The OS grid reference number is out slightly, the real grid ref is NO 524990.
I didn’t know a great deal about this stone circle, in fact only the name of the place had stuck in my mind, Image wood, funny name, how did it get to be called that? The Scots have a wicked sense of humour when it comes to naming places, anyone who comes up with a place name like Twatt, twice, clearly should be in charge of naming places.
I didn’t park near the cemetery, I parked on the B9094, where the Deeside way footpath crosses it. I did have a look down the long straight driveway up to the big posh place called the Mains of Aboyne, north of the circle, but there’s no way to it that way, it’s slightly further than parking by the cemetery, but I’m new here and making it up as I go along.
The woods are very pretty, light and airy, paths go all over the place, picking the one I hoped went in the right direction wasn’t easy, I got it hopelessly wrong and ended up mostly guessing my way there, but get there I did, eventually.
Canmore calls it a four poster, of that i’m fairly dubious, mostly because there’s five stones, but also because Burl says there’s a couple of missing stones, but Burl also goes on to say that it could be a folly built by the big house just north of here.
What ever the reality is behind this circle, one thing for sure is that it’s a good looking site. Sites up on a hill with great views is only just in front, in my mind, to a nice secluded woodland site.
Lovely place.
Four poster? Missing stones? I like the stones but the site is a bit of a mystery isn't it. Did it feel/look old enough to you, if that makes sense?
I think it looked and felt old, but with the tall trees and mossy everything I could've been mislead, which is the hope of all follies, who knows. Very pretty though.