Easily reached from Roughtor carpark.
Head towards the left most peak.
This strange weathered granite formation is like a mini Cheesewring.
themodernantiquarian.com/browse.php?site_id=298
The site is natural but is completely surrounded by an ancient ring cairn of granite stones. There is also evidence of hut circles and ancient field enclosures all over the place. Nice views too
Helsbury Castle or Beacon is a fine circular earthwork. Looks like it could be Iron Age.
It has a square ruin in the centre said to be the remains of a medieval chapel.
The site is 684 feet above the sea and is sometimes called St. Syth’s beacon.
The chapel must be pretty old as it was in already in ruins when William of Worcester visited it in1478.
It reminds me very much of Knowlton Henge in Dorset which also has a religious building plonked in the middle.
themodernantiquarian.com/browse.php?site_id=44#post-2117
Great views of Roughtor to the north-east.
Corstorphine Hill Cup Marked Rock
Friday 4/1/02
It’s a glorious Winters morning as me, Aed and H-dog head up Corstorphine Hill for our mornings walk and in search of this cup marked rock. Due to the large boulders and tree roots the path’s a bit bumpy for Aed’s off-road buggy, but we all manage to get up to the main path along the crest of the Hill. I’m trying to use the OS map and a Corstorphine Hill map to find this site, but there are so many paths heading off through the trees- we head in the general direction of south and hope for the best. The other problem is that there are so many rock outcrops and glacial pavements up here. Thankfully, there are a couple of buildings on the west side of the Hill and working out their position realised that we’ve actually gone past the site. Using instinct and following H-dog we head back along a lower path and through the gorse bushes a huge stone pavement area opens up before us, covered in snow, ice and frost. We slowly make our way across this and I almost walk straight over the top of the cup marks! The rock they are on has been cleared of frost n snow, and the markings are fairly shallow, but small amounts of snow remain in the depressions picking out a pattern of 10 cup marks almost forming a circle with 8 markings on the diameter and 2 in the middle. The views from here are inspiring indeed and especially on a bright and bitterly cold day such as today. From the Pentlands to the left right round to the hills of Fife in the distance, just able to make them out through the frosty air. These cup marks were only rediscovered in 1991 and I would be very surprised if these are the only sacred markings on this hill- we passed literally hundreds of rock outcrops on the way up here, many of which are almost now covered in vegetation.
This is the sweetest little stone circle i have ever met. Look on a good map at the two fish shaped lakes, or loughs as we call them, northeast of Housesteads. Near the western lough is the circle. It’s on Haughton Common, which sounds like Hutton , my name, and the name of many small settlements in Cumbria and the borders. As you approach from crossing the wall west of Housesteads, and heading north, you will know the path when you cross it. The path takes you East through a cut in the Crags, Kings Crag and Queens Crag, linked by local legend to Arthur. You can see Sewingshields Crag (the site of Sewingshields Castle) where Camelot is said have been. There is a hidden cave here where a local farmer once found Arthur’s Knights frozen in sleep waiting for a horn to sound, summoning them to save britain (small B).
The circle seems to rise from the ground as you stumble on it. The last time I went I found a sheep horn in the centre. Its a lovely spot and you can see the Wall from most of the walk. I don’t think there is a right of way, but who’s counting?
This should be one of the most beautifully located circles and still manages to retain some dignity in the face of such a monstrous neighbour. You get the feeling this place is just totally UnLoved.
On this particular day (02.01.01ce) we drove round to the Sellafield Visitor Centre car park to check the map, then drove round the other side of the Power Station, where the circle is located. Two clean-cut squaddy types in Land Rovers followed us right the way round then continued past us to the Sellafield entrance next to the circle. Next a security guy drove past as we walked down the footpath. On our return a copper drove past us as we got back in the car. Sure enough he was waiting further down the road and proceeded to follow us for a further 3 miles, presumably ‘til we were safely away from Sellafield. I presume there’s heightened security at the moment, but two clowns struggling to fold up an OS map on a deserted car park, and then trudging through fields to a stone circle, seems like quite an unlikely threat!
I visited this site in October 1999 whilst on holiday with my wife. We arrived nearing the end of the day and she, being well pregnant at the time, said the hill looked “a little steep” and decided to stay in the car. Too right its a little steep! bloody buggerring steep I’d say! However, it is definitely worth the effort to get there.
I arrived as the sun was starting to set and saw some of the chambers turn a marvellous golden orange. Stepping back toward the wooded area I was able to observe the mound bathed in a golden halo. This was spectacular stuff and I felt in awe. I just sat there unable to move but just stare. These monuments often have a magical feel to them, but I had obviously caught this one at the right time.
I made a mental note to bring my wife and new child up here in the future, probably for another Autumn sunset.
I stopped at Long Meg last August, on the drive from my home in Bristol to Galloway, where I was brought up.
I took some photos, including one of Long Meg against the sun. I used flash so that I’d get some detail of the stone. To my eye, and other people I’ve shown it to agree, there is a definite face visible.
I haven’t scanned it yet but I’ll try to do that soon. Just in case anybody suspects I’ve altered the photo, the original slide is available for inspection by julian if he wants to drop me a line.
Known locally as the fogou, this narrow cave is situated about a mile inland from Porthcothan beach
The low entrance to the cave is halfway up the valley side on the right. It’s very well hidden in bracken and gorse in the summer. I’m not totally sure that public access is permitted as it is on farmland. (Find a friendly local who may know the way)
The site has been used in the past for smuggling and also as a hide-out during the Civil war.
There are notches near the mouth, into which smugglers lodged a beam of timber; they then heaped earth against the beam and covered the pile with furze to hide the entrance. The tunnel supposedly led to a farm half a mile away
Although some may say it is cave, on the 1888 map of Cornwall it is marked “fogou”
see the 1888 map online at old-maps.co.uk/
In the Co-ordinate box type:- 186461,71394
and click – search
Visited 28/12/01CE
Lovely barrow cemetary on top of the hills on the edge of purbeck. Its about 1 mile straight up the side of the hill from Rempstone Stone circle so both can easily be visited in a visit.
Note the location of the barrows is to the west of “Nine Barrows Down” marked on the map.
The cemetary itself consists of one neolithic long barrow and 8 bronze age? round barrows. Two of the round barrows have clearly visible ditches and one of these is about 15-20ft high. The round barrows are spread in a line along the crest of the hill running west to east, seemingly getting larger the further east you go. The long barrow is located at the east end about 10 metres south of the line.
The views are as amazing as the earthworks. Poole harbour, wareham, poole and on a clear day bournemouth, to the north. Swanage and most of purbeck to the south. Also if you look west along the coast, you can see the distinctive outline of Golden Cap. I was at the cemetary for sunset but unfortunately the cloud cover was too dense to see much, but I imagine the sun sets pretty close to Golden Cap from that angle.
Visited 28/12/01 at the same time as Nine barrows down on top of the hill above.
Walking around the wood I found another 10+ stones scattered about, presumably from the destroyed half of the circle. I would be interested to know if a resurrection of the circle would ever be possible as I found its desecrated state rather depressing.
I also noticed that the “main” stone, with all the cups and offerings, had a marking carved into the side of it. Unfortunately I didn’t have a camera with me but it seemed to be a symbol for the sun.
What better way to spend Boxing Day then walking up to the Cheesewring to wonder at the pile of precariously balanced stones. The walk up was well worth it, the sheer size of the largest pile surprised me. It was much bigger than I had thought it would be. It almost made the Hurlers below seem quite insignificant in comparision.
From the elevated position we felt like we were on top of the world. A hail storm blew across Bodmin Moor and we watched it make its way in our direction. It was a great feeling to see the weather doing its thing below us and then it was upon us – the piles of stones provided easy shelter.
A place where we felt glad to be alive
Visited on my birthday (Dec 27) with our children (7 & 4) – the stream that must be crossed is the Tawe of Abertawe (welsh word for Swansea). Vowed to return again either without the children or in summer when the stream is not so high. Walked about to get a feel of the place & spotted the northern standing stone. Excellent. On return down the valley passed the ‘new’ stones at the entrance to Dan Yr Ogof caves & will explore when the caves are open again after the holidays. The caves are well worth a visit but a little overdone on the “son et lumiere” effects.
Hawthornden Cliff Carvings (AKA Gorton House)
Monday 24/12/01
‘Inaccessible rock ledge…situated in a precipitous cliff.‘
I managed to scramble down the banking to the rivers edge opposite these cliffs as an OS report from 1954 said these carvings could clearly be seen from the opposite banking- however, this report is contradicted by a more recent one from 1975 saying that the site could no longer be located. I stood and stared for an age at the massive cliffs over the river from me scanning their couple-of-hundred-foot towering mass up and down and from left to right. I peered intently at the large vertical slabs where I would have expected something to have been, but nothing. There was, however, many areas covered by vegetation and I was about to admit defeat and say that this site has now been covered by plants when, just through the trees I saw it- a single spiral. It was on a rock face in a small recess about 30 or 40 foot up the cliffs above the river. That was it- I simply had to see them and touch them. Unfortunately the carvings were across the other side of the river and straight up a very steep and muddy banking and cliff face. There was only one thing to do and I did not think twice- I was entranced by the sight of that single spiral. I grabbed a huge stick from the banking and waded into the river, the cold water filling my boots immediately and freezing my feet. Actually, it wasn’t that cold considering it was the end of December- I’ve been in colder water (like surfing in the North Sea in April- brrr!). As it turned out (luckily) the River North Esk was only about knee deep. That was the least of my problems. I still had to get up about 30 or 40 foot of mud, cliff and trees. I tried working out a route, but had to return to my original crossing point as I came across a vertical rock wall with no holds. I started off up the mud and used the trees to swing horizontally above the river on my way up n up n up! I slid, I climbed and I scrambled and I bloody well made it- hahahahahahaha! And I was completely blown away. I expected a couple of carvings, including my enchanting spiral, but not the sight that greeted me. The overhanging vegetation, the red rock cliffs and these carvings- for all intents it looked like a forgotten Australian aboriginal sacred rock. Except here I was at this sacred and once lost Scottish aboriginal site. There were spirals, triangles, double S shaped spirals, notches and these circles all over- just plain circles. Not only these but an amazing fish type symbol- it looked like a horizontal Einsturzende Neubauten symbol. I’ve seen a fair amount of rock carvings on my travels, but this place, no- something very different about this place- it felt more primitive. The only similar spiral I’ve ever seen was at the Templewood circle. I was shaking- partly from exhilaration as I had just waded a river and climbed up here (and I’m not that keen on heights) but mostly I was extremely energised- I had made it here and it felt as though I was the first person to see these symbols for many, many years. I fired off about ten pics, but I was shaking so much I doubt if any of them will actually turn out okay. I eventually scrambled and slid back down to the river almost coming a cropper on a couple of occasions. I waded back across the river and back up to the main path. I was totally soaked, freezing and covered in mud. But most of all I was completely bedazzled. This precipice, high above the River North Esk is an extremely powerful, sacred and magickal site, made even more so due to its inaccessible and hidden nature. This site crackles and buzzes with energy.
Directions
Firstly- this site is *extremely* difficult to find and reach. Sometimes I turn into a complete idiot with no sense of fear, especially when it comes to exploring places like these (although I always retain my sense of respect). I could easily have been swept away in the river, fallen from the cliff (almost did) etc. Just cos I write about this site doesn’t mean I’m recommending an actual visit. Follow the A701 south out of Edinburgh. Pass Ikea on the right and head through Bilston. At the roundabout in Bilston take a left through Roslin. Go down the main street which turns sharp right and look out for the Roslin Glen signs before the main road turns right again. Down this steep road and park in the designated car park at approximately NT272628. Take the path across the river, under the castle drawbridge (see Roslin Glen Folklore) and follow it northeast along by the river. Paths lead off uphill, but stick by the river- pass Lovers Leap on the way along the path (see Roslin Glen Fish Carving). Continue along the path next to the cliffs above the river. The path descends down to the level of the river and in places is carved from the cliffs and takes the traveller along the river bed- it’s obviously only passable during periods of low rain/snow fall. Keep an eye out for Wallace’s Cave high above the river on the opposite side- the carvings are approximately 30 metres further round from the cave (north) and about 8 metres below it. Best to view from the other banking in the Winter with a pair of binoculars!
Roslin Glen Fish Carving
Monday 24/12/01
I left Kat and Aed following a path along the top of the glen as it was a rather steep descent to get to this rock. I actually remember being here about nine years ago- but never knew about this Iron Age carving. I knew about this carving that looks kinda like a face- is this it? Lovers Leap rock is a large horizontal slab perched precariously above the River North Esk and is literally covered in carvings- all of which, unfortunately, seem to be very much more recent. Nevertheless, I scoured the top and sides of this rock in search of the fish, but nothing- still the only carving that looks like it could be Iron Age is the face-like carving. I crouched beside it and looked for a while- I guess it actually does look like a fish face on! Rather cool little piece of rock art anyways.
Directions
Follow the A701 south out of Edinburgh. Pass Ikea on the right and head through Bilston. At the roundabout in Bilston take a left through Roslin. Go down the main street which turns sharp right and look out for the Roslin Glen signs before the main road turns right again. Down this steep road and park in the designated car park at approximately NT272628. Take the path across the river, under the castle drawbridge and follow it northeast along by the river. Paths lead off uphill, but stick by the river- Lovers Leap is the only really large horizontal rock slab down here. It’s down the cliff from General Monck’s Battery- a large square remain by the top path. The carving is down next to the path on the vertical rock.
Monday 24/12/01
We stopped off here on our way home from Roslin Glen. This is about the third time I’ve visited this stone- now it has a small black iron railing surrounding it which completely destroys any atmosphere or decent photo! What on earth possessed them to do this? Is it to protect the Christians on their way to church??!!! The stone is slowly getting covered in a thick layer of moss- although there’s meant to be about 26 cup marks on it I could only count about 20 -odd. I think five or six are also ring marked, although it’s difficult to say due to the moss. Saying all that, practically the whole surface is covered in symbols. Here stands this small stone, surrounded by an iron fence, next to the church standing above it and yet, nestled at the base of the church tower, this stone has more symbolism, power and spirituality than the building it sits beside.
The site has lovely views over the moors and me and tim (dodman apprentice) had a nice post-christmas picnic between the high and low stones on a nice flat outcrop
The whole complex is a bit of a bombsite really.
Trying to inturpret this site is nigh on impossible. Possible stone rows, possible four poster and circle. I don’t think we’ll ever know. The tallest remaining stone is constantly under attack from arseholes jamming coins into the weathered cracks with the result of accelerating the erosion. The whole site is becoming terribly eroded by vehicles accessing the moor and ?the robbing of stone
A complete Iron Age village!
I first visited this site on a school trip in the late 1970’s
It can be described as a classic site, the largest of the courtyard house villages, and one of the finest prehistoric villages to be found anywhere in Britain.
This site is well signposted and reached by the back road to New Mill which leaves the B3311 at Badgers Cross.
The horde who sacked Yeavering Bell, the tribal palace of the ancient Northumbrian Kings, must have descended from the Cheviots when they attacked. By the time I reached the crumbling fortifications, I couldn’t have lifted a sword, much less swing one.That’s how steep the climb from the valley floor had been. I stood and caught my breath, and as my pulse began to slow, I turned round and took in the beautiful view.
Somewhere to the North East was Duddo stone circle, but I couldn’t make it out. Standing on the peak of Yeavering Bell I had gained 240 metres of height since breakfast at Duddo. I was ready for my Lunch.
The day had started at eight when I packed my bag, and waited for Tom, my mate. He drove and I read maps on the way to Duddo. At Duddo village, we left the car and walked out across the open country. The circle was visible from some distance, looking like rotten teeth pointing up to the sky.
It was a typical January day, gray clouds spitting mean rain at the hills. We walked over a farmer’s field, a strange feeling for me; I would have felt better on a footpath, yet I could see no other way to approach the stones. Once among the stones I felt better and sat to enjoy the moment.
Tom, on the other hand, spent ten minutes walking around the circle, on the field itself, before he came inside. As I enjoyed the rest, Tom rummaged in his bag and produced a miniature of Grouse, that he’d brought for me. Perfect.
We could see Yeavering Bell, and felt the call to leave, much too soon for Duddo. We agreed that we’d be back, and so we left. Back at the car, we ate a sandwich, and had some coffee, then we drove to Yeavering, a row of cottages under Yeavering Bell.
Again we left the car, but this time the path was pitched more steeply, and soon I was breathing hard. The path was an old drovers road, straight up into the Cheviots, marked all the way with massive boulders.
We crossed a stream bed and the path got steeper. From here we could see the old walls, and then we thought we’d seen people at the top, but as we got closer we saw that it was the wild goats of the Cheviot Hills, which neither of us had seen before.
When the Northumbrians were defeated at Yeavering, they moved across the valley to Gefrin, ‘the place of the goats’. Yeavering sounds like a variant of Gefrin, so I guess the wild goats were at home.
They had disappeared into thin air by the time we arrived at the top, and we ate lunch together in the solitude, if you know what I mean.
The Buck Stane
Friday 21/12/01
…and I thought we’d never see the sun this Solstice day. It was lashing down this morning and the prospect of an afternoon trip up here looked very wet! But as I write I’m being dazzled by the Solstice sun that is hanging just above the silhouette of the Pentland Hills, and the SW face of the Bore Stane watches the sunset. This stone sits in a beautiful little niche just off the very busy Braid Hills Road. A fine cobbled path, plaque set in the wall above the stone and flowerbeds either side. It originally stood further up the hill, but was moved here some time in the 20th century. As with most of these re-positionings, I am in hope that the alignments remained the same. The stone is about 3.5 foot tall and almost square in section. It has a very deep (non-megalithic) cup hole on the very top. Originally this stone would have been in view of the Braid Hills and its cup marked rocks, but the finest view would have been (and still is) to the mighty Pentlands. I leave this stone warm, happy and with the sun still dazzling in my eyes- Happy Solstice!
Cat Stane, Inch (AKA Kingsinch School)
Thursday 20/12/01
I think this is the only site I’ve visited where I had to make arrangements to visit days in advance- but with good cause as it now stands in the grounds of a school. I was greeted by a very nice and enthusiastic teacher by the name of Mrs. Stewart. She had some great theories about this stone- alignments with both nearby stones and Arthurs Seat, grave marker, route marker, etc. This stone is one of the thinnest I’ve seen, certainly in the Lothians- only about 7” in places. Adam McLean (’Standing Stones of the Lothians’) describes it as only being about two foot high, but it’s actually around 4.5 to 5 foot. It may originally have stood at the junction of Dalkeith and Liberton Roads, although Mrs. Stewart reckons its original site may not have been far from where it now stands. Where it does stand now commands a great view of Arthurs Seat- its broadest face looking upon the great hill. I asked about a plaque that was meant to be here, but this has long since disappeared. This stone has obviously been used as a gatepost on many occasions- there are still lead and iron lumps all over the northernmost face. Afterwards we exchanged details and I was introduced to the headmistress- all v. friendly and enthusiastic folk- nice end to a great day discovering these little known stones of South Edinburgh.
Note- this stone stands within locked school grounds. You *must* make prior arrangements if you wish to visit. The headmistress said that although entry is free, all donations to school funds gratefully received!
Ravenswood Avenue Standing Stone
Thursday 20/12/01
Almost at the end of this street it stands- almost 7 foot tall, but surrounded by a circular iron fence and stuck in a cul-de-sac. On the way along here I thought I was in for a mauling as there were two massive Alsatians roaming loose, but luckily they found a bin bag and tore that to shreds instead of me! Before these houses were built this stone would have had clear views to both Arthurs Seat and the Pentlands, but now you just catch glimpses of them through gaps in between the houses. This stone has also been moved, but I’m hopeful in thinking that its alignment remained the same- it’s almost square in plan and the northernmost face looks towards Arthurs Seat. A cracking great stone, but all the atmosphere of the site is ruined by the fence and the housing scheme- at least it’s still here I s’pose.
Directions
Take the 3/3A or 29 bus from Princes Street heading south. Pass Cameron Toll and take the bus up Gilmerton Road. Get off just past Walter Scott Avenue which is on the left. Ravenswood Avenue is the first right off here.
Niddrie House Standing Stone
Thursday 20/12/01
Ha! Found it! I had two sets of map co-ordinates for this stone and as it happens, both of them were wrong. One set from the RCAHMS site (from the OS originally) is actually north of here, the other set from Adam McLeans ‘Standing Stones of the Lothians’ is east of this spot. The hand of fate had a say in me finding this stone- I missed my bus stop- I was originally going to check out the OS co-ordinate area to the north of here. However, I stayed on the bus and as it turned left into its terminus I caught a glimpse of the Niddrie House Standing Stone! As it turns out, the description in the ‘Standing Stones of the Lothians’ was not bad, but the stone is now no longer in the burial ground. Within sight of Arthurs Seat and in the shadow of a yew tree, it sits next to the pavement just behind a utilities hut. It’s almost been overgrown by ivy and brambles which is no bad thing as the conspicuous stones in the graveyard have almost all been smashed and/or covered in paint. The stone itself is about 4 foot tall, about the same wide but only about 1 and a half foot thick- it appears to be aligned approximately N/S. It’s really weathered and has great grooves running down it. Yes- there are cup marks on it (it’s a conglomerate stone) but at the bottom right of the stone there are about five cup marks which look classically megalithic to me. So- here it hides in a corner of Niddire, slowly disappearing under vegetation, dog shit and litter. But, as I said, it’s mebbe for the best that it blends in to its surroundings.
The OS-nil, TKnow-one!
Directions
Take the number 21 bus from Princes Street heading south towards Craigmillar and Niddrie. Get off at the terminus after it turns off left from Greendykes Road into Niddrie House Avenue. The stone is just off the pavement next to the fenced-off burial ground to the left of the school. It sits behind some sort of utilities buildings (electricity?).
The Bore Stane
Thursday 20/12/01
I’m sure there was snow blowing through whilst writing down the details of the plaque- I had to take my gloves off to write which was a bad idea- they’ve just started to get feeling back in them now. This is another curious Edinburgh site- whether or not this stone was ever meant to be upright, we’ll never know for sure. It was found in a nearby field, but not noted whether it was recumbent or vertical. It is, however, thought to be a cist cover. It now stands next to a church that is now part of Napier University- it’s high up on the edge of a wall overlooking Morningside Road. It must be easily missed by the thousands of folk who pass this spot every day. I used to say down these parts and have stopped for a wee look a few times. This stone is a great deep red and has some very deep cup-like markings over it- but these are thought to be natural.
Odin’s Hall Broch (AKA Edinshall, Woden or Wooden)
November 1996
One of the main reasons for this trip was to convert the castle-buffs Jam n Sam to brochs- and I think it worked! We also came here cos it’s one of the nearest brochs to Edinburgh and one of the best preserved in southern Scotland. The drive down here is amazing- passing through the megalithic wonderland of Whiteadder. We, of course, got lost- I was driving so that’s not great surprise! We stopped to ask which was the quickest way to the site as we knew we weren’t that far off. The local said ‘oh- you mean the brocchhhhkkkkkkcckkkhh’- yeh- one n the same asshole. Excuse me for being Lowland Scots. We parked the car and headed across the fields along a fabby path by the Whiteadder Water. This is a complex site comprising of the broch itself as well as a fort and settlements that surround the broch. The walls of this one don’t quite match the dizzying heights of those in the northwest, but they still stand about 2 metres high. Saying that, this broch is much larger (at about 17 metres in diameter) than its northern counterparts. The wall is mega thick (5.2 metres) as with all of these places. We stopped to have (a very cold) lunch here and feasted on macaroni cheese pies- class! Jam was hyper that day and we all went a bit mad hiding in the guard cells, jumping off the walls and generally running about like a bunch of loonies! A great day was had by all and two more folk won over by these places.
Note- all maps, books etc refer to this site as Edin’s Hall, but it is assumed that all alternative names are derived from Odin.
Prevented from seeing it by a Range Rover man bullying us off of his master’s land.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he bawled
“To pay respect to the stones” black cloaked we replied.
“Dressed like that? You’ll get lost on the moors and die from exposure” all care and concern he led us back to the road.
Thanks Mr Range Rover man.
