Glenquicken

I started the day at Cairnholy chambered tombs, which were eerie in their gaunt, skeletal sort of way. I then went to Glenquickan via wandering around a field for ages amongst narky sheep trying to find a cup and ring marked rock. I found many rocks, but no cup and ring marked ones. Anyway, I then drove along the old military road (crap name, but a superb road!) into the wilds of the moors. The site’s very phallic centre stone is visible over a tall drystone wall, and there’s even a nice place to park by a gurgling stream. Aubrey Burl is right about the fences – a bit of a diversion to get to the site, but it’s only a couple of minutes stroll through a herd of sociable sheep with offspring of various sizes. The first impression is that the wire fence actually touches the monument – takes a bit of the polish off it, but after a bit it just doesn’t matter. Glenquickan is so perfectly situated and formed, with another burn trickling behind it. A large transmitter arial looms over from the east, but again it doesn’t matter. This is such a peaceful, powerful site and rewards a visit beyond description.