Latest Fieldnotes

I was up there yesterday, a bright November day, clear but windy. The views are quite magnificent, and it’s easily seen why they chose this location to build. I’ve appended a few of the photos I took.

Ilkley’s a nice enough place, but they found the shittiest little bit of it to put these 3 stones in. Nasty metal fence round them too, I can sorta see why they fence ‘em in to stop graffitti and stuff. But one of the stones had a dirty great green paint splash across it.......same colour as the fence was painted....hmmmm

The memorial was to Tom Whitty – an American whose inspiration was the Sheepshead Walk – the stone circle was discovered as the walk was being cleared. The circle has 11 stones and there is meant to be a boulder burial to the immediate south of it. There’s also a huge fallen stone to the west of it. The axial stone could be aligned to the sunset of the winter solstice. It’s a wonderful place with fabulous views across Dunmanus Bay. Go the the tin pub – Tom Whitty used to be the landlord so there are connections all round!

At the turning for Siver Well Cottage. Instead of going down the drive look for a little track on the opposite side. The stone is along here and quite easy to spot.

There are 2 cup and ring marked stones along the drive to silver well cottage.( 10m south of the drive). Both are small and the carvings are worn.

Flying visit to this for the umpteenth time it seems, though the first in many years, this time to take a few alternate photos for TMA.
Its bigger than I remember and slightly more intimidating as well. I could picture the baying hordes sat on the banks in Roman times urging the gladiators on; the enlargements they made to the bank seemed to be to the fore in my mind.

Its a shame (as ever) that the standing stone from the entrance was removed as I feel that would help to make the site more respected. Currently its mostly used as a hangout for local kids...

Like views? Like hillforts? You’ll love Eggardon Hill. After a very wet & very foggy w/e in Askerswell, the weather cleared just in time for me to drag the missus up here on the sunday morning. Amazing views to the North, South and West, its one of the few places in Dorset where you really feel “up high”.

As a fort it is highly impressive, not quite so as Maiden Castle but almost certainly the second best in this area, and defn. worth a visit for the ramparts alone. A fence runs straight through the middle of this fort which kinda spoils the effect but you can access the entirity, once you find that elusive gate to the second side.

On your way in (or out) have a quick look at what I took to be a guard post to the east of the fort, next to what we used as a carpark...

Visited 5th October 2002: After Carreg Coetan Arthur the setting for Llech-y-Tripped was a refreshing change. The cromlech nestles in the corner of a field, high on a ridge overlooking the mountains. The sea is really close, but this site definitely isn’t orientated towards it.

There’s no signage at any point from the road, but the sturdy looking (and unusual) stile into the field where the cromlech sits suggests that public access is allowed. The stones are easy to see from the track. This site is obviously not visited as much as it’s suburban neighbour, but it’s such a big beauty of a cromlech. I’d certainly recommend a visit.

Visited May 1995: Lou and I walked to Swarth Fell back in the good old days when we lived in the Lake District. We were on route from Bowness to Penrith, mostly following the Roman track called High Street. I saw the circle on the OS map, so we decided to deviated from the footpath to find it.

We nearly didn’t find the stones because they are all fallen. We were knackered when we got there, so we downed our (stupidly overloaded) rucksacks and stopped to relax and take in the view. This decision severely inhibited our progress for the rest of the day, but as I recall we didn’t really care. As you can see, in the photo Louise is as recumbent as the stones.

Visited 4th November 2002: I pursuaded Louise that this was a minor detour on our way back home from Edinburgh. In practise the roads were a lot slower than we expected, and we nearly ran out of light before we got there. Fortunately the chamber is aligned (approximately) to the south west, with beautiful views across the Dore Valley and towards the setting sun. The evening light contrasted dramatically between vivid sunshine and deep shadow.

The capstone is enormous (none of the photos here do it justice), and even though it’s now broken into two pieces, I was in awe of it. I tried to find the cup marks that are supposed to be on the outlying stone*, but all I found was a relatively modern carving of a star (see photo).

This was Alfie’s first visit to a prehistoric site, but we got no reaction out of him (other than the usual ‘give me milk mummy!’). William was very pleased with the burial chamber, and decided to pretend it was a shop. Well worth the extra miles!

As an aside, access for wheelchair users and people with pushchairs is unnecessarily hampered by a narrow gateway in the perimetre fence. This is all the more annoying because the site is so close to the road. Visitors with limited mobility on foot will probably have relatively little difficulty getting in through the gap.

* [I figured out later on that the cupmarked stone is not part of this site, but a seperate stone]

What can I say that hasn’t already been said?! We finally made it there (it only took us seven years!) I was pregnant, the sheep were pregnant and a sheep dog led us from our B&B three miles up the road, to the stones... I think overwhelming has to be the word.

3.11.02. Today I stood in Stannon in the pouring rain. I have stood in this circle in the sun. Once I stood in this circle in the mist with a man that I loved. The mist is gone and so is he but the stones are still here.

Trencrom Hill is always overlooked, yet provides incredible views over the whole of West Cornwall, with Mounts Bay to the south and St Ives bay to the north. The view to the East provides tremendous unspoilt views past carn Brea and on towards the clay pits.

The hill itself is an iron age hill fort. Park at the car park at the southern base of the hill, then walk along the bottm of the hill, keeping the hill to your left. The path will split and you must take the left hand route, which will lead you through bracken up the side of the hill. Hidden off to the left on your ascent is a sealed well, thought to have holy properties but now too dangerous to leave open, due to the depths it was sunk to.

Keep ascending until you enter the fort through a very obvious stone pillared gateway. There are exposed granite boulders in the settlement that proved wonderful seating for eating and viewing.

The remains of two huts can be seen sunken into the earth.

Take dowsing rods, as the reading here can provide great interest, with central energy flow coming from St Michaels Mount, through Trencrom and out towards Ireland. Smaller sources seem to track water flow around the hill.

A visit on a summers evening for sunset is a never to be forgotten experience.

A ruined but sharply defined cairn, like a pulpit on the steep heath. Rewarding if only for the carved stone. From the mainpath to the East the site is about 100m west from where 2 upright stones suggest a gate in the old stone wall.
Returning to the wall, hop over [it’s lower the higher you go], Wet Withens is easily reachable: Follow what appears to be a natural dyke/bank for 200m [defined by the merciful absence of gorse, fern & heather], the site is atop the highest western point on the Moor.

Thornborough Mounds

Visible from the road these impressive mounds
Look like a pair of breasts,
The local name for the nearby river is The Twins
The only problem with that is that the river is
That a river one river.
So does the name twins originate from these
Mounds?

WHADDON MILL MOUND

We parked on stock lane, the main street of the village
The church is on the junction of stock lane and the road too
Nash
Walk past the church bearing left
Past the churchyard you will see the mound about 90 yards away
In a SW direction
And so to the mound
The first thing that strikes us is the almost identical in size
To the moat and bailly castles
At nearby old wolverton and castlethorpe
But we both have that gut feeling that this site is far older
Than the moat and bailly that sits here today
There is a commanding view of the countryside
Now lucky for us it’s a clear day and that’s the essence
Of the site the brilliant view of the north Buckinghamshire countryside
This site is now very special to us.
We noted three springs coming from this hilltop always a good sign
And lumps and pumps all over the place.
This site needs more investigation so we will be researching this site for
The next few months so stay tuned
Visit here on a clear day you will not be disappointed .

St. Madoes is reached from the A90 Perth – Dundee road, at the Glencarse turning. Head down the little main street and turn right at the sign for the school. These stones are now incorporated into a garden feature in the grounds of St. Madoes Primary School, in front of the main entrance. Permission MUST be obtained from the school for viewing – for obvious reasons

I have a great love for these stones, I went to school in Lundin Links and lived in the sister village of Lower Largo. I learned to play gowf here, we weren’t allowed on the big boys links, and lost a few balls in the rough around the stones – years ago they let the grass grow here. At near by Norries Law there was a find of Pictish silver, the finder melted most of it down, but some pieces survived and can be seen in Edinburgh. In Upper Largo Kirk By the gate is a Pictish symbol stone.

In the TMA book Julian suggests you climb Hod Hill first and this is very good advice. I loved Hod Hill – but ANYTHING would be an anti-climax after Hambledon!

It’s like hearing a great band for the first time – you want to tell everyone about it and keep it a secret all at once. On a misty Thursday in October I had the whole place to myself and felt honoured to be alone in this magic kingdom.

If you have GPS, the precise NGR for King Arthur’s Cave is SO 54574 15607. Living in Ross-on-Wye, I visit King Arthur’s Cave, as well as many more in the area at least once per month and there is always something new to discover. There are several caves cut into the same piece of rock as King Arthur’s and it is easy when visiting for the first time to think you have found it when you are actually not quite there. I made this mistake on my first visit. King Arthur’s is the one with two large entrances next to each other.
There were large animal bones and flint tools discovered in the cave during 19th century excavations, which were unfortunately assisted by dynamite. Some of these can evidently be seen in both Monmouth and Hereford museums, though I haven’t looked myself. I go to the caves to photograph their modern dwellers – bats, spiders etc. though I do also have an interest in the archaeology.
I often wonder about the origin of the name as of the many photos I have taken, whenever I photograph one particular rock formation inside using a flash, the shadows created always look like the figure of a knight. I wonder if this may have been noticed in the dim and distant past. Does anybody know?

Discovered by a farmer (Mr. R Simison) and then leter excavated by students the tomb is managed by the farmer’s family with a little help from Scottish heritage. As well as the tomb there is a Stone Age house nearby. Both sites are maintained by the Simisons.

Like the Dwarfie Staine, this tomb’s position is full of drama. The tomb sits a top of a cliff face looking out to sea and can be rough if the weather isn’t nice. Getting inside is fun. Pull yourself into the tomb on the ‘Pensioners Skateboard’ just like Indiana Jones. Once inside the fun never ends!! A light switch reveals a set of genuine skulls found in one of the tombs’ cells.

Bodies were allegedly left outside for the eagles to de-flesh before the bones were placed inside the tomb. Many eagle talons were found inside the tomb suggesting that the eagle was some kind of totem for the people here. Dog skeletons were found inside Maes Howe and Cuween which has also been sugested as a sign of tribal totem.

When we got back they farmers daughter gave us a  talk on both the tomb and the house. We handled various artifacts but no skulls.

She gave refreshing ‘common sense’ aproach to the archeology of the house and tomb and the lives of the people who built them.

BTW we also learnt here that burnt mounds are nothing mysterious, they’re just piles of rubble created by the discarded and cracked stones used for cooking. Behind the house is a burnt mound half excavated, no evil there then.

Getting there:

This site means driving down to South Ronaldsay for at least an hour or so. Take the A961 south of Kirkwall and just keep going. You reach the island by a series of barriers created during the war and there are a couple of skuppered German war ships still poking out of the water. When it seems like your going no where you will see a sign for the tomb.

When you do get there you will be supplied with oilskins if needed (depends on the weather) and then allowed to drive a little way up to the house site. From there you’ll take a scenic walk along the cliff face to the tomb.

It’s in the guide books and on the maps.

Positioned on a colapsing cliff face, the rear of the Broch is lost but here’s the front. You can step inside and see a few wall chambers, although a lot of the structure is collapsed.

Stop at Yesnaby for a perfect place to open up that flask of tea and have a sandwich.

Getting there:

The easiest way to get there is by parking up at Yesnaby just off the B9056 south of Skara Brae, you’ll see the sign post. Once there, get out and walk north along the coastal cliff face till you see the Broch itself beside a small stack.

Watch out for randy bulls!

I have to agree with xyz. I walked up Bellever Tor in April 2002 and I have never before or since felt such a strong spiritual impact. I never intended to walk all the way up, but he drew me endlessly onwards and upwards through the mud. This Tor has a majestic spirit and I found myself kneeling in respect once I reached the summit. No other Tor has had quite the same impact on me. Respect.

Never found it since!!...wound me up writing that. So today I made sure I chuffin’ well found it again.
Easy to miss and not a deal there when you find it, it has to be said. The kerb/rubble bank although overgrown is very wide with some good coarses of stones visible in the heather.

The site is marked as being in a ‘Danger Area’ on the O.S maps (rifle range), so keep your head down if there’s red flags about.

The most impressive approach to any of the sites we visited.

The island of Hoy were the tomb lies, is in itself a very desolate place, few houses few farms, and even fewer people.

Used by the British Navy during the war left the island with many wartime points of interest.

The Dwarfie Staine is to the more remote part north of the island, and lies between a huge valley made by the two main hills on the island.

You can reach it by car and then walk 1/3 mile up to the stone. It’s an amazing place. Follow the B9047 north (it’s the only road there) and watch for the sign as you approach the Bay of Quoys. Stop off an take a look at Betty Corrigall’s grave on the way.