The Sisters at Higher Drift. Photo taken from the north on 24 January 2004.
Image credit: Chris Bond
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April 20, 2025
April 19, 2025
Visited 20.09.19
It is difficult to access Candle Hill Stone Circle: It is protected by an enclosure and vigorous shrubs. It is best to enter the enclosure on the SE corner adjacent to the remains of the circle. The circle is located c. 30 yards ESE of the centre of the knoll. The most obvious feature is the Candle Stone, a standing stone c. 15 feet W of a thorn tree. A grassy cairn is situated c. 6 feet S in the centre of the circle. Walk S round the cairn to reach the fallen recumbent stone and flankers on the S Arc of the circle. It is possible to find the fallen N,ENE,W and NW stones by walking round the perimeter of the circle, starting from the NNE Standing Stone. The N,ENE,W stones are largely buried in the turf with only a small area visible from above. The NW stone is hidden in gorse on the NW Arc.
Lower Camster S Standing Stone viewed from SSW. (25.06.14)
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
Clochabhile, Lough Gur, County Limerick
Clochabhile or the Stone of the Sacred Tree unites in itself the Celtic concepts of sacred trees and central stones. The pillar stands a short distance from the Grange Stone Circle at Lough Gur, an area traditionally linked to the goddess Áine and to Fer Í, Eogabal and Eoghan, the mythical ancestors of the mighty Eóganacht sept. The current use of the term eo, which is Irish for ‘a yew’, illustrates the high reverence of the clan for that species of tree and we can easily imagine that Clochabhile was formerly joined by a yew considered sacred to the Eóganachta. The tree and its history are lost, but local lore knows of a magic tree on the bottom of Lough Gur, which would only surface once in seven years.
From Stones of Adoration, by Christine Zucchelli. The Collins Press 2007
April 18, 2025
Lower Camster on Google Maps
A Portrait of Stonehenge by the Prehistory Guys
“Stonehenge always demands attention and sometime it sucks a bit of the oxygen out of the room when it comes to prehistory. Nevertheless, when the opportunity arose last year (thanks to Jennifer Wexler at English Heritage) to film inside the stones, we leapt at the chance. We’ve been so grateful to be able to use the time to create our homage to the latter of the two bookends of the Göbekli Tepe to Stonehenge Project. We hope you enjoy it.”
We visited in 2023. Sadly the ground was covered in broken glass so be careful with dogs.
Image credit: CoralJackz
A collection of research covering the Garn Wen site
Cantraybrich Cairn on Google Maps
A very pleasant early morning visit to the rock art at Knock 4, close to Monreith, for sunrise, with the sound of roe deer barking in the woods next to the rock art panel.
I tried to find the panels known as Knock 2 and Knock 3, but with no success. I remember the farmer clearing the field with a digger several years ago, so fear they may have either been buried or removed completely. I’ll have another look again soon.
April 17, 2025
i like how the (probably displaced) recumbent aligns with the hill
Image credit: stolinskie
Visited 21.03.12
Cantraybruich Cairn is a confusing jumble of stones in the E corner of a field near Culloden Moor. I saw a short stone row featuring ill-matched stones but couldn’t visualise a cairn.
I wish I had read Canmore ID 14151 before my visit. On reviewing my photos I thought that I identified a pile of stones on the E Arc of the Cantraybruich Cairn. I think I will revisit if i’m in the area.
Directions to Cantraybruich: Head for Inverness on the A9 then take the Culloden B9006 turn off. Follow the signs to Culloden Visitor Centre. Continue E along the B9006 for c. 1.8 miles to a gateway on the right at NH 77527 46069 (///chilling.decoding.surfed), c. 0. 4 miles E of Culloden Moor Caravan Site. A short track leads E into a field. Follow the margin of the field SE for c. 220 yards to the E corner. The remains of the cairn are located c. 50 feet W in the grassy margin of the field. My walking route is viewable on Cantraybruich Cairn.
Central Stone in W Arc of Cantraybruich Cairn viewed from W. The Heap of Stones in the central background may be displaced stones from the E Arc of Cantraybruich Cairn. (21.03.12)
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
A Heap of Large Stones located at NH 77846 45948, c. 50 yards E of the arc of stones. They probably were displaced from the E Arc of Cantraybruich Cairn. (21.03.12)
The remains of a Late Bronze Age settlement “of considerable significance” were uncovered during the development of a new road, archaeologists said.
Looking due north from the long stone at merrivale standing about ten feet tall, the menhir is located approximately one hundred and thirty seven feet from the centre of the stone circle (visible on the horizon.)
A fine place to contemplate the mystic ambience of such places, which I was before having to make a hasty exit in the direction of the car thanks to the spectacular rain show that Dartmoor had laid on for me.
Image credit: mca
April 16, 2025
Directions to Capenoch Loch Long Cairn
The path starts in a gateway opposite Barr Farm on the A702 between Moniaive and Penpont. The farmer has prohibited parking in this gateway. Due to this restriction an extension of 0.33 miles N to the nearest lay-by at NX 82877 92845 is necessary. A forest track heading NE starts opposite Barr Farm. Follow the track for c. 0.35 miles to reach a junction. Turn right then bear right after c. 80 yards. Follow the track SE for c. 0.3 mile to NX 8375 9244. Head N up a narrow forest ride for c. 100 yards. Capenoch Loch Long Cairn is c. 80 yards NE in the centre of a large clearing. My route can be viewed on Capenoch Loch Long Cairn.
Visited 07.04.12
Capenoch Loch Long Cairn is located in a large forest clearing c. 250 yards SE of Capenoch Loch, c. 1.5 miles SSW of Penpont, a village in Dumfries and Galloway. The stony mound measures c. 36 yards on the NE-SW long axis. The transverse axis tapers from c. 17 yards at the SW end to 9 yards at the NE end. The NE half has been stone robbed to ground level but the SW half is relatively intact reaching up to 9 feet high. There are two excavated hollows along the NE-SW axis in the SW half but no chambers are visible on the cairn.
Furter detail of Capenoch Loch Long Cairn are available in Canmore ID 65334.
Capenoch Loch Cairn NE-SW Axis viewed from NE. The NE half has largely been stone robbed. (07.04.12)
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
Capenoch Loch Cairn NE-SW Axis viewed from SW. Two excavated hollows are visible along the axis. (07.04.12)
Image credit: Mark Johnstone