Fine hut circle on the southern slopes of the hill, above the northern stone circle.
Images
Looking down the upper Fowey valley. Tolborough Tor is the hill right of centre.
Fine double-walled hut circle in the southwestern part of the settlement.
Settlement boundary wall on the southwestern edge of the site. Looking towards Brown Willy.
Looking towards Brown Willy. That’ll be ‘Dark Brown Willy’.
Bronze Age hut circle, Leskernick Hill......
One of the many hut circles to be found on the hill. This photo does not do justice to the stonework on the far side.
Lovely stone wall on the west side of the hill...one of the many that cover this fascinating area.
Leskernick Hill as aproached from Jamaica Inn
Articles
7 August 2004
Whilst hordes of holiday makers pour into Cornwall and spread themselves all over the beaches I head for the hills. This is my second visit to Leskernick...and this time I know what i’m looking for.
I approach from Bolventor by taking the road to Codda and then following the footpath out onto the moor. As you go through the gate and out onto the hillside it is best to carry on straight ahead contouring around to Leskernick Farmhouse.
From there head up into the settlement, I wonder how many people lived up here?. The “quoit” is on the western side of the hill and after visiting that head back over the top and look down upon the settlement.
From here it is possible on a good day to spot both the stone circles and a path down through the huts leads to the northern one.
Once you have found this the stone row lies diagonally to the left towards the humps and bumps of early mining work.
The other stone circle lies just upslope to the right of the western end of the row.
The low squareish humps you will come across all over the hillside are peat stack bases known as steeds or ricks. I have never seen so many in a small area anywhere else on the moor.
In a stroke of genius I booked another week in Cornwall for the week the clocks change, and a week of stunning weather! It is early April and Bodmin Moor is tinder dry. Just before I arrived there had been several small fires in North Cornwall nd the day I left there was a large gorse fire at the other end of Cornwall (on the Lizard peninsula).
I stopped off in Dartmoor on the way, the sun was blazing and Fernworthy forest was so peaceful. Although it’s usually only the circle that is talked about Fernworthy is one of these ‘complexs’ with a stone circle , two cairns and cairn circles, two stone rows, and possible others. I was so taken in that I began to think I was an archaeologist for a day and soon I will have to unleash diagrams onto this fantastic TMA site! The south side of the forest also has a stone row. And a brisk walk onto the moor brings you to the Greywethers, a restored and stunning double circle. I also tried to find the Heath Stone on the way out. Does visiting ancient sites get much better than today?
On Sunday I went to the St Breock Downs area, checking out the St Breock Wind Farm Barrow, the colossal Men Gurta Menhir, and peering at the St. Breock Downs Menhir. I then moved south to the China Clay country (sounds like a theme park) to find the moved Menevagar / Roche Longstone and the huge Hensbarrow – this is the highest natural point in the area and the views back across the valley are stunning, with the St Breock Downs wind farm clearly visible. However, if you ignore the nice bit of the view you could just as easily think you are sitting on the moon as the clay works surround you. To round off a pretty lazy day I visited the two sites closest to where I was staying – Headon Barrow and Warbstow Bury, the later being quite stunning and the best-preserved hill slope fort in Cornwall.
On Monday I pleasured myself (steady on!) with a trip to the St.Austell Brewery – staustellbrewery.co.uk – and onto Mevagissey for sarnies on the harbour. I had forgotten my maps so instead of heading off for some yomping on Bodmin Moor I had to pull Plan B out, which was a visit to The County Museum in Truro – royalcornwallmuseum.org.uk – I knew that the famed cup marked stone from the Tregiffian Burial Chamber was there, as was a copy of the Rillaton Cup, and other things. There is a huge amount to see and as they are a registered charity it is £4 well spent (and please fill out a Gift Aid form, so they can reclaim your tax!)
Tuesday led me on a huge barrow hunt, including the massive Tich Barrow, one of the Starapark Barrows, the Advent Triple Barrow (a rarity), and the Crowdy Reservoir Barrow and then several wind swept hours in the Roughtor area, including the Showery Tor ring cairn and cheesewring, and the Showery Tor Embanked Avenue, the Showery Tor Downs Cairn, Roughtor Slopes Cairn and three possible standing stones in the area. In an action packed day I also went to the fascinating King Arthur’s Hall, , the nearby King Arthur’s Downs Stone Circles, the Casehill Cairn, and explored around the area; expect a diagram soon! On the way home I had a quick stop at Helsbury Castle.
Like it or loathe it I thought The Museum of Witchcraft – museumofwitchcraft.com – was worth a visit so the next day I went to see it in Boscastle’s picturesque harbour. I was glad to see the Museum asking people not to have fires, leave rubbish or ‘inappropriate offerings’ at ancient sites. Later I visited three great cliff castle’s close by – Willabury Cliff Castle (Boscastle) plus the fascinating ‘stitch’ system of agriculture on Forrabury Common, Willabury Cliff Castle (Tintagel), and Tintagel itself. I also saw the curious Rocky Valley Rock Carvings but I’m even less convinced now. I had a quick search for Ugworthy Barrows (actually over the border in Devon) and the rare Woolley Long Barrow.
I really don’t seem to have got the hang of these ‘holidays’ have I? Not much resting going on, so I only went out on the moors late on Thursday, and spent some of Friday re-reading one of favourite books on the beach at Crackington Haven (‘Life and Times of Michael K’ by J.M.Coetzee if anyone is interested).
So several hours on Thursday were spent on Fox Tor & East Moor and in the Leskernick area of Bodmin Moor. Two totally different environments in one way (the former gorsey and brown, the later green but scarred and pitted like the moon) separated by the A30 but both full of ancient sites, and continued finds. East Moor includes the Fox Tor Stone Row (apparently), the East Moor Stone Row, and possible Menhir / Stone setting, and the Nine Stones of Altarnun. The Leskernick area is still being explored and new things still being found. My few hours included Leskernick Stone Row, a cairn near the stone row, Leskernick Stone Circel (Northern), Leskernick Stone Circle (South), the Leskernick ‘Quoit’, the Cairns on the summit of The Beacon, and a possible Kerbed Cairn and Barrow Cemetery on The Beacon
Sites within 20km of Leskernick settlement
-
Leskernick Hill
photo 16description 3link 1 -
Leskernick Cist
photo 8forum 1 -
Leskernick North Circle
photo 12description 4link 2 -
Leskernick Stone Row
photo 9description 3link 1 -
Leskernick South Circle
photo 15description 6 -
Codda Downs
photo 5 -
Trezelland Two Stones
photo 3description 2 -
The Beacon (Hendra Downs) barrow cemetery
photo 2description 1 -
The Beacon (Hendra Downs) cairns
photo 7description 1 -
Elephant Rock (Hendra Downs)
photo 3description 1 -
Buttern Hill
photo 18description 2 -
Catshole Tor Quoit
photo 10description 1 -
Catshole Tor Cairn
photo 6description 1 -
Buttern Hill NW
photo 2 -
Catshole Tor Settlement
photo 6description 2 -
Westmoorgate Stone Circle
photo 4forum 1description 2 -
Brown Willy Settlement
photo 1description 1 -
Catshole Downs
photo 10description 3 -
Tolbrough Downs small cairn
photo 1description 1 -
Tolborough Tor Stone Row
photo 4description 1 -
Tolborough Tor Cairn
photo 10forum 1description 4 -
High Moor cairns
photo 3description 1 -
Bray Down
photo 16description 2 -
Tolborough Tor Menhir
photo 3description 1 -
Brown Willy Cairns
photo 27forum 1description 6 -
High Moor Fogou
photo 1description 2 -
Spettigue Menhir
photo 2description 1 -
Carneglos Stone Row
photo 1description 1 -
Oldpark Menhir
photo 3description 1 -
Showery Tor Downs Menhir
photo 1description 1 -
Showery Tor
photo 41ondemand_video 1description 6link 1 -
Showery Tor Downs Cairn
photo 13description 1 -
Rough Tor
photo 49ondemand_video 1description 7link 1 -
Fernacre
photo 43forum 2description 9link 2 -
Roughtor Moors
photo 15description 1 -
Roughtor NW cemetery
photo 5 -
East Moor Menhirs (western area)
photo 5forum 1description 1 -
Garrow Tor settlements
photo 2description 2 -
Roughtor NW
photo 3 -
Louden
photo 2description 1link 1 -
East Moor Menhir
photo 2description 1 -
Rough Tor long cairn
photo 12ondemand_video 1description 2 -
Tregune Menhir
description 2 -
Roughtor North
photo 11description 1 -
Louden Hill
photo 18description 2 -
Louden hill Logan stone
photo 2 -
Tregune Menhir No2
photo 1description 1 -
East Moor Enclosure
photo 3description 1 -
Louden menhir
photo 3 -
East Moor Stone Row
photo 14description 3 -
East Moor Ring Cairn
photo 6description 1 -
East Moor Cairn
photo 7description 1 -
Smith’s Cairn
photo 1description 1 -
Fox Tor
photo 3description 2 -
Louden Stone Circle
photo 21description 8link 3 -
Leaze Menhir
photo 2description 2 -
Leaze
photo 27description 4 -
Dinnever Hill kerbed cairn
photo 12description 1 -
Crowdy Reservoir Barrow
photo 6description 2 -
Nine Stones of Altarnun
photo 38forum 2description 4 -
Colquite Menhir
photo 1description 1 -
Brockabarrow Common
photo 1 -
Emblance Downs
photo 18description 4link 1 -
Goodaver
photo 16forum 1description 4 -
Carey Tor
photo 7description 1 -
Dozmary Pool
photo 5description 8link 1 -
Stannon
photo 56forum 1description 14link 2 -
Advent Triple Barrow
photo 5description 2 -
King Arthur’s Hall
photo 44forum 1description 14link 1 -
Leaze Cist
photo 8description 1 -
Rushyford Gate
photo 1description 2 -
Casehill Cairn
photo 7description 2 -
Clitters Cairn
photo 13description 2 -
Stripple Stones
photo 52forum 1description 6link 6 -
Colquite Cairn
photo 2description 1 -
Ridge
photo 5 -
Alex Tor
photo 8description 1link 1 -
Bowda Stone Circle
photo 1forum 1description 3 -
Black Tor Cairns
photo 5description 1 -
Treswallock Downs
photo 16description 4link 3 -
Black Tor
photo 2description 2 -
Arthur’s Bed
photo 4forum 1description 4 -
Trippet Stones
photo 65forum 2description 15link 3 -
Moorgate Menhir
photo 11description 6 -
Brown Gelly Cairns
photo 9description 2 -
Trewortha Tor
photo 1description 1 -
Bunnings Park Earthworks
photo 3description 1 -
Hawks Tor row
photo 6description 1 -
Devil’s Jump
photo 6description 1 -
Manor Common
photo 15description 3link 1 -
Allabury
photo 2description 1 -
Trewortha Cairn and Cist
photo 9description 2 -
Starapark Barrows
photo 3description 5 -
Hawk’s Tor
photo 2description 2link 1 -
Twelve Men’s cist
photo 9description 3 -
Twelve Men’s Moor
photo 20description 2 -
Delford Bridge Menhir
photo 13description 2 -
Newel Tor hut circles
photo 2 -
Pyramid Stone
photo 6description 3 -
Kerrow Downs
photo 5 -
Kilmar Quoit
photo 5description 2 -
Sibleyback Menhir
photo 6description 2 -
Kilmar Tor
photo 7description 1 -
Lady Down (St Breward)
photo 3 -
Greenbarrow Downs Cairns
photo 7description 2link 1 -
Tich Barrow
photo 1description 1 -
Greenbarrow
photo 8description 2link 1 -
Langstone Down Menhir
description 1 -
Trehudreth Downs Stone Row
photo 11description 3link 1 -
Bearah Tramway cairn
photo 19description 3 -
Langstone Downs (Withey Brook)
photo 8description 1link 1 -
Trehudreth Downs Stone Setting
photo 2description 2 -
Trehudreth Downs Cairn
photo 4description 2link 1 -
Slaughter Bridge Stone
photo 5forum 1description 4 -
Trehudreth Downs Menhir
photo 5description 2link 1 -
Trehudreth Downs Stone Setting /
Row photo 4description 2link 1 -
Trehudreth Downs Cairn
photo 5description 2 -
Tregeare Camp
description 1 -
Langstone Downs settlement
photo 4 -
Trehudreth Downs Menhir (markstone?)
photo 1description 1 -
Langstone Downs Cairns
photo 24ondemand_video 1description 2 -
Bearah Tor
photo 6 -
Hendraburnick Quoit
photo 6forum 1description 6link 1 -
Carburrow Tor
photo 6description 4 -
Carburrow Quoit
photo 2description 1 -
Letter Moor
photo 2forum 1description 2 -
Craddock Moor Stone Row
photo 9description 3 -
Craddock Moor settlement
photo 4 -
Bearah Common
photo 24ondemand_video 1forum 1description 4 -
Cardinham Moor
photo 4description 1 -
Colvannick Tor Stone Row
photo 15description 2 -
Sharptor field system
description 2 -
Helsbury Castle
photo 3description 4 -
Draynes Common Cairns
photo 1description 1 -
Craddock Moor Embanked Avenue
photo 2description 2 -
Craddock Moor cairn cemetery
photo 31description 4 -
Craddock Moor Stone Setting
photo 3description 1 -
Trebinnick Mound
photo 3description 1 -
Castle Goff
description 1 -
Tregarrick Tor Menhir
photo 2description 2 -
Craddock Moor Circle
photo 29forum 1description 5link 1 -
Stowe’s Pound
photo 35ondemand_video 1forum 4description 4 -
Mutton Down Menhir
photo 3description 2 -
The Cheesewring
photo 40forum 1description 13link 2 -
Corner Quoit
photo 4description 1 -
Warbstow Bury
photo 4description 5 -
Trewalla Cairns
photo 10description 1 -
Rillaton N Cairn
photo 6description 1 -
Rillaton Barrow
photo 22forum 2description 12 -
Berry Castle
photo 2forum 1description 2 -
Cheesewring settlement
photo 2 -
The Pipers (St Cleer)
photo 29description 6 -
Walla Barrow
photo 4description 1 -
Bury Castle
photo 6description 1 -
The Hurlers
photo 137forum 3description 28link 4 -
Condolden Barrow
photo 7description 4 -
Minions Mound
photo 9description 3 -
Long Tom
photo 18description 3 -
Crowpound Menhir
photo 2description 2 -
Crowpound
photo 1description 4 -
Settlement West of St Neot
description 1 -
Council Barrow
photo 1description 2 -
Caradon Hill (northern group)
photo 20description 1 -
Caradon Hill (southern group)
photo 22description 1 -
Trethevy Quoit
photo 111forum 11description 14link 1 -
Longstone (St Mabyn)
photo 4description 1 -
King Arthur’s Quoit
photo 3description 1 -
Rocky Valley Rock Carvings
photo 7forum 1description 6link 2 -
Headon Barrow
photo 1description 1 -
Willabury (Boscastle)
photo 3description 1 -
Bossiney Mound
description 3 -
Tregeare Rounds
photo 1description 1 -
Treligga Common
photo 8description 1 -
Willabury (Tintagel)
photo 3description 1 -
Largin Castle
photo 1description 1 -
Lower Helland Down
photo 1description 1 -
St. Materiana Church Yard
photo 3forum 1description 2 -
Penhargard Castle
photo 1description 2 -
Tintagel
photo 7forum 1description 7link 4 -
Castle Canyke
photo 1description 3 -
Taphouse Barrows
description 1 -
Pencarrow Rings
photo 4description 2 -
Kelly Rounds
description 3link 1 -
Ashbury Hillfort
description 1 -
Buckabarrows
photo 3description 1 -
Castle Head