The last stop of great day wandering around Spey Side but a sad afternoon for prehistory ended with a climb up Stony Hill.
I parked at Pitcraigie. north of Rothes, just to the west of the A941 and up a farm track. From the barns I followed the track south, west and then north west. Stop at a gate and follow the fence west, jump over it and the dry stane dyke. Keep going and walk straight into the site. As usual small bogs, holes and heather make up the terrain.
Surrounded in glorious countryside this must have been some place. Some 600 carts of stone and bone were removed from here to make roads and walls. Also a local resident in the mid 1800s said that were was a large stone circle here. Sadly most of these were removed to be used as gateposts, lintels etc.
Although difficult to spot amongst the heather what remains is also, I think, in need of a wee exploration. There is a kerb underneath the heather that goes round the almost 16m wide site. Some of kerbs also look to long and thin, possibly did they stood at some time? I'd like to think so. Nearby are some hut circles set in a field system.
I love the countryside round here, smooth hills and severe climbs all mixed up with some wonderful ancient sites. Stony Hill has the views and the route to most of these, the River Spey. The Spey has many fine attributes and amongst these are distilleries. It was time to go home and sample some.
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Posted by drewbhoy
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