Careful not to Park in the hotel car park, as the signs indicate that they might get a bit miffed. The space in front of the row of houses is fine though, the path up to the carvings is between the hotel and the houses.

Despite being well known, well signposted and right close to the road, this site isn’t really accessible to wheelchairs or buggies, though it would be no problem to carry a bairn the short distance from the road, it’s on too much of a slope to get a chair to a position where you could see the carvings.

I wish I’d noticed Rockartuk’s photo of Panel 2, which looks rather special. As it is, I didn’t, so it will have to wait ‘till next time.

I’m pretty sure there are also few cup-marks just above the main panel, outside the lovely metal fence.

Third time lucky....

October is not the best time to be up on Bodmin Moor looking for sites..bracken is covering almost everything. However, at the third attempt I found the Bearah Long Cairn. If others wish to follow in my footsteps then i would advise taking the minor road from Minions to Henwood. Once in Henwood turn right and climb up beside the riding stables. As the road drops down again there is a road going off to the right. Park on the left and take the track that goes up on the left.
After going through a gate this opens out onto moorland in the bottom of a valley. Follow the track as it climbs and snakes towards Bearah Tor. After most of the bends are negotiated look out for the cairn on the right hand side. The stone that is still “upright” is half surounded by a hawthorn tree and is obscured by it if approaching down the track.
The stones sit atop a cairn that is very overgrown with bracken and i could not make out too much of what remains of the surrounding stones. The central stones, at least three large lehgnts, are laying as if fallen, the one remaining standing being at a angle of about 40 degrees.
It is only in the last 20 years that this cairn has been recognised and i am not sure if any dig has ever taken place. One wonders what form the cairn took in the past? Did all the stones stand upriight and was there a capstone, making it more of a quoit.
I will try to return when the bracken dies down and the rain that soaked me has departed.

If there is an alignment with Almscliffe Crags it must be purely coincidental – as this stone is naturally placed – and so are the crags!

Looking at the carving it appears that it could be directed at the Crags but there again the Crags are the only obvious feature on the landscape and so it is easy to believe the carving is “pointing” to it – when it may just be coincidence.

Small bowl barrow situated off Gilden Way near Old Harlow. A south-bound footpath off Gilden Way leads to the site in a small wood -- it’s easy to miss. A workshop site to the north spoils the ambiance somewhat, but sit with your back to the site & look out over the fields...

This stone is greeeeeeen. It also has bits of offerings on the top. In the form of coins, ribbons and a pebble with the word ‘Futhark’, written all runey.

No sign of any of the alleged missing stones, but on the edge of the trees, a very clear view of the silhouette of Simonside is visible. In this bit of the world, no prehistoric monument is complete without close proximity such a view. Shame the trees block it from the stone.

Easyish to find with an OS map just follow the track from the white cottage on the Campbeltown road (with convenient parking space).
The cairn and menhir are seperated by an unclimable fence (d’oh!), necessitating a walk to the bottom of the hill by the farm again.
The cairn is almost destroyed but the cist holds a slight depression which affords much-needed shelter in the wind and rain that invariable batters the coast of Kintyre.
The stone is a beauty perched on top of its pre-glacial cliff face. Tall and imposing, it is one of a number of similar examples to be seen along the west-coast road (another is a couple of miles south on the other side of Muasdale). Although aligned with the cairn, the overwelming impression I get about this lithic finger is that it is simply a marker of territory, placed, as is the associated barrow, on the prominant hilltop. Its effect now when first glimpsed at 50 mph must by similar to that intended by it’s erectors four millenia ago – an impossing, majesterial statement of perminance.

Easy to find as are all the Kilmartin sites – just watch your cars suspension on the forest track.
There’s a dedicated car park with picnic benches and great views to the west.
Luckily, the main rock is far enough away from the carpark (400m) to give some sense of isolation. The site is fenced off and I don’t think it’s ok to just jump over it, as a previous poster has suggested – these carvings have survived for millenia because they have not been trampled on by thousands of boot-shod tourists still warm from the interiors of their metallic-painted MPVs.
The top of the outcrop is not visible to someone of normal stature but the first slab encountered is breath-taking in its scale and intricacy. As mentioned, a recent shower of rain can really help you to see the carvings.
Menhir-visiting mutt, Denis, appreciated the treck through the forest and had a good wee up a number of the surrounding fence-posts.

J C is right, this site and those in the immeadiate vacinity have a slightly sanitised feel about them with neatly manicured lawn and colourful signposts. (Not a complaint – merely an observation – if all ancient sites were protected and displayed as well as those in the Kilmartin area we’d have no worries).
Between brilliant shafts of light and ruinous downpours, the overwelming feeling in the valley is one of place – the surrounding hillscape being as important as the megaliths themselves.
No place for Dogs, though (because of the sheep). My famous menhir mongrel, Denis the Rottweiller had to stay in the carpark on the far side of the Great X as we visited Templewood and the Barrows. He was really looking forward to taking a pee on another neolithic construction.

The Circle is a sweet spot – falsely so, sadly, due to the shelter and screening effect of the 60-year old plantation – but has fine views to the south and southwest. Jeremy Butler in Volume 5 of the Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities highlights that there was a triple stone row associated with the circle, but alas it has now gone – “site only: vicinity overplanted” – vanished beneath the serried ranks of pine. The grid reference of the row is listed as SX676799; well inside the plantation proper, half a mile or so northwards up the slope of Soussons Common: we looked, but in vain. Surrounded by conifers on three sides, it’s difficult to see how the Circle may have looked in a cleaner landscape, but the row would most likely have been visible further up the hill.

The circle is described as a cairn circle; a delineating ring of closely-spaced (but not touching) small stones that enclosed a cairn-covered kist. However, to me it looks more like a kerb circle; a kist burial once covered by a more shallow stone covering (see Note below). I acknowledge that this difference may be nit-picking…...

In 1975 there were two Chambered Cairns discovered on the east side of Buttern Hill. The uphill/west one is the best preserved and the stones of the chamber ,although not very big, are still in position. The other cairn is in poor condition and lies obout 500 metres to the east.
They are best seen in the winter/ spring as they are covered with bracken during the rest of the year. I had to clear it to get the photos. There is quite a good field system that lies between here and the Buttern Hill Circle, and the newtake which is to the west of the cairns stands on the original walls of part of it. If you go looking for the cairns they are situated near to the east side of this newtake whick is very visible as it stands alone on the east side of Buttern Hill.

The Round Pound as it is called is situated on the right hand side of the road that leads to Batworthy corner. There is a passage way that leads away from it which runs parallel with the road. On the left side of the road there is a large field system. The Round Pound was excavated in 1951/52 by Lady Fox and her team.

I added this site for consistency with the Beckensall Archive although, as Stan states, it is really just an extension NE of the North Lordenshaw area of cup and ring marked rocks, close to the B6342 road S of Rothbury.

The Archive describes 6 panels, but in the way of these things, several have just a few isolated cup marks and don’t make interesting photos. The best panel is Whitton Burn 2a, located just SE (uphill) of the fence and shown as a cup and ring marked rock on the 1:10,000 OS sheet. The outcrop has two cups with rings (the one illustrated is deep and roughly cut, the other faint) and 12 prominent single cups arranged in arcs.

Probable barrow.. This photo was taken 4 years back, it shows large stones caught underneath a root plate of tree brought down in a storm. The trees on Kelston Hill are probably an 18th century planting, the barrow must have been flattened and the tree grew into the remains. There is evidence of stones round the hill, which only appear during the summer when the soil dries out. A mystery and not certain but perhaps it should be recorded for posterity.. Checking today 1/10/05, there is a definite bowl (the stones have since gone for walling) of about 15 foot diameter. The barrow would have sat atop of a small bank/ridge on top of the hill, which rises to the south west. Its focus or alignment is Stantonbury hill fort...