Fell of Loch Ronald

Nearest town:
Newton Stewart (14km ENE)
OS reference:
NX2725463658
OS sheet:
82
Latitude:
54° 56' 15.18 N
Longitude:
4° 41' 48.84 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Fell of Loch Ronald (Cairn(s)) by markj99

Fell of Loch Ronald Cairn viewed from E.

Image credit: Mark Johnstone
markj99
markj99 Oct 7, 2024
Image of Fell of Loch Ronald (Cairn(s)) by markj99

Earth Bank on NW Perimeter of Fell of Loch Ronald Cairn.

Image credit: Mark Johnstone
markj99
markj99 Oct 7, 2024
Image of Fell of Loch Ronald (Cairn(s)) by markj99

Moss Covered Stones in E Quadrant of Fell of Loch Ronald Cairn.

Image credit: Mark Johnstone
markj99
markj99 Oct 7, 2024
Image of Fell of Loch Ronald (Cairn(s)) by markj99

Large Stone in Centre of Fell of Loch Ronald Cairn.

Image credit: Mark Johnstone
markj99
markj99 Oct 7, 2024
Image of Fell of Loch Ronald (Cairn(s)) by markj99

Probable Cist in Centre of Fell of Loch Ronald Cairn viewed from SSE.

Image credit: Mark Johnstone
markj99
markj99 Oct 7, 2024
Image of Fell of Loch Ronald (Cairn(s)) by markj99

Probable Cist in Centre of Fell of Loch Ronald Cairn viewed from NNW.

Image credit: Mark Johnstone
markj99
markj99 Oct 7, 2024

Articles

Fell of Loch Ronald

markj99
markj99 Oct 7, 2024

Visited 03.10.24

Fell of Loch Ronald Cairn is located in forestry c. 1 mile S of the Three Lochs Caravan Park in Dumfries and Galloway. The fate of this cairn is all too familiar: The area was chosen for afforestation. The ground was ploughed for tree planting, damaging the cairn. The trees matured and were felled causing further damage to the cairn and its surroundings.

Canmore ID 62397 states that Fell of Loch Ronald Cairn measured c. 35 feet in diameter with a possible central cist consisting of several large stones. All that remains of the cairn today is a probable excavated cist delineated by 5 large stones. It is roughly rectangular in shape, measuring c. 5x4 feet in cross-section and 2 feet deep. A large boulder lies directly E of the cist. I found 2 more moss covered stones in the E quadrant. There is an earth bank c. 3 feet high NW of the cist but it may be a later addition constructed by forestry work.

Folklore

Fell of Loch Ronald
Cairn(s)
Rhiannon
Rhiannon Oct 7, 2024

Should you wish to know who ‘Ronald’ is (although he’s a bit of a latecomer in TMA terms:

The next important personage to appear in Galloway history is Ronald the Dane, titular King of Northumbria, styled also Duke of the Glaswegians, in right of the ancient superiority of the Saxon kings over the Picts.
With Olaf of the Brogues (Anlaf Cuaran), grandson of Olaf the White, as his lieutenant, he drove the Saxons before him as far south as Tamworth. This was in 937, but in 944 the tide of victory rolled north again. King Eadmund drove Ronald out of Northumbria to take refuge in Galloway. Of this province he and his sons continued rulers till the close of the tenth century.

‘A History of Dumfries and Galloway’ by Herbert Maxwell (1896).

Also I noticed that the cairn is on the side of ‘Crotteagh Hill’ – this could come from ‘cruiteach’, meaning lumpy and uneven (spotted in ‘Studies in the topography of Galloway’, also by Sir Maxwell, 1887).

Miscellaneous

Fell of Loch Ronald
Cairn(s)
markj99
markj99 Oct 7, 2024

Directions to Fell of Loch Ronald Cairn from N: Take the Three Lochs turn off Main Street in Glenluce. Stay on the road for c. 7 miles to reach the Three Lochs Holiday Park. There is a right turn c. 400 yards E of the main entrance. You can park at the top of the road. Walk S beside the caravans for c. 200 yards to reach a gate into Tannylaggie Forest. Proceed along the forest track for c. 130 yards to a Y-Junction. Bear right following the track S for c. 400 yards to another Y-junction. Choose the path to the right. Follow this track for c. 0.8 mile to reach a felled edge of the forest. A vague path heads S into the cleared terrain at NX 2731 6372. Head S across the rough ground for c. 80 yards to the concealed cairn at NX 2733 6365. Look for a rectangular hollow with large stones hidden by a raised earth bank on the NW. My walking route is viewable on Fell of Loch Ronald Cairn.

Directions to Fell of Loch Ronald Cairn from S: Take the Three Lochs turn off the A75 near Kirkcowan. Stay on the narrow road with passing places for c. 3.3 miles to the end of the road. Turn left for c. 1 mile to reach a parking spot on the left at the edge of the Three Lochs Holiday Park. Walk S beside the caravans for c. 200 yards to reach a gate into Tannylaggie Forest. Proceed along the forest track for c. 130 yards to a Y-Junction. Bear right following the track S for c. 400 yards to another Y-junction. Choose the path to the right. Follow this track for c. 0.8 mile to reach a felled edge of the forest. A vague path heads S into the cleared terrain at NX 2731 6372. Head S across the rough ground for c. 80 yards to the concealed cairn at NX 2733 6365. Look for a rectangular hollow with large stones hidden by a raised earth bank on the NW. My walking route is viewable on Fell of Loch Ronald Cairn.

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