Latest Fieldnotes

The Hell Stone – 22.12.2002

Hell this was muddy, and the cows in the first field were very territorial. From SY601869 (almost opposite Hampton Barn Farm), there is a small lay-by and stile into the first field. The cows feeding centre is also situated around here so in December it was extra muddy! The footpath on the map seems to follow the fence across the field on its northern side, and as I couldn’t see that far ahead I played it safe and followed the fence on this side despite the cows. Half way
along the field the fence then forced me to change sides, and at the end of the filed there was a handy notice, saying something to the effect of ‘Please walk on whichever side of the fence the cows are not using’. I could have done with a similar sign at the road end of the field!

I am slightly surprised that other people have said that the hell stone is not so easy to spot as I seemed to be able to see it / the enigmatic gnarly tree that is next to it (see photos), from quite a way off. When I visited there was a duck pond barely a few metres to the South edge of the burial chamber (shown well in Phil’s excellent picture on this site). I could be wrong but it did not look natural at all. Very pleasant to look at all the ducks but surely made too close to the burial chamber? Maybe it’s a trade off because there seems to be no official footpath to the Hell Stone and access presumably relies on the farmer’s goodwill.

The chamber is exactly as I had imagined it. Amazing views back towards the Hardy Monument, and all very peaceful. Big fat dark bulbous stones, looking like something out of a Beryl Bainbridge painting. And that tree is also amazing and very fitting to the surroundings.

Treverven Menhir – 23.12.2002

This is just off the B3315, where there is a tiny lay-by just to the East of the kink in the road. Otherwise you could park just further up the hill where the road widens a little. A public footpath, which is clearly signposted on the kink of the road, leads from the road (opposite the
entrance to Burnewhall Farm) 30 metres up through a short wood to a stile. From the stile walk straight ahead towards a telephone pole and a gap in the hedge. This is not 2 separate fields as the OS map suggests, and therefore the public footpath is not at the edge of the field, but actually straight across one larger field. The stone is in the next field up. It’s a nice curvy stone and measures 180cm (H) x 80 (W) x 50 (D).

Of all the lone stones I visited around Land’s End this is the most suspect of them all because it isn’t that tall, is in the middle of a field, and is not mentioned in Craig Weatherhill’s excellent 1981 book ‘Belerion: Ancient Sites of Land’s End’ (Cornwall Books). However, using Weatherhill’s ground rules for what is probably an ancient menhir and what is probably a modern cattle rubbing post this is big enough to be a menhir, and is mentioned as a ‘“possible menhir...excavated in 1922 but no finds” in Ian McNeil oCoke’s ‘Standing Stones of the Land’s End’ (1998 – Men-an-Tol Studio).

Trelew Menhir – 23.12.2002

This is off the B3283, 2km North East of St Buryan. A track to Trelew B&B is just after the brow of the hill, almost forming a crossroads with a very minor farm track. The menhir is not far from the junction. At the first ‘lay-by’ on the left two field entrances meet. The menhir is then 30 metres from one of these gates. I’m not sure whose land this belongs to. The field bore the aftermath of a maize crop, so I would imagine that in summer the stone may almost be swamped by maize! The stone measures 250cm (H) x 110 (W) and is quartzy and very impressive, although very lonely!

The site was excavated in 1871 by W.C.Borlase (busy year!) and cremated remains, wood, flint, clay and calcified bone were found in a pit 3ft below ground level, close to the foot of the stone. The stone appears to be unusually erected on its narrowest end.

The Blind Fiddler – 23.12.2002

There is a small lay-by on the North side of the bend in the road where you can pretty safely park. A small concrete stile leads into the field. The footpath leads through the field so officially you are trespassing by going to the stone, but considering that the footpath goes straight through the crops, whereas to look at the stone you can skirt round the field and do no damage at all, I would hope that any sensible landowner would take that into consideration. The field looked like it was planted with winter wheat.

The Blind Fiddler stands alone at the edge of the field, stunning in its quartz studded, triangular tooth-like grandeur. It measures 320cm (H) x 205 (W, at the base) x 50 (D). It’s’ also known as the ‘Trenuggo Stone’ or ‘Tregonebris Stone’.

Early 19th century excavations near its foot uncovered fragments of bone. Ian McNeil Cooke in his ‘Standing Stones of the Land’s End’ (1998 Men-an-Tol Studios) says that “cremated remains were found by a labourer while digging for treasure in the early 19th century”.

The stone gets its name from 18th century Methodist preachers telling their flock that the stone is a wayward musician, struck into stone for performing on a Sunday. Some people link The Blind Fiddler to the Higher Drift stones, and tell a similar tale of two sisters struck into stone for not obeying the Sabbath.

Higher Drift Stones – 23.12.2002

I asked at Higher Drift Farm (just the other side of the road – map ref SW435285). The farmer there said that it was on the next farmer’s land (Jeffrey) and that he couldn’t imagine Jeffrey having any worries about letting me look at the stones. Judging from the map, the next farm is quite a long way away (probably Tresvennack Farm).

These two enigmatic stones stand close to the A30, just West of Drift. One is 230cm (H) x 70 (W) x 80 (D). This one has a long crack across it. The other is 190cm (H) x 115 (W, at the base) x 50 (D).

The stones are also known as ‘The Sisters’, ‘The Two Sisters’, or ‘The Triganeeris Stones’. They were investigated by W.C.Borlase in 1871 when a 6ft long earth-cut grave was found well off centre between the stones. However, no actual finds were made.

Some people link the Higher Drift stones to the nearby Blind Fiddler and tell a traditionally simplistic tale of two sisters struck into stone for not obeying the Sabbath.

Boscawen-Un – 23.12.2002

I’m not convinced it really is a public road but presumably the locals have got used to people driving up the farm track towards Boscawenoon Farm, because half way up to the Farm there is a lay-by on the right and small sign saying ‘No cars beyond this point’. The wall to this lay-by also presumably contains the standing stone marked on the map at SW418277 (a triangular stone). Ian McNeil Cooke in his ‘Standing Stones of the Land’s End’ (1998 – Men-an-Tol Studios) calls this stone ‘Boscawen-Un 2’. It seems to make sense that this is the stone on the map.

Boscawen-Un – 23.12.2002

I’m not convinced it really is a public road but presumably the locals have got used to people driving up the farm track towards Boscawenoon Farm, because half way up to the Farm there is a lay-by on the right and small sign saying ‘No cars beyond this point’. The wall to this lay-by also contains the standing stone marked on the map at SW418277 – called Boscawen-Un Menhir on this site.

After the farm, you walk towards Changwens and then a small sign (at SW415274) points the way up to the circle. The track up to the circle is not a road track like the OS map makes it seem like. In fact, in December it was pretty narrow and overgrown and not very pretty.

After a while (at a double set of farm gates, either side of the track) the track widens out and after another 200metres or so you scoot through the wild hedge and the circle is in front of you in all its glory. The quartz stone is opposite the entrance.

As I walked back up the track I became suspicious at the enormous stones that formed the wall with the field to my left (the North). This is the first field back towards the Farm. As I got back to double gates mentioned above I decided to explore (officially trespass, but I was just looking along the side of the field, with no livestock or crops in). About halfway back down the field, parallel with the track (i.e. towards the circle again) there is a huge suspicious lozenge shaped stone making up part of the field wall – it’s 270 x 170cm (on it’s side – I’ve labelled the photo on the page as ‘Boscawen Un suspicious stone 1’). 100 metres on, right down in the corner of the field (i.e. a stones throw from the circle, but separated by the hedge and the lane) there is another large suspicious lozenge shaped stone looking well out of place in the wall/hedge -it’s 195 x 165cm (upright – I’ve labelled the photo on the page as ‘Boscawen Un suspicious stone 2’).

It is almost impossible to give these stones separate grid references as they both lie at about SW413274.

Just thought of a little bit of info that might go down well with the subject of the Coate Stones.
Not very far away from this site is a rather “exclusive” housing area near the golf course,which has large standing stones on the end of some of the closes as “punctuation points”. I’m not sure if they are all “real” standing stones as one of them looks like its made of a dodgy sandstone/cement mixture and it has that strange golden colour.
Might be worth investigating further to see if they are related in any way.

Visited with MushroomSi and Ursula on a tour of a few of the Cumbrian sites at Winter Solstice. This hadn’t been a planned visit, we were driving past when I pointed it out to Si, who as it turned out hadn’t visited before. The car was quickly turned round and we paid a visit. It was worth it just to hear how delighted Si was to be here! I’ve been here quite a few times now but am always amazed as the inner bank comes in to view. Once again I found my mind racing with interpretations of this site in it’s original use.

31/12/02ce A return visit – again I was initially disappointed, I’d once again got it in my head that this stone was bigger! Why I was so bothered I just don’t know. One of my shots shows it to scale, and looking at it now it doesn’t seem that small... The view did again, however, impress me. From here the ugly chimneys of the Shap granite works, belching great plumes of smoke, serve as a reminder of just how close you are to a lot of the other Cumbrian sites, all within pretty easy walking distance.

05/01/03ce A return visit on a beautiful crisp clear winter day with about an hour of sunlight left. The snow on the tops served as a great visual aid, somebody had been here earlier and trodden out the rough line of the circle. Being able to visualise the size and position of the site makes the sad state of the circle all the more poignant. Seeing the size and location of the circle, along with an approximation of the height of the stones, when they where still in situ, brought The Twelve Apostles of Ilkley Moor to mind...

Spotted this from, of all places a seat on the 10:25 Cardiff to London train, diverted around the Severn because the tunnel was closed. 5 minutes out of Chepstow on the left hand side when travelling east was a quite unmistakable standing stone.

The stone is approximately 50 feet away from the line and looks as if it’s at least 5 foot high. After checking the OS map I’ve found this is recorded as “the broadstone” (as if there’s not enough of those already on this site!). From the impression I gleaned from the train window this is a big old fella’ of a stone which looks out across the severn. Spotting or Snapping it from a moving train will be a challenge for TMA-ers and will certainly enliven my next journey on this line. Access on foot looks as if it would be from High Hall Farm at Wibdon on the A48 about three miles out of Chepstow.

The Witch’s Stone sits by the road to Meikle Obney farm, just behind the fence-line of a grassy field. It is shielded to the NW by a small hill about 50m away, and is on the edge of the Obney Hills which seperate the farmland of this area from Strathbraan. It is seperated to the NE from the Staredam standing stones by a mere 1.0km and the valley of a small burn. The Witch’s Stone stands 2.2m tall, and is very upright, with a pointed top. It measures 1.5m broad by 0.7m wide, with a basal circumference of 3.5m.

The origin of the stone’s name is unclear, although there is a legend that the stone was being carried in the lap of a witch as she flew over Meikle Obney, but she dropped it and it has remained there ever since.

This four-poster circle sat on a pronounced mound originally, but the mound was destroyed on the S side when the road was built, and has been ploughed away on the N side in the field. However, it’s profile can still be seen by looking from the road. Two stones sit on the mound, surrounded by brambles behind the hedge, while another stone sits isolated on an island of grass at the junction of Tullibardine Road and Easthill Road. The fourth stone is also thought to be on the island, covered entirely by the grass.

The two hedgerow stones both feature interesting carvings. The NW stone has 4 large gouges cut into it’s northern face, but the SE stone is much more interesting. On it’s southern face is carved a medium-sized left hand-print, pointing down the way. The hand is quite faded, but can be easily found by running a hand over the surface of the stone.

The stones on the island in the road have fared less well. When Hutchison visited in 1893, both were lying prostrate, the more northerly one (now standing) half-covered by turf, and the more southerly one completely covered. The more northerly stone has a distinctive girdle mark around it’s centre, and leans sharply to the E. The more southerly stone is presumably still buried in situ.

The most plough damaged of the three henges, but the bank is still in reasonable condition as is the northwest entrance. The henge now stands in its own fenced and wired enclosure and is an easy walk across grassland and past a ploughed barrow, from the road beside the central henge.

We visited this unusual rock art site in May 2002. If you look for variations to the great abstract rock art tradition, this is the right place to be. Not only the horse-like design made up of > 100 cups in line, but also encircled cups with radiates will trigger your imagination. Don’t forget to ask permission from the farmer (mr Lance Strother) of Fowberry Moor Farm to walk his land. Park your car outside the farm grounds along the wall and walk-up to the farm. Cars are always in the way here! On your way back to the farm gate you’ll find Fowberry Cairn at the left side of the road just before the gate in the wooded triangle.

This reminds me a lot of Mayburgh henge, it’s in a similar state of disrepair and has the same air of abandonment. The entrances are still well defined but the bank is badly damaged and the internal ditch has just about gone. Apparently it is thought that the banks of this henge and its two siblings were covered in gypsum crystals, echoing the chalk earthworks of the south of England. The henge also stands over an earlier mile long cursus which ran in a northeast to southwest direction and later more than 2 dozen round barrows were constructed in this area, so it was obviously an important place for some considerable length of time.

Have to agree with Fitz about this henge, while the centre and south henges are derelict and abandoned this one is alive and well, even in the depths of winter and with a frosting of snow. The bank is huge, as is the berm (does my berm look big in this?) and the 2 entrances to the northwest and southeast are both clearly defined and lead over the deep ditch to the centre. Must be a wonderful place in the summertime.

For the two weeks I have had off work, I waited for a decent day’s weather to visit this place. At last it came. Treaclechops and myself had this extensive place to ourselves, the weak winter sunshine low on the horizon creating sculptural shadows on the barrows and revealing the final traces of other ploughed-over barrows in nearby fields. It was too cold to paint, so I fired off a couple of pencil sketches (difficult in thermal gloves). This was one helluva necropolis at one time, and I guess it still is. After all the shite and dutiful detritus of the ‘festive season’, what I needed was peace. I found it here.

Not a lot to add to Martin’s notes except this is hard to find,I was lucky to finally find it on a dry day so I only had bramble scratches and nettle stings.It is the most peaceful place and as Martin says undisturbed and long forgotten.Try and find it for a great experience.

This is off the A827 Aberfeldy to Grandtully road, the turning is on the right and quite sharp about 2 miles from Aberfeldy. If you see the remains of an old railway bridge you’ve gone too far, turn and go back to the next turning. You can park by the old railway or trust your suspension and drive about half a mile, on the way on the left is a standing stone in a small plantation, and a little way on the right is a stone on the bank. When you get to the Lundin Stones be careful, the only way across the burn is a plank – very slippery. The cupmarked stone is on the far side and usually covered with grass so be persistent.

The circle stands in a field on the left of the road but can be seen better from the track leading to the farm. I was attracted to the standing stone and saw what I thought were sheep in the far end of the field, these turned out to be the low circle in the long grass. It was very wet and squeltchy, I was not equipped for bog walking so I took the photo from the track. The circle is about 20mtrs in diameter.

Next to the Standing Stone is a small kerbed cairn.

A few miles West of Chanctonbury Ring, and also on the South Downs Way, this prominant ditch and bank straddles the path, and seems to be an Iron Age boundary marker, though I have been able to find little to confirm this.

To reach it head about 2 miles East, on the South Downs Way, from Amberley Train Station. In guides it can be found in the Washington to Amberley section.

An impressively sized Round-Barrow group that meets the South Downs Way at a right angle on the Cocking to Buriton stretch.

This is quite a remote section of the Way, so you have a fairly even choice of routes and can more or less guarantee peace once at the site.
Either walk East along the Way from the Harting Hill car park for about 4 miles, the more picturesque option which also passes Beacon Hill and Pen Hill, or West from Cockinghill car park for about 3 miles, which is probably the less tiring route.

There is an information sign near the barrows.

Have to agree with the other comments here. A very undignified way for the Stone to be treated. People in the lunchtime rush looked at me as if I were mad, taking photos of a wall of a bank! I’m sure none of them had ever looked to see what was there...

The Stone seemed to be screaming to be let free. Given the planning permission mentioned in the News Article last year, it looks as if its wish may be granted, but I couldn’t see any signs or notices in place, so maybe they’ve put the plans back. Does anyone have a better notion of timing for the demolition?

I’ll have to make sure I get down here a bit more regularly in the lunch hour, now I know exactly where it is, to make sure the Stone isn’t forgotten and doesn’t get lonely, trapped in its cage.