Latest Fieldnotes

Drumsturdy hill lies east of Dundee on the A92. Turn north onto the B962, then east on the B961 and turn into the Drumsturdy road up to Laws farm. Ask permission before entering the field by the hill – a bull is often in the field and warning notices are posted! Up a track to the hilltop and the broch can be easily distinguished. Nothing is left above ground level, but the site lies sunk in about 1 metre. An Iron Age fort is also on the site, along with other ruined remains and an absolutely awful late Georgian “folly” (visible in one of the photographs). It has been described thus : “The fort is oval measuring c 400’ by 200’ within the ruin of a wall 30’ thick. The faces of the wall are of large carefully-laid blocks and the core of rubble, in which considerable quantities of vitrified stone have been noted. An outer wall of the same character, but not so thick covers either end of the fort and a third is added on the SW. The broch, now very much robbed and overgrown, is 35’ in diameter within a wall 16’ thick.” The views from this site are spectacular, and it is easy to see why the hill was fortified, as it dominates the landscape round about. Well worth a visit.

Tealing is just north of Dundee on the A929. Turn into the village and follow the road round, and look for the signpost. The souterrain is down a track and over a stile in a field behind the doocot (16th century pigeon house). This site dates from approximately 100 AD, and is a well preserved example. These earth houses were covered over with thatched roofs, and used for storage. The cup and ring marked stone at the northern entrance is thought to have been taken from another site and used in the construction. It has been described thus : This souterrain was accidentally discovered during agricultural operations in 1871. It is curved in plan, and the inner end is rounded; it appears to have been divided into two compartments, and is c 80’ long. Its greatest width is 8-1/2’, 5’ from the inner end, and its maximum height is c 6’4”. The sloping floor, where it is not natural rock, seems to have been paved. Finds included charcoal, animal bones, a piece of Samian ware (possibly 2nd century), a bracelet, bronze rings, cinerary urn fragments, 10 querns, whorls, and remains of stone cups. It was not known in 1932 where these finds were, but in 1940, a fragment of Roman glassware from a 1st-2nd century ‘pillar-moulded’ bowl found here was donated to the NMAS. Built into the N wall of the entrance passage, 2’ from the doorway, is a cup-and-ring-marked stone measuring 3’ by 2’, and there is also a cup-marked stone 12’ S of the entrance. It measures 4’6” x 2’6” x 6”. It remains in a good state of preservation, and enclosed by a fence.

Take the A92 east from Dundee, turn north onto the B962, and then east onto a local road at Templehall. The souterrain is past the quarry. Park at the verge of the road into Carlungie farm and follow the track across to the site, which is situated a little way out in a field. There is an information board at the site. Easily accessable.

From the A92 east from Dundee, turn north onto the B962. There is a muddy parking spot about 100m up this road. The site is visible on your left. Park and walk back to the main road, then west alongside the main road for about another 100m. There is a path leading north to the site from here. Be careful walking along the A92 as traffic is heavy and fast. The site is surrounded by a fence and has an information board beside the gate. This is a very accessable site, and well worth a visit.

This site is better known as Balgarthno, rather than Menzieshill. It was recently threatened by one of the chains of grocer’s shops, who wanted to build a carpark there with the circle in the middle.... Fortunately that threat appears to have receded now.

Added an indistinct picture of the hand print described by Scotty.

In the kirkyard itself is a stone, which looks to have been part of a larger carved stone, which is used as a form of offertory, with many coins on top.

The Kirk itself is well worth a look in, whether you’re religious or not. As you stand above the basin and footprint (sorry the photo’s pretty poor) there are some steps leading down into the Den, and on the left as you go is a well-defined carving of Celtic knotwork. Round the small promontory bearing the large cross is a small Celtic Trinity, about 9” diameter. Very dark under the trees the day I was there, so the photo’s been enhanced a bit and isn’t very clear. Well worth a visit though.

A great monument, which along with the Great X forms a centre piece to the sacred landscape of Kilmartin. If you’re spending a few days in the area, it’s definitely worth coming back here a few times, at different times of day and in different light and weather conditions, this site seems to change more than most sites...

Yet another great cairn sitting on the plateau above the sites immediately surrounding Kilmartin village. The cist at the N side of the cairn lies open to the side, giving the impression of a low chambered tomb – this would have been closed off with a slab, access being original from the top. I got the usual urge to crawl inside... a few minutes later a family of german tourists struggled to reconcile their urge to do the same with the damage this may cause to their pristine jeans – the teenage daughter eventually gave in, and got down on her belly to peer inside, much to the horror of her mother!

Arriving here it really struck me that walking from The Glebe Cairn to Ballymeanoch (or vice versa), picking off each site in order you’ll always see the last site from the next... The carvings here are great, just a bit more subtle than at some of the other sites in the valley and the setting – wow!

This place gave me goosebumps as I approached – there is so much more to the place than meets the eye. The setting is difficult to place in relation to the other linear cemetry sites, as unlike the others it is completely surrounded by trees. This does give it a unique feel though – something like Wayland’s Smithy. I took a long break here as the sun streamed through the trees.

The sun was just starting to melt the frost making this cairn glisten in the clear, bright morning sunlight. The chamber looks great.

I moved to a safe distance while a group of kids played around the chamber for 10 minute, and just took in my first taste of this incredible sacred landscape. Later on, in the pub, I overheard a group of local kids playing pool, talking about ‘the tombs’. A mother of one of the kids, sat chatting with two american tourists, spoke of how ‘the kids round here really love their stones!‘

This was probably my favourite of the cairns in this group. It’s ruined and the cupmarked stone is difficult (to say the least) to see, but the shape and condition of the whole site is wonderful. Again, the frost made this cairn look amazing. I felt so lucky to be here, completely alone and at peace – what a day!

A great example of a modern reconstruction of a site, done well. The main feature, the slab cover, is fantastic and once sat down in front of it, studying it’s decorated surface, was a real bind to leave. Opening the wooden door and descending into the cairn is quite an experience, too!

This site is definitely worth seeing! Okay, like landells says, it is a pile of old stones, at the end of the day – but seen up close and in context with the other sites in this group it completes the picture. This is more like the other sites would have looked in their final stages of development, after all. The cairn looked wonderful in the frost.

Not much of the earthworks remain up here, the bank and ditch are only visible on the western side.

There are 5 barrows along the pastures from the fort at Ball Cross to Rowsley; 4 on the pastue and 1 in forestry land.
They’re not overly impressive but not bad for Peak Barrows on improved land. Three barrows are now fenced off and because of that very overgrown.
Nothing special but it’s a plasant walk with good views across to Beeley Moor.

This round cairn visible from the Biggin Rd off the A515 Buxton-Ashbourne, has been much dug and a lot of the mound has gone. It covered a Neolithic single grave burial. The mound was also in use in the Bronze Age.
Thomas Bateman dug here and found a crouched skeleton in a cist made from limestone and many grave goods which included polished flint axe heads, a deer horn macehead and a small pottery flask.

The polished flint axe heads are on display in Sheffield Weston Park Museum.

The most obvious mound is seen from the road that snakes up to the National Trust car park. Visible on the left it is thankfully realatively untouched and sits on the end of the beacon ridge in a prominent position. It is a reasonable size & has superb views accross to the reseviors at Tring and out over the flat lands heading north.

Continuing up from this along the eroded path there are the remains of a flattened mound, quite large in diameter, with a track cutting through it. Along the ridge towards Whipsnade are a number of smaller mounds, again revery worn but still visible. As you follow the ridge towards the radio masts it slopes down giving good views of one of the last mounds, to a fence where crossing a stile in front of you leads you into a usually ploughed field. The access here is good and in front of you is Gallows Hill, one of the better barrows on the ridge. Again there is a track over it, but thankfully the fence that also ran along the top has long since been removed. It is possible to walk all around the base. Beyond this mound is believed to be another smaller barrow, but farming has taken its toll and the area is not accessible.

Surrounded by seemingly unpenetrable rings of trees, the inner area of sharpenhoe is remarkably still. Well sheltered and almost relaxing, this place is almost too quiet. Due to the lack of housing nearby the light pollution is kept to a minimum and on a clear night, the silent banks are perfect for losing yourself in the constellations. The atmosphere at most times is pleasent, however, there are times when dusk draws I have felt compelled to turn tail & run. I have never been able to describe why.

Sited on the landward side of the Coast Path between Gorran Haven and Mevagissey. This low earth mound is described on the OS map as an enclosure. At the west end a crescent shaped mound joins on to a larger raised level that runs down the field.
If any other remains lie under the thicket through which the path runs I could not tell, but they would be very close to the cliff edge.
A nearby tumulus, also marked on the map, appears to have been ploughed out.

This stone stands on small hill behind Glenshee kirk,there is a farm track by the kirk go along about 100mtrs and up 1 back 2 to the top.The views are great all round.There is a candle and flower gift in memory of a woman called Sheila,there was a small stone, last time I was here,with the words-RIP Sheila on it.
After your visit you must go to the Spittalfor refreshments.There are kilt clad young men and pretty young women to help you to choose some wonderful cake and coffee,or a Scots measure of malt if needed.

This long barrow is approx. 40m long, it lies East/West with a round barrow on it’s Eastern end.
Longstone Moor itself is being quarried heavily, and the barrow lays in a field quite close to some old workings.
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2006.
“close to some old workings” If only!
The White Rake is once again being worked...In fact the Peak Park Authority have signed much of Longstone Edge and the moor over to the quarry companies....What is one of the Peak’s most prominent limestone hills is, over the next few years, going to invert itself.

This was brigantesnations and I’s final stop on our journey of discovery through this part of The North York Moors.
We parked up in the car park of the Hole Of Horcum/ The Devil’s Punchbowl.
The hole is a huge glacial feature and is well worth the trip alone.
Our destination was the site marked on the OS map as “Bloomety” .
We walked to the head of the hole crossing the Gallows Dike and then onto Levisham Moor, after we tramped across the moor for ten minutes I remarked as to how featureless the moor was. In my neck of the NY Moors the sky line would have been dotted with barrows. Just as I said this we came across a plaque stating that there were three barrows within the vacinity. We did eventually spot them- not impressed.
I’m sure Brigantesnation will add his description of the habitations and dikes that we came across, he’s far better at these earthworky Iron age things.
I was gutted I hadn’t seen a stone all day and now wasn’t likely too.
This said don’t let me put you off, this is a beautiful place with a fairly unique post glacial landscape.