drewbhoy

This clava/ring cairn is to be found very close to the A96 just west after the junction with the B9039 and the farm of the same name. It is to be found close to the railway, which has caused damage in the past, and is still impressive in it’s own way. The substantial inner kerb still exists with four of the outer ring still standing.

It is a very short walk from the A96 to the cairn. The only hazard being the floods in recent times. RCAHMS will fill in the details in an area rich with prehistory.

Visited 3/01/2013.

Les and I were astonished to find that the cup and ring marked stone had been getting some harsh treatment. Before it had been easy to find, on our visit we had to remove rotting branches of trees and trunks dropped on top or near to the stone. Large logs had also appeared nearby. Sad really, as the stone during my previous visit had obviously been well looked after.

Very sad this, as a person drove up and I explained that we’d looked at the stone. She obviously knew what I was going on about and even more sadly didn’t seem to care.

Revisited 24/10/2012.

Heading east on the B992 at the Insch junction, I took the second farm track south and parked at Newton House Home Farm. Keep heading south until you come to the fields, to the west there is a gate, walk 50 or so meters then look north.

These two fantastic stones aren’t in their original positions, and one of them The Newton Stone, recognisable with Ogham markings, is supposedly prehistoric. Still they are impressive and would have made wonderful flankers for a RSC.

Visited 28/9/2012.

It would be safe to say that something remains here but what it is is a bit of a mystery. Fallen stones suggest a circle in the Shethin/Glassel/Drachlaw style, there are the remains of what looks like a kerb, the grass covered mound suggests cairn and the scattering of stones seems to suggest the same idea, this reminds me of Brandsbutt as well, but there is no clear idea to what was here except that something was here and it is in an extremely shambolic state.

Still on seeing this site, the search for known stone circles in Aberdeenshire is over as that is the lot. Time to the find the unknown sites!

Take Kirk Brae north in Cults from the A93 and head east once Friarsfield Road is reached. The site is slightly to the south just after Bramble House.

Visited 16/10/2012

Les and I pulled in at the junction opposite the Aboyne Gliding Club on the A93 waiting for the rain to come to reasonable monsoon levels, this after being told by a man in a strange hat that the rain wouldn’t stop for a long time. Strange but true!

Walk a wee bit back towards Aboyne and jump the first gate to the north. The grass covered cairn can’t really be seen from the south but from the east the 20 meter wide and 1.5 meters high cairn can be spotted. This cairn looks like it hasn’t been disturbed and a winter time visit is on the cards. Still several kerbs remain on the western flank.

After a good look round it was back to the car, the longer walk on the A93 proving not to be a good idea as several puddles were gleefully splashed up by onrushing cars. Still a good walk at the Blue Cairn and the sun coming out, it arrived late, soon lifted spirits.

Visited 16/10/2012.

On a fantastic morning at Tullos Hill I was shown the new site discovered by Ian Suddaby in 2004 but only excavated August 2012.

The hut circle is 10 meters wide and is built within a bank at 2.5 meters. There is what looks like an internal ring ditch. Bronze Age pottery has also been discovered here. Not to far away is what looks like the remains of another hut circle and another possible cairn. Hopefully these will be looked at in the future.

Follow the directions as for the Cat Cairn, except head north east on the first track junction. The hut circle is slightly to the south of the path, which only recently resembled a torrent thanks to recent downpours.

Visited 28/8/2012.

An update on the new excavations. The north east sector of the cairn has been excavated to reveal more kerbs revealing a central area some three metres in width.

One unusual thing to report about the area as a whole, some of the dykes nearby are massive. There must have been plenty stones all over the place, nearby cairns haven’t been disturbed to much.

Hopefully I’ll get the site report and post it as a link.

There is also an Open Day on Saturday 1/9/2012 viewing this cairn and the nearby hut circle.

Re-visited 28/8/2012.

Have a good walk round the castle and the defences can be seen, ramparts north, west and south. Nature has taken care of the eastern defences which are a severe drop into the River Fiddich. (hence the whisky) The farm near the castle is called, apt for me, Parkhead! Another fort at Conval can be seen to the west.

Park on the A941 and follow the track east. If taking a car, the track wouldn’t be advisable.

Visited 16/8/2012.

This long cairn has seen some harsh treatment throughout the years. It stands at over 46 meters in length, the middle section has been almost been flattened, field clearence has been dumped on it and several smaller cairns have been added as well. To the north it has probably been clipped by the minor road and looks, to me, that this cairn will eventually be ploughed out. Another cairn survives in a nearby wood but it will have to wait for another day.

Leave the A90 at the Temple Of Fiddes road heading north, this then heads west to a meeting place of 5 roads. The long cairn is in the field to the south of the road opposite. I parked near the road going south to Drumlithie. Another case of what once was I’m afraid.

Visited 9/8/2012.

Canmore says that this stone is well known in the area. So when I asked some people about it I was surprised to learn that nobody had heard of it. To be fair I was given directions to The Cloch (RSC) and to a cairn at Shiels (I’d been there earlier). Probably the fact that this stone is within the grounds of Lathallan School and behind a wall probably explains it loneliness.

Eventually I asked at the lodge to the school and was given directions. Enter Johnshaven from the A92 and stop at the first crossroads. To the north is the entrance to Lathallan School. Thru the gates and head south on the edge of the playing field to the bottom south west corner. In amongst the nettles is the well shaped but pebble dashed stone standing at an angle. It would have stood at 1.2 meters at it’s full height.

After taking a few pics I left the stone alone. I wonder how long it will be till it’s next visitor. It might be a long time.

Visited 9/8/2012.

This must have been a massive cairn at some point and has wonderful views out to the North Sea and of the coast line. The grass covered cairn stands at over 21 meters wide and is over 3 meters in height. Cairn material pokes thru but any trace of a kerb has long since gone.

From the Tower Of Johnston walk directly south as I did. This includes a couple of climbs, jumping over fences (barbed and electric), burns and a nice stroll thru some boggy bits. If going by road leave the A92 between St Cyrus and Johnshaven heading north. Take the minor road south west at the first crossroads. Look north and the cairn is clearly visible on the ridge to the north after the South Bradieston track.

Visited 9/8/2012.

From the Laurencekirk by-pass, A90, take the B9120 south east. I parked at the entrance to the Johnston Mains farm. From here I walked in a south west direction, then headed south east following the track south. By this time a gap in the hedge will point the way east so follow the track up hill. By this time the Tower will be seen to the south east but keep to the track. Jump the first gate and a path will cut up the hill to a path that heads south to cairn. Once again this a fairly steep walk.

Why they had to build a tower on top of the cairn is anybody’s guess. To keep the tower company they put a trig point beside it. Sadly nothing remains of the kerb, it probably is now part of the tower. It still stands at over 28 meters in width and is almost two meters tall. Once again it is made out of pebbles. Once again the scenery is wonderful.

Just like at Shiels I went for a wander, to the north, but found nothing except a gate with a lot of barbed wire on top of it. Another excellent walk through the Mearns.

Visited 9/8/2012.

Just north of the Laurencekirk by-pass there is a minor road that heads south east and leads straight to Shiels Farm. Permission was given to park and I climbed the first stage of Shiels Hill. This is a fairly steep climb but at least it is on a decent track. Follow the track when it heads north but look east. A small, mainly filled in loch bars the way to the cairn. (after trying to walk on water near Inverness I gave this a wide berth.) So head north, then east after the loch (this is very boggy and has been churned up by the cows, who were quite friendly) and walk south along the top of the ridge to the cairn.

Fantastic scenery to be seen includes the Highlands, North Sea, The Mearns as well as modern additions, a wind turbine farm to the east. Still the cairn, almost Wessex like in style, seems in reasonable condition sitting over twenty meters wide, a platform on which sits a central mound over 6 meters wide. The height of the structure is over 1.5 meters. It is also made up from pebbles as opposed to rocks.

So a very lovely cairn, a fine walk and Aberdeenshire looks lovely. On the way down I headed further north to look at what resembled a cairn, it wasn’t, it was piles of rubble from a quarry. After that it was back down the hill and onto the next site.

Visited 9/8/2012

The Houff Of Ury is another cairn in severe need of a clean up. It is heavily overgrown and being only 0.4 meters high it is difficult to spot. However I’m glad to say the kerbs are still there, only three are visible out of 12. There is a slab in the middle of the cairn, it might be part of a cist or just simply a boulder.

I approached from the north taking the last minor road west on the B979. Keep going past Monboys until a small wood on the north side of the road. There is a gate to south half away along opposite the wood. The track here quickly fades into an obstacle course of bogs and holes but it leads straight to cairn.

Visited 9/8/2012.

The small standing stone on top of Berry Top Hill offers some wonderful views. Alas it has also suffered probably due to weather (winter can be harsh in this area) as the stone has split. However it still stands, wonderfully shaped and triangular. At it’s base it is 1.3 meters wide and stands at 1 meter tall.

At the crossroads just north of Netherley on the B979 head east taking the farm track north, after Berry Top farm, to Whiteside farm. I parked at the farm and then headed in a north westerly direction. This might sound easy, unfortunately the stone resides in a middle of a bog amongst the ‘jabby’ stuff. Cows have also churned up the area so underfoot conditions are also dodgy, but it was a nice way to start the day.

Visited 9/8/2012.

Leave Knockando heading south on the picturesque B9102 take the second farm track west. This goes past Garlinemore House, a small wood before Leakin farm comes into view. The cairn is a short walk in a field to the south.

It sits about 16 meters wide and is just over 1 meter tall. Cairn material can be seen but turf mostly covers the site. Some kerbs remain in place and more importantly a cup marked slab in the central cairn can still be found. I counted 18 decent cup marks and a few weathered efforts.

Visited 6/8/2012.

From the small village of Auchbreck head south on the B9008 taking the first minor road east signposted Tombae. Keep going until the road ends until the Auchdregnie track. This is beautiful countryside and it seems apt that the Gaelic name means ‘Field Of Thistles’.

About 300 meters short of the farm the stones can be spotted in a field a short distance to the south. The two stones are very small both less than a half meter in height, almost fragile but proud all the same. An interesting conversation with the farmer then followed about a possible third stone as reported by the previous owner but once again the powers that be seem to have missed this info. He was also keen on football and supported Aberdeen. (so obviously his knowledge on that subject was limited compared to that of a Celtic fan) On the subject of the fence, hopefully that will be restored to make the place look tidier.

Still, a nice place in a nice setting. With that it was up Auchdregnie Hill to look for more small standing stones. Unfortunately the farmer hadn’t heard or seen them but I had a look anyway.

Visited 6/8/2012.

Laggan was the final stop of a very long but rewarding day. At the northern junction of the A938 on the A95 there is a track which leads to Easter Laggan. From here its over the gate and a beautiful walk uphill to the masts. Luckily I was joined by a very fit girl (and her dog) and male honour was kept as I managed to keep up with her all the way to the top. From here it’s head east, I thought the cairn was on the next hill. I was wrong but headed in a south easterly direction until the cairn came into view.

The views are exceptional south to the Spey and Cairngorms, east to Grantown, west over to Carrbridge and north to Tom A Chastiel (and another cairn). Sitting at almost 11 meters wide and 1.5 meters tall a near perfect cist resides in the cairn. Dense bracken as suggested by Canmore has vanished. I took advantage of this to have a seat, phone Strathie and decided enough was enough. I was done in and to go further would have been stupid in extreme, the other cairn can wait another day and another route.

With that it was back down the hill as shades of night came down adding to the atmosphere of the scenery. Eventually I made it back to the car, very tired but no injuries. Still, it had been a brilliant day and I’d met a lot of nice people on the way.

Also thank you to Tiompan, SC and Strathie for keeping me going as I’d quite literally ran out of steam. Still there are a lot more sites in this area, looks like I’ll have to do it all over again preferably with the same weather.

Visited 26/7/2012.

From Auchendean Hotel’s owner I received directions to a second and ‘new to me’ cairn. He gave various directions which I’ve forgotten, but make for the top of the hill and you won’t go far wrong.

This cairn must be almost 15 meters wide and at least 2 meters tall. It was also has a cist and possibly another underneath the main cairn. It is in a very beautiful location with tremendous views north, and in it’s day probably wonderful views down south to the Cairngorms.

Now it must be said that this cairn is in fantastic condition. The cist is clean, the main cairn practically spotless and marker sticks indicate the outside cairn perimeter. A very modest hotel owner explained how he cared for and cleaned the cairn for several years, now he’d started on the cairn close to the hotel. He also explained about some nearby cists whose contents were taken to Edinburgh.

On the way back down I became completely lost and ended up at a quarry some distance to the south west of the hotel. Luckily it was also near the A95. As I arrived the hotel owner enquired how I’d managed to get on.

A lot of people could learn from this man, I certainly did. It was a privilege to have met him.

Visited 26/7/2012.

Auchendean Hotel is situated on A95 just south west of the Dulnain Bridge, A938, junction. I asked permission to park and visit the cairn only to be told there was two, 1 behind the hotel and another at the top of hill.

This cairn is some 14 meters wide and at it’s highest is 2 meters. The centre of the cairn is slightly empty due to the 1866 excavation. Still all is not lost and the cairn seems to be in reasonable condition. Most of the trees and gorse have been removed, most of the cairn material at the southern end can now be seen and at least the original outline is visible. Remarkable work but nothing compared to the top of the hill, my next site.

At the hotel, go thru the gate at the back, past the beehives and walk a further 100 meters. The cairn is slightly to the west of the track.

Visited 26/7/2012.

Just along the road east from Easter Gallovie going south is the track to Clury Farm. In the field immediately to the east this interestingly shaped Wessex type cairn stands.

The actual cairn being 14 meters wide and 2 meters tall siting on a platform that is almost 20 meters wide. It is grass covered with cairn material poking thru. A dry stane dyke surrounds and has unfortunately caused some damage. Being in a fairly flat area enables good all round views. Also causing interest (at least to me) is the presence of 4 large recumbent boulders 3 complete with chokes. These must probably be field clearance or Strathie and his cousin have came down to pinch Aberdeenshire’s recumbents. Maybe Strathie will provide an answer :-)

Still another lovely site, close to the road so therefore a short walk.

Visited 26/7/2012.

After some refreshment at the Boat Of Garten, the lady at the shop added to my list of sites to visit (next time), I headed north to Carrbridge in order to give the legs a bit of a rest. From Carrbridge, on the B9153, head east on the minor road called Carr Road. Keep going until Easter Gallovie and stop at the barns.

For change, today, this is a very rural cairn set near the picturesque River Dulnain. It is 20+ meters wide and easily 2.5 meters high. Sadly the western and southern have been quarried somewhat but it still is an impressive structure.

Just north of Easter Gallovie, follow the track east of the barns which leads straight to the cairn. Bright sunshine, one or two dark clouds, a cheery place today.

Visited 26/7/2012.

From the Deishar Wood cairn, at NH94042054, I headed in a south westerly direction until I reached the track just north of Dochlaggie farm. Fairly tricky terrain, a few fallen trees, burns and some large puddles hiding underneath the moss but nothing to exciting.

At the track head up hill until the track meets another track. Instead of using any of the tracks head straight west into the woods, the cairn is about 400 meters away sitting on top of a small hill.

Originally it was 25 meters wide as a smattering of boulders, some possibly kerbs, proves but the main cairn is probably around 20 meters wide with it’s highest point being 2.5 meters. The chamber, difficult to spot, except for a slab, can be seen thru parts of the rubble and reminds us, so says Canmore, of similar types of thing in the Orkney and Shetland islands.

Once again this place felt very old, the trees, moss covered stones and heat (yes, heat) giving the site a warm kind of glow. Another lovely site, another lovely place which would have stunning views south if it wasn’t for the trees. No complaints, the trees have done a good job and protected it for many a year.

Visited 26/7/2012.

Fortunately this was an incident free walk up a hill thru very nice woods as Mr T says. I pulled in at the track to Deishar opposite the Boat Of Garten road. Up the hill, 2nd left, keep looking north the cairn is next to the track. 10 meters wide and just over a half meter tall. Lovely place, lovely vibe.

Visited 26/7/2012.

Now the walk from the standing stones to the Clava cairn isn’t that far and provided an excellent opportunity to speak to Tiompan asking for details about this site. Although chancy, I climbed the fence, crossed the railway, climbed another fence and walked over to the cairn. Unlike previous people I’d met thru the day the farmer driving his tractor did not take me on. With all the info gleaned from Tiompan I prepared to take photos only to discover the old camera was gone. Still I went back to railway and luckily found it lying in the tracks. Back over the fence I went and a new Olympic record was set for high jump, the electric fence had been switched on...............to stop hay escaping presumably.

All the details are in SC’s link, the kerbs and possible fallen stones in the correct places. The site is fenced for protection.

With that it was back to the car at the Ouchnoire track nursing a sore leg after the electric fence incident. This farmer obviously doesn’t play fair.

Visited 26/7/2012.

From the Toum cairn I headed back down the hill and crossed a very busy A95 going slightly west before heading south towards Tullochgorum. Keep going until the farm and then head west for about 200 meters. Look for a gate or jump the fence, the stones are in the field below.

Two very differently shaped stones here. One magnificent, to the west, and one looking like it was pinched from the chamber cairn at Gaich. (I made that bit up but the stone would do the job) Once again superb views of the Spey and Cairngorms. After this it’s the nearby Clava cairn. Still no signs of running out of steam!

Visited 26/7/2012.

Toum is a fantastic cairn and it remains in superb condition relatively unharmed. A massive pile of stones stands at over 20 meters wide and 3 meters high with stunning views of the Spey and the Cairngorms.

I parked at the Ouchnoire track and wandered up the hill. Keep heading west when a track heads east towards Ouchnoire. At the end of road Toum is reached, look east, you would do well to miss this cairn. It is quite a steep climb and I could have taken the car but that would have been cheating. From here I hiked back down the hill across the A95 across to Tullochgorm for some more fun and games.

Visited 26/7/2012.

A few meters south of the middle stone this mound has been severely damaged by two massive trenches. Still it has nice views of the calm running River Spey. It is 27 meters wide and 1.5 meters tall.

(I’ll go back, the photos aren’t very clear).

Visited 26/7/2012.

Coming down from Gaich Wood 2 I jumped the fence at Skeilloch Croft onto the old A95. A tractor approached so I waved and he stopped. Asking directions to the standing stones I enquired what was the best way. Answer, over the A95 straight across. Absolute dawdle of a mile walk, maybe not.

Ran across the A95 jumped the fence and somehow managed to cross a bog without being soaked. Jump next fence and if you have long legs jump the burn as well, a few meters later repeat this process. From here it is much drier however bombardment from above started. Seagulls obviously have been lacking targets recently and decided that I was to be repeatedly dive bombed and screamed at. But after a while they realised they weren’t tough enough, so they flew away.

The three stones (plus a couple of others having a rest, including the cup marked one) are all still standing. Beautiful site, beautiful views. Park at the farm if you have any sense.

Visited 26/7/2012.

From the Gaich Wood Cairn I followed the so called path west which consists of some very boggy sections. With all the recent rain up here my feet have become webbed so no problems with this. After approx 450 meters look south down on to the A95, or more importantly look down on Skellioch or Skellach Croft.

The chamber, or basically the chamber, is a short distance north of the croft. Sadly most of the once substantial cairn has gone. All that remains is one kerb (in one of the pics) and clumps of rubble. The slab at the north end of the chamber has also vanished. To make matters this beautiful site is being used as a mini rubbish dump, their taste in drink equally bad.

From here I walked down to the A95 for the next part of what was going to be a very long, exhausting but magnificent day.

Visited 26/7/2012.

This is a wonderful cairn situated high above the A95. I pulled in at the entrance to Upper Gaich and climbed the hill to the farm. From here walk in an western direction gradually climbing until a path of sorts is reached. The cairn is a short distance north of the path.

Supposedly destroyed it was rediscovered on Oct 11th 2006, obviously a very good day indeed. Sadly some of the houk damage is fairly recent but it doesn’t detract as the cairn feels old, the trees also add to the ancient vibe. Traces of a kerb remain on a cairn that is 19/14 meters NW/SE and stands at 1 meter high.

Lovely and peaceful.

Visited 26/7/2012.

To the west of Grantown On Spey and just slightly south of the A95, pull in at the Craggan Golf Course, which has tremendous views of the Cairngorms, the River Spey and a hillfort.

I parked at the clubhouse and strode across the fairways to the 2nd hole, no golf ball on the head for me. The hillfort is situated behind.

A small ditch runs most of the way around the fort and there is still some rampart left. The entrance ‘causeway’ is to the east. It is more oval shaped than circular and has a flat interior. All the measurements are in the link.

As is always the case, one of staff asked what I was looking for, nobody knew about the ancient site.

Visited 26/7/2012.

Some sites make you wonder if the powers that be in Scotland (or anywhere) listen to what local people have to say. This is one such place.

The two stones at NJ05462906 and NJ05472906 have both fallen in recent times due to horrendous weather in the area. How they managed to stand for so long is something of a miracle as they stood in the ground to a depth of 12 inches.

Now for the sad part. The farmer at Upper Port has volunteered his services to the ‘powers that be’ saying he would offer all machinery needed to aid archaeologists re-erect the stones. So far no reply. Even worse, this was probably the site of a ‘Four Poster’ and this seems to be locally well known. The two missing stones are used as kerbing for a nearby well. All this information has been passed to local archaeological services but it has been seemingly ignored. How sad that somebody trying their best for ancient site has to be treated in such a shabby fashion.

The two stones are lying in the place they fell in a field behind the barns. It would be good to see them standing again.

Visited 26/7/2012.

This stone used to stand at NO83588560 but has been moved to be used as a gatepost at NO83638575. Triangular in shape it stands at over 1 meter height. Probably moved to aid agriculture at least the stone wasn’t destroyed.

Head west on the first minor road west south of A957 (north) at Stonehaven. After home Farm of Fetteresso, pull in at the small wood. Walk south until the first dyke heading east, jump the fence and follow the dyke. At the gateway the stone stands, somewhat lonely but fortunately still here.

Visited 23/7/2012.

This has to be one of the most beautiful and one of the saddest cairns I’ve ever seen. Set on top of the Gallow Hill the cairn can be found by leaving Stonehaven southwards on the A957. Take the first minor road west and pull in after the walled garden at the forestry track to the south.

It is a fairly short and gentle climb to the top. Right next to the cairn is an icehouse which has had it’s info sign vandalised. This sad theme continues onto the cairn.

The grass covered cairn stands at 15.5 meters wide and is 1.8 meters tall. It has to be the flattest top to a cairn I’ve ever seen except....................some muppets have dug a hole and had a bonfire. To the west, mountain bikes have damaged and gouged the flank, to the north west a muddied path leads to the cairn top and litter, there were bottles everywhere so I decided to clean the place before taking pics. Sad really, as the cairn is beautifully situated amongst the trees which give a wonderful atmosphere of age and peace.

Still there is something ‘good’ about this place, maybe, just maybe summer is going to arrive.

Visited 23/7/2012.

Canmore suggest that this cairn might be horn shaped and they could well be right. They also suggest that lots of field clearence has been piled onto the cairn. Still in my opinion it still is an impressive cairn, with evidence of a kerb, which has been mutilated and robbed. It stands up over 2 meters in height and is 20meters by 14meters ENE/WSW. (according to Canmore, certainly looks bigger)

Nowadays it is guarded by some very friendly ponies who seemed to enjoy a visitor, especially one bearing gifts of apples. (Mr Hogan’s picture ensuring I arrived prepared.) They certainly also keep the grass short.

Leave the A90 taking the first minor road west after the Bridge Of Muchalls. This a horrendous junction to leave and an even worse road to get back onto, so take care. Keep going until Cantlayhills farm, the cairn is a short walk to the south.

Visited 23/7/2012.

This stone stands at over 2 meters in height in the middle of a rather boggy field. Several chokes are scattered around the base. Great all round views of the rural countryside south of Aberdeen.

Leave the A90 at Cammochmore heading west, the small village being by-passed, taking the minor road west opposite the now sadly closed pub. Stop at the end of the first minor road north at Berrymuir Farm. From here jump the gate and head east over the field. Jump over the dry stane dyke and the stone will be in front. Take care not to drown in the knee deep mud.

Visited 23/7/2012.

From the Tap O Noth car park head up the path over the stile and keep going till the old wall. A track of sorts heads east, follow this for about 200 meters and the grass covered cairn can be seen with two or 3 possible kerbs in place. Little is heard of this cairn which stands at approx 8/9 meters in diameter and would be just below 1 meter in height. (I found it by chance on an old map and Canmore doesn’t list it tho it appears on their map, sadly with no name)

Sadly this is a very badly damaged cairn with agriculture and the beasts having a fair go at destroying it. Still it remains in prehistoric central surrounded by forts, circles, cairns, standing stones and loads of cup marked rocks in the Brawland/nearby areas.

(Just an observation, the cottage near the car park, what a dump you’d seriously think somebody with some clout might tidy it up. What a shambles for visitors to see)

Visited 19/7/2012.

The Daugh Of Corinacy is a very neglected cairn in a very beautiful place high above the River Deveron. Ben Rinnes can be seen to west, Craig Dorney to the north and not to far away the handily placed Grouse Inn, a great place for a refreshment or 5.

From the A941, Cabrach road, head east at Bridgend taking the 2nd minor road which goes in a north easterly direction. Keep going until Oldtown of Corinacy. Don’t believe the maps, paths and tracks are long gone. I headed straight south passing a pile of boulders, thru boggy land, pot holes until I reached the firmer heather. The cairn can be seen as a green patch amongst a see of brown, the heather having being burnt recently. It stands at 8 meters wide and is just over 0.5 meters in height with a possible one kerb still in situ. Some ‘houking’ has also happened.

Sadly this cairn will vanish from sight and memory due to agriculture and the beasts. Therefore not a lot to see except a glimpse of former glories. Still, the present scenery is hard to beat.

Visited 19/7/2012.

For a change I headed home via the B9102 Archiestown road opposite the A95 on the other side of the Spey. Just before the first minor road heading south, to Cromdale, I noticed two stones in the field. Only now that I’ve made it home, I’ve found out that there another two stones nearer the farm. They’ll have to wait another day, but there are a few sites near here to discover so I’ll be back soon enough. (Strathie, take note!)

NJ05332912, the tallest of the stones, to the west is almost 1.75 meters tall. Packing stones and ‘chokes’ can be seen at the base of the stone.

NJ05402913, is only 1 meter in height and is the furthest east of the stones nearest the road.

It appears the only connection between all four stones is that they are close together and the view. Very spectacular views plus there is the River Spey.

Visited 6/7/2012.

After the battering of Finbuie a good rest was required so I decided to drive well to the south to Grantown On Spey and the excellent ‘chippie’ in the square. South of Grantown take the A95, then the A939 Tomintoul old military road. It is only a wee jump over the fence and a walk of about 100 meters.

The cairn is in a clearing to the east of the road after the trees on the same side. This must have been a superb cairn, it still is. Several kerbs remain in place, however it has been well robbed the stones being used to make dykes and buildings. Still, it remains at 10.5 meters wide and is 0.7 meters high. Fantastic location, still a fantastic site.

Visited 6/7/2012

Head south on the A940 after it’s junction with the B9007. Take the second minor road east and stop at the farm of the same name. Dallbraughty Cairn is a bit of a mess, how it survives is probably something of a miracle. Field clearence has been dumped on it some resembling kerbs. Fred Coles suggested there was once a circle here, a local farmer said that long stone near the cairn once stood, but he’d never seen any more. Looking around there are plenty of these ‘stone circley’ types lying all over place. Once upon a time or at best maybe.

The cairn now is turf covered, had some houking damage to the centre, 10 meters wide and 0.7 meters tall. Sadly no kerb! Views to south were hidden a little bit today, so atmosphere made up for the scenic difficulties. The hill is also covered in a cairnfield, these small cairns have almost been battered out of recognition.

After this I hiked up the Hill Of Gaschyle to the north east in dense christmas tree forest, some of the climb on my knees, in other bits throwing myself thru vegetation to make a way thru but to no avail, after a severe battering almost on a par to Mulloch Hill I stopped, darkness and the weather closing in thwarting my efforts. The Finbuie Cairn will have to be found another day. another nice day’s climbing :-)

Visited 6/7/2012.

After a somewhat disastrous visit to nearby Upper Balfour, attacked by whins, soaked by a heavy shower and amount of discoveries registered at zero I headed towards the minor road to west and headed south towards the Durris school junction. From there I headed east and took the first forestry track heading south, taking the second track to the west. Head south when track finishes, when the south path ends head back east over the hill. After a short but steepish climb the cairn comes into view nestling in a clearing.

A fair bit of ‘houking’ has occurred here and the cairn seems to be spread over a wide distance, it is probably over the 14 meters as Canmore states. At it’s highest it certainly is over 1.5 meters tall. There doesn’t seem to be any sign of a kerb. Unusually today it was warm and dry, Clune Wood makes for a superb walk. Take time to look at the small stories on the posts, the local children have done a good job. Follow the path to the south and the RSC will be found.

Visited 5/7/2012.

The Mill Of Carden is just slightly to the north of the Oyne fork on the A96. I asked permission to park at the pig farm of the same name which was granted by some of the cheery and informative workmen. Anyone with a weak sense of smell will have it fully restored by this place. As for the weather, it was misty, it poured with rain, everywhere else seems to be sunny. In Canada it’s non stop heat I’m told and it seems that Gladman has taken the weather with him on his travels. But I wouldn’t have any other way as it adds to fun, a good drenching. Hmmm......

The stone can be found leaning against an old dry stane dyke on the edge of a wood about 100 meters north of the pig farm having been removed from it’s original position. The stone reminds me of the flankers at Stonehead tall and slim, beautifully shaped. Maybe it was once part of a stone circle but no evidence suggests that it was. One thing for sure is the view, my old friend Bennachie stands bang in front to the south and on a sunny day (a rare thing) would be clearly seen. Today it was shrouded in fog giving an otherworldly feel to the place. Nearby the the single standing stone at Max Hill, also rumoured to be once part of circle, makes it’s presence felt.

But what a shape to a stone, it would be wonderful to see it put back in it’s original place.

Visited 28/6/2012.

(The stone is now at NJ69352611)

Didn’t even know about this cairn until I had to pick up a fellow musician for a gig. Parked the car, looked right and a cairn appeared. Chris’s directions are spot on but I should have worked it out for myself given the street name. Amazing that a cairn this size exists in a housing estate. Seems a good place tho, as the sun came out for at least two seconds before it started chucking it down again.

Evidence of a kerb still remain and the trees plus houses give an idea of size. It would be fascinating to have seen it’s original size as going by what is left it must have been massive. Still its nice to see such a thing in a city and amazingly it appears to be quite well looked after so top marks to the locals. A very nice surprise.

Visited 24/6/2012.

This standing stone is on the northern side of the aptly named Heather Hill. Traveling east from Dunecht on the A944 take the first minor road south. I took the first road west and parked at a gate which obviously hadn’t been opened for a long, long time. From there I climbed a wall to the south and walked the short distance to another road heading back east. Keep going until a track can be seen heading south. About half way up the hill look west and the stone should be seen sitting amongst some wonderful scenery.

It stands at 1.2 meters in height and has a couple of visible chokes offering support. Looking north over the Corskie Burn it has tremendous views north, east and west, to the south Heather Hill.

Visited 3/6/2012.

I parked at first track after Orditeach on the A941 and walked north hoping to find the Chapel cairn as well, sadly I didn’t and became lost instead. Now looking at a map (which I’d stupidly left in the car) I found I climbed the Hill of Oldmerdrum, down the other side and waded the Kirkney Water to get back onto the main forestry track. Good fun this if somewhat tiring. I doubled back to the bridge, found the wee car park complete with henge and hillock.

I’ve always wanted to come to this place. It certainly has superb views of Noth. The maze of roads offer superb walks. Take an OS map, helps a lot.

Visited 24/5/2012.

The Dead Wife’s Cairn on Clayshooter Hill is practically gone but it still has truly wonderful views. Hillforts at Tap O Noth, Wheedlemont and Cairnmore can be seen at different angles, as well as looking down into Kildrummy and north west into the wild and lonely Cabrach (home to the Grouse Inn). Head south from Rhynie on the A97 then head west on the B9002, past Craig Castle, Whitehillock, home to a standing stone, and pull into the track after Silverford. Like a lot of small farms this place is now desolate and resembles a small ghost town.

The track, today, is a mixture of dry, flooded, swamp, fords and in parts brand new as new fencing is going up. Various marker stones indicate the names of estates nearby Clova, Craig etc. After a small loch the cairn can be seen looking north east. It is over 5 meters wide and almost 1 meter high at it’s tallest. Only a couple bits of cairn material are visible as the cairn is covered in turf and heather.

Still the scenery is wonderful, nature seemed happy with itself and it was warmish. Well worth the trek!

Visited 20/5/2012.

These stones are at the eastern gate of Rhynie Square. (opposite the shop on the A97) Originally they stood at the opposite side of the road, with garden of Rhynie’s Free Church manse surrounding them. Sadly the southern stone has been broken. A repair job of sorts has happened.

Visited 20/5/2012.

Just like the last time I parked at the layby just north of Mains Of Afforsk, this time with a lot of gorse, grass etc being cut down or flattened by snow a forestry track could now be seen. This isn’t the safest of paths, it is littered with fallen trees and branches, the recent rain has turned it into a series of small lochs. Still as it meanders west all over the place it climbs steadily until it meets another track in a clearing. In the south east quadrant at the crossroads sits the ring cairn.

It reeks of age probably due to the trees and Mither Tap which looks down on top. (It was busy today!) Although badly overgrown and damaged by forestry the ring cairn survives. Sitting at 14 meters wide and 1 meter tall. The inner section isn’t central and is 4 meters in width. I wonder what a ‘dig’ would show.

The other cairn complete with cross incised and ogham marked stone is also quite difficult to find but can be found by heading west and uphill amongst another clearing.

Lovely area, lovely walk but drenched on the way back.

Visited 17/5/2012.