drewbhoy

Unlike its near neighbour at the far southern end of the hill, West Bradieston is under threat from farm machinery, equipment and cows. The farmer at Bradieston gave permission to park at his farm and from there I walked about a 1/2 mile south on the minor road. A well used track heading uphill and west leads almost straight to the site, nearer the top it becomes interesting to those who like mud.

Sitting near the summit of the hill the cairn is 9m in width and is 0.5m high. Scattered kerbs and cairn material give evidence to the damage here. It also doesn’t help the the cows have turned most of the surrounding area into a mud bath. Still its an impressive area surrounded in prehistory. Tower Of Johnston and its neighbours are to the west with wonderful views of the North Sea/St Cyrus Nature Reserve to the east.

Visited 6/4/2017.

From Garvock Hill I retraced my steps and went over the road, B9120, heading north east, jumping over the western gate. They say you learn something new every day and on this day I found out about the St James Lochs. I’d never heard of them.

The cairn is situated just short of the lochs with superb views north, west and south. Sadly, like Garvock, it is badly damaged, and like Garvock it has a better known neighbour, the Cairn Of Shiels.

Sitting at 8m wide and no more than 0.4m high there isn’t much to see. Displaced kerbs and cairn material sit amongst the turf.

This is a beautiful area, a beautiful walk. Having a look at the Tower of Johnston and Cairn of Shiels and their lesser known neighbours makes for a fine way to spend an afternoon.

Visited 6/4/2017.

Heading west and uphill on the B9120 from Laurencekirk park at the viewpoint to look down on the Mearns capital.

Head south along the grassy ridge towards the Tower Of Johnston and the Garvock cairn will be easily found, situated a mile from its more famous or noticed neighbour.

It is set in a superb position but sadly little remains. The turf covered remnants sit at 9m wide and 0.5m tall. Possibly some kerbs remain in place with cairn material noticeable. Like a lot of its neighbours the views are spectacular, farmland, the mountains and the sea mixed in with buzz of traffic heading north to Aberdeen, south to Dundee.

On beautiful day like this was, there is no finer place than the Mearns and its prehistory.

Visited 6/4/2017.

Leave the B9119 after Tarland at the first minor road heading north at Leys farm. This road ends at Braehead which leads to the cairn of the same name and Corrachree Hill.

About a 1/2m mile up the road there is an old quarry to the east (plenty parking room), opposite this to the west is the homestead. Although a short walk the terrain is fairly rough as trees have recently been taken down.

On the highest hillock is the enclosure with its hut circle. Sitting at 18 meters wide with a 1.5m ruinous wall the enclosure has the adjoining hut circle on its northern side. Piles of stones are probably field clearance. The hut circle is about 10m wide. This site has taken a battering but it is in the middle of prehistoric central and a good starting point for a long walk.

Visited 17/3/2017.

Park near St Nathalan’s Kirk for this site and also the nearby Braehead Farm souterrain in the field to the south.

Cross over the busy A93 and go through the Braehead Of Tullich farm which leads to the track winding its way up the Crannach Hill. Today the track was also busy with thousands of male toads carrying their partners to the small but very lovely Culsten Loch, which has seen its dam repaired in recent years.

Keep going until a track veers north west. Follow this until a small clump of trees to the east of the track. The kerb cairn is just before this and slightly to the west.

Sitting at no more than 2m wide this is a difficult site to find. However a solitary kerb just pokes through the turf and heather. Its colleagues are under the vegetation and I uncovered another 4. This is a lovely place with superb views to the south east following the River Dee.

Just after the Braehead Of Tullich, heading towards the cairn, there is a site that looks like a henge or a severely houked cairn. It is in fact a filled in quarry.

This place is rarely visited and maybe we should be grateful as it leaves the toads and other wildlife in peace.

Visited 17/3/2017.

On a day of missing cairns the fact that this cairn remained was a major source of contentment. However the turbines aren’t far away as the next hill to the east had 2 in mid construction. In driving around the area I noticed that this wee hill could be seen from various sites. I wonder if in ancient times it was a place of importance.

Good all round views surround the Paul Matthew Hill, the east has the North Sea Coast and everywhere else has (or had) prehistory.

I approached from the north from the Balhagarty Plantation walking north east along the minor road until the first farm track heading south east. This leads to the disused Forth Hill quarry. I skirted along the southern edge and found a track of sorts to a small valley which houses a small drained loch or pond. After climbing a few gates it was up to the top of the hill.

The Paul Matthew Hill cairn can be seen for miles around which surprised me as it is quite small sitting at 6.5m wide and 0.5m tall. It is turf covered and appears to have been houked. Stones can felt underneath the turf. Still, it has a feeling of defiance considering it is surrounded in turbines. Hopefully it survives unlike some of its very near neighbours.

Visited 30/3/2017.

After the disgrace near the trig point on Kenshot Hill I headed east for about a 1/2 mile past some man made lakes. The first cairn is near the fence.

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This cairn is badly damaged and sits at almost 5m wide being no more than 0.4m high. Two kerbs remain steadfast on the western arc.

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The second cairn is over the fence and slightly further to the east. This a much larger cairn and probably in better condition despite the fact it is covered in turf. Originally this must have been a large site but now it sits at 12m wide and is well over 0.5m high. Cairn material can seen along with hints of a kerb.

I went to look for four cairns and discovered two had been removed. Possibly the trig cairn had been destroyed on the same day. To add to my woes when I reached the gate to look down the hill to were the car was parked the previously clean green grass had been visited by a muck spreader. It was that type of day.

Visited 30/3/2017.

Just after the Queen’s viewpoint on the road to Tarland, to the west on the B9119, I took the road to Alamein Farm to see what Tiompan had been excavating. A few yards west from here is the famous souterrain at Culsh. At the farm I asked permission a bemused tractor driver for permission to park, which was given. He didn’t have a clue what I was talking about.

From here take the track uphill to the north and keep going all the way, over the gate, until a deer fence is reached. From here go though the gate at the fence to east and look for a single tall tree. The site is just to the north.

The size of this site is breathetaking, the ring cairn had a double kerb. Just outside the ring cairn might also have been a RSC because of the 2 possible sockets for flankers and a gap left for the recumbent. Also noticeable is the amount of stone flooring. When I first arrived my first thoughts that this was a large henge due to the banks of stones. According to Canmore, canmore.org.uk/site/138717/blackhills, these might have been used by onlookers to look at Lochnagar, which today was impressive as it shimmered white in the Spring sun. The site would have had (and still has) stunning views to the circles at Tomnaverie, Waulkmill and to almost all of the surrounding cairns. Pittenderich is immediately west. Also clearly visible is Mither Tap (Bennachie) to the North East.

After phoning Tiompan , later that day (he loves the Doric dialect), I discovered that 13,000 pieces of quartz had been used at the site to cover funeral pyres. This must have been some place. Hopefully more excavations will take place to uncover more secrets.

With that it was time to look for other sites on the hill. These, sadly, appear to have suffered badly at the hands of the forestry people as I couldn’t make out any definite structures.

So, eventually, it was back down the hill on a sunny day enjoying the sights/sites of the Howe Of Cromar. The tractor driver continued to work in the fields which had probably been worked on for thousands of years.

Visited 9/3/2017.

Following the directions given by Les I found three candidates for the cairn cemetery.

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This cairn as described by Les is almost 5m wide and about 0.5m tall. Some kerb survives on the site which is the least tree covered. Cairn material also survives poking through the turf.

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Sadly this cairn has been badly trashed and has misplaced kerbs scattered. Trees cover the site which sits at 4m wide and 0.5m high.

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In much the same condition as the previous site but the one I feel would do best if excavated.

Visited 17/3/2017.

Follow the directions to the wonderful Philla Cairn and keep heading west until a large rock plate. Haremuir is situated next to this with clear views of the much changed Kenshot Hill.

Most of the cairn lies covered in gorse and furse but the central section remains clear. One kerb sits in place to the north east whilst others can be felt underneath the turf. The site is 14m wide and is almost 0.5m high. Worth a visit if going to the Philla Cairn.

Visited 6/4/2017.

What remains of the southern cairn can be found on the first Knock Hill crowned with gorse and furze. It is over 13 metres wide and at its tallest 0.5m. As usual the site has been ‘houked’. Like the other nearby but completely different sites it has stunning views.

This will be the first site met if the directions to Knock Hill North are followed.

Visited 2/3/2017.

The cup marked rock has now been placed in the neighbouring Migvie Churchyard. Plenty parking at the church, which is beautiful on the outside as well as in the inside. Pictish stones are in the churchyard and also in the church.

Most importantly, for us, the cup marked rock has re-appeared and sits at NJ4369606817 near the wall on the east side. It is now in a much safer place.

Visited 8/4/2017.

Went to look for this cairn and sadly it has gone. Probably last week or maybe on the same day as I visited, except much earlier (I appeared in the afternoon). The people who had made the road were still at the bottom of the hill with their various machinery. Turbines are being put up almost everywhere in this area at the moment and the site was probably trashed by the making of the road to reach the site of the yet to be built turbine.

Sadly the cairn at NO787720 has also been destroyed and replaced by a quarry or the beginnings of a man made loch.

This information has been passed onto the people at Canmore.

Visited 30/3/2017.

Braehead Cairn has superb views looking west over to Morven and south to the Mulloch Hill. Also to the south west are Knockargety and Knock Hill.

Sitting at 21m wide the centre of the cairn has all but been removed to be replaced by several piles of field clearance. Remnants of the centre that haven’t been ‘houked’ still sit at 1m tall. However several kerbs remain in place including the beautifully shaped stone on the south west arc.

From Tarland head south west on the B9119 taking the first minor road heading north. Follow the minor road until it ends and becomes a farm track, I parked here. Head to Braeside Farm at the top of track. Just to the west of the farm follow the edge of the field next to the trees which will lead straight to the cairn and its wonderful views.

Visited 24/2/2017

This cairn is set amongst the Bronze Age settlement at Drummy Wood, most of which is now covered in turf, gorse etc. A winter visit might uncover several hut circles and enclosures.

Luckily the cairn can be still be spotted sitting at 6m wide and 0.5m tall. Several fallen stones are to be found at 10m wide. Once again these are under the vegetation. Underfoot conditions are good as the trees are well spaced. This is a nice little site situated beside some famous near neighbours.

From Tarland head south on the B9119 and take the farm track north west immediately after Tonley. I pulled in at the first sharp corner. From here I walked north east on a walkers track. A small woodland track heads north after about 200 yards, follow this and it will lead, almost, straight to the cairn.

Visited 24/2/2017.

The Kirk Wood cairn is situated to the north of Leochel Cushnie Parish Church. I parked at the church, near another cairn, walked a short distance west and then followed a track heading uphill/north. As the track veered east at the top of the first climb I headed west to the top of the small hill.

The cairn is situated in a small clearing but has unfortunately a fallen tree sitting on top of it to keep it company. There seems to be a good atmosphere at this place and a feeling of extreme old age. The trees feel old and that the area is covered in prehistory adds to the feeling. Sitting at almost 13m and no more than 0.5m high the cairn must have had superb views before the forestry. One of the views to the south being my next stop.

Visited 9/3/2017.

Cromar, the area that surrounds the villages of Logie Coldstone and Dinnet has loads of fantastic sites. Some are in tremendous condition, some have suffered badly in the past, and sadly this site which is being gradually eroded away by careless agriculture in the present.

This once impressive (and perhaps still is if tidied up) cairn sits in the saddle between what I call the two Knock Hills. On top of the northern Knock an impressive kerb cairn, on the southern hill a badly damaged round cairn.

Sitting at the bottom of the small valley this site has a completely different feel. As usual Morven dominates the western view with other directions blocked by the hills.

Slightly to the north the cairn has been damaged by a track used mainly by cattle, next to that a proper track and barrier has been built and to the western side farm waste has been piled up. The south side doesn’t escape as that is boggy and has been obviously clipped by farm machinery. Unbelievably the cairn still maintains some shape and height. Sitting at 13m wide and almost 1m tall it still stands. As usual some houking has also occurred. Cairn material also pokes it head through the turf.

Since damage to this cairn seems to have be done recently photos and a report have been sent to HS and AA in the hope (small) something might be done to protect it.

Visited 2/3/2017.

After asking permission to park at the Gallow Hill House I was accompanied to the cairn by its owner who didn’t even realise there was a cairn on his land. This didn’t come as much of a surprise as the site proved to be difficult to find.

Instead of taking the track, or dried up mud bath, we clambered up the east side of the Gallow Hill. Heading down the other side proved to a bit of a nightmare with head high vegetation meaning a lot of double backs. Eventually we made through to clearer areas. It was all worth it when we spotted a single tree surrounded by the stones of the cairn.

Not many people have been here recently but quite a few have been to the several cairns on the hills to the south, Mulloch, Scar, Blue etc. This is a wonderful site which sits at over 14m wide and is almost 1m tall to the south/0.5 to the north. Some boulders do surround the site but they aren’t a circle just some randomly landed stones. Once again tremendous views surround this site. On the way back we used the track which is what we should have used in the first place despite the mud.

From Tarland head south west on the B9119 and take the track heading south, to Gallow Hill House, before the first minor road which heads north.

What an area this is and still more to come!

Visited 24/2/2017.

This Knock Hill seems to consist of several wee hills and this site is on the furthest north of them. Several large kerbs stand earthfast to the south, swinging round to smaller kerbs on the west. The north side has larger kerbs which join on to smaller stones to east. Therefore the kerb is fairly continuous and in much better condition than its near neighbours which have taken some severe punishment. In its centre a furze bush takes centre stage amongst cairn material on a site that is over 5m wide.

I parked, asking permission to do so, at Ferneyhowe. Another cairn, to the east, is just along the track which leads to Knockargety Wood, home to a hillfort. From here I crossed the small bog to the north of the house, jumped over a fence and stream heading the same direction. Going over the first hill, down into the valley and climbing to the top of second slightly higher hill to reach my first destination. The other two cairns I’d get on the way back. Apart from the bog, underfoot conditions are fairly decent.

The views all round this place are decent as well especially to the west.

Visited 2/3/2017.

Just before the bridge nearing Inverbervie on the A92, coast road, and before its junction with B967 take the minor road heading back north east. This climbs the locally known Bervie Brow. I parked at the West View cottage at the track which heads up the brae.

This isn’t a very steep climb up a decent track which is still used to get vans up to various masts. These masts are surrounded in high fences and various buildings suggest that this was once probably an RAF or Navy look out post. There is certainly a more modern building suggests shipping. Interestingly the house at the end of the track is called The Guard Room. Once at the top of the hill be prepared for a shock to the system on a late January morning, I was met with driving winds and snow.

Sadly the cairn looks like it’s being kept prisoner nearest the furthest east of the masts. It has been clipped by an out building and looks like it has been houked. Still it seems to keep its shape being 16m wide and almost 1m tall. Impossible to tell if stonework remains as visitors aren’t allowed. Still on a sunny day, despite the masts, this would be a beautiful place looking on to the North Sea, down to Inverbervie and the Bervie Water. In fact decent views would be seen looking north and south along the Aberdeenshire coast.

Visited 24/1/2017.

Somehow and unbelievably Malcolm’s Mount still exists to the north side of the busy Broomhill Road in Stonehaven. The cairn, or what remains of it is about 10m wide and possibly 1m tall. Sadly there are no remnants of cists or old Scottish kings. Hard to tell if there are remnants because of all the bramble branches lying all over the place. Originally surrounded by the wall, it now sits on top of a small hillock near a house called Rivendell. A nearby street is also called Malcolm’s Mount.

Leave Kirkton Road and take Broomhill Road which heads south west(ish). I parked in the small industrial estate to the right and nipped back up the road, crossed over Broomhill and went through a gap in the hedge.

Visited 24/1/2017.

I hadn’t heard of this cairn until the old chap who lived at West Learney Farm mentioned it when I asked permission to park there. So after visiting Sundayswells and Craigienet it was time to visit this unexpected site.

From West Learney I headed back east to the minor road and went north, which after several severe corners leads back to the B993. Once again head north until the both sides of the road are clear of trees. I pulled in at the farm track to Tillenturk and walked the short distance back down the road beyond East Hill Croft.

The cairn is situated in a small tree plantation to the west side of the road. It is almost 10m wide and about 1m at its tallest. Most likely some field clearance might have ended up here as well. What appear to be kerbs can be seen especially on the southern side. Two stones looking like a recumbent and flanker rest on the eastern side but that might be a vivid imagination. Another large stone rests a few meters from the cairn to the north west. More tremendous views especially to the North East.

A lovely site for a cairn but with snow hard on my heals it was time to head North and back to the warmth.

Visited 9/2/2017.

From the A92 head north west on the B967, the Arbuthnott road, Lewis Grassic Gibbon country. Opposite Allardice take the road heading north past Millplough Farm (also past the remains of a RSC, cairn and standing stone), then take the next road heading north west past Craighead and keep going until the road ends at Cluseburn Farm. After being almost blown into the North Sea and frozen at Bervie, Cluseburn proved to be slightly sheltered from the storm. Permission was given to park and up the hill I went.

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This is the best preserved of the cairns and sits at the top of the hill in the field to the north east. It sits at 14m and is 1m high. The turf covered site has had a ‘fair houking’ but still looks impressive despite the damage caused by cattle to the south western side.

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This site is down the hill from 8200 and is the second best site here. It is almost 14m wide and is 0.6m tall. An upright stone maybe the remains of a cist according to Canmore.

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All that is left of a once massive cairn is a bank or rim that would have well over 15m wide is a circular rim that doesn’t reach more than 0.3m in height. It is only a few metres east of the best preserved cairn.

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The smallest of the cairns is also the site nearest the farm and didn’t receive any mercy from the ‘houkers’. It is 6m wide and 0.5 tall. The enclosure shaped site nearby which has confused historians is simply a place were the farmer puts his cattle feeders.

To be fair, the farmer at Cluseburn has tried to protect the cairns on his land. His cattle have had different ideas and always knocked down the fences. During summer the cattle like to laze in the best preserved cairn to soak up (unlikely to be soaking up, being soaked is more likely|) the sun. He also explained about the nearby sites at Millplough, Montgoldrum and Cot Hillock.

Lovely site, freezing day :-)

Visited 24/1/2017.

For this visit I walked north east on a track up Bogenchapel Hill going thru two sets of large new deer gates. From the second gate head north east skirting the flanks of Garnet Hill until a junction with a track leading south east. Split the corner and go straight east, uphill.

With snow coming down every site has a different atmosphere and this place is no exception. I love the snow so an added bonus for me. Another bonus is that the snow shows up the old cairn better revealing that it is at least 8m probably nearer 10m wide and 1m tall.

The views are once again stunning. From here I could see Pittenderich, Pressendye, Morven, Kerloch, Clachmaben, various Cairngorms etc all getting heavy snow thanks to the fact I couldn’t see them.

With that in mind and the fact that I live north of here it was time to head back down, this time on the northern side of Garnet Hill which eventually leads back to Sundayswells.

Re-visited 9/2/2017.

I parked at the Banchory Hospital, now almost completely flattened, and headed uphill on a path at the northern end of the car park. Follow the path uphill until the top of a small hillock can be seen a few metres to the north east of the track.

This stone setting could be an incomplete ring or kerb cairn or, a long shot, the beginnings of a RSC. The site is about 12m wide. Whatever it was it had views to the hills just to the south of the River Dee.

Several large stones make up a semi circle with some smaller stones creating a smaller inner circle. Both of these are set facing the south east.

These woods are full of prehistory, including the nearby cairn, sites at East Brathens and a long cairn which so far has eluded me.

Visited 17/1/2017.

From the ring cairn at Blarourie head south west from back to the track and jump over the gate into the forest (the northern edge of Fetteresso Forest I think). Follow the track downhill until it meets up with another track heading south. Follow this until the trees clear on the eastern side, a weird wooden but ‘n’ ben can be seen with three outside toilets (they looked like that anyway), until a track veers south west. Until now the tracks have been in pretty good condition. Heading through the trees in a zig zaggy route the track basically resembles the bottom of a very rocky river, other parts have been washed away completely leaving deep ruts so the need for the Nordic sticks is a good idea to keep balance. Eventually the zig zags end and the tree line is reached. After a small climb the summit of Kerloch can be seen to the west.

The standard of the track greatly improves as a wee path heading north west to top can be seen. Go past the two walkers cairns and the cairn, which has a trig plonked on top (as usual) for good measure, can be seen to the west of the summit. How this site like Pittenderich (and a few others) has been missed is beyond belief.

The turf covered, with stones jutting out, cairn must be at least 15m wide and is over 2m high. Possible kerbs are dotted about here and there with a wind break built on the north western side. Stunning views, Aberdeen can be seen to the east, all the way south almost to Dundee, north to all the sites mentioned at Blarourie and to west the Grampians/Cairngorms. This truly is a stunning place! Closer to hand is the more modern wind turbine site to the south.

Thelonius had said this site would be worth a visit and he was most definitely right. With that it was back to the zig zags and the long trek north avoiding the drones.

Update

The site and a report has been submitted to Historic Scotland and Aberdeen Archaeology (who also said they would look into the condition of the zig zag track).

Visited 10/1/2017.

Take the first minor road heading east, signposted Stonehaven, on the B974 just south of Strachan. (Cairn O Mount road) I parked at the small car park at the Knockburn Activity centre opposite Knockhill Cottage.

From here head south past the airport for models/drones, past the quarry, until the way south is blocked by a closed gate. From here head east again, go over another gate following the track as it veers south west and uphill. Worth having a look at various hut circles and enclosures near the track. (as mentioned by Thelonius) Just before this track ends go a small distance north to the top of Blarourie Hill.

After spending some time clearing branches and site became clearly visible. At least 7 earthfast stones remain in the ring and a cist of sorts remains in the middle. Sadly people have also used this as a place to have a fire. The width of the site would be 8m plus, being about 0.5m high. Superb views from this site. Mulloch, Shampher, Buchaarn, Tillygarmond and the mountains to west are all clearly visible. The shoulder of Little Kerloch can be seen to the south west, the neighbour of its much larger relative Kerloch.

Visited 10/1/2017.

East Brathens is an area that has many cairns, some are clearance but many are burial cairns as I discovered whilst walking through the woods. Most are around 6m to 8m wide as Canmore says. What Canmore doesn’t say is that the underfoot conditions are a complete nightmare as quite a few times I fell into hidden holes.

One of these hidden holes might be beneficial in the prehistory department. In the middle of the cairn I fell, one foot making it over the stone, my left foot catching it ensuring a roll about the heather. After a wee bit of cleaning up a rectangular shape was discovered (on the cairn not me) but no sign of a capstone. Several kerbs remain dotted around the site which is about 10m in width and about 0.5m tall.

Take the first minor road heading north west after the war memorial on the A93 at Banchory. Plenty space to pull in at the first junction. From here walk north east past several cairns into the trees. A small hill will appear with the site sitting on top. This whole area is worthy of a good look.

Visited 17/1/2017.

Just north of Rickarton on the A957 (Slug Road) take the first minor road heading south. I parked just after crossing the Cowie Burn on a very sharp corner but fortunately well away from the road.

I walked on the track heading west going past Whitehill until I reached Clachanshiels. From here I walked south east in an area clear of forest. When the trees re-appear take the track which goes west. This eventually heads south with the standing stone at the east side of the track.

Standing no more than 1m high and 1m at its base it is a triangular shaped stone with no markings. I wonder if it has anything to do with Mergie and Hobseat much further into the forest. Another day for them.

Visited 5/1/2017.

What a lovely cairn this is and what a lovely view of Campstone Hill and its various Raedykes cairns. Wonderful setting.

I parked at the Lang Stane and walked northwards (pun intended), thru the gate and up the hill. Take the track that veers north east towards Southward and skirts past to the north. Keep going past the ruins of another Southward and basically walk in a straight line which should lead straight to the cairn, near the tree line. Now this is what you should do, I found an alternate route via bogs and burns to the south and found this track on the way back.

Canmore says 4 kerbs but I counted 7 in the 13m wide cairn. Whatever it is this is a beautiful place.

The road back to Lang Stane also involves walking on the ancient trackway, Elsick Mounth. Its also good to see that Thelonius seems to find awkward routes to places as well :-)

Visited 5/1/2017.

From Allochie and the Huskie car park I headed south on the B979 and parked at the Ury North Lodge, on the west side of the road.

Follow the track (a mud bath on this day) for a short distance. When the trees thin out look north a mound can be seen, this is the wee kerb cairn. Thankfully no vegetation of a sharp nature gets in the way, only vegetation of a gentler persuasion.

The site is almost 10m in width being almost 1m high. Some kerbs remain in place though difficult to find.

A nice wee place to stop and have a look round.

Visited 5/1/2017.

This site, which is just to the west of the B979 (to the locals this is the Netherley road), is a nightmare to find. However it is easy enough to find a place to park, the car park at the Huskie Training Centre is ideal.

From the car park head to the track over the hump to the north west. Follow this west until the electricity wires overhead. From here simply batter into the gorse and batter a way through to a square clearing, heading north west if possible. Take protection for the legs and the head as the vegetation was way over my height. This, from experience, would have been a good idea.

The site is in the west of this much needed clearing. This must have been a very large cairn and still sits at well over 16m wide. Some kerbs are still in place and cairn material pokes through here and there. Confusion with hut circles can explained by the fact that the cairn has been dug into, Canmore says the letter D for the shape. Good views over to the North Sea at Muchalls, to the south west are the Raedykes and to the north Old Man, Altries etc. all in an area with plenty prehistory.

Once there, a lovely place to be!

Visited 5/1/2017.

From the Clashmach Ring Cairn I headed over the fence and kept going west until I reached the meeting place of two gates. Sadly for me the electric fence was switched on which enabled me to clear the hurdle more comfortably than normal. At this point the views are stunning (as was my language), Tap O Noth is having a blizzard, and to the north west are numerous cairns near the A920 on both sides of the River Deveron.

In the middle of this bowl made up by the hills there is a bog preventing a straight walk to Allrick. Fortunately a track skirts this leading to the site in the north.

This is another nice wee cairn. It is 6m wide with several kerbs still in place and stands at about 0.4m high. It is at the eastern end of a small ridge. Nearby there are a few rocky outcrops which I had a good look at in the hope of finding rock art.

Luckily the weather didn’t close in and I headed towards the summit of Clashmach to have a look round.

Visited 2/1/2017.

After the A96/97 roundabout on the Keith side, at Huntly, take the first minor road heading south signposted Tullochbeg. I parked at the mart car park a few yards down this road.

From here follow the minor road and continue on the track heading up the Clashmach Hill. Today it was wintry and very cold but at least it wasn’t windy. The condition of this track is variable at the best of times but the frost had at least stopped a mud bath. About 2/3s of the way up there are some sharpish corners, from here I jumped the fence and headed south.

Climb another fence and follow the next one, it leads straight to the site. This is a beautiful location for a cairn. Stunning views north to Knock Hill, down onto Huntly and almost the whole north east. Very easy to see why this place was chosen.

The site is about 6m wide and has several earthfast stones still in place. Some stones have been dumped in the middle but the site seems relatively unharmed. What might be a cist still sits in the middle of the strewn clearance.

A truly stunning view from this place and I look forward to coming back in slightly warmer conditions. With the weather to the south apparently heading my way it was time to walk to Allrick Hill and it’s bonny wee cairn.

Visited 2/1/2017.

Heading North East from Tarland take the B9119, going past the Culsh souterrain, take the first minor road heading north after this show site. Les and I pulled in at the forestry track at the Hallhead Plantation. These tracks head eventually to top of Pressendye and we followed one of them as a path indicated on our maps had vanished, we assumed it was thanks to the new track we were on.

We kept going on through the Hallhead Plantation looking for a crossroads which never appeared. Pittenderich is to the south and we hoped this road would lead us to a clearing. It didn’t so we kept going a short distance until the road headed sharply north, we headed south cutting through the trees, jumped the fence and landed in a field just to the north of the ruined croft of Burnside.

The track at Burnside is a boggy mess but at least it led over the burn onto a track heading south up Pittenderich. Shortly after the track veers west a small track, today covered in snow, heads steeply upwards to the flat summit of Pittenderich.

There is a huge cairn on the summit. It sits at over 20m in diameter and is at least 3m high. As usual hill walkers have plonked their cairn on top. Four wind breaks (used as benches) have also been built into the cairn. All round this site are hills covered in prehistory – Pressendye, Morven, Mulloch, Cairn More etc etc – all with similarly large cairns. How this cairn isn’t listed anywhere is unbelievable. To me, it is one of the best Aberdeenshire cairns I’ve seen. (I’m sure Les was impressed also)

On the way down we retraced our steps to Burnside. This time we followed the tree line east as a track of sorts did exist. After field of heather a newish track appears which led us back to the new forestry road. The old track hadn’t vanished, they had simply built a new road next to the older which hid the original track round the side of forest from view.

It should be said that Thelonius encouraged me/us to have a look up here as did the Mad Man of Glass. So after a day of looking at nice wee cairns it was good to look at an absolute belter.

Update

Historic Scotland have been informed about this site. Aberdeenshire Archaeology are going to the survey the site. Also a track will lead to the summit of Pittenderich later this year.

Visited 29/12/2016.

From the Cadhach Burn cairn we headed north past the deserted ‘ferm toun’ of Lochans crossing over a few gates and burns but mainly on old farm tracks. The destination is fairly easily spotted as it is a small mound with trees on top set in the middle of the valley near Stroin Cottage. Just to the north of Stroin Cottage there is a lime kiln with an old car rusting away to nothing in it. Odd!

From the old car the cairn at Torr Na Sithinn is a short walk north west and is situated in the southern end of the small wood. Boulders or kerbs are set in a circle, indicating perhaps a stone circle?, (both Les and myself had similar thoughts) that is about 10m in width. The bank between some of these stones has smaller kerbs poking thru the turf especially at the southern end. It reaches no more than 0.4m in height. Animal damage has also revealed some stone work.

A very beautiful area with three nice cairns. Well worth a visit but park in the small car park before entering the land belonging to Birkwood if you don’t want to be questioned by the farmer.

Visited 29/12/2016.

From the nearby Lochans cairn we headed east jumping a couple of fences on the way to the north of the small hill that houses the Cadhach cairn.

This cairn, is almost 8m wide and is about 0.5m tall. Some kerbs still occupy their original positions, some made visible with the aid of the local rabbits, and cairn material can be seen poking through the turf. This, like its near neighbour, is a very beautiful place.

After sampling the atmosphere and the view it was time to trek north to Torr Na Sithinn.

Visited 29/12/2016.

Belrorie, what a place to find although near a path these damned trees do get in the way and they certainly obscure the view. Alternatively they might be protecting the cairn, at the moment. Hopefully when it is the trees time to come down the forestry people will take care and look after what is a pretty decent site.

Further along the South Deeside Road, the B976, heading west from Dalwhing I parked at Burnroot just after the massive Sawmill. After asking permission to park I headed a short distance south, then follow the track as it veers east. At the next T junction start heading south, shortly after there is a meeting place of three tracks, head west for a short distance then head south following the better of the tracks. At this point there is a steepish slope, half way up this the cairn is situated to the east.

At this point the trees looked very dense so I headed further uphill and jumped the fence when the fir trees began to thin out. From here I battered, stumbled and crawled my way north, another battering for the legs. The cairn is covered in trees except for the northern section which is clear, a place to stand up hurrah!! I reckoned the cairn to be 10m wide and about 1m high. Stones, thanks to the forestry, have been strewn everywhere and trees are planted on top. As usual there has been an amount of houking but the remains of small rectangular structure sit near the centre of the site.

Once again there would have been tremendous views here in the past but sawmills have their needs. Interestingly if you follow the paths to Belrorie Farm, heading south west, there is another path that leads to Hillhead and Cairn More. Another route for another day.

Visited 15/12/2016.

Dalwhing appears to a series of small kerb cairns situated in a field just north of the B976, the South Deeside Road. This is just north of the Bridge O Ess and the Glentanar estates, which I knew well as a wee boy. Once up at the top of the hill after the bridge there is enough room to park a car at the side of the road.

Jump the fence and head downhill into the rough pasture and woods. If you head north west you will go straight to the biggest of the cairns, sitting at over 4m wide and approx. 0.5 high. Kerbs survive but another nearby large cairn has been trashed and isn’t pictured here. Out into the open there are several cairns and its worth taking a look at the surrounding scenery. On a sunnier day this is a beautiful place, on this day it was dark which only changed when I’d reached the top of Deecastle.

Nice place if passing. If visiting Bridge O Ess/Glentanar the superb Cairn More is high above the visitor centre.

Visited 15/12/2016.

This cairn is 60 meters to the south west of Tom Dubh 1. From the first cairn go back to the track and jump the fence into the wood to the south, then walk west.

This cairn has been very badly disturbed, houked and to add insult has had farm waste of a corrugated kind dumped at its side. The 14m wide cairn lies mostly hidden under pine needles, what pops thru is mostly small stones. On the south side a couple of stones/boulders/kerbs remain at the highest point of the site, 0.4m.

After a wee look round it was back to the track heading south west to Migvie Church (very beautiful interior) and a shock at Glack Farmhouse.

Visited 29/12/2016.

This fieldnote is really an update on the state of the cairn (I removed the snow covered photos as they hid the damage) and the nearby wind turbine site.

The cairn looks like it is still in much the same condition except for the new improved fence. I’m glad it wasn’t there a few years back when the Mad Man and myself did a huge walk on the Winter Solstice.

Now the turbines seem to have contented themselves by staying in the valley between the hills of Cairnborrow and Backtack. The no pedestrian signs I ignored. However Backtack being a rolling hill has a couple of turbines reasonably close on its western slopes.

On climbing the Both Hill I saw the western side of Cairnborrow had its lower slopes ‘evened out’ very recently. This side of the hill leads straight to the three fantastic cairns at Glenshee.

Every time I pass here I will now stop and keep an eye on what is going on.

Re-visited 2/1/2017.

Returned with LH and I’m glad to say the cairn doesn’t look any further damaged. In fact it looks a bit better than the previous visit. Lots of farm waste seems to have been moved from the nearby track making access much easier.

Re-visited 29/12/2016.

Les and I met at the Mossat Shop on the A97 and followed that road until it changes to the A944. Turn south at Bellabeg over the bridge over the River Don and go past Strathdon Parish Church. Head west and the minor road will sweep south. This will come to an odd shaped T junction but keep heading south. We parked near the entrance of Birkwood Farm but where later told that there was a car park just before the farm.

From here we headed south keeping to the farm track. After the second gate we jumped the fence and headed east. The cairn sits on top of a wee hillock at the end of Glencarvie. Lochans farmstead, well deserted, is to the north east.

This lovely cairn sits amongst the beautiful Strathdon countryside. Ca-dubh (west), Gallows Hill (north), Cnoc na H-lolaire (east) and Bad an Teahdaire are the nearby neighbouring hills. It is an enclosed area almost like a separate small country.

The cairn has several surviving kerbs in its 8 metre width. Animal damage allows to see more kerbs and structural composition. As usual the cairn has been houked into a circular bowl shape. It remains at 0.6 in height and provided a superb start to our day. Surviving drifts of snow added to the atmosphere.

Visited 29/12/2016.

This cairn is situated in the first clearing mentioned in the fieldnotes for Hill Of Trustach. It has been badly damaged but has more stone content and has almost retained its circular shape. As well as the forestry damage it has been houked. Still a kerb of sorts remains on the edge of a cairn about 6 metres wide, 0.6 metres tall.

Now instead of all this taking paths nonsense I headed north west through the trees, which fortunately aren’t close together. Flukily it led me straight back to where I had started.

Visited 8/12/2016.

This cairn has been badly damaged by forestry and now sits in a small clearing like its near neighbour to the west. It is surrounded by birches to the east/north and by the fir trees of encircling forest.

I parked on the A93 on a forestry track just west of the Backhill of Trustach farm then headed south climbing steadily along the edge of Trustach Hill. A type of crossroads will be reached, from here head east. After a few hundred metres another track heads north east. Take this track and the cairns are in two clearings, this cairn being the furthest east. The track by this time has deteriorated to a small walking path.

The cairn is over 6 metres in width and at its highest is no more than 0.5 metres high. What look likes a kerb has been battered, the stones on top of the cairn have suffered fate.

Even though a fair distance has been walked the A93 is only a short distance to the north. You wouldn’t know as this place is completely silent.

Visited 8/12/2016.

Sluie Hill has lovely views looking south over the Trustach to Gouach/Tillybath Hills. In between the southern hills is the River Dee, Sluie being to the north of the river.

This is the largest of the cairns situated on the hill being almost 4 metres wide and 0.5 metres at its highest. Kerbs partially surround the site which looks like it has the remains of a cist in its houked centre. Situated near masts, to the west, is fairly easy to find.

From Banchory/Inchmarlo head west on the A93 until a track heading north signposted Easter Sluie. Permission was given to park so I headed north and uphill towards the masts. A track winds its way up towards the site which can be found between to the two masts.

Visited 8/12/2016.

From the village of Dinnet on the A93 head south on the B9158 which crosses the River Dee then head west on the B976, the South Deeside Road. I asked permission to park at the Deecastle Farm and was told it was “a cracking place to see the Northern Lights near the cairn” by the farmer. Head back east along the South Deeside Road and take the first forestry road heading north east. Only go a short distance before climbing the dyke to head south and uphill. This is quite a steep climb and underfoot conditions are not perfect. However once at the top the views are worth the effort.

Morven and its pals (Mulloch etc.) are clearly seen as is the River Dee as it meanders, today, from east to west eventually entering the North Sea at Aberdeen.

The cairn is over 20 metres wide and is easily 3 metres tall. Stones resembling kerbs are noticeable on the south side. It is very similar to the cairns on Morven, Mulloch (plus friends) and Cairn More, Glentanar. Also built into the cairn are a few wind shelters for shepherds. Canmore haven’t really studied these hills close enough as they have really missed quite a few cairns i.e. Pittenderrich. Luckily the locals still have a story or two to tell.

With the dark rapidly approaching it was time to head back down the hill to much the needed heat of the car. South of the Dee is a wonderful place.

Visited 15/12/2016.

Another cairn recycled for miss-use and most likely miss-trials.

Heading north-west from Tillybath the B993 is reached at the Potarch Hotel (a very good place). From here cross the River Dee and head west for a short distance on the A93 taking the first minor road north-west. This re-connects with the B993, keep going until the minor road heading north-east. This leads onto the A980, head slightly east then take the first minor road heading north. I parked near the aptly named Gallow Cairn cottage. Look north-east and the cairn is on top of the wee hill.

Well positioned the site has tremendous views looking onto Sluie, Tillybath to the south, the River Dee east and west. The site is over 20 metres wide and 1.5 metres tall according to the locals. Stones poke out all over the sides of the cairn which was put to different uses in medieval times.

1/12/2016.

This cairn is hard to find as it is covered in all sorts of horrible and jabby vegetation. However not wanting to give in I flung myself thru the narrowest section to land on a small clearing which is the north section of the cairn. With all the vegetation it is difficult to measure the width. Canmore says 17 metres which seems about right, the height being 0.5 metres. The centre of the cairn can be found by crawling under the whins/furze etc. It has been houked or possibly it is a cist. Kerbs are visible in the south but impossible to reach.

Like all the nearby sites maybe one day the vegetation will be cleared and we’ll be able to see them. As for me it was back to the car for plasters and bandages as these cairns had taken their toll on my legs.

Visited 24/11/2016.

Rabbits and badgers have had a real go at this artificial mound which might possibly double up as a ring cairn. Sadly vegetation made taking photos of the ring stones impossible but they are there. Some are also on the west side but have been incorporated into a wall (optimistic use of this word) The west is actually a wee valley which the mound looks on to.

The oval shaped monument is 11 meters long by 6 metres wide, the height being 0.5 metres. Canmore says the site is aligned north west/south east. Whilst this site isn’t much to see it felt to me that it was central to something as it sits in the middle of a circular area made up of small hills. One bigger hill to the west is Cairn Mon Earn.

I parked at East Brachmont and walked north back up the minor road until the first corner. Jump the fence and head west. Some of the ground is boggy but if lucky a path (of sorts) can be found which almost leads straight to the site.

Visited 24/11/2016.