Latest Fieldnotes

The Original earthwork at Old Sarum probably dates back to the Iron Age but may be earlier, although it was altered over the centuries. The mound in the centre of the earthworks was built in Norman times. The remains of Norman buildings can be seen as well as the foundations of the original Cathedral, abandoned in the 1400’s when the town moved to New Sarum, Salisbury.

In a bit of a sad state this one, it appears to have suffered from cairn building, filed clearance, and an overgrowth of vegetation.

It’s difficult to tell whats going on, and would definitely benefit from some judicious strimming! You can find a gate at the western edge of the field, and as long as its livestock free, you can wander in quite easily.

Just around the corner from Nine Stanes (1/2 mile) this circle is a little decrepit but still well worth it. In keeping with sites in this area, the view is everything, and looking to the NE you may be able to make out Esslie the Lesser.

Well this was a change after a solid morning of RSC’s, and very welcome too. You don’t get too many Henges in this part of the world, and this is a mighty one.

Although the stones are not in their original positions (and one isn’t original at all!), the triangle they form is certainly evocative, especialy in such a well defined, fairly deep henge.

I drove up not expecting too much, and drove away feeling blown away. Another great site in this part of Scotland, but as Merrick says, you have to fear for its future.

I can only agree with the previous posts, a magnificent site which shouldn’t be missed. The walk is only about 15 minutes, and the view compensates for all.

Near Longnor. A long angular earthwork and barrow, the barrow is around 12x10m and about 1.5m high, with good sections of limestone kerbing.

The angular earthwork, shown on the O.S map, and thought by Bateman to be related to the barrow; as either protection or a running/chariot track for Bronze Age folk.....is in fact part of the medieval earthworks that surrounded the ‘Grange’ of Cronkston and Hurdlow Town.

Being slightly nervous around dogs, I was a little perturbed when a collie silently sidled up to me, staring intently. It then dropped a golf ball next to me, moved back a few feet and then looked pointedly at the ball and then me.

The fact that ‘fetch’ was the highlight of the visit sums up Cullerlie. Its nice, but seems to have no soul. Come anyway, and perhaps we can re-energise the place, and it is a nice place to just sit and listen to the wind in the trees (and the panting of an exhausted collie dog).

Strangely, I’ve never felt much affinity with Loanhead, and I couldn’t say why. However, this time I walked through the woods with the rain dripping through, and stood in the centre of the circle. I could still hear the rain beating on the trees, but not a single drop fell inside the circle.

Shows what I know....

I love this circle-a definite air of power still remains, and I found it harder to leave than I usually do. I was struck by an overwhelming urge to lay down in the circle, and when I did attempt to leave, it was like wading through treacle – an effect which ceased as soon as I got outside the stones.

An unusual experience for me, yet not unpleasant.

A powerful place.

This site is gorgeous, and one where the new forestry adds atmosphere, rather than detracting.

A must visit, even amongst the jewels in this part of Scotland-If you’ve come to see Loanhead and East Aquhorthies you can definitely see this, and you have the bonus of the 2 Esslie circles just around the corner.

Visited July 02

A lovely day which unfortunately brought out the tourists, lounging all over the stones like they were placed there for sunbathing.

Walked to Gib Hill to find Mr & Mrs Barbour-Jacket (Retd.) terroritorialy camped on top-would they like someone
pic-nicing on their hopefully soon to be occupied graves?

A site to visit in winter, preferably during a howling gale!

I found this in the grounds of the Murray Royal Hospital in Perth.
No-one knows its history, but it has a look of age about it, and its been there as long as anyone can remember.

You can find it at the low end of the Hospital, in front of the ‘new’ wards.

Visited 1st September 2002: I first spotted the Garn Lwyd standing stone on the 1:25000 OS map when I was planning a visit to Hirnant Circle just up the road. The stone is very small, and stands next to a cairn of the same name.

There’s no public right of way to the site itself, but the cairn is relatively easy to identify from the road if you have a map (it’s almost in line with the telegraph pole that has the number 23 on it). Once you’ve spotted the cairn you can just about see the stone from the road. It’s between the cairn and the perimeter fence, but it’s less than a metre high so you’ll have to look hard for it in amongst the reeds.

It’s worth noting that the OS Landranger map only marks the cairn itself, and although the 1:25,000 OS map has the stone marked on it, it’s placed too far north (at least that’s the only conclusion I could come to).

Garn Lwyd is the name of the cairn next to the stone, but it’s also shared by all the cairns in this group. The word garn means cairn in Welsh and lywd means sacred.

This little valley of Sarsens tucked away between Fyfield and Overton Downs is as magical as ever.

Merrick’s directions below are spot on. As you walk into the valley (after truning right off the track) the altar stone of the Mother’s Jam lies 20 yards to the right of the biggest and most striking Sarsen. My strongest reaction was of a sarsen holiday camp, or more darkly, a megalithic version of invasion of the bodysnatchers – these were the pods ready to replace Avebury. The lichen and erosion patterns on these Sarsens are so familiar to the erect stones in the henge and avenues.

We joked about a Bronze Age geezer presiding over this huge Sarsen yard “Nah mate, can’t do anything for your in that size or colour. We’ve got this big grey one though”.

Wednesday 28/8/02
Today I need to leave the city, just for lunchtime, but I need to escape. This place draws me like a magnet. Every time I lift my head from my PC or paperwork in my office, this ridge is there. It’s funny, I’ve always stayed in Edinburgh and I’ve always been interested in the surroundings hills, woods and country. I’ve often wondered ‘where is that line of trees on the horizon?’ It’s here. Where these rocks are. This is the place that holds the key. This is the site of the *interpreter*. I sit by the main cup and ring marked stone, place my hands lightly on it and close my eyes. I let the sounds rush in. My head is too full of fuzz though. I still leave this place calmed.

‘See for yourself the summer fields, before the tractor comes…walk along on your own’.

NT 1529 6838 Wednesday 28/8/02
The forgotten monolith. This site is not marked on the current OS map, or any other older maps I’ve consulted. Nor is it mentioned in ‘The Standing Stones of the Lothians’. Even in the RCAHMS database the last entry was in 1975 to state dimensions. This is a noble stone though- just over 1.5 metres high and almost diamond shaped in section with points aligned roughly NE/SW. A large section is missing from the base of the northern face. The rock from which it is fashioned has natural horizontal marks all round it approximately 5 cm apart. This monolith is surrounded by dead trees, brambles bushes and 2 metre high stinging nettles. Like many sites I’ve visited the past few months, it’s possibly best to try and find this one in Winter when the vegetation isn’t so prolific! According to the OS map there is a network of paths through this forest- aye- my arse! Thanks heavens for GPS is all I can say- I would never have found this site otherwise. The forest I’m in looks like it’s used by paintballers, though there is no one around today. I leaped over a stone wall to get into this forest- perhaps there’s an easier way in from the A71!

NT578741 Friday 23/8/02
Heading west along the road from Traprain Law a Scottish Rights of Way Society sign appears at the roadside- ‘Public Footpath to Standing Stone’. It’s along this path I head- it’s absolutely soaking and before long it feels as if my boots are full of water. I walk along by the hedgerows ever conscious of the bulk of Traprain Law to my left. Over the fields I can just make out the top of Loths stone peeking over a hedge. I come to the field and jump the gate then head along the edge of the field of golden wheat to the memorial to King Loth. The stone is about 2.5 m tall with sides aligned NNE/SSW (remembering that this stone has been moved). The edges of the stone are amazingly sharp- almost as fresh as the day this monolith was shaped.

NT 5793 7461 Friday 23/8/02
On the lower western slopes of Traprain Law is a small souterrain aligned N/S. This subterranean passage is only about 6 metres long, 60 cm wide and 90 cm deep- it’s large enough for a single person to crawl through. I don my caving boiler suit and hard hat and crawl in the chamber. Only about 3 m remains roofed with some very large lintels. The structure is similar to all other souterrains I’ve visited, apart from it’s size of course. At the southern end is a gap, then two more lintels and backfilling underneath. At the northern end is another gap, then one more lintel. The existence of this tiny chamber on this huge settlement and hill throws up more questions regarding the meaning of such subterranean chambers. It’s too small for animals, only large enough for one (or two at a big push) people. Sure, it could be used of the storage of grain, but would only keep a handful of folk supplied for a winter- certainly not the numbers that would have been living on the Law.

NT 5830 7474 Friday 23/8/02
Walking east along the ridge of this amazing hill I’m seriously considering doing this ritual. There’s no one around, no cars in the car park at the base and no one up the Law. The views around are fantastic today (though the Lammermuirs are still shrouded in hill fog)- the nearest sign of life is a tractor busy in the fields to the south way way below me and the A1 even further to the north. I reach the Maiden Stone- it’s a large vertical rock sheet that has split away leaving a gap about half a metre or so wide through which one should squeeze naked to bring both good fortune and to increase fertility. The rock is about 1.5 metres high, so any flesh exposed during the ritual is hidden (apart from the squeeze in and out of the stone). I sit at the northern end of the Maiden Stone- it’s actually quite hidden down in this hollow- before I know it the boots are off and it’s only a matter of seconds before I’m completely naked atop Traprain Law! I go into the Maiden Stone and make my way along, the rocks feels warm and smooth. I stop almost at the end and, well, I don’t make a habit of this, but I have to admit it feels amazing to be sandwiched in rock. I squeeze out of the other end and go back to get dressed quickly. I feel so empowered, so invigorated. I want to go through again, but decide not to push my luck- I don’t fancy getting caught doing this!

NT 646 678 Friday 23/8/02
I can usually battle my way through dense forest, but this is ridiculous. I’ve made it about 10 metres or so into the trees practically on my hands and knees and narrowly avoiding losing my eyes. I am soaking wet and according to the GPS there’s still another 60 metres to go- no way! Another site now lost in very dense forest.

NT 645 675 Friday 23/8/02
The GPS points me off the forest track and through head high bog rushes, down a fence line and to a sheepfold. Unfortunately, only 6 figure co-ordinates are available for this site. I search and I search- in through dense forest, around the peat bog, searching the grassy banks of the burns, but nothing. The OS couldn’t find this site back in 1979 and the description in ‘The Standing Stones of the Lothians’ doesn’t quite tie in with the co-ordinates given. I’m afraid it’s another site lost in now dense forest.

NT 6238 6671 Friday 23/8/02
A grass-covered ring about 12 metres in diameter is all that remains of this robbed cairn. It’s sited on the eastern slopes of expansive moorland just north of Whiteadder reservoir. Small stones still poke through the turf all round the cairn which still rises to a height of about 1 metre. The centre of this burial mound has long gone, but is now full of tiny purple heather blossoms…

NT 6540 6732 Friday 23/8/02
Way up on this moor, in the middle of these hills, seven small stones form an oval 9 metres EW, 8 metres NS. The stones are all set on edge or end, as many of the Whiteadder monuments. They only rise to a maximum height of about 25 cm. Along the northern arc of the circle I can see three earthfast stones (four have been reported) and approximately 10 metres west are another three stones (also earthfast).

NT 6645 6723 Friday 23/8/02
There are no paths to this place, no tracks up here. Just four fire breaks in this forest converging on the Witches Cairn. The way up to this site is really hard going- knee high grass and bog rushes, flies galore. I’ve got full water proofs on as the vegetation is so wet, however, it’s also so humid that I’m as soaking underneath! There is nothing for miles- forests, moorland and deserted farm houses. The cairn itself is a rough grassy mound about 21 metres in diameter and about 1 metre high. At the centre is a modern pile of stones- curiously one of these small (25 by 14 cm) stones has a deep cup mark on it’s upper surface (4 cm diameter by 3 cm deep). Approximately 5 metres west of this central cairn is a large boulder 60 cm long, 45 cm wide and 40 cm tall- on it’s upper surface is a large cup mark measuring 5 cm deep by 5 cm diameter. Measurements done, photos taken I pack my gear and leave sharpish, this place is giving me the creeps.

NT 6393 6697 Friday 23/8/02
The Herring Road track gives way to a beautiful purple heather path, the hill path gives over to moorland. The cairn is basically a heather covered mound rising out from the moor to a height of about 60 cm with a diameter of around 10 metres.
I am standing atop Spartleton Edge Cairn. No sounds, no sun, just heather and forests just visible through the swirling mists.
Desolation, desolation, desolation.