Note thin vein of quartz running through the stone. The ubiquitous presence and use of quartz marked stones in monuments in this part of Aberdeenshire is very striking.
Image credit: A. Brookes/AMJ (4.10.2012)
thesweetcheat
Looking NW. Note what looks like a thinly carved saltire towards the base of the stone (didn’t notice this on site).
Image credit: A. Brookes/AMJ (4.10.2012)
Lovely quartz band on the stone, like a brushload of icecream.
Image credit: A. Brookes/AMJ (4.10.2012)
Carlin Stone and substantial but dwarfed follower.
Image credit: A. Brookes/AMJ (4.10.2012)
One of the fallen stones is “faced” with an exposed vein of quartz, giving the stone the look of a piece of iced cake.
Image credit: A. Brookes/AMJ (4.10.2012)
Detail of quartz pebbling on one of the fallen circle stones.
Image credit: A. Brookes/AMJ (4.10.2012)
Fallen west flanker and upright recumbent.
Image credit: A. Brookes/AMJ (4.10.2012)
Bennachie from Mains of Hatton RSC – view now slightly obscured.
Image credit: A. Brookes/AMJ (4.10.2012)
Lovely big quartz block in the circle.
Image credit: A. Brookes/AMJ (4.10.2012)
Various stones in the grass surrounding the circle.
Image credit: A. Brookes/AMJ (4.10.2012)
Looking NW-ish across the recumbent.
Image credit: A. Brookes/AMJ (4.10.2012)
Recumbent with fallen east flanker beyond.
Image credit: A. Brookes/AMJ (4.10.2012)
A fine monument is trying to get out from under the clearance stones and vegetation here. Looking north-ish.
Image credit: A. Brookes/AMJ (4.10.2012)
Sadly in the 11 months since Les’ last photos, vegetation has tried its best to reclaim the stones. Looking east-ish.
Image credit: A. Brookes/AMJ (4.10.2012)
General view of the circle from the ENE.
Image credit: A. Brookes/AMJ (4.10.2012)
Recumbent and flankers, looking approx WNW. The fallen eastern flanker is a surprisingly thin slab.
Image credit: A. Brookes/AMJ (4.10.2012)
Clearance inside the circle. Some of these stones are undoubtedly from the circle itself.
Image credit: A. Brookes/AMJ (4.10.2012)
The inner face of the recumbent, looking SE in the general direction of the Raich stone circle.
Image credit: A. Brookes/AMJ (4.10.2012)
Viewed from the road post-harvest. A tight timetable kept us from a closer inspection.
Image credit: A. Brookes/AMJ (4.10.2012)
The NE upright, also with further fallen stones in the long grass at its feet.
Image credit: A. Brookes/AMJ (4.10.2012)
The SW upright, with further fallen stones in the grass.
Image credit: A. Brookes/AMJ (4.10.2012)
The promontory fort seen from Thurso.
Image credit: A. Brookes (3.10.2012)
View of Holburn Head from Thurso. Scrabster can be seen far left, the cliffs of the Orkneys are faintly visible far right.
Image credit: A. Brookes (3.10.2012)
Bell Mount, seen from cliffs between Thurso and Scrabster.
Image credit: A. Brookes (3.10.2012)
Looking across the mound from the south.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.10.2012)
Looking NE along the (slightly) longer axis of the cairn.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.10.2012)
Grey Cairn from the NW, where the stonework is most free of vegetation.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.10.2012)
Grey Cairn from the SW. The edges of the cairn are deep in gorse, making it difficult to appreciate the full shape and size of the structure.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.10.2012)
We uncovered a second stone from the grass, but that was all we could see of the structure of the chamber.
Image credit: A. Brookes (1.10.2012)
The inner face of the slab, with narrow chamber towards camera, overgrown with grass.
Image credit: A. Brookes (1.10.2012)
The outer face of the upright slab.
Image credit: A. Brookes (1.10.2012)
The mound with obvious upright in its woodland setting.
Image credit: A. Brookes (1.10.2012)
Approaching from the northeast.
Image credit: A. Brookes (1.10.2012)