Latest Fieldnotes

Visited 11th January: This was the last site we visited, and it was certainly the most beautiful. Access to Gareg Hir is very good, and you can see it from the road. The stone stands on the edge of a forestry plantation, and there’s a public footpath running very close to it. We parked in front of the metal gate that bars access to the forestry track, but this wouldn’t be ideal for a long visit.

The stone has a lot of modern carving on it (modern as in not prehistoric). There are also some interesting artificial looking horizontal groves on the north facing side of the stone. These may also be modern.

This is a fine stone by any standards, and well worth a visit.

A couple of months ago, while doing a bit of reading on my local area, I came across a reference to Ashleigh Street, Darwen, and the barrow that had once been here. I thought about walking down to Ashleigh Street, it being a 15 minute walk away from my house, but ended up sidetracked and thinking there would be no point anyway, as I was under the impression that this was now the site of a building. Today (23/1/3) I decided to pay a visit with my camera, on my way to the supermarket, if only to capture the location of this site. On arriving I was pretty surprised to find that the place had a facelift in 1990 (the book I had read was from the mid eighties) and was now partly restored/reconstructed by the Ashleigh Conservation group. Since 1990 the site must have been left a little, as it did look a little bit shabby (could be the time of year though) and slightly vandalised, but it was a pleasant surprise nonetheless.

There is a layby to park in.Walk 50 yds towards Castallack,there is a gate on the left and the stone is about 20yds into the field. A fine stone 4ft high with a very regular line of 7 “cup” markings on the lower half.

The whole areas around Milington seems to consist of fortified hilltops. Here are a few examples of the earthworks. Many are not show on OS maps, but are still clearly visible on the ground. Sadly more have been obliterated completely by ploughing.
The isolation, emptiness and stillness makes for good walking to visit several earthworks at the same time.
As it is quite a large area, see the individual images for their map references and descriptions.

Stunning views in all directions from the hill fort – try to visit during the Nortumbrian heather season (late summer), and I defy you not to be awed by this location!

Between the Googleby Stone and the Thunder Stone are several other stones, Aspers Field Stone can be seen in the fields from the Googleby Stone, what would have been the top of the stone if it was upright has several cup markings and what could be a ring.

At NY555153 are 2 other fallen stones in the wall side.
See Fitzcoraldos pics under the Hill of Skulls/Skellaw

The half circle of Iron Hill North has one stone of limestone amongst the Shap granite, this also occurs at other sites nearby such as Gunnerkeld and Gamelands.

There is a sandstone boulder in Iron Hill South that has 4 or 5 cupmarks on the top.

Destroyed when the area was enclosed. Only the outlier ’ King Harry’s Stone ’ remains ( 5ft high and perhaps 4ft wide ), the stone was an outlier of what was a large circle of over 80 stones.

No path as such...
but hey.

Make it part of your explorations of the ruined Broomrigg complexes.

With Long Meg further to the south, the henges at Penrith even further, Grey Yauds stands in a long line of big circles and henges.

The Broomrigg plantation is definitely worth a sniff around, OK so most of it is lost and ruined and in a heavily planted forest. But in a way it adds to the atmosphere, makes up a little for the lost views.

There are the remains of a large circle, 4 stones in a arc made of red sandstone. A low bank of a henge, and kerb and cairn circles.

They can take some finding, but you can make it a start to the journey out to see King Harry’s Stone over the fields at Grey Yauds.

Always a highlight of a visit to the Shap area...The size and shape of the stones are just perfect. The limestone pavement you cross to get to the stones has some great formations in it, as it’s weathered thru the years.
Make sure you see this circle.

Keep an eye out for Ironman’s Oddendale Cairn I on the way up to the circle.

Perhaps a mile further along the limestone pavement is a ruined circle, it stands on a small mound and although it is ruined its circle of low jagged stones are still quite impressive. And it is a pleasant walk here from the double circle.

Visited 11th January 2003: We were on our way to see Gareg Hir when we passed these two round barrows. As Alfie was demanding milk we stopped, and I decided to take a closer look. The barrows turned out to be bigger, and better defined than I’d expected. They’re both ploughed down, and I’m no expert on these things, so I’m not sure what type they originally were.

Crugiau Fâch are the two most accessible barrows in a reasonably large group (large by Carmarthenshire standards that is). Most of the others are in the surrounding forestry.

Waulud’s Bank earthworks lies on the edge of the Marsh Farm Estate in Leagrave, Luton. The River Lea runs close by, its source located within the vicinity of the surrounding marsh. Archaeological excavations date the site at around 3000 bc. therefore the site probably began its origins in the Neolithic period. The ‘D’ shape of the site is almost identical to that of Durrington Walls nr Avebury, however the Durrington Walls site has an ‘A’ road cutting it in half and is almost certainly from a later period 2800-2200bc. than the Waulud’s Bank site.

Documents have placed Julius Caesar at the source of the River Lea, and a substantial roman villa once existed in Bramingham Road which borders Waulud’s Bank. Interestingly the site is in close proximity to the Icknield Way and about 5 miles in distance from Watling Street in Dunstable – also famous for its Roman History.

The building at the edge of Waulud’s Bank was a one time farmhouse called Marsh Farm house the occupants probably owned the acreage that later became the Marsh Farm Estate.

I’m confident that the remains I photographed in November aren’t those of the Bodrifty settlement, as I’m familiar with that site. The pictures I took are all of remains which lie within about 200 yards or so of the Beehive Hut – the Bodrifty village is the better part of a mile to the south-east.

Do not underestimate the trip to the Giants Graves. walk along a track for about 1/2 a mile and then the ascent begins, and goes on, and on, and on. Through the woods, the hillside has steps all the way to the summit, but it is a real steep climb.

Expect to take some rest stops (and on the way back down travellers plaintively asking “is it much further?“) Once you reach the top of the steps, you might think you are there. Oh, no, continue along the hilltop, climbing still slightly, through the woods – watch out, we expected Orcs to come running at us at any moment.

When you reach the clearing, you will not be disappointed. What a great place! As others have said, the views must have been breathtaking – a burial for kings!

Only one thing spoilt our restful period at the top.... a phone call from work! don’t take your mobile.

On the approach to Machrie Moor from the A841 you will walk past this burial cairn, the historic Scotland plaque seems unsure of what it is....

“Is it a stone circle with a later burial cairn built inside it or is it simply a cairn with a permanent stone kerb?”

I think the latter, but you can correct me on that.

Whatever it is, it augments the approach to the amphitheatre of Machrie Moor – watch carefully as you approach, other standing stones will become evident on the way to the main sites.

Just to echo Pure Joy’s notes, I tried to visit the site a few years ago and could find no trace of any footpath either. As it was nearing the end of the day and I had a friend and her two kids in tow it didn’t seem fair dragging them over the hillside to see ‘some more old stones’. I think they had enough of stones that day to last them a lifetime.

Then the same thing happened to us as PJ – we got lost on the roads too...

Nine Maidens of Boskednan – 27.12.2002

After some torrential rain over night this really was a sodden trek for me! I parked at quite a big lay-by at the old Carn Galver Mine (SW421364) and walked up the road for a very short distance to get to a track that leads up past Carn Galver and on towards the Nine Maidens of Boskednan. The path up past Carn Galver is not a proper big track/4x4 road like the OS map suggests; it’s actually a small path that had become a fast running stream the day I visited!

It was worth it though. The Nine Maidens of Boskednan, and the surrounding antiquities, are lovely, but hiding in gorse and swamps. The view all around is pretty stunning. I actually counted 10 stones in the circle: 4 standing; 4 on an angle; and 2 on the ground including a very tiny one just sticking through near the two stones that are very close together on the North side.

Men Scryfa – 27.12.2002

Easy to reach if you’re visiting either the Nine Maidens or Men-an-tol. Although there is no official public footpath to the stone marked on the map, there is a stile into the field at its South West corner, and a well-trodden path to this curious inscribed stone. There seems to be no other obvious way out of the field, so best to retrace your steps back to the stile.

Men-an-tol – 27.12.2002

Despite it getting late and have to brave the aftermath of last nights torrential rain which resulted in mud baths and streams were footpaths should be, I just had to see Men-an-tol. It’s just one of those ‘must see’ sites that you’ve seen a million times in books and on postcards. It is actually signposted from the main track close to it, and it proved to be as strange and enigmatic as I expected. I can well believe that in the summer truckloads of people come to look at the site because this is one of the most famous ancient sites in England.

I had come up via Carn Galver and the Nine Maidens. I think it’s fair to say that the other way is probably the easier and more normal route, especially without a map. Men-an-Tol is actually signposted from the main Trevowhan to Madron road (at approx SW418347), and has a lay-by to accommodate about 4 cars.

Lanyon Quoit ? 27.12.2002

As this is right next to the main road and in the care of the National Trust I expected a huge neon signs above it and a pay and display car park. But actually it is very subtle and very low key (and very fitting), with just a make shift lay-by next to it and small plaque set in the field wall near a stone stile that leads into the field. The plaque reads “Lanyon Quoit – Given to the National Trust by Sir Edward Bolitho of Tiengwainion in 1952”. After the enormity of Trethevy Quoit this looks positively tiny, like it?s from the model village at Polperro, or Legoland in Windsor. Strange.

Mulfra Quoit – 27.12.2002

The Eastside of Mulfra Hill was seriously overgrown when I tried to visit. I couldn’t find the Public Footpath marked on the map (from the road, at approx 454356) that should lead up to the Quoit, nor any other path up the hill. The brambles and undergrowth were ferocious. Bummer. I’ll try again another day and maybe another path…don’t know when…..some sunny day…..(I feel a song coming on).

After Mulfra I got hideously lost amongst the roads. I really feel like I’m losing my mind, going up and down the same roads. Is someone trying to tell me something?

Access Park in lay-by at bottom of hill.
3 steps up through gate then level, rough grass.

Two barrows, once part of a larger group, in the village of Littleton nr. Winchester. The Disc Barrow is remarkably well preserved with finely defined ditch and bank. It is about 55M. diameter, crest to crest. Next door to the smaller Bowl Barrow is a Sarsen Stone, found in the early 20th C. in a farmers field nearby and moved here in the 1950s

Visited 11th January 2003: There’s no public footpath to Pentre Ynys, but you can see the stone from the road.

When we visited, the gate to the field it sits in was wide open and there were no crops or livestock to avoid, so we decided to take closer look. I parked in the gateway opposite, and we were just at the stone when the farmer turned up at the gateway in an enormous tractor. Our car was stopping him from turning into the field, so feeling embarrassed (for parking badly and for going into the field without permission) I pegged it back to move the car. As it turned out the farmer was fine about us looking at the stone, and was just keen to get on with his muck spreading.

The stone itself looks a bit lost in the middle of the field. The surrounding ground has been quite badly eroded by cattle, and the stone has bird shit all over it (excuse my French), so it lacks glamour.

There’s another stone relatively nearby, but less accessible, called the Rhyd y Fwyalchen Stone (SN42942412). This stands to the south, on the other side of Nant Felys (like Pentre Ynys it’s marked on the Landranger). I’d imagine that the two stones are directly connected to each other and/or the river that runs between them.