drewbhoy

The Cairn of Arthurhouse is set in the tranquil woods overlooking the Bridge Of Kair underneath flows the Bervie Water. Supposedly massive at some stage it remains an excellent site being 21 by 19 meters in length/width and 3.5 meters tall. The north side has been partially dug away and a small pit remains on top of the cairn. But the setting is wonderful, the Mearns countryside once again breathtaking.

Easiest directions, road wise. Leave the A90 at Fordoun and head east. Turn onto the Waterlair track, south, just before the Bridge Of Kair. From here I walked thru a field to a wood up the hill to the south. Keep heading south until the wood narrows then widens again. In a large clearing the cairn sits proudly in the middle.

Visited 3/08/2011.

What a wonderful standing stone to start the day with complete with Ogham markings. This is a very fine example. Great all round views especially over to Raedykes home to several sites.

Take The Slug (A957 Banchory road) and leave at the first minor road heading north. Take the first left and stop at the first track heading east after Nether Auquhollie. The stone is only a short walk up the track, with a step in fence to help get a closer inspection. Locally this stone is far better known as The Lang Stane.

Visited 3/08/2011.

Binn Hill is a hard cairn to find due to the summer foliage but three kerbs on the western side make it findable. The difference in height of the ferns is a give away as well. It stands at over 10 meters wide and is a meter in height. Two other stones mentioned by Canmore are there, these probably being removed kerbs, most likely when the cairn was opened. Why didn’t they not put them back?

Best way to here is to visit Innesmill (Standing Stones Of Urquhart tho nobody up here calls it by that name) then head north east on the road till it ends. Keep going a short distance east and pull into forestry track after Ferniefield to the north. Take the track west for about 1/2 mile, the main track heads north, keep going west on the smaller until the second wee path north. This leads to the top of hill, head west and look for a bump near a couple of boulders, if you see three boulder kerbs on the west side you’ve made it.

Visited 28/07/2011.

About 100 meters to east of the cup marked rocks is a fenced section. In hear at least 5 meters of well built souterrain remain. One problem the roof was taken away and the area has filled in over the years. Only a wee hollow marks the shape of the site. Photographs won’t do much good here until, hopefully, an excavation. The fence is a precaution to stop beasts and humans but not drews from falling in.

Visited 28/07/2011.

This cairn has almost moved into legendary status as to it’s existence up here. I’m sure Rhiannon will be delighted to learn that it is alive and kicking and doing nicely. The last time I was here the hill was covered in gorse and various other jabby things. I just happened to be driving past looking for rock art at Auchentarph when I noticed the hill had been shaved of all obstacles due to the farmer at Lawfolds erecting a couple of turbines. Probably this is the best thing to have happened here. The hill has been reseeded with grass so the cairn should now be clearly visible in the future. Best to ask permission from the farmer at Lawfolds who asked loads of questions. Hopefully I supplied all the right answers!

The cairn itself looks about 13/14 meters wide and probably around 0.7 to 0.9 meters at it’s highest. Remnants of kerb can now be clearly seen at three different areas. Only a small piece of damage has been done to the northern side but this doesn’t look to bad. So in a time and place when wind turbines and their erection harm ancient monuments it’s good to report that this has gone the other way and brought the cairn back to life. The farmer is certainly very proud of the cairn and should be congratulated for the care he has shown.

A few rocky outcrops revealed no cup marks. Pity, as my old friend Bennachie is in front to the south. As is usual, up here, The Law is surrounded by other circles, cairns, standing stones and hillforts.

Visited 31/07/2011.

A cup and ring marked stone plus the cup marked stone as described by Canmore plus the cup marked rock. Now another new find as described by me.

1 cup and ring mark, 2 normal cups on a smaller rock to the east of the other cup and ring marked stone, no more than 5 meters away.

Visited 28/7/2011.

Debate aplenty about this site. Could it been the remains of a cairn, could it be a standing stone, is the remant of a vast kerb or a sole survivor of a rough stone circle similar to Cappieshill, Knock or Alves. Whatever the answer something happened here and I tend to lean to the stone circle theory just because of the ‘rough stone circles’ in the area.

Just before Llanbryde, coming from the east, head north on the Urquhart road until the crossroads. Directly opposite is the Innesmill Stone Circle. Turn west/left, go thru the nest crossroads and stop at the first farm track south. The clump of trees to left is the fort at Castle Hill. However the stone is in the field to the north. There is a gate a short distance back. Simply follow the tractor tracks to the site to avoid crop damage.

Visited 28/7/2011.

This was the last climb and stop to very long but wonderful day in the hills of the Mearns. Another list has been drawn up so back I’ll be. Head south on the A92 until the first tarred road north east, go past Balandro farm and take the first right then next left stopping at the end of the road at Boghead farm.

Like the Carlin Stone, near Turriff, the recumbent has two small flankers, plus the remains of a kerb. Remnants of the cairn can seen by the small rise behind the recumbent and the appearence of lots of cairn material. Quite why there is an argument about this place and Millplough is beyond me. It is an obvious RSC placed in a stunning location with tremendous all round views especially out to the North Sea.

Anyway that’s this day finished, no accidents, no falling into lochs so back to the car and on to Glasgow and a meeting with some unfriendly wolves, on the pitch at any rate.

Visited 21/07/2011.

This is a very wee cairn only 4 meters in width and less than a half meter tall. It has several kerbs so identifying it should be easy enough. Somehow I’ve missed a couple of cairns fairly nearby. So another visit needed. Boost!

Visited 27/07/2011.

This cairn is actually a long cairn. At 52 meters in length, 22 meters wide and 3 meters high it dominates the whole area. The trig point sitting on top just makes it more obvious. Like football it is in two halves, some of the central point being dug into. Fortunately most of the vegetation that Canmore goes on about has long gone.

Easiest directions. Take the A92 south and leave it heading west on the B967 and take the first minor road north. Upper Craigmill farm is at the end of first farm track west. I asked for permission to park which was kindly given. With the field in crop I walked to the bottom of the hill and found tractor tracks to the top. All round it is an inspiring view even though the early morning mist was hanging around. Gorgeous place and a stunning vantage point.

Visited 27/07/2011.

This was the first stop of the day on the way south to Glasgow. Mitton Hill looks south over the Mearns countryside, with Hillhead Long Cairn being clearly in view to the south. Heading south on the A90 (dual carriageway Aberdeen to Dundee road) leave heading south east towards Threipland. (If heading south it’s after the RAC monument, if heading north after the 2nd Drumlithie junction except head east). Keep going until the Cotbank of Barras then head north on the track. Stop at the next junction. The hill to the south is Mitton, there is track heading to the top heading east, follow it. Once at the top look south and the first of the kerbs will be spotted.

Probably this something better than a kerb cairn. Several stones probably stood so the remnants of a stone circle would be a better description. At least two are over a meter in length. Still it is over 17 meters wide and 0.75 meters tall. Once again it must have been an attractive monument. For me it was a great start to the day.

Visited 27/07/2011.

To the north east of the RSC there is a rough kerbed cairn some 18 meters in width. Several large boulders are the remnant of the kerb. The inner cairn stands at less than 1 meter in height. Impressive in it’s own way.

Visited 27/07/2011.

There is supposed to be a cairn here but I saw no trace but then again I can miss the most things. I didn’t know about this stone until I arrived here, so like Cluseburn another look will have to done.

Another impressive stone, standing at over 1.5 meters in height. Not to be outdone the driller boys have had a go at this stone as well. Fortunately they gave up.

Then it was back to the car for the final stop, The Cloch.

Visited 27/07/2011.

From the Moray Stone I went daft and walked back to Montgoldrum (my car was here but my senses where working overtime), back to the minor road and south to the B967 and walked east then north heading up another tarred farmer’s road past Millplough farm to just beyond Craighead Farm. Shortly after that a sign saying standing stones shows the way. Head west then north past the standing stone until tractor tracks can be seen in the crop heading east. The massive recumbent is in the middle of the field. Gladiator style I walked along the field.

At almost 3 meters in length, just about 2 meters high and 0.5 meters wide the recumbent looks very lonely looking out to the North Sea. It’s pals have long gone, probably meeting the same fate as it’;s pal at Montgoldrum. At least the recumbent is still intact, a very impressive reminder of what once was here.

If I’d walked further up the road the cairn at Cluseburn awaited. However that can wait for another soon to come day.

Visited 27/07/2011.

From Montgoldrum I walked north, down the hill, over a burn and up the hill to the Leys Of Barras. From here I headed along a track heading west and downhill. Look up the Moray Stone can be seen on top of the Murrystone Hill.

Like the Court Stane it has tremendous views of the Mearns countryside. Standing at almost two meters in height it is an impressive sight. Everywhere you go in this area the Long Cairn at Hillhead can be seen as if checking the walker is doing alright.

Visited 27/07/2011.

This should be a fantastic RSC set in the wonderful Grassic Gibbon countryside instead it is a miracle. The inner ring of kerbs is there but broken, circle stones have been removed and trashed and the recumbent battered into it’s present state by drilling and whatever else. However it isn’t defeated and at certain angles, especially looking south east, it remains defiant. The cairn also known as The Camp is almost 18 meters wide and is hollowed out. What a place this must have been. Full of legend and story tellers.

This was the third climb of the day. Easiest directions. Travel east on the B967 at Inverbervie, good chippie, taking the first minor road north (this area is teeming with stuff as you’ll soon find out) taking the first tarred road east. Keep going until the tar runs out and head along the track stopping at Montgoldrum farm. The RSC and nearby cairns are on the hill to the north. Head east then north to avoid the jabby stuff. For me this was the start of a very long walk. Cracking weather for it.

Visited 27/07/2011.

From the A93 heading west from Banchory take Corsee Road north until it ends at the Glen O Dee hospital car park. From there take the clearing to the east for 200 meters approx, then follow the path north west and make for the top of the hill. Near the peak head west and a cairn looking south will be found. This must have had glorious views to the south before the trees appeared.

The cairn itself is 5 meters wide and has a length of 6/7 meters. It is no more than 0.75 high and has seen some brutal treatment. Still a kerb remains on the eastern side with at least two displaced on the western edge. As can be seen from the pics the centre has been dug into. Unfortunately branches cover the cairn but it’s seclusion gives an idea of absolute peace. After today’s welcome mayhem it’s nice to have a wee bit of solitude.

Visited 24/07/2011.

A very easy place to find after a nice afternoon in Edinburgh, which makes a change, right next to the busy A93 Royal Deeside road in Banchory. Just before the A980 junction look at the bottom of the wall opposite the Old Manse. On the southern wall is a Round Celtic cross.

Visited 24/07/2011.

Levrattich is one of the most atmospheric and beautiful places I’ve ever seen. The shades of night were coming down, it was becoming cooler and I was absolutely shattered at the end of several very long walks and one severe meeting with a loch. Thankfully this is a very easy and short walk of 200 meters. From the A939, north of Ferness, take the Ardclach road and head west. Then ignore the Ardclach signpost going straight on stopping at the first wood west. The cairn is in the field north in remarkable condition, no fences dancer!

Even though the edge of the cairn has been damaged I think the farmer should be praised as he/she obviously looks after the monument. It is in a tremendous location with excellent all round views. The burial cairn is 14.5 meters wide and 1 meter high. Some cairn material can be seen poking their noses thru the turf.

Wonderful site and end to a wonderful day in the Highlands. Now visit the Ardclach Tower, then for me home and some refreshment.

Visited 21/07/2011.

This kerbed cairn is found at the top of the Lethan Bar. To get there is a long slog thru very boggy ground, dense forest and loads of gorse/heather/jabby things. To spot the cairn is almost impossible as it is completely overgrown. Luckily the trig point can be spotted which marks the middle point of this heavily robbed cairn. The outer ring remains at 25 meters wide. If you can batter your way thru the gorse you will find that a ring of stones remains. The kerb is best preserved in the east side where 5/6 stones still remain intact.

Going north from Ferness on the A939 take the first minor road north east signposted Relugas (home to a fort). Then take the first minor road north and look for a small clearing amongst the trees to the west. Walk thru this clearing heading west. Good waterproofs and boots required as this is very boggy terrain. Keep heading west climbing thru the trees until the jabby thinged summit is reached. After that its look for the trig point. On the way down I was lost but keep heading east and the minor road will, eventually, appear.

Visited 21/07/2011.

This circle is in the north west corner of the Moyness crossroads. Sadly it is a disgrace as it is overgrown and almost invisible except for the remaining upright. Kerbs remain whilst others have have fallen.

Half an hour and this site would look brilliant. It looks like they have tried to make it a ‘show site’ with the information board, at a bus stop, they have failed miserably.

Visited 21/07/2011.

Leave the B9101 after the A939 heading west and take the first minor road heading south. Keep going until the first forestry track heading east. I parked here and then proceeded not to be able to find the northern cairn presumably covered in deep forest. So to the top of the hill I headed after battering my way thru bog and deep forest. 500 meters from the top the trees have been obliterated leaving an ankle breaking terrain.

Somehow the cairn has survived in a small clearing, no trees dead or otherwise on this little patch. However the kerb has paid a price as only 2 remain the place. The centre of the cairn, though dug out, remains reasonably intact. Against the odds the cairn sits at 12 meters wide and 1 meter tall. Impressive views to the Moray Firth and the Black isle.

With that it was a somewhat shorter route back to the car. Head to the west, straight down thru the trees and the forestry track is reached. After that it’s retrace your steps.

Visited 21/07/2011.

For ages and ages I haven’t had an accident or injured myself. Whilst looking for this site I scored direct hits on both counts. Take the B9091 south west from Nairn and stop at Easter Lochend farm. I asked permission to park and was kindly allowed to do so. I also asked directions to the fort and crannog. There is an old bridge near the fort, use it cross I was told. The Loch Of the Clans has been drained and is now mainly marsh (this enabled them to find some logboats) but last weekend, Simple Minds gig, torrential rain etc and the loch had sprung back into action.

Finding the fort was easy, finding the bridge also or so I thought. I saw a rope, I saw some planks above the water, I pulled the rope it seemed tight, so on I went, 8 or 9 steps in I tightened the rope only for it to snap. So backwards I fell into the freezing murk and stench. However I reacted quickly and scrambled back to dry land not wishing to join my Jacobite ancestors. Luckily my right arm took the damage being fairly badly bruised, thankfully (for me) leaving the left unscathed.

The bridge is to the west of the fort, I crossed and headed east. The crannog is at the far end of the bog. Thru the years it has been used for many purposes but now no trace of anything can be seen except the fact it’s a crannog. With that it was back to look at the fort and dry at the same time.

Visited 21/07/2011.

Fairly obvious what this was used for in bygone days. Much earlier than that it was built by the Bronze Age people for burial. This impressive cairn, yet again superbly sited, is 25 meters wide and 3 meters tall. It is made from earth and stones brought up from the River Nairn.

Take the B9091 from Nairn and take the second minor road south. Stop at the first corner and look west. Use tractor tracks to make your way thru the crops to a field which is covered in thistles and pretty yellow things (in summer time).

On returning to the much used and abused drewmobile I was met by a fisherman who’d had a successful day landing some trout. He enquired about what I’d been up to, so I told him. He then asked if I’d noticed the small lochs to the north. So I asked what they were used for. Apparently after people were hung they were drowned in these wee lochs as well, to make sure they were dead. So civilised......................not!

Visited 21/07/2011.

Urchany is another site with a fantastic location and probably was a clava type cairn. Sadly the destruction carried out here nobody is quite sure. A ring cairn a few meters to the east has long gone so how this survives is nothing short of a miracle.

Three stones remain upright. Others have been smashed or have simple vanished. One stone covered in cup marks has been obliterated altogether. Yet a kerb remains in the west somehow survivng the mayhem. Field-clearence has also been dumped on the site.

Heading east from Cawdor, home to famous castle, take the first minor road south and keep going until after Acheim Farm, the turn east for a mile. The banks are flat to the road so plenty room to park. Unfortunately for me I jumped the fence straight into a bog. Luckily I’d waterproofs and wets on thanks to an earlier incident involving a loch. Head straight north, look for tractor tracks to avoid damaging crops. Then walked practically to Acheim farm to get back to minor to avoid the bog and stench. Extra miles, beautiful countryside, bonus!

Visited 21/07/2011.

The Shian Hillock must surely be one of the best kept cairns in Northern Scotland. Top marks to the farmer who seems to look after it properly.

This a fantastic site just to east of the Muckle Burn with stunning views, south to Highlands, north to the Moray Firth and the Black Isle, west towards Inverness and east towards Moray. Stunning location full stop.

The cairn is some 33 meters wide and 4 meters high. To the south of cairn at 12 kerbs can be seen. Thanks to the growth I spied 5 large kerbs. To the north west a small amount of erosion allows to see how the cairn was constructed. The top of the cairn has been ‘dug out’ which at the time revealed stone coffins. During the 1800’s Pagan interments were discovered.

This is a very easy cairn to walk to. From Nairn head south on the A939, forts all over the place here, pulling in after the Littlemill junction on the brow of the hill. The cairn is to the west and can’t be seen from the road. Somebody spoke about a ‘wow factor’ when visiting sites. Once you get to the crest of the hill be prepared to be stunned.

Visited 21/07/2011.

With Willie Adie (96 years old and still climbing up and down hills) I used a different route. From Ythanbank (a wee village) head north west on the Schivas road and pull in at the first house on the left. After opening a gate head to the top of the hill. The remains of the cairn can be seen. 12 meters wide and sadly only 0.6 meters in height, this cairn has been well robbed. Must have been an impressive sight looking down onto the River Ythan and Bellmuir.

Re-visited 19/07/2011.

This late Bronze Age cist was found whilst ploughing in 2001. The capstone was moved and the cist found. Inside was a broken beaker, some flints and one or two tools. It’s length is 4 feet and width 2 feet. Other stones, probably involved with site, are kept on the rough square of ground. And so it remains not well looked after but not badly treated either.

Willie Adie showed me this site. Head south from Pitmedden on the B999 taking the fist minor road east. This leads to the village of Udny Green and Udny Castle. Stop at the cemetry and walk to first field on the south side to the east. Tho the field is in crop, no damage was done as the tractor tracks led straight to the site.

Visited 19/07/2011.

Did this on the way up to the Simple Minds gig in Inverness and intended going to several more. However the weather gods had different ideas and severe torrents caused major floods in the area. However I will return.

This stone at Balnaroid is reportedly the last remnant of a stone circle or clava cairn destroyed in the 1700s. Stones were demolished or buried beneath the soil on which they formerly stood. So this stone defiantly remains, a reminder of what once was here.

Take the B9090 at Nairn at head south west, then head the same direction on the B9101, taking the fourth minor road south. The stone sits in the first field to the east. At the moment the field is in crop so I left the stone to it’s own devices.

As for Simple Minds, they were brilliant and their fans were drenched. But we don’t get wet in the rain we Sparkle!

Visited 16/07/2011.

This is a great stone with a great views. Knock Hill is next door, Ben Rinnes away to the west, Hill of Cairns to the east, Thorax to the North east and Durn Hill to the north, after that its the Moray Firth. This rock is situated on top of Wether Hill and it’s name is give away. Many years ago a King would have sat watching his army and another (in these parts normally The Danes) hack each other to pieces. The hill and field to the east is called Battlefield.

Visited 15/07/2011.

Findrassie Kerb cairn is a wonderfully silent place. It is 12 meters wide and 0.5 meters tall. 6 large boulder kerbs can still be seen.

Leave Elgin heading north west on the B9012 Duffus road. Stopping at the first crossroads. Turn east and then walk straight north. Somehow I managed to walk right past the other cairn. But that gives me another excuse to go back. In reality I was lost again, thankfully Westerton farm track came to my rescue. No detours, which was just as well.

Visited 14/07/2011.

There isn’t to much to report about this forestry damaged cairn. It is some 16 meters wide and 1.8 meters tall. Most of the damage is to the western side.

It is a nightmare to find as there are many fern covered mounds in the wood. This one is different as it is turf covered with one or two bits of cairn material peeping thru. By this time I’d lost all sense of direction in the sea of green and proceeded to walk the wrong way further east only realising my mistake when I’d reached the Muir Of Lochs farm. To compound the mistake I then walked into Llanbryde, lunch time anyway, that’s my excuse. Still it was a nice day for a walk and the car seemed happy enough in the Moray sunshine.

Going east from Llanbryde on the A96 take the first minor road north. I stopped at the second forestry track going east.

Visited 14/07/2011.

Castle Hill is a tree shrouded hill with steepish sides making it a good place to defend. To the north is a 35 meter long trench which is in some parts at least 2 meters deep. The southern bank of the trench being at least a meter higher than the northern part.

From Llanbryde take Burnside Road north until the road ends. Turn right and take the 2nd farm track road south. The fort can’t be missed, it is straight in front.

From here I was going to look for the Meft cairn but a writing malfunction led to me writing down the wrong grid ref. So looking and climbing the two nearest hills south didn’t do me much good as the cairn was in the field to the north. Next time.

Visited 14/07/2011.

I’ve always wanted to see Cappieshill as it has always divided peoples opinions. Is it a stone circle?, is it a man made hill? or is it a cairn?. The answer to all three questions is probably yes.

As a stone circle it is pretty in a Knock Hill way. Two of the stones teeter on the eastern flank as erosion and badgers eat away the soil. The others lay in amongst the nettles. As for being a cairn, location good, cairn material yup so I think the ‘clever’ people couldn’t make up their minds and took the safe way out. As for being a human made mound, it doesn’t look natural, to me, so it’s a fairly safe bet. The north side has been dug out and a concrete block monstrosity resides there now.

After the trials of Sleepieshill and the disaster of Meft Hill it was nice to find something easy.

Easiest way is to take the B9103 north, 2nd minor road east, turn north, then nest west. After the crescent of houses Cappieshill can be seen in the field north. I parked at the houses and walked up. No chance of getting lost this time.

Visited 14/07/2011

No supernatural forces leapt out from the stone. Indeed it was very well behaved and the rain only came on once I’d sat in the car. Thank goodness, I was done in after Sleepiehill and Findrassie. The adventures of these will told in their fieldnotes.

From Elgin head east and take the B9103 heading south east. Take the 2nd minor road heading west indicated Blackhills. Go till you see the the sign for the house, it said private but I waltzed in anyway. Rang the foghorn, I mean doorbell no reply, so I took some pics. The stone is kept undercover and is well looked after.

Various ring marks, cup marks and some Pictish stuff are all on this superb stone. A great way to end the day.

Visited 14/07/2011.

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Furthest west of the three hut circles is 5.5 meters wide . It is the smallest of the three hut circles.

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Immediately next the above hut circle. It is much bigger being 11.5 meters in width.

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Further to the east, this hut circle is 7.8 meters wide.

The fourth circle is under gorse and jabby things so a winter time visit required. Field clearence and systems cover the area which looks now onto Ellon and the River Ythan estuary.

On the A90 between the B9005 and A920 junctions take the minor road east signposted Kirkton Of Logie Buchan. I pulled in after the Ladymire farm road climbing over the hill in the hope of rock art. No luck. Straight over to the gates, to the west, and the first hut circle can be seen in the dip. The other 2 are to the west of the site. Great place for a settlement, good farming land and fish from the river/sea.

Visited 13/07/2011.

As can be found out by checking Canmore’s notes these cairns have caused much confusion. This cairn is definitely east of the RSC and it has been badly treated.

It is some 10 meters wide and 0.3 meters high. Some cairn material remains but most of it has long gone thanks to being hollowed out. There is no sign of the kerb.

However this was a worthwhile visit, two cairns, one RSC so nothing to complain about.

Visited 10/07/2011.

Walk in a south westerly direction from the stone circle and this very rough cairn can be found. There has been a ‘Unexplained, Uneasy feeling’ forum and today was a good example. The rain had by-passed monsoon and the thunder and lightning led to some eerie moments. Every now and again the woods would light up to give a very uneasy feeling but that might have been because I was drenched and frozen.

The cairn is 8 meters north to south, 6 meters east to west and almost 2 meters high. Most of the cairn material is made up of large rocks with no kerb or ring.

Anyway I was soaked so I went to the eastern cairn. These cairns have caused no end of confusion even to Canmore, OS, Phillips and myself. (just ask the TMA Ed)

Visited 10/07/2011.

The Loch Of Leys is just to the north of the busy Deeside town of Banchory (various cists and cairns in the town still to find but they will be found!) to east of the A980 or west of a minor road. It is a very beautiful place but a death trap waiting to happen. I parked on the eastern minor road at former car park now blocked by large rocks. The locals still use the area for walks.

The loch has been drained but not properly as water can still be seen in what could be called a boggy mess. Walking to crannog is impossible. I tried to walk on one of fishing ramps but had a lucky escape as the contraption fell to bits. Luckily I managed to jump to dry land before being trapped in silted and reedy conditions. My long legs coming to my rescue. These things should be pulled up as none of them looked safe to me.

On the plus side the crannog can be seen clearly. Ancient canoes have been found along with various finds. As usual the crannog was used later as a castle in medieval times and is linked to the Frasers and, more famously, the Burnett family of Banchory. One of the pubs, a good one to, in the town is called Burnetts.

So a very nice walk basically round a bog. Shame as it must have been a beautiful place.

Visited 5/07/2011.

From the Dardanus Standing Stone simply look west and climb to the crest of the hill. Not much is left of what must have been an impressive site. Maybe it rivaled it’s near neighbour the magnificent Long Cairn in amongst the nearby woods.

What is left is behind an equally ruined barbed wire fence with some cairn material poking thru. Probably some field clearence has been dumped here as well. Canmore says it was 40 meters in length so it must have been an impressive monument. Sadly a turf covered cairn is all that remains. Still it is situated in superb countryside with plenty of ancient sites surrounding it.

Visited 5/07/2011.

This is a lovely standing stone that none of the locals know about, I asked 3 but would have been better asking for directions to the moon. I’d left my detective work at home so I phoned Tiompan who gave me very accurate directions.

In my best Angus accent he said go down from the buildings at Berrysloch and a wall will appear on the right hand side. When this ends look left and a forestry track will appear. The stone is a short distance up the hill between the track and road. What he didn’t know is the stone is set in a small dip. No problem except I’d my mother, nipping my head about driving to fast, and her partner Jim Kerr (no not that one!) were in the car spotting invisible standing stones. But I spied the real one.

Still I found the stone and it stands at almost 7 feet tall and three feet wide. In amongst the greenery it looks like it’s impersonating a panda. After that it was back to the lug nipping. What a dutiful son I am.

Visited 5/07/2011.

On the road west of Banchory, the A93, look south or for the house name The Beeches when entering Inchmarlo. The house isn’t being lived in at the moment going by the state of the guttering. So I walked straight in.

This was once part of a circle, if they were all this size it must have been impressive, according to old Fred Coles and others. It stands at 8 feet high, 3 feet wide and has a strange oblong shape cut out (during the 1860s). The other rock on display is a lump of diorite. Locals still call it the Druid’s Stone. So good to see local legend alive and kicking.

Visited5/07/2011.

What an absolute belter of a stone this is set between two hills, called Green Hill and White Hill. These two colours seem very very familiar to me but I’ll know I’ll try hard not to make a football connection. Possibly it was put up by the Ancient Celts, well that didn’t last long!!!!

I reached the site via Whitehill RSC, easily reached following the forestry track. After that, according to the forestry map take the next path west and uphill. This I did. Several problems here, very rubbly, lots of fallen down trees and then it eventually vanishes opposite a massive pile of stones over a wee valley. Without injuring myself I headed west and uphill which to my surprise led to the path I was supposed to on. From here over the top of White Hill and about 100 meters from the summit northern side look south over the fence. (the middle bit isn’t barbed) Luath’s stone is fantastically situated with tremendous views south. I’ve never been here before but I instantly love it even managing, skillfully in my opinion, to trip and take a photograph at the same time. So I sat for a time, no noise except birds and a slight wind, perfect peace in the summer heat.

To get back down there is a type of path but its basically guess. I went down the valley until I saw the main path reappear. Long legs are a good idea as well. Take care not to be pancaked by mountain cyclists. From there back down the hill past the RSC to the car park.

Visited 4/07/2011.

Leave the A93 between Bieldside and Milltimber heading in a north west direction on the Hillhead Road, loosely described as a minor road and in some bits a disgrace. Keep going until it becomes a track and stop about 100 yards before a closed gate at an entrance to the field on the southern side. The site is in the south east corner of the field.

It is a very pretty place on a summers day and even the stone seemed happy basking in the sunlight. Standing at 1.5 meters, with no markings, it has pleasant views of countryside above the busy A93.

Visited 3/07/2011.

New find with five cup marks, 2 good ones next to each other plus 3 weathered cups. The large mark is a depression in the stone.

Visited 24/06/2011.

As a second fieldnote I must give a huge and sincere thanks to Roland Buchan and his partner Margaret Middleton for allowing to take pictures of their fantastic collection. Its not often such kindness is shown to somebody who is a complete stranger, and lets face it everybody here knows I’m bonkers, then feed and water them as well. They have a friend called Willie Adie, who has a story to tell and the finds as well, hopefully more about him in the near future. The adventure in this part of Aberdeenshire, for me, is about to begin. I hope somebody listens as it might be significant for Willie’s sake and the Methlick area, he has Lady Aberdeen at Haddo House on his side and detailed hand drawn maps as well. Now I’ll spread the word far and wide so we’ll see what happens. Of course the news will be here first, pics, fieldnotes etc.

Revisited 29/06/2011.

I arrived at Little Gight looking for the remains of a souterrain. Sadly it was long gone it’s stones possibly used as lintils etc. So nothing to see, very wrong. Fortunately on my arrival I was met by Roland Buchan who showed all round his farm. Over to St Devenick’s Well, to something hopefully Tiompan will describe, to an old mill and some rocks but alas no rock art. Roland then mentioned he’d found some flints and arrow heads. So in his kitchen I manfully drank the cup of tea on offer and watched as my eyes grew wider and wider. Roland’s partner, Margaret Middleton brought thru some boxes. I only looked at half the contents as we had a pressing engagement with a genius later on (more of that later). Scrapers, knifes and arrow heads from Mesolithic and Neolithic times appeared as if by magic. I’ve never seen nothing like this outside a museum and my own discoveries. More and more they kept appearing, a prehistoric treasure chest.

I’ll be back to take foties of the rest, I’m invited, so I’ll put them up at a later date. First a pressing meeting with an extraordinary gentleman and things that I’ve never witnessed before.

28/06/2011.

This would be a wonderful small and compact circle of seven stones all less than a meter in height if the stones still stood but lovely it still is. The circle is on the eastern side of Knock Hill, a major landmark in Moray, looking over to the Hill Of Cairns and Edingight (home to a cairn).

Leave the A95 after Glenbarry taking the first minor road north, marked Edingight. About 1/2 a mile along this road I pulled over and walked north on a forestry track. Keep looking to the edge of the trees and eventually a blue fence climb will be spotted. Over this and head to the north west corner of the clearing.

Sadly I wasn’t the first person here today. Somebody on one of these four wheeled cross country motor bike thingies had made straight for the circle and driven thru the middle of it. Somewhere else, on TMA’s pages I’d read about cow damage. At least cow damage isn’t deliberate or done thru a lack of knowledge. The promised fence hasn’t appeared so incidents like this will, sadly, happen again.

Still on a night like tonight, there is no finer place to be.

Visited 17/06/2011.

Found by Tiompan on a massive boulder 15 cups.

Visited 10/06/2011.

A new find find to me, Tiompan found this a wee while back, with 8 cup marks visible to the eye if not my camera.

Visited 10/06/2011.