Latest Fieldnotes

Enter from a little path at the side of Dunino church and you will come through a leafy glade to a rock promontory, from here you can look down onto an area of ground with a little stream which runs through this natural amphitheatre. On the promontory there is a footprint carved out of the rock as at Dunadd and next to it a carved out basin which is approximately one metre across and half a metre deep. To the left of the promontory are very steep steps cut into the rock which lead down to the water. At the bottom of the steps carved into the natural rock on the left is a carved circle of Celtic knots approximately 25 cms in diameter. Follow this wall about 20 metres further round and you will find a large ringed cross approximately 3 metres tall and 1 and a half metres wide incised into the rock face.
This place has an atmosphere all of it’s own, it is very peaceful and still down in the hollow and is still obviously used by people with an interest in pagan practices, I saw bunches of feathers, dreamcatchers, ribbons, little parcels and various other items tied to the branches of trees. All in all a most intriguing place and well worth a visit

Like Ironman says, ‘a travesty’. Still a must see though. What it must have looked like complete with the stone avenues through Shap...

Spent ages on hands and knees looking for the carvings. Never found them. An impressive little circle tho’.

Luckily for us the farmer was around when we visited, more than happy for us to go wondering thru his fields. He gets lots of visits and let us park up in his yard.
The noise from the M6 does little to detract from an amazing site. Alot of the outer ring has gone or fallen, but the 2 large stones that mark the entrance still stand.

Another Cumbrian site chopped in half for the sake of a few feet...
There is a path to this circle altho’ very overgrown (July). I could only count 5 stones, in the remaining arc but it’s still well worth a visit.

White Meldon Fort
14/7/02
From the glen between White and Black Meldon we started our climb deciding on this fort as opposed to the Black variety as this one also had a cairn on the top- always an added bonus! It was a steep climb of about 250m just about straight up from the road- we managed it in about 30 mins or so- probably fuelled on by the mix of last nights fine malts and curry and this mornings eggs rolls-mmmmmmmmm!!! Pouring with sweat and with the wind blowing in our faces we finally sighted both the cairn and the OS triangulation point which spurned us on. And what a fantastic view and rather extensive fort. We counted about 4 walls round the steep summit- the interior of which encloses an area of about 8 acres with the remains of 28 ring-groove houses. Some of these proved to be easier to see than others though. The cairn itself has been mostly piled up into a large modern looking mound from it’s original larger diameter- there are many large blocks still around the original outline. This must have been an inspiring (and pretty safe) place to stay. You can see way round the Border Hills and up to the Pentlands, over the Moorfoots- fantastic.

St. Catherine’s Well
9/7/02
AKA The Oily Well or The Balm Well
In the grounds of what is now The Balm Well restaurant lies this healing and Holy Well. Just over from the beer garden a red gravel path lined with stones (many of which have fallen on the path) leads down top the barred and grilled entrance of the well. The well itself is housed under a lintel dated 1563 (although this is thought not to be connected with the original well-house). The gate is about 1m high, whilst the stone frontage to the well-house rises to just over 2m. The thick oil shale for which this well is famous and gained it’s healing properties coats the entire well chamber interior along with the gate. As late as 1910 the water from this well was used as a cure for eczema. The stone work of the well-house only goes back about 1m or so, then the back of the well-chamber is housed under a grassy mound approx 0.5m high by about 4.5m in diameter.

Galachlaw Cairn
9/7/02
At the end of Galachlawside a small indistinct path leads off into the bushes and trees (and also a fence which I had to climb through). I had the GPS on and almost immediately where this small path joins the main path – lo and behold! I was on top of the cairn! Much overgrown with bracken, brambles and trees with a path going right over the top of it. At the NNE side of the path just over the top is a large hole about 1m deep by about 2.5m wide where it looks as if the cairn has been robbed. There was note of both an upright stone on the top in 1953 and an OS triangulation point in 1975, both of which have now disappeared. Although- about 11m ENE from the top of the cairn (which itself is approx 13m in diameter by just over 1. m high) is a large, partly earthfast, and moss covered stone. This stone is approx 1m long by about 0.5m wide by about 0.4m thick- could this be the original stone from the top of the cairn that has been chucked down the cairn?

Norrie’s Law is a bronze age grave mound, occupying the highest point of a natural ridge or hillock of sand and gravel. Objects are said to have been found in a stone coffin within this “Tumulus”. An article in The East of Fife Record dated June 16th 1882 tells us of the Discovery of the Norrie’s Law hoard and that they appeared to have been found around 1819. The hoard is said to have consisted of a full suit of armour with helmet, shield, sword handle and scabbard which were entirely made of silver. This hoard was reputedly dug up by a local tinker who went on to sell his finds to a local jeweller, Mr Robert Robertson in Cupar for various sums of money, the silver was melted down. However, in the article the local historian of the period Dr Laing, gives us an earlier date of 1817 which tallies with that of Mr Albert Way who catalogued the few remaining pieces for an exhibition at the Archaeological institute of Great Britain. We are told the person who purloined the valuable hoard still resided in Pitlessie in good circumstances, free of the attentions of the exchequer to claim the fruits of his ill gotten wealth and that he naturally declines much communication on the subject. Some of the finds from Norrie’s Law can be seen in the National Museum of Scotland in Chambers Street Edinburgh.

I walked up here from Bath. It’s further than you’d think and of course I picked the hottest day this year. But if you ask me (where possible) walking is half the point, part of the pilgrimage!

Bath is surrounded by flat-topped hills (one of them being Bathampton Down). You can see the abbey, it’s right in the middle of the valley – and that’s where the unique hot springs are. What a fantastic landscape this must have been in prehistory. Even the sprawl of Bath and the vile bypass can’t ruin it today.

The hillfort is triangular – I walked round the top. The first corner’s a triangulation pillar (lovely) but at the next corner a turf maze (a ‘labyrinth’ if you want to be pedantic as it’s just one long path without branches) has been cut into the step of the hill. The horrid roar of the A46 floats up through the beautiful valleys – but it looks like the maze is here to combat that {found out today that it was cut by road protesters a few years back – perhaps they did site it there just for that reason!}. It’s an ancient design. I traced it inward and outward. It made me think about a journey of introspection you have to take before you can bring that knowledge back out to use in the world (I was in that kind of mood, ahem). The maze twists so you think you aren’t getting there, but suddenly there you are.

At the final corner a small fire was burning. Though it was the hottest day for months I wanted to stay by the fire. I could happily go back there now. In fact I could cheerfully sit up here all day. I had no idea of the time. There must always have been fires up here. Whatever we don’t know about our ancestors, we can be pretty sure they must have sat up here looking at the view with their fire burning. It just seems like a thread of sanity in the world.

Coming to a place like this sorts your mind out; it gives you peace and space to think/not to think.

On a more mundane note, on the way home I completely lost the footpath and ended up avoiding muddy cowpats and nettles. Typical.

The Collessie man is incised into a standing stone in a field at Mellville Home Farm about a kilometere east of Collessie. Although the stone is prehistoric, the carving dates from Pictish times and is of a naked male warrior walking from right to left. He is carrying a large rectangular shield with his left hand,and in his right hand a vertical spear with a ball like appendage on the base. The naked man is believed by many locals to be a representation of an ancient hero or mythical being. There is also a very faint trace left of what looks like an arch.This is the first stone I ever saw close up, it is absolutely amazing. the way to access the Collessie man is from Melville farm steading, then it’s just a little walk through a couple of fields with cows in. Permission should be asked at Hallhill farm directly across the road from the entrance to Melville Farm.

Well I arrived on a hot sunny morning, shorts, sandals etc., oh what a mistake! The fogou was no trouble to find, most of the surrounding trees and foliage has been cut down and removed (this can only have been done to allow more sunlight onto the ground to dry up the soilwork surrounding the fogou to prevent any further collapse), well in I stomped, straight to the back of the main tunnel and straight into a watery swamp! Not as big as Halligey Fogou I must say but such a nice feeling in here! More natural daylight manages to penetrate inside too. Well into the creep I crawled, over the large rock on the floor and left into the small chamber, sat myself down and opted for a quick meditation. Well, that led me into a state of semi trance... I’m not sure of what the knocking sounds were that echoed from the walls that surrounded me, nor was I sure of the presence I felt within the chamber, it was nice though! Not at any point did I feel like grabbing my sandals and making a run for it, I stayed put and carried on......Spriggans?? Piskies?? Who knows, eh?

Well dont just turn up and expect to be allowed to visit this litttle gem. It’s by appointment only and only if its convenient to the land owner. worth the wait though, I’d say... set in typical wild “Cornish jungle”.

A circle with a fantastic backdrop. Such as could be compared to the scene around Castlerigg. Lacking the awesome power of Stannon but having the titanic shoulder of Roughtor to sit on. Has outlying stones and is amidst enough glorious ancient remains to let you wander and wonder for a while.

Bollocks! Missed this one! Though I probably ran right past it to check out the Logan Stone here (like a magalithic surfboard left by some forgetful deity) and to see if I could spy Stannon.

There on the left on the way up to Roughtor! I’m sure that’s Showery tor and I’m sure that looks like a mushroom! The gods have been at play here and they’ve made a wonder!Mmmmmmmm...

Mellow out! This is a day to be enjoyed! A not-too-bad stroll up to the roof of the moors and-woah! Too much to describe, you just have to go there and be blown away in more ways than one. Spend a little time in the past as kings looking down to the green and remnants of ancient places. Everywhere I went in Cornwall thereafter I could see the tor and be reminded how lowly I was. Awesome...

I ran so fast to see the Hurlers that I almost came a cropper in the hidden marshy pools all around. Not used to there being people all around I had to slow down (also to mellow the sheep). But the circle didn’t want to be walked around and admired- it wanted to be belted around to involve you in it’s petrified game. I love the moors and it’s treasures like this. Three circles together! What great things used to happen here?

Quick update re recent works at the circle itself. The Rollright Trust is pleased to announce that the entrance to the circle is now fully wheelchair accessible. New wheelchair accessible kissing gates have just been installed as well as dropped kerb and new limestone chipping path to the point where the circle enters the trees. It is possible to get a wheelchair into the western part of the circle and a little way along both sides. This is due to a reinforced plastic mesh tha allows a smooth ride for chairs (and protected from grass loss as a bonus ;-)

Also tickets for the Terry Pratchett play Lords and Ladies are gaining lots of interest if anyone wants to come along mail me soon to reserve a place! Full details on the website rollrightstones.co.uk
Have a great time watching the only TP play set in a stone circle performed in a stone circle and help the Trust to raise funds to further improve safety and access for disabled visitors and children.
K

Found out that the railings were put up by The Ministry of Works in 1883 – seems people were taking lumps off the King Stone for good luck. (Ref: Great Stone Circles – Aubrey Burl)

She is badly broken, like a once much loved lost doll, but no less charming for that.

Un-bloody-believeable! I had already jumped out of the car before it stopped moving I was so excited! (Ummm, someone else was driving...) The stones, the scale, the vibe, the strange angle on the hillside, the feeling of somehow ‘coming home’. But I felt a great rush of disloyalty to my favourite ‘local’ sites of the Rollrights and Wayland Smithy as Long Meg, and more to the point, her daughters instantly captured my heart. It looked liked someone else’s heart had been recently captured there too, as we found a pair of knickers at the base of one of the stones...

We felt a very strong sense of enclosure at this site, as if instead of looking inwards, as many stone circles appear to, this site looked outwards, safeguarding the interior sacred space, and as if Long Meg herself was supervising the circle’s activities like a sentinel, protecting the spirit within.

Because of it’s vastness, I found it incredibly difficult to paint, however, I did manage one sketch.

Cracking! I first visited way back in 1982, when I hitch-hiked ‘oop naarth’ with a friend and a tent and no money, and spent a whole day getting off on the place. (People don’t hitch hike anymore do they? Weird.) I remembered it as a solitary place, bleak and empty and yet charming. But last Saturday it was one bloody visitor after another, which pissed off my friend, Treaclechops, who is a photographer and was desperately trying to get a shot without people in, just as the light lifted.. She’d taken one in 1995 which I think is the finest photograph of the place I have ever seen, even better than all the wonderful shots already posted on this page. Upload your photo, Treaclechops!! I was trying to compare it in size to the Rollrights, but was entire unable to get a handle on the scale of it because of the sense of the amphitheatre in which she sits. The many people, including a bunch of overly-loud Spaniards, didn’t bother me as I sat on the damp grass sketching out my painting; I simply didn’t paint them in. Great groves of foxgloves added a touch of purple and the rolling green of Castlerigg’s stage completed the picture. Then it was off to Long Meg....

I bumped into the owners of the land on which the henge feature lies and they confirmed there was nothing visible from the ground.

Follow the path ‘marked to the stone circle’ SK242963( space for a few cars ). An enormous earthwork stretches for about a mile onto the skyline. It follows roughly the line of the stone wall that you see on your left. A little further on the path forks, take the right one and look for a wooden post in the undergrowth on your right, circle is here. The local parish council try to keep the site from becoming too overgrown.

Park at the car park at Redmires Plantation SK269858. From here follow the path for about 300m up the bank thru’ the trees onto the moor, then turn off away from the wall on your left. Bash thru’ the heather for 100m or so and have a good look round, it’s small and tricky to spot. Probably best seen in winter.