My first stone. Visited Castlerigg late on 07/12/02. Dark all around. Not a body to be seen. A moving experience which had to be repeated the next day in the winter sunshine. People milling this time but all tied to the same stillness.
Onward to the next.
Visited 8th December 2002: This afternoon I dragged my immediate family, plus my brother Pete and his partner Chris, off to see Cerrig Caerau stone circle and it’s smaller neighbour Lled Croen yr Ych.
We parked to the south of Newydd Fynyddog at the end of the footpath, and had a picnic lunch in the car. It was bitterly cold when we got out of the car, and William started complaining almost immediately. The walk from the road to the circle isn’t all that long (about half a mile) but it’s quite a steep gradient. We practically dragged William up the hill, and he was crying most of the way. To be fair, it was really cold, and the wind made it worse. He was suffering quite a bit from the cold, but by the time we realised this we were practically at the circle. Rather than turn back we kept on going.
The stones aren’t very big, and none of them remain standing. The views must be impressive on a good day, but visibility was very poor this afternoon, and we couldn’t see much of the surrounding hills. William sheltered behind the biggest stone with Pete, and (depending on how cold and pissed off we were) the rest of us had a look at the stones. It wasn’t the most relaxed visit to a stone circle that we’ve ever made, because we were all worrying about poor old Will.
Chris, Alfie and I pegged it across the stile to take a quick look at Lled Croen yr Ych, then we all headed off back down the hill. Pete carried William most of the way back, and he fell asleep as we walked (which worried us a bit). He slept in the car under a pile of coats on the way back, then woke up when we got home as if nothing had happened.
I’d recommend a visit to these sites if you’re in the area, but perhaps not in weather like we had today. Sorry about that William!
I’ve walked my dogs several days a week for 6 years around the area and couldn’t tell you for sure where the hillfort is... there has been so much other landscaping in the area especially the racecourse and allotments. A ridge that may be the hillfort is visible from the north of manor road and is disected by the road. Ancient pathways are kind of visible along the ridges of the downs around here though, notably Juggs Road that has been used up to more recent times (when Brighton was still a fishing village) for taking fish across the downs from Brighton to Lewes.
The Growing Stone..what a welcome antidote.
For 3 days previous I had been courtesy of my loved cousin and his Mrs their guest at the Network Q Rally. Big powerful motors tearing across the mountains and big fat petrol heads covering the hill with unfeasable amounts of shit, cans, bottles, take away cartons, burger wrappers. I needed to see this cos if I hadn’t I would not have believed how grossly f****d up the majority of us are. An education I badly had to endure.
Night 3 we run away, we camp on the hill away from the tip and the arrogance and sleep good in the wood. Day 4 we head out across the hills and visit The Growing Stone.
Now then what do we anticipate ?
MOD, fences, exclusion, pollution all that crap. a good stone spoiled?
But ah ha brill, dance for joy cos none of that, sure there is a dilapidated fence, the military grounds and the road but....
This stone stood out and rendered all that to invisibility.
Now there is power..
A bad world cured.
You can only see this stone as a sentinal on the valley floor, alone, mist wreathed a tribute to the crop, and instead of standing anachronistic a stranger in a strange land it dissolved everything, transporting me back before we went so badly wrong. I cannot even remember what it looked like now but it saved me then.
There is something here that discards its modern and unfortunate circumstances and imposes its own time.
Quite remarkable.
Put it on your list.
Park at the foot of the hill – just off the Ninewells access roundabout, on the south side, is a small residential area where there is usually parking space. Walk up the drive towards the hospital, and as you pass the first curve you’ll see the cairn on your right.
This cairn or barrow is described thus in Canmore: “A small circular, wooded enclosure on Menzieshill farm, known locally as “Dark Stane” Roundie, derived its name from a large upright block of dark whinstone, standing near its centre, almost enveloped in foliage. It has been suggested that it formed part of a stone circle, and when it was removed in 1888, a quantity of bones was ploughed up at the spot where it stood. Further human bones were found all over the Roundie when it was ploughed over. The stone was about 7’ high, 4’ broad and 1’ thick, entirely unsculptured, but fairly smooth on the sides which faced east and west. A large piece lying on the ground was said to have been struck off by lightning.”
The stone has long since gone, as has the wood. On the top of the cairn now are a few small stones, which look like Victorian railing supports – only 4 of a possible 7 or 8 are left, all with small holes facing outward. There’s not much left to look at, and it is now almost surrounded by roads and housing developments.
Leave the A90 Dundee to Perth dual carriageway at the Errol turn off and head towards Rait. As you approach a small crossroads you will see the Rati Farm steadings just up ahead on the right (nowadays an Antiques Centre with several shops). Turn right into the steadings then right again into the car park – the stone is at the corner as you turn in.
This is a very interesting stone, absolutely covered in cup marks on the upper surface. According to Canmore, “the boulder measures 1.5m by 1.2m and is at least 0.4m in thickness, and the cups measures up to 80mm in diameter. The arrangement of the cups includes a large one which is surrounded by six equally-spaced smaller cups; this pattern of cup-marks is similar to the rosettes which occur at Ormaig in Argyll but with the outer ringmark missing. Given that the boulder was placed in its present position fairly recently after having lain nearby for some time, it is likely that it was originally found in the field which lies S and E of the steading as it bears plough scarring and was almost certainly buried before discovery.” There are certainly distinct plough marks on it. It is a short walk from here to the Fingask standing stone also well worth a visit.
Park at the Rait Farm Antiques centre and walk up to the farm itself. Take the track leading east (your right) and follow it along towards the walled garden. As the track curves upwards you will see the stone in the little field north of you.
Canmore states simply “This standing stone is situated about 320m SSE of Fingask Castle and close to the SW corner of a walled garden. It measures 1.2m from NE to SW by 0.8m and 1.5m in height.” But there’s more to this one than initially meets the eye. Have a very careful look at the north face – two grooves run vertically up the face of the stone. They do not look to be natural. On the SE side there is a smaller one at the foot of the stone – this proved easier to photograph than the others. Very reminiscent of the markings on the main stone at Tuilyies, I thought!
This stone stands in the centre of a field just to the north of the A90 Dundee to Perth dual carriageway. Turn off the road into the Inchmartine Caravan Park drive and park off the road.
The stone measures 1.85m from NE to SW by 1.3m and 1.9m in height, shouldered away from the uppermost horizontal plane, according to Canmore – which also states “It is possible that the stone is no more than a large erratic boulder,” I find this hard to believe, as the surveyor obviously didn’t pay much attention on his visit. There is a clearly defined set of four cup marks in a rough diamond configuration low down on the NW aspect of the stone. Quite a dramatic stone, easily visible from the road. It has suffered from some machinery scrapes over the years, and there is very little space left round it by the farmer.
This must be one of Derbyshires best kept secrets, a triple cairn on Fallinge Edge nr Beeley Moor. The kerb stones remain and the middle cairn has a double row of stones. The length of the cairns overall is around 50ft.
The stones on the northern side of the cairn are quite large, a little section of the kerb is missing in the NW, where a medieval lead bole was built, but otherwise it is complete.
The easiest way to get there is to park near ‘wraggs’ disused quarry SK282684, jump over the gate and follow the track to the edge of the moor. OK so it says private......but.
Outstanding views from the cairn, with Minninglow prominent on the horizon in the west.
I didn’t go into the field to get closer,the wheat did not permit.Maybe next time.
I went into the field over a stile on the top road and followed the fence closely followed by two large red brown bullocks.After I had taken a photo the said bullocks decided my time in their domain was over.I made the other side of the fence just before they caught up with me.
Unlike Martin I struggled ungracefully over the drystane dyke and nearly broke my neck stumbling over a wire fence.Nevertheless the visit was worth it.no problem parking,just keep well in to the side.
I took Nick’s advice and walked from the road to view these stones, they are like many of their kind somewhat neglected. The farmer looks at you sort of kindly saying but they are only auld stanes. There is a stretch of fishing river here and you could be quizzed by the factor...
I found this poor stone brutally caged for what crime I could not begin to imagine. I pondered a protest movement to free it – FREE THE BALNABROICH ONE NOW!
This large stone stands some 9 feet tall. According to the Name Book of 1860, it was said locally to be a pointer to roads that were merely heather tracks. There are no markings on it, but it is quite impressive.
Take the Tealing to Auchterhouse road (un-numbered) at the back of Dundee. Pass the Old School House (North Balkello) on your left, and about 100m past this you will see the top of the stone showing above the bank and wall on your left. Drive on down into the dip in the road, and there is space (just) to pull over by a metal gate. Entry can be made here.
another example of doing the fieldwork first! We were actually looking for Altarnun, and presumed it would be the same side of the main road as the village. So we set of in driving wind and rain into the featureless moorland with visibility fading, searching for the wrong stone circle, which we nearly didn’t find. We could see the stone row but didn’t venture that far.
We only found the circle whilst dejectedly walking back to the car. We literally stumbled upon it. I didn’t even count stones although they are lain flat, and would have stood at an impressive height. I say stood because they didn’t look like they were placed in their respective positions. They looked and felt too jumbled for that.
johan
Depending on which source you believe, this is either the only, or one of only two, rockcut chamber tombs in Britain.
It may not be in the middle of nowhere but you can definitely see the middle of nowhere from here.
In a ruinous state it may be, but this circle caught my eye as I drove past. Situated in wet moorland, there are signs that a fire destroyed all the surrounding grassland a while back, exposing this beauty! I’ve lost count of the stones, but there’s a good few!! There’s a strong energy here, not as much as others, but the power of the land is obvious. Very close to the road, but far enough away to sit and drift....
Enjoy it... I do, regulary.
Most of the ancient carvings are found on the western edge of the outcrop, around the level below the 3 seater rock armchair.
The ‘cross’ in Baz’s pic is on the northern side 20ft below the armchair.
The cup and ringed marked boulder can be seen south of the chair on the level below, two of the carvings can be seen. While a very worn third carving, is on the boulders top flat left hand corner.
25ft west of the cup and ring boulder and under a large tree is a very worn carving of a ‘serpent’? There’s a large cup mark and a faint wavy line travelling down the rock, with a semi cirle carving next to it ( along with the cup this is the most prominent part )
A couple of feet below this, in the tree roots is another rock with a worn carving along the same lines as the ‘serpent’. 6 cup marks and another faint wavy line between them.
The large (50cm) circular carving is on a horizontal ledge, behind the Eastern ‘chimney’. It was uncovered in the 1970’s. And is of an uncertain age, the vegetation that covered it may have preserved it.
Careful if you go looking for this in the wet and if you suffer from vertigo.
Wowee... this place is SERIOUS. Comparing this place to most of the circles I’ve seen is like comparing a punk rock gig to a chamber music concert. The stones are just wild – amazing browny-orange hues that look like crouching animals. I’m not sure I’d even dare to come here on a full moon – you could almost hear the power crackling away even on a grey Sunday afternoon.
All the more amazing because of the picture-postcard English village setting... imagine taking tea at the vicar’s and he gets out his collection of shrunken heads to show you – that kind of vibe.
Big, scary, wonderful. Circles with tude.
This Iron Age Round is situated on the northeast side of Hawks Tor, near the village of North Hill. Not easy to get at, it is also on private land. A footpath runs above and below it, the one running below giving best access.
At first I thought I was just in another field untill i noticed the size of the banks. These run round about two thirds of the round and have a deep ditch outside them. On top grow ancient oaks. The area above ythe round is gradually being taken over by rhododrendrons whilst below it the valley is of ancient woodland.
I have not been able to find out too much about this site, and would welcome any other info.
See also postings/images under Howl Moor
The partner in crime on this trip, the second howe with the “headstone” I think that the head stone is one of the kerb stones that the embankment has worn away from as close investigations reveals the tops of several other upright stones still embedded in the embankment approximately in line (circularly) with the head stone.
The standing stones make for an intriguing site. Shame about the grouse butt.
It’s wet here...always is! Wear good boots if you plan to visit. The stones may be scattered about, the circle incomplete but it holds a lovely feeling here, desolate yes, windswept and rain beaten, but I love the place. The stones are alive though, the walk from Men-an-Tol doesn’t take long. I suggest a walk to Carn Galva if you have the time, a very powerful and evocative site. You can see both sides of Cornwall from the peaks of the carn.
