Sandend (Cairn(s)) — The Modern Antiquarian

Images (2)
News (1)
Fieldnotes (1)
Miscellaneous (1)

Images

Image of Sandend (Cairn(s)) by drewbhoy

Durn Hill in the background, home to a hillfort and cairn.

Image credit: drew/amj

drewbhoy May 16, 2012

Image of Sandend (Cairn(s)) by drewbhoy

The cairn was destroyed then it’s boulders were used to make a windmill.

Image credit: drew/amj

drewbhoy May 16, 2012

Articles

Sandend

Developed into housing

stolinskie Nov 11, 2024

The windmill is currently (2024) being developed into housing ... not sure how I feel about that but the cairn is of course long gone so perhaps it’s good it’s restored and repaired.
pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen-aberdeenshire/3128305/historic-north-east-windmill-could-be-turned-into-unique-family-home/

I did like the plan to turn it into an underground whisky bar and aurora borealis viewing station better, anything with a public function really.
napier.ac.uk/about-us/news/cup-and-saucer-could-be-transformed-into-leading-tourist-attraction

Sandend

Cairn(s)

drewbhoy May 16, 2012

Cairns and stones circles have often been recycled for places of execution, courts, towers, beacons, bases for crosses, roads, houses etc etc. This is the first one I’ve seen rebuilt into a windmill on the spot where it stood. Originally a stone circle probably surrounded the cairn, also in the same field, to the west, a barrow stood. Wonderful views to the Moray Firth and south to Durn Hill.

Situated to the north of the A98 between Portsoy and Cullen just east of the Sandend junction. Pull in at the Glasshaugh Distillery (tragically closed, or it looked closed as it was deserted). The unusual remains of the cairn are in the field to the west.

Visited 15/5/2012.

Sandend

Cairn(s)

drewbhoy May 13, 2012

Near the distillery lies the affectionately named ‘Cup And Saucer’. This tower like structure is the remains of a windmill, built in the mid-eighteenth century by the local proprietor, General James Alexander of Glasshaugh. Abercromby was at one point Commander in Chief of the British forces in North America, but returned home after a humiliating defeat in battle at Ticonderoga. His windmill was built on top of a Bronze Age Cairn using much of it’s stonework. It ceased production during the first half of nineteenth century but stands as a reminder of times gone by.

Mark Leith, Knock News Issue 61
March 2012.

Sites within 20km of Sandend

Crathie Point

Cliff Fort • 1.87km WNW

5

1

1
Durn Hill

Hillfort • 2.17km ESE

6

3

1
Hillside

Round Cairn • 2.59km SE

4

1
Deskford ritual centre

Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork • 4.64km WSW

1

1
Ha’ Hillock

Artificial Mound • 5.91km WSW

1

2
Davie’s Castle

Hillfort • 6.28km WSW

11

3

1
St Brandan’s Stanes

Stone Circle • 6.63km ESE

11

4

3
Moss Hill Plantation

Cairn(s) • 6.69km WSW

4

2

1
Foulford Bridge

Cairn(s) • 6.72km WSW

4

2

1
Chalmers Slack

Cairn(s) • 6.93km WSW

6

2

1
Bow Fiddle Rock

Natural Rock Feature • 7.28km W

5

1
Green Castle

Cliff Fort • 7.76km W

16

1

1
Tronach Point

Cliff Fort • 8.72km W

8

1

1
Cloven Stone

Natural Rock Feature • 10.07km S

2

2
Mill Of Boyndie

Souterrain • 10.19km E

10
Knock Hill

Sacred Hill • 10.84km S

22

2
White Stone

Natural Rock Feature • 10.86km SSW

5

1
Thorax

Stone Circle • 11.01km SSE

5

1

2

3
Colleonard

Stone Circle • 11.28km E

5

1

1
Tarrieclerack

Long Cairn • 11.43km WSW

2

3
Knock Hill

Stone Circle • 11.47km S

14

2

2
Whitehill

Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork • 11.47km S

4

1
King’s Chair

Natural Rock Feature • 11.49km SSE

3

1
Hill Of Alvah

Cairn(s) • 11.87km E

2

1

1
Lusy Law

Cairn(s) • 12.02km E

9

2
Battlefield

Cup Marked Stone • 12.02km SSE

3

1
Wether Hill

Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork • 12.13km SSE

1

1

1
Stirling Cairn

Long Cairn • 12.53km E

5

1

1
Oakenknowes

Cairn(s) • 12.77km SSW

7

2
King’s Cairn

Cairn(s) • 12.9km WSW

6

1
Gavenie Braes

Stone Circle • 13.53km E

2

2
Conjure Cairn

Cairn(s) • 14.18km SSE

7

2

1
Tam’s Chamber

Artificial Mound • 14.24km ESE

6

2
Kemps Cairn

Cist • 14.28km SSE

3

2
South Sandlaw

Cairn(s) • 14.37km E

2

1
Meikle Hill

Standing Stone / Menhir • 14.37km WSW

6

2
Hill Of Cairns 2

Cairn(s) • 15.17km SSE

4

1
White Cow

Natural Rock Feature • 15.21km SE

2

1

2
Cleanhill

Standing Stone / Menhir • 15.3km SE

7

1
Hill Of Cairns

Cairn(s) • 15.33km SSE

3

1
Comfort Law

Cairn(s) • 15.37km E

3

1
Tor Sliasg

Cairn(s) • 15.51km WSW

10

1
North Burreldales

Stone Circle • 15.73km ESE

5

2

1
Bellman’s Wood

Stone Circle • 15.9km SE

6

1

1
St Marnan’s Chair

Standing Stones • 15.91km SE

20

4
Cleaved Head

Cliff Fort • 16.09km E

8

2

1
Cairn Of Beith

Cairn(s) • 16.12km SSE

10

1
Monk’s Cairn

Cairn(s) • 16.73km SSW

7

2
Dillyminnen

Promontory Fort • 16.88km E

10

2
Marnoch Lodge

Standing Stone / Menhir • 16.93km SE

8

1
Rothiemay

Stone Circle • 17km S

31

1

5

2
Hill Of Foulzie

Long Cairn • 17.41km E

3

1

1
Upper Auchenreath

Cairn(s) • 18km WSW

4

1
Longman Hill

Long Barrow • 18.01km E

9

2
Carlinkist Cairn

Cairn(s) • 18.02km E

6

1
Corskellie

Cup and Ring Marks / Rock Art • 18.17km SSE

10

1

3
Avochie Stone

Cup and Ring Marks / Rock Art • 18.77km S

14

1

1
Avochie

Cup Marked Stone • 18.97km S

3

1
Avochie South 3

Cup Marked Stone • 19.1km S

5

1
Cowiemuir

Cairn(s) • 19.12km WSW

2

2

1
Whitehill Wood, Cairn Ennit

Stone Circle • 19.2km ESE

2

2

1
Avochie South 2

Cup Marked Stone • 19.21km S

3

1
Hill Of Avochie

Cup Marked Stone • 19.22km S

7

1
Avochie South 1

Cup Marked Stone • 19.23km S

7

1
Cairn Lee

Cairn(s) • 19.26km E

1

1
Law Of Melrose

Cairn(s) • 19.58km E

5

1

1

1
Killiesmont

Cup Marked Stone • 19.61km SW

2
Law Of Balgreen

Cairn(s) • 19.94km E

3

1

1
Barbara’s Hillock

Cist • 19.99km ESE

6

1

1