thesweetcheat

Seen from the driveway to the east. Ask at the house, the people are very friendly.

Impressive slab at the SW end of the chamber, projecting almost 1.5m above ground.

Looking into the overgrown chamber from its NE end.

Leaning slab at the NE end of the chamber.

The chamber from the SE. The two lower slabs on the left mark the end of the original entrance passage into the chamber.

Central and SW surviving orthostats of the facade.

The conglomerate stone in the foreground is the SW surviving orthostat of the facade. The stones of the chamber can be seen behind.

First sight from the south on a misty morning.

Unmistakable Bennachie seen from the whopping Candle Stone north of Ellon.

Towards a ubiquitous Bennachie.

Somewhere between an Assyrian Lion-Man and Mr Cadbury’s Parrot.

Last site of the day, it’s a whopper.

Although structurally entirely distinct, something of the circle’s atmosphere reminded me of Four Stones in Radnorshire.

Looking north, with the split stone in the foreground. The Hill of Ythsie Monument can be seen on the hill beyond – a line from the circle drawn through the left of the hill would hit the Shethin stone circle.

From the north.

Gotta love a bit of quartz.

Even on a gloomy day this circle is brilliant.

The brilliant South Ythsie stone circle.

With distant Bennachie as backdrop.

Looking south. If you could see through the hill, you’d be able to see the lovely South Ythsie stone circle.

Looking towards distant Bennachie (skyline just right of centre).

The southwestern arc.

Looking NE-ish across the circle.

Shethin standing stone.

The flatter profile.

A very fine standing stone, possibly a remnant of a circle.

A very decent cairn.

The top of the cairn, with some bits of stone construction material uncovered.

Most of the cairn material is hidden under a covering of coarse grasses or cereal. Enough is visible to make it clear that this is a stone built, rather than earthen, monument.

The one substantial stone on top of the cairn.

The prominent hilltop cairn is now in the middle of a ploughed field.

Cremation area beside the circle.

Lovely piece of orange quartz veined stone in the cairn within the circle.

The central space in the circle.

Rainy day Daviot (#12 & 35).

Liggars’ Stane.

Rather sadly imprisoned behind wood and wire.

Looking SE.

A grey day, with the hills missing beyond.

Seen from Insch railway station.

Grainy shot of Gallow Hill long cairn through the train window. The conical mound of Sordale Hill chambered cairn is clearly visible to the right.