Loudon Wood

Also known as:
Pitfour Circle
Nearest town:
Peterhead (17km E)
OS reference:
NJ961497
OS sheet:
30
Latitude:
57° 32' 14.96 N
Longitude:
2° 3' 54.53 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Loudon Wood (Stone Circle) by LesHamilton

Photo of the path through Loudon Wood on May 31, 2022, sent to me by Graham Burnett.

Image credit: Graham Burnett
LesHamilton
LesHamilton Jul 15, 2023
Image of Loudon Wood (Stone Circle) by LesHamilton

The path, formerly flanked by woodland, now tracks across a wasteland.

Image credit: Les Hamilton
LesHamilton
LesHamilton Jul 15, 2023
Image of Loudon Wood (Stone Circle) by LesHamilton

The footpath leading towards the stone circle from the track to the south is now clearly visible. Formerly it was difficult to discern because of ‘ingrowing conifers’.

Image credit: Les Hamilton
LesHamilton
LesHamilton Jul 15, 2023
Image of Loudon Wood (Stone Circle) by LesHamilton

The branch path leading to the circle, one of the orthostats visible in the distance.

Image credit: Les Hamilton
LesHamilton
LesHamilton Jul 15, 2023
Image of Loudon Wood (Stone Circle) by LesHamilton

Loudon Wood Stone Circle in its clearing, at last freed from the woodland’s embrace.

Image credit: Les Hamilton
LesHamilton
LesHamilton Jul 15, 2023
Image of Loudon Wood (Stone Circle) by LesHamilton

Loudon Wood Stone Circle recumbent setting seen from the north.

Image credit: Les Hamilton
LesHamilton
LesHamilton Jul 15, 2023
Image of Loudon Wood (Stone Circle) by costaexpress

Thanks to a certain Mr Hamilton’s excellent directions I was able to walk straight here, very pleasant it was as well through the dark footpath through the trees a welcome shelter from the hot sun

costaexpress
costaexpress Jul 20, 2021
Image of Loudon Wood (Stone Circle) by costaexpress

What a wonderful site, I spent a long time here and would have stayed longer except every insect that could fly or bite seemed attracted to me today

costaexpress
costaexpress Jul 20, 2021
Image of Loudon Wood (Stone Circle) by thelonious

07/04/2018 – I worry about this one. Crack on the recumbent looks bigger than last time I visited. Centre of the circle has been used for a fire recently. ‘Offerings’ left on each stone. It’s a nice place but I don’t think it’s hidden location in the trees is doing it any favours. It looked a little sad today even in the lovely sunshine.

thelonious
thelonious Apr 8, 2018
Image of Loudon Wood (Stone Circle) by LesHamilton

This panoramic composite image shows all seven remaining stones of Loudon Wood Stone Circle in their woodland clearing.

Image credit: Les Hamilton
LesHamilton
LesHamilton May 3, 2014
Image of Loudon Wood (Stone Circle) by LesHamilton

This panoramic image of Loudon Wood Stone Circle shows clearly how the site slopes gently to the south.

Image credit: Les Hamilton
LesHamilton
LesHamilton May 3, 2014
Image of Loudon Wood (Stone Circle) by GLADMAN

Blimey, this is difficult to photograph..... but a great site. The recumbent and flankers, one not doing an awful lot of flanking now, it has to be said.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Aug 21, 2010
Image of Loudon Wood (Stone Circle) by GLADMAN

Note the exquisite texture and shaping of the near-most upright........ wonderful stuff.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jul 18, 2010
Image of Loudon Wood (Stone Circle) by Chris

The view that greets you from the path (and makes it worth the walk).

Chris
Chris Oct 8, 2006
Image of Loudon Wood (Stone Circle) by Chris

Triangular stones seem to be a feature of Scottish circles.

Chris
Chris Oct 8, 2006

Articles

Loudon Wood

Vandalism at Louden Wood Stone Circle

LesHamilton
LesHamilton Jul 23, 2018

Discovered on July 23, 2018

Today, making my first visit to Loudon Wood Stone Circle for five years, I was appalled to find the site desecrated by the remains of a campfire: in the centre of the monument’s court were the blackened remains of the fire, complete with a huge pile of litter.

Whoever the thoughtless uneducated louts that perpetrated this atrocity were, there must have been quite a contingent of them judging by the quantiy of residue they left behind. This consisted of two disposable barbecues, numerous plastic bottles and wrappers (some still containing the remains of cold meat) and, worst of all, glass beer bottles, many of which had been smashed to pieces (presumably deliberately).

It is heartbreaking to see such an iconic, Historic Environment Scotland Scheduled Monument defaced in this way.

As I had visited on a very warm day, in shirtsleeves and without a rucksack or any other container with which to remove the detritus, I satisfied myself by carrying out the two largest items (the foil barbecues).

Can I appeal to anyone planning to visit Loudon Wood Stone Circle in the weeks ahead to equip themselves with a suitable container (such as a reusable supermarket shopping bag) to help clear the site. There is a bin at the White Cow Wood car-park where the contents may be deposited.

Loudon Wood

LesHamilton
LesHamilton Jul 15, 2023
Visited July 15, 2023

Loudon Wood Stone Circle was for a long time considered to be one of the most elusive stone circles in Northeast Scotland. But no longer!
In the wake of Storm Arwen in November 2021, the woodlands suffered tremendous devastation, and I recently heard from a couple who tried to visit the stone circle in Summer 2022, but could make no headway in face of felled trees. I have just visited Loudon Wood, and found it totally unrecognisable. The area of woodland containing the stone circle has been totally clear-felled and is now a wilderness of toppled tree stumps and piles of wood fragments. The walk along the track, which used to be a delightful forest walk with trees lining it on both sides, now snakes through a desolate wasteland. The one saving grace is the fact that the paths to the circle itself—which were becoming hard to discern on account of the trees on either side spreading into each other— have been cleared of detritus, and allow you to walk easily to the stone circle

Loudon Wood

LesHamilton
LesHamilton May 3, 2014

Visited: May 3, 2014

Loudon Wood Stone Circle is high on my list of favourites, probably because it is so secluded in woodland. But for many would-be visitors, it is a seclusion too far as they become hopelessly lost in the network of paths through the trees. But if you know your way, it lies just two kilometres from the White Cow Wood car-park, and can be walked easily in about 30 minutes.

The problem lies in the disgraceful lack of accurate signage: the only indication of a stone circle is at the car-park, where a direction sign sends the visitor off along the path heading east. After this, there are no more direction signs at all, and many visitors give up the search in bewilderment.

The red line on this Google Map shows how to get there.

From the White Cow Wood car-park, follow the road south for just short of a kilometre until you arrive beside a cottage at the edge of the woodland. Now turn left and follow the broad forestry road into Loudon Wood for 400 metres, when you will find a good track heading to the left. Follow this for 260 metres until you come to a path branching off to the right. This is easily spotted if you keep checking the green, vegetated verge on the right of the track: a prominent brown patch crosses it where walkers have eroded the vegetation. Follow this path through the trees for 300 metres in an almost dead straight line, again keeping an eye open for an eroded verge on the right. There, you should be able to see the path angling through the trees, and in 50 metres you are in the clearing that is home to the stone circle.

On the morning of my visit there was scarce a cloud in the sky, and the circle looked magnificent. I have uploaded two composite panoramic images, each showing all seven remaining stones of Loudon Wood Stone Circle.

Loudon Wood

drewbhoy
drewbhoy May 12, 2009

Coles says in his writings that this was a hard place to find and the locals didn’t have much of a clue either! When I finally found the circle after several visits of looking in the wrong woods, walking the wrong way I ignored all given directions and asked at one of the houses before the official car park. A lady answered and she explained that it was about a 3/4 mile behind her house and gave the proper directions. With my friend John Porter we reached the site only to find a white witch, complete with strange hat and robe, doing some funny things with a divining stick. The witch said that he was looking for denergy-looking for energy coming from the rocks and had been at Auchmachar in the morning as well. He also had placed lots of white markers on the ground on places energy had been felt. Pagans also visit Louden Wood, probably because it is well hidden. I’ve never seen anything like this before and to be honest I’d thought he’d lost touch with reality. However some of the suggestions and plans found in the “Tims World” web site suggest that there is something about divining rocks. Maybe it isn’t so far fetched after all.

3/5/08

Loudon Wood

Chris
Chris Oct 8, 2006

I never met an RSC I didn’t like, and this was no exception. Lots of fun walking up and down the conifer plantation was had in trying to find it, but it was well worth the effort.

The photos tell most of the story, but can’t convey how big the ring was, and how impressive it must have been when complete. Several complete stones are laying, fallen, and the stumps remain of the others. The recumbent has a banded crack running around it, which suggests it may not remain whole for many more winters: see it while you can.

Of the three remaining stones still upright, they seemed an example of each of the common types you seem to see at most sites in NE Scotland. The flanker is a rounded stone, with a tapering top, one of the stones is definitely triangular, and the other is oblong, with squared sides. Given the re-occurence of these shapes (to my eyes at least) across the RSC’s I wonder if the stones were shaped and erected to a common specification in addition to the grading of heights, quartz pavements, cup-marks & SSW alingment of the recumbents. Nothing was random.

This site is now signposted from the road, but you are left very much on your own in the forest. I would recommend: OS map, compass if your SOD is not up to much, waterproof boots in all but the driest conditions and waterproof clothing. The forest tracks are ok, but the grass can be thigh high when you leave them. You will see that the circle is marked to the north of the main track, opposite a southerly track. When you stand at this junction, two paths to the north will greet you: take the left hand one and in 75-100m look for a path to the left-this will take you to the circle in less than 30m. I would say that the circle is slightly to the west of where it is shown on the map.

Should you visit? If you’ve one day to fit in as many sites as possible. then no. If you’re here for the week, then absolutely – it is an essential companion to Strichen, Berrybrae, Aikey Brae and Netherton.

Loudon Wood

greywether
greywether Mar 22, 2005

When I was last here (1987), there was no wood – at least surrounding the circle. So it’s the opposite of Aikey Brae. Win some, lose some.

Not a great site – and not helped by the trees. Recumbent, one upright and one fallen flanker and two other upright stones.

See it if you’re in the area.

Access. Park at NJ 957 504. Follow the forest tracks, as shown on Landranger, to approach the circle from the S. On the track into the forest to reach the site, watch out for a left turn after about 50m. Easily missed! One gate but rather rough going in the forest.

Visited 19th March 2005

Sites within 20km of Loudon Wood

Like all websites everywhere, we use cookies.