Latest Fieldnotes

A wrecked circle – worth the visit when visiting Kealkil which lies just a 1/4 mile away to the NE. The portals and the recumbent are still standing, so it is possible to get a fair idea of how this site must have once been. The view is awesome. The ring also contains a rectangle of four boulder-burials.

A beautiful site in an equally beautiful location. Drombeg’s dark reputation doesn’t seem to hold up. The setting of the portals and recumbent is perfect and easy to work out. The nearby huts and cooking place add to the atmosphere.

I always leave sites with a bit of other people’s litter – a used flourescent red condom from the recumbent was taken from this vist. Nice.

I found this site a bit difficult to understand. Some of the stones are missing, and the surrounding land has been heavily altered for farming.
The stones themselves were tall and flat-topped.

JC was parked in the lay-by, typing up his notes, as we arrived.

Just to mention that Ronald Hutton has made an academic career out of ‘debunking’ ancient myths. Not that his books aren’t interesting in their way, but if you follow his ideas there aren’t *any* ancient sites or traditions that predate pretty much the Victorians! A large pinch of salt is advisable; and our speculations are at least as likely as his, most of the time, when all’s said and done!

Hallo there. What a fantastic photo! I am planning to travel the whole Ridgeway soon for the first time, and would be interested to know more about Hambledon Hill. How incredibly lucky to be living right next to it; how did you manage it – are you a millionaire, by any chance?!

Balnabroich Two-Poster
Friday 5/4/02
I’ve always spied the nearby standing stone as we’ve driven past this way hundreds of times, but this pair are less obvious being further down a farm track and amongst a group of trees. I nipped down to Balnabroich farm and was readily given permission by the farmer’s wife to have a closer look at the stones. I headed back up the farm track, hopped up the small dry stane dyke and walked through the trees and daffodils up the small (natural) mound upon which these two stones have been carefully placed. These huge blocks have been aligned N/S- the northernmost stone pointing the way to the Balnabroich standing stone in the filed that these pair overlook. The north stone is almost 1.5 m high and is a thick rough block of whinstone with a flat top. The southernmost stone is even more irregular and has two very large almost cup marked shaped indentations on its upper surface. These look natural- one of which has a fantastic deep groove running from it down the west side of the stone. Even if these are natural I can’t help think that this stone was specially chosen and placed for these features.

Balnabroich Standing Stone
Friday 5/4/02
This stone is easily spotted on the A924 from Bridge of Cally to Pitlochry- it stands in a filed next to the road and is usually surrounded by cattle who seem to be strangely drawn to it- probably for a good scratch! It looks almost square in section being about 1.5 m high. It is also aligned perfectly with the nearby (in fact, at the end of the field) Balnabroich Two-Poster.

Dunkeld Park Standing Stone
Wednesday 3/4/02
Almost at the end of a long day of walking- just time for one final detour. Just before heading past Polney Loch and back into the forest I cross the road and sitting tucked in a corner of a field of sheep is the stone. There’s a strip of land between the road and the field so I jump down the dry stane dyke to get a closer look. Across what appears to have been a dump- old bottles and rolls of wire strewn all over. I get a perfect view of the stone. It’s fairly small being about 1.5 m tall, and appears to be aligned approximately E/W. I take a couple of pics before heading back through the broken glass and jumping back up onto the road.

Clachan More Two-Poster, Dowally
Wednesday 3/4/02
When I was at the house of the very helpful woman enquiring about the nearby St. Anne’s Well, I also asked about the exact location of the Clachan More standing stones. or Two-Poster. I had kept my eyes peeled for them on the way down off the hills, but to no avail. The exact location is indiscernible on the OS map. I was told that they used to stand over the other side of the A9, but a bus hit the only remaining upright of the pair in recent years. On my way back along the path next to the extremely fast and busy A9 I scoured the fields opposite for any sign of the megaliths, but nothing- just some houses and caravans. As I was passing a row of cottages I decided to ask one more time. I was greeted by another friendly old woman- she know of the stones (but not by the name of the Clachan More) as she had lived in Dowally for 50 years- long before the A9 screamed a matter of metres from her front door. ‘Aye’, she said, ‘they used to stand where those new caravans are’. Apparently the new owners of the houses over the road saw fit to demolish the rains of the stones and clear the site. I certainly wasn’t crossing the A9 to check out the site- it would be easier and less messy to just shoot myself than attempt a crossing on foot! However, I could clearly see that the ground around the caravans had recently been landscaped with some large boulders- probably the remains of the once great Clachan More.
I leave Dowally with its Holy Well now a rockery and Two-Poster now a mini caravan site. I head for the hills and the forest as the sky darkens and the air gets colder.

St. Anne’s Well, Dowally
Wednesday 3/4/02
I left Aed, Kat and H up the hill whilst I ran the half mile or so down through the forest off the hill and into the back of the village of Dowally to check out this well and a nearby Two-Poster. From the 1:25000 map it looked like the well was immediately behind the craft centre at Dowally- so there I headed. the most unwelcoming craft centre in Scotland- ‘No’ this and ‘No’ that signs all over the place. Undeterred, I ventured in and the woman looked distinctly unimpressed before I had even said a word. I asked about the location of the well, which I explained that from the map it looked like it was directly behind the building we were currently standing in- ‘no- don’t know a thing about a well’ was the swift reply’. She even questioned as to how old the map was (bought it last week as it happens- revised only last year). She did, however, point me further up the hill in the direction of a cottage called ‘Anne’s Well’- I made a swift exit past the shelves of imported crap posing as local crafts. Headed up to the aforementioned cottage, but no reply. So- I tried at the last house before the hill. I was greeted by an extremely sweet old woman- a friendly soul at last! However, when I asked about the well she told me that it was no longer possible to visit- it had gone septic and overgrown and somehow disappeared into folk memory- indeed, her mother used to drink from the well. I bade farewell and on the way back down the hill I checked the map again- now I knew how many buildings were in eth area- the site of the well was definitely behind the craft centre. As I walked past again I peered round the back (I was being closely watched by the owners all the time)- just past the ‘Strictly Private’ sign I could see… a new rockery type garden. Fantastic.

Newtyle Two Poster (AKA Dunkeld Standing Stones)
Tuesday 2/4/02
I thought these two stones would have been more difficult to see- I expected them to be hidden behind a wall, or obscured by trees, but are easily spied as we whizzed past them on the way to Dunkeld- to be paid a visit on the way back- so I made mental notes of where on earth to park whilst exploring this site. There’s a small entrance to the now disused Newtyle quarry which we reversed into. It was a bright Spring evening, the sun shining through the still leafless trees These two massive blocks are aligned NNW/SSE. Their northernmost faces are covered in a thick mat of moss, whilst the faces currently bathed in sunlight and shining and clean. What is really surprising is how sharp and the angles and edges of these great stones are- as if recently quarried (well- apart from their blankets of moss). The north stone is just over 2 m high, whilst it’s partner (which stands about 3 m or so to the south) is around 1.5 m tall. Both of the tops of the stones are angled at approximately 45 degrees south to north. These paired stones, or two-posters, are one of at least four that I know of in this area. To the south are the NE/SW aligned Staredam Stones, to the NW are the Clachan More (although re-writing this from my scrawled field note-book I was blissfully unaware of their fate) and to the NE are the Balnabroich Stones.

Bandirran East Stone Circle
Saturday 6/4/02
This is gorgeous. This is absolutely gorgeous. I’m sitting facing the sun which is filtering through the trees. I’m being bathed by the suns rays slanting through the branches high above me with my back against this gargantuan monolith at the centre of this circle. All around me are wood pigeons, songbirds, a few grouse and a light, light breeze. There are groups on insects hanging in the beams of the sunlight- its rays also lighting up the moss covering of another huge stone in front of me- it’s now recumbent and must be over 2.6 m long. I’m almost lost for words here- I’m blinded by the sun, watching the odd car go past on the nearby road I can make out through the trees- can hear someone shooting nearby- but me- I’m mesmerized. I can count 7 stones (including the recumbent) around the central monolith and a small boulder to the SSE. Fucking hell- I was about to check the alignment of the great face of the central stone when my compass reversed polarity. Jeez- the shivers are running up my spine and my head has flipped- I fell very woozy. This is getting silly- it’s done it again. My head is being beautifully fucked by this monolith in the centre of this circle. I’ve moved away from the stone, walked around a bit- it’s finally settled down. The face is aligned WSW.

Bandirran West (AKA Woodburn Cottage) Stone Circle
Saturday 6/4/02
It’s a glorious Spring day- not a cloud hangs in the sky and the sun still beat down. It’s Saturday tea-time and I’m at the edge of a wood in the shadow of Dunsinane Hill. Standing at the edge of this stone circle. Watching the trees. Watching the sun. There are at least 10 stones in this circle- only 2 now remain upright and strangely enough they are at the SW of the circle. Judging from the other recumbent stones, it looks like they’ve been graded towards these two. The two uprights are both around 1.5 m high. The whole circle is surrounded by a small bank about 30 m in diameter, but closer inspection reveals the remains of a very old dry stane dyke which has accumulated moss and plant growth over the years. The woods here are sparse and old giving this site an air of great antiquity- the stones being covered in a thick blanket of moss. Burl makes mention of a possible centre stone to this circle, but I couldn’t see one- not made easy by the fact that there is an uprooted tree in the centre of the stones.

The thing that struck me most at this site was some of the work that had been put into shaping a few of the stones. They have been worked considerably and without the help of masonary equipment. Some of the cup marks on one of the stones are more than an inch deep and a good inch and a half long.

I know this is the case at many sites but this place really got me thinking. When you get up close and see how much effort was put into the fine detail of a site like this you can’t help but get an over powering sense of its importance. It’s a feeling you would expect to get at somewhere like Avebury but these smaller sites hold huge importance as well.

I was completely blown away by the Loughcrew complex. Driving through, on our way to pick up the key for Cairn T, we were completely surrounded by an amazing landscape. It was spring so the hills were rich with greenery and, every so often, there was a mass of vivid yellow where the gorse was starting to flower.

There seemed to be a treat around every corner. We had Fourwinds as our guide so we were lucky enough to have all the major (and some minor) features pointed out even before we got out of the car. The majority of the features are passage tombs, some of which are still covered but most of which are open and weathering away. There are a few standing stones and we saw the remains of a stone circle from half way up Carnbane East.

As they say in the guidebooks, the Loughcrew complex is a huge graveyard and, as such, it is quite an emotional place. I got a bit teary at the top of Carnbane East partly because of the sheer beauty of my surroundings but also because I could sense the power and ritual of the place. It was obviously a very important part of a Neolithic community and other communities in years to come.

Rock art is in abundance in the area and is a mystery to archaeologists. There are many theories about what it could all mean but I can’t even begin to think what significance it had. Whatever it meant, it is nice just to enjoy it and revel in the fact that you are witnessing something that was created 5000 years ago!

Well worth a visit and you could easily spend a day there especially if you’re lucky enough to get a sunny day like we did.

An odd shaped barrow that was neither round nor long, nothing remains inside the tree enclosure, in Bramwells ‘Archaeology in the Peak’ he mentions stones of the ruined chambers...didn’t look too hard for them as the place was full of rotting goat(?) carcases.

This is a beautifully bleak place. Its well worth the money to the NT to just have a wander round the ruins, and get the amazing views from the top. Prehistory wise there isn’t that much to see except the mound itself and at least 5 barrows within view from the top.

The whole area does oooze of the ‘mother spirit’ however and its not hard to imagine this hill being revered, standing solitary as it does between the two huge banks, that seperate Purbeck from the world.

It’s kind of a Valley with Stones in. Unambiguous or what. Got lost looking for the Grey Mare but found some long barrows at the northern easterly end of the Black Down enclosure. Fine view down the valley.

Walking North from the B3081 (easy parking) along Ackling Dyke to Oakley Down Barrow cemetery, the line of the Cursus is just distinguishable across the fields to the east. At Oakley Down there’s a huge saucer barrow and many fine bowl barrows with Wor Barrow visible on the westerly skyline. Didn’t have time to head South along the dyke to where it crosses the cursus so must return soon. The shadow of the cursus is however visible as crop marks looking south across to Gussage Hill.

Visited the Ladies today (14/04/02) and some fool(s) have been out with the tea lights overnight (we can pin it down to last night as we know someone who went yesterday).

What possesses someone to be so disrespectful?

Grendel

Visited these after tip off from Johan.

After crossing on the passenger ferry from Fowey, we walked along the narrow (& steep!) road out of Polruan for half a mile till we came to the fork in the road after a further 200 metres along the right fork, you can see the first big stone on the left hand side. Looking down the the right you can see the smaller stone near the edge of the field.

They are unlike any other stones I have seen in Cornwall.
I saw 2 other similar stones in neighbouring fields of a similar type.
I also found some similar stones in the hedges around the fields.

The stones are mentioned in Robin Payne’s book which I use for alot of my references.

He says that in 1813 the first ordnance survey map for this area shows a mound at SX141510 which is just to the south of these stones. Could this be the source of these strange stones?

While looking at the Essa stones 1 and 2, I found a stump (“Essa 3”) in the field to the east. It looks very similar to the other two apart from the fact that it’s much more squat.

Again no mention on the map and NO mention in Robin Payne’s book.

If this is an ancient stone then I claim it!

Phil’s stump! :o)

“Essa 4” – Noticed this from the roadside on the way to visit the Essa stones. It looks lighter that the Essa stones so may be a spar stone.

I thought it may be a rubbing post but why is it so close to the hedge when most rubbing posts are in the middle of the field?

The pic I took was using the full zoom on my camera.

Lack of access prevents closer examination.

If you are taking a walk from the Hurlers to the Cheesewring, take a right turn about half way and investigate this barrow.
While the other two sites will probably be swarming with visitors, it seems no-one ever comes here which is a shame (or a good thing, depending on your point of view), as this is where the Rillaton cup- a corrugated gold beaker- was found. The cup was discovered in 1818 when the stone grave to the east of the barrow was opened, along with a skeleton and bronze dagger.
There is also a rather large hole in the top of the mound, probably caused by treasure hunters looking for more burial ‘goodies‘

Saint Hildas well is situated in the church yard of Saint Hilda in the village of Hinderwell which is said to be a corruption of Hilda’s Well.
The village was recorded in the Domesday book as Hindrevvelle.
The well is supposedly where Hilda stopped to chill a while whilst travelling to become Abbess of Whitby.
It’s a pretty well and was restored in 1912. The water looks very clear.
It is “dressed” by the local children once a year.

This is a rarity, a North Yorkshire Long Barrow, there are a few of them, but not in this neighbourhood. This is round barrow country, and there are plenty of them.
I reached the barrow from the B1266. Just after the cattle grid is a clump of trees with two round barrows beyond them. On the other side of the road is a public footpath, take this path and head roughly North west. You should see another round barrow to your left.
The path is well made and fairly flat. Follow the wall to your right to the top of the moor. Check out this wall as you go, the first section is roughly made of large stones and is not your typical dry stone wall. It is either very old or very poorly constructed.
The path bends of toward the trig point but you need to head for the right hand corner of the field. You should see the barrow sitting there. As barrows go, it’s a bit broken down but it’s definitely a long barrow.
It is aligned East – West and measures approximately 60m by 25m.
Not a lot to see on the barrow but look around. The views are fantastic. The nearby trig point is at 224m, so your pretty high up.
You have seaviews from Rock Cliff (the highest cliff on the east coast) to Kettle Ness with views over Staithes and Hinderwell ( I would hazard a guess that this is the last resting place of seafaring folk).
The views to the south are over the moorland with various barrows visible on the horizon.
When walking back check out the litter from the mole hills, there only seems to be mole activity on the section of the path nearest the barrow but there is loads of flint and chert lying around, all alas, unworked. I did find a piece of unworked jet about an inch square and a third of an inch thick.
Be lucky!

From Avebury, the gentle rise of Windmill Hill is so slight as to barely catch your eye. And indeed, when there’s so much razzle-dazzle in the great henge, this place is usually overlooked.

But it was here that the first henge was dug on the Avebury landscape. And, all these thousands of years later, if you want to find it you can still trace the three concentric rings of ditches, marking out the ritual areas.

The trick is to think BIG – the outer one is simply enormous, almost clipping the trees on the western slope.

A lovely feature that messes with the modern mind is the cetring of the areas. It’s slightly off-centre, going down the north side. Despite what Cursuswalker’s notes suggest, this cannot have been an accident. The ancients weren’t stupid, and they could feel gravity just as well as we can.

No, like the siting of long barrows and other monuments of the earlier part of megalitihic times, this is from a time before we were needing to bo the biggest, highest, grandest.

And although the hill looks like nothing from Avebury, once up here the view is a commanding one out to the henge and Silbury.

There are two massive Bronze Age barrows on the eastern side, and a bit further out, just outside of the National Trust land, two more are under the plough and getting smaller every year.

The lump on the northern side that looks like a barrow with a tree growing out of it is actually a mini reservoir.

Visiting this and proplerly figuring it out for the first time has given it a place in my understanding that East Kennett long barrow has just acquired. Both looked so trivial from the viewpoints I’d seen them from before, but once you’ve walked round the other side, and once you’ve been up here and seen the view from the top, its place on the landscape becomes paramount.

Try walkin the Ridgeway south past East Kennett long barrow. Try walking the path west out of Winterbourne Monkton and see how Windmill Hill looms and broods at everything.

Going out to West Kennett, Windmill Hill just covers the backdrop of the view. Getting up in the morning when camping at Avenue Farm I will always look for a moment at the earthworks up here.

Incidentally, what a shame Cursuswalker hasn’t put more posts up on this site – the notes for Windmill Hill are superb; historical, intuitive, personal, informative.

(visited 5 April 02)