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In Buttermere village turn down towards the Fish Hotel, passing the hotel, follow the road and park at the pay and display. Once parked you will see a large domed outcrop (you cannot miss it). Follow the footpath that takes you over the stream and into the campsite. The cup marks are found at ground level on the footpath that goes around the outcrop.
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The grid refs for these carvings will not be added to the site for added protection for these very rare and unique carvings. The area contains carvings of deer, horses, horse shoe as well as the more common type of cup and ring carving. Panels that contain both cup and ring as well as horses and deer are very very rare, and put these carvings amongst the most important we have in Galloway and indeed the UK.
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Park at Blairbuie farm, but please ask first. Follow the forest track going past the reservoirs of Blairbuie burn, after short distance you will see areas of tree felling and clearance. Follow the track till you come to Creagan Breac, and turn onto small fire-break or path on the left hand side of the track. Follow the path up to the summit of Creagan Breac, as you reach the top you will see views to Loch Crinan and beyond. At this point look below and you will see a large hump back outcrop in the forest clearing below you. Once down in the clearing work you way along to the large outcrop and follow this ridge into the forest, about 50m into the forest you will find the carvings. Hard to find, covered in pine needles etc, but look for the famous yellow bucket, which is still there. Remember your gps will not work in this old dense pine forest. Watch out for some of the trees which look as if the may fall at anytime.
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The carvings are set in within the grounds of a special place. The setting of the carvings looking back towards the ruins of Poltalloch House, makes it one of the most impressive settings for any rock art carvings i have visited.
The carvings are still covered in thick moss, hopefully protecting them. A nearby part of the same hillock has had its turf lifted by someone looking for the carvings, and because the main carvings still have their moss covering them, i would assume they didn't manage to find what there were looking for.
The grid refs are almost spot on, easily found, and also has the added benefits of the ruined house and nearby church to visit.
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The "NEW" carvings are found at between 100-200m from the main carvings. I took the longer route to find the carvings by looking for the fallen trees which were in an area behind the main carvings. The easier directions are as follows, park as you would at the main car park, follow the path until you come to the red tape which is where the cycle path turns.Follow the left trail up the hillside, follow the cycle track (which for obvious reasons is closed at the present time), until you see a square of yellow tape only 1m from the cycle track, this is where the carvings are. It is surprising to see the roots of the tree which covered this panel, who knows what else there is to find in the area.
I would imagine that the local archaeologist , Andy Bunton will be doing a fuller examination of the panel in due course.
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Today as part of the Scottish Archaeology month we visited Drumtroddan carved rocks, the talk was given by Jane Murray, a local archaeologist.
We discovered as part of the event that most of the panels at Drumtroddan have been damaged by someone or people trying to clean the carvings with what looks like it must have been a wire brush, this of course is getting reported to Historic Scotland.
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From Galloway, i walk the land in search of prehistoric rock art.
Brian Kerr Photography
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