drewbhoy

Head north from Stittenham on the B9176, then take the first minor road heading west.

There is a forestry track to the south of the entrance of Easter Baldoon, plenty room to park. Take the steep track down and up to the small farm. I asked permission to jump the fence and head north, once again the owner had no clue what I was talking about, the chamber cairn up beyond the fence only a few hundred metres away.

He didn’t know where or what the site was, he isn’t alone, others have confused the site to be a fort, it would be a very odd looking fort in an easily attacked place if attacking from the west, north and east.

The afternoon sun and the enhanced colour, because of the snow, made for an already impressive site. Eight stones are still standing, whilst I counted at least another eight fallen. Together they create the two impressive chambers of the Orkney / Cromarty site. Smaller cairn material has been recycled elsewhere but the footprint remains at almost 16m.

A superb site, in the must visit category!

Visited 03/01/2023.

The chamber cairn at Sittenham was badly robbed just like its neighbour at Stittenham Farm but at least its chamber remained. From the chamber cairn I went back to the road, back to place I parked but deciding to not use the skating rink aka the farm road I jumped the fence and headed south east. Remains of the cairn are behind a barn.

Once again a huge site, almost 33m wide has been reduced / robbed to almost nothing. A few kerbs remain in situ in what might have been a double kerb, these being in an circular side about 13m wide. The depression in the middle has been further depressed by the addition of field cleared boulders.

On a brighter note a guarding sheepdog was very well behaved and earned a sandwich. The bright spot in a ‘what if’ site.

Visited 03/01/2023.

After a good look round at Millcraig Chamber Cairn I headed back west and took the first minor road heading north which meets the B9176. Heading further north I parked in the skating rink entrance, it was winter after all, to Stittenham Farm.

Walk back down the B9176 to the sharp corner, jump the fence and follow the tree line for a short distance north then head east. The chamber cairn is in a small clearing.

I thought this a very beautiful place, the winter sun and snow helping give the place an optimistic vibe. As is usual in these parts it is an Orkney – Cromarty type cairn which has been severely robbed, only the chamber really remains of the once almost 12m wide site. Only the sides of the chamber can be seen, the capstone also having been removed.

Despite all of the robbing, a very wonderful site, the trees, the weather adding to its tranquil setting.

Visited 03/01/2023.

Millcraig or Nonikiln must have been a hugely impressive site originally but sadly it has been nearly robbed out of existence. The footprint or wooded area is 34m wide but it could have been up to 53m wide. There are a lot of dry stane dykes in the area, local dykers have recycled almost all of the cairn.

Several stones are near a massive slab in the North East part of the site, a stone still appears to stand in the far north east of the site but that is it as far as remains go.

A bit of a what if, but worth seeing if only to see the slab.

Take Ardross Road heading north out of Alness and take the first minor road heading east. The site is in the north east corner of a field slightly to the north and easily identified by the patch of trees.

Visited 03/01/2023.

The first site in 2023 was far far easier than the last site of 2022.

At the village shop in Evanton take Chapel Road, then Hermitage Street which leads to Swordale Road. Park just before the Swordale Cottages, jump a gate and climb the hill until the first old dyke. There are rocks everywhere, as I now know many are covered in cup marks.

There are a lot of dry stane dykes in the area so there are no prizes for guessing where most of the stones came from for this .

What is left is the chamber, three stones surrounded in cairn rubble. Some kerbs remain in place in what is a beautifully placed site. Views over the Cromarty Firth complete with rainbows – wonderful.

Visited 03/01/2023.

The last stop of a day which had proved, for me at least, adventure free. That was about to change at Cnoc Nan Taibhsean – the aptly named in English – Hill of Ghosts.

I parked at a small place called Inch, north of the B9163 and walked west on what I thought would be an easy stroll.

Jumping a fence I crossed into a wilderness of head high gorse, fallen down trees, marsh and tried to batter a way through, one bit of luck was a digger in the field to the south east. Very handy for finding a way out.

Eventually you’ll find the ruins of an old croft, and in a rare clearing you’ll find the cairn covered in all types gorse, furze, whin – the famous jabby stuff.

What remains is a cairn that is 8m wide standing at 0.6m tall. Most what can be seen is covered in grass.

From this clearing it’s east back to Inch, however the short journey takes a long time. I resorted to crawling on the ground, jumping on branches etc trying to keep an eye on the top of the digger. Without the digger I would have been completely lost.

After many retreats and various directions the field was found. The legs and arms had taken a battering, but the Hill of Ghosts didn’t win.

Only go if the undergrowth has gone.

Visited 27/12/2022.

After Easter obviously is Wester, therefore jump a fence, go through a boggy bit, jump another fence and you’ll reach the dun at Wester Rarichie.

Unlike its near neighbour, there is hardly any vegetation to fight against so most of the remains are easily seen.

Bits of wall can be seen all round the top of the small till, partly erosion partly animal damage. At the bottom there seems to be a ditch and a small quarry.

Entrance to the dun is on the east, going up through the wall. The walls must have been large as the tumble scatters to at least 5m, the dun itself being 20m wide.

Good views all round.

A class site to visit especially with its neighbour to the east.

Visited 27/12/2022.

From Easter Rarichie farm it’s a reasonably easy walk to the nearby fort/dun situated on the north east side of the Hill of Nigg.

Multiple ramparts and ditches surround the slopes leading up to the top of the small hill. These are hard to spot because of long grass, turf and the more usual types of heavy vegetation. You get a better view of the defences by standing a fair distance from the fort especially to the north. After following the grass track, which swings past the southern defences, the remnants of a roundhouse are all that remain in the interior of the fort.

There is is a lot going here as the various excavations and notes explain in the Canmore link.

Tremendous views and immediately west another dun.

Visited 27/12/2022.

Like Nick I worked quite a lot at Invergordon and was also often in the area playing gigs with one of my bands, so would see this stone quite a lot. Having been at Novar House this was a chance to have a good look.

Badly eroded carvings are barely visible, being honest if I didn’t know they were there I would never have bothered to look for them.

Standing at 1.8m tall this is an easy site to find. Park in the sailing club car park across the road (B817).

Visited 27/12/2022.

After visiting Carn Liath I headed back into Evanton and took the B811 heading North East. The entrance to Novar House is easy to find. Head through the gates until a wee row of houses. Bizarrely when I asked to park, which was allowed, the person I spoke to didn’t have a clue what I was on about and thought the mound a wee hill.

Anyway the cairn or barrow, marked tumulus by the OS, is massive sitting at 25m wide and 4m tall. Boulders on the west and north west corner are field clearence.

I thought this a tremendous site despite the turf, trees and waste all around it.

A great location.

Visited 27/12/2022.

Hugh Miller has always intrigued me and Rhiannon’s folklore post made this a must visit site. Chamber cairns are popular in this area and there is a large but badly disturbed chamber at this site, an Orkney Cromarty type cairn.

At 24m wide and still standing at 1.8m, this must have been huge, as the remains of the chamber prove. A lot of dry stane dykes in the area suggest a lot stone was recycled elsewhere.

From Evanton, take the road heading west at the shop and park just before Drumore Farm. The cairn is in the the north corner of the field. Just to the north is the River Glass as it passes through the Black Gorge.

No Lady Balconie today, just a nice frosty winter’s day.

Visited 27/12/2022.

On a cold and frosty morning I pulled in at Cnoc A Teampuill. After crossing the Cromarty Bridge, follow the A9 over the roundabout and take the first minor road heading north west, then head south west towards Dingwall, then take the next minor road heading north west. Look into the field to the east, the cairn is easily spotted.

The site which is more oval than circular is 21m long, 18m wide and at its tallest 1.5m tall. There isn’t to much to look at, a few stones and slabs here and there. Stunning views of the Cromarty Firth are worth looking at.

Sadly nearby rock art couldn’t be found hopefully it’s still there. However, a pile of stones shoved into a ditch didn’t raise hopes.

Back for another look in the future.

Visited 27/12/2022.

Storm Arwen and her friends that followed have caused a lot of damage to the fort at Castle Downie. Perfectly placed for a promontory fort, slopes on the north west and south east act as a defence, a gully on the west has been used as a natural ditch / rampart. You jump this to reach the fort. Ramparts on the north east and south west are still there as can be seen with some stonework. However, Storm Arwen and co have uprooted trees causing massive damage to these ramparts. Probably more stonework is tangled up in the roots of fallen trees, hanging about in mid-air.

There is a gap in the in the south west rampart which I assumed was the entrance. The forts interior is covered in fallen trees.

I parked at the small parking place to the west of Eathie Mains, Hugh Miller the folklorist has an info board here. Follow this path until the first fence heading east, and jumping a few fences heading south east aiming for the south side of the trees. Castle Downie is a short but, because of Arwen, awkward climb picking a route through fallen trees.

Worth a trek down to the shore to see what Hugh Miller was looking for.

Visited 27/12/2022.

A flat walk of about 500m east on thankfully drier and firmer ground leads to the second of the two long cairns.

Not much remains of the 19m long by 8m west/10m east wide by 0.5m tall long cairn. A few stones poke through the turf. The east end, the widest section, has a mohican of gorse which probably helps protect the site, it certainly makes it easier to spot.

Worth looking at if searching for The Grey Cairn.

Visited 27/12/2022.

Located a short distance south of the nearby Glenurquhart Cairn, the Grey Cairn is massive in comparison. However, on a day with a lot of melted snow and very muddy ground, proper footwear required which, for a change, I had. Once past that, only the gorse/furze/jabby stuff to crawl through.

As usual the cairn is circular in shape, 20m wide and 2m tall, it must have been seen in all directions until the much more recent plants obscured the view.

I had a look for the White Bog Cairn, to the west, but sadly I found nothing, perhaps something remains under the forestry.

Impressive site, probably robbed but still in reasonable condition.

Visited 27/12/2022.

Practically next to the Grey Cairn, the long cairn has been all but forgotten about, I luckily took a few photographs thinking that it was a long cairn. For a change, Canmore agreed.

Shaped like a wedge it is a short long cairn, 20m in length, 12m wide and at its highest, 1m. The only excavatory work has been undertaken by rabbits, who have forgotten to Canmore their reports.

A nice bonus, as the Grey Cairn would be visited as well as the other Glenurquhart Long Cairn.

From the Callachy Cairn I headed towards Peddieston House, returning to the A832 to drive North East. Peddieston House can be found on the first minor road heading west. There is room to park near the house. Head west on a track, jump the fence and head south west. Being frosty, underfoot conditions were reasonably dry to walk to the site, however conditions at the site were a boggy mess, direct sunlight had melted frost and snow. Thankfully I had on wellington boots.

Plenty nearby sites, this is worth a look as well.

Visited 27/12/2022.

After leaving Ormond Castle I headed east following the minor road into Avoch, keep following the A832 through Fortrose then Rosemarkie. Once through Rosemarkie take the first minor road heading east. After a steep twisty start follow the road, by this time dead straight ands top at the first forestry road heading north. Plenty room for parking.

Normally this would be a safe place to park and then walk. Today it was a skating rink, but I made it unscathed to the track that heads back west. This, also is very straight, is an easy walk of about a 1/2 mile. The site is situated in a clearing just to the north of the forestry track.

Snow always makes a site look better to me, adding atmosphere and when the sun breaks through it highlights the site and atmosphere even more. However, one thing it can’t hide is the amount of damage done.

Previous digs have left the cairn badly trenched, probably a lot of stone has been robbed – probably the main reason for no chamber or cist. They’ve most likely ended up as gateposts or lintels. What remains, there are a lot of remains, stands at 14m wide and at its highest is over 2.5m tall. Trees block the view south but there would have superb views south over the Moray Firth.

I loved this site, a beautiful place, a summer return visit required as well.

Visited 27/12/2022.

Head east on the A832 going through Munlochy, take the minor road heading south, some severe corners, take the turning to Castleton Farm. Permission was given to park.

The fort is only a short walk south from the farm and is easily spotted, it’s the only small hill. Tremendous views south over the Moray Firth can be seen, in fact tremendous all round views, the small town of Avoch is to the east hugging the coast.

Ditches on the east side have placed the fort into the Iron Age, it would have astonishing to think that Iron Age folks wouldn’t have taken advantage of this location.

It’s a fairly flat walk from Castleton Farm, a path leads to the top.

Later use saw a Medieval castle plonked on top, now there is a bench and a Saltire.

Visited 27/02/2022.

After crossing the Cromarty Bridge, south, into the Black Isle we headed west on the B9163, turning south on the second minor road and park once we were clear of Easter Oak Wood. Once parked we walked, west, across a field to Oak Wood.

Keep an eye on the higher trees, this marks the dun’s location.

Sitting at over 18m wide the site is covered in vegetation which covers most of the remains. However, there is enough stonework to hint at what once was. Most of the stones have been taken away to build dry stane dykes. The remnants of ditches on the north and east are easily found as I discovered, by falling into them.

If clear of vegetation this might be an impressive site, however it is more likely to join the ‘what if’ brigade.

Visited 22/10/2022.

Cnoc Ravoch is a ‘what if’ site, stunningly located looking south over the Cromarty Firth to the Black Isle, to the west, if you have binoculars you can watch Ross County in Dingwall when they play at home.

The site is largely ruined with one stone appearing to be earthfast whilst a couple of others appear to kerbs. Two boulders might also have been used as part of the site, more slabs indicate cists possibly four. However, I think it was perhaps a chamber cairn that was recycled, the area as most know is covered in this type of site.

From the west, Strathpeffer, take the A834, look for Back Road on entering Dingwall which leads straight to the Old Evanton Road. About 500 meters north east of Dingwall pull into the first gateway, plenty room to park.

Head North East, a fairly steep climb and head towards the mast. The site is just on the other side of a gate.

Despite the site’s condition I found this quite an inspiring place, just enough to let you imagine what was once here. Also you could see the weather approaching from the West, the clouds looked full of rain but somehow they’d missed me.

Worth a look if only for the view.

Visited 20/10/2022

For a change we took the easy option and parked at the car park at the west of the fort, a sterner challenge would present itself later so this proved to be a lucky piece of foresight.

Strathpeffer is slightly to the west, Loch Ussie to the south, beyond that a multitude of prehistory, Dingwall to the east and to the north more prehistory, especially chamber cairns and rock art.

As described by Mr G, a stunning site, one I’d been meaning to visit for a long time.

Visited 20/10/2022.

All looked quiet as we approached the second and more taller, standing at 2.2m, of the Fodderty Standing Stones. We walked along the field from the east stone and peered through the trees. Like its near neighbour the protective iron rail had long gone.

Sadly the large cup mark was hidden from our vantage point. As we were about to jump the fence a wedding party appeared in cars and promptly had photographs taken in front of the site.

Being a nice person I didn’t do the who’s that guy waving in the background sketch.

Visited 20/10/2022.

The iron protection bar described in 1943 has been gone a long time, the stone now appears to be in a builder’s backyard.

We parked at Milnain on the A834, clambered through a wood and jumped a stream to reach fields a short distance north from the road. From there we had the easy walk to the first of the Fodderty Standing Stones.

It sits at 1.6m high and stands all by itself except for the assorted building materials.

Visited 20/10/2022.

After crossing the Orrin Bridge (A832) we walked up to Arcan Mains Farm, past the barns until a gate leading north. The remains of the cairn can be seen amongst the trees after climbing a gentle slope.

Not much remains, the bulk of the cairn has been removed, kerbs have been scattered, only a barely visible outline of the once 16m site can be seen. Still what’s left is protected by a fence so no more damage can be done.

An almost site. Good location.

Visited 20/10/2022.

We arrived on a very dreich morning to visit the non chamber cairn, chamber cairns are everywhere in this area, situated in its own wood glade, mist and trees making for an eerie enhancing atmosphere.

At Milbuie Primary School we took the minor road heading westish and took the first farm road heading west parking at some stables.

Follow the track and the cairn will appear in a clearing slightly to the north. Sitting at over 12m wide and standing at 1m tall, quite an impressive sight / site. Cairn material is moss covered. There might not be a chamber according to Canmore, and they say there are no kerbs. Several boulders, however, manage to impersonate kerbs reasonably well.

A nice site, well situated.

Visited 20/10/2022.

Gunamuil is a stunning natural arch on the west coast of Mingulay and in many ways is similar to the natural arch at St Kilda, both have forts situated above them.

It is like sailing into a cathedral, the sermon being given by our superb captain whose skill allowed us to skill right through.

It is at least 70 feet high and a curved 150 feet in length, you get the feeling that it is just as deep below. Echoes of numerous birds, waves, on this day gently colliding with rocks and various noises from the boat can be heard. Passengers on the boat made no sound, I think we were all astounded by nature’s power and beauty.

Once out on the north side, Dun Mhiughlaigh is on your right (south), the promontory to the north is called Arnamuil.

A stunning experience!

Sailed under – 15/07/2022.

Luckily our voyage home to Barra included sailing on the west side of Mingulay which allowed us to see Gearum Beag near the southern cliffs.

It must have interesting landing on the island with prehistoric equipment, difficult with modern stuff. However, I did spy a possible landing place and way up to the top with with its grassy interior.

With Canmore’s aerial photos the walls can be made out, also the way up.

To the south is Berneray and slightly to the west a small crag called Gearum Mor, which houses a Medieval Fort or chapel.

The scenery – very difficult to beat – wonderful.

Sailed past – 15/07/2022.

After a wee look round the school and village along with some refreshment it was time to go west.

Going west is a hard slog up hill to a point between the Carnan and Heacla Hills. Somehow on reaching this point I lost sight of the track but spying the fort I headed through knee deep grass / heather until I reached point looking down on the site.

A stunning place, luckily it would get more stunning as the fort is situated on top of Scotland’s highest cliffs, the highest are at St. Kilda. The west defences were, of course, natural.

Canmore says :

The precipitous headland of Dun Mingulay, which drops 145m sheer into the sea along its NW flank and elsewhere descends in steps down to a more ragged cliff-edge about 70m high, is cut off by short length of wall. While of no great thickness, It presents five courses of a neatly-built outer face where it steps down across the slope from the crest of the outcrops 4m high facing onto the narrow neck. The interior measures about 650m from NE to SW by a maximum of 250m transversely (10ha). There is no evidence of an entrance, but the neck at the NE end represents the only possible point of access. The only features visible within the interior are three more recent animal pens, a marker cairn and a concrete mast plinth with five iron tethers.

Now I could have told you all of that, sadly for me I had to get back to the east side as my time on the island was running out. One good thing from this vantage point I spied the track, along the bottom of Carnan. One bad thing, it was the hottest day of year.

The mid point of the walk has wonderful views west and east. Looking down onto Aenir Beach, I spied A & B.

By the time I’d made it to them, the boat was ready to leave in 10 minutes. Job done!

Fantastic site, so close.

Visited 15/07/2022.

Walking north from Hecla Point you return to path that heads to the small village on Mingulay. Situated in front of the schoolhouse, looking east to the mainland, sits the Aneir cairn.

Once again the islanders have treated the site with respect and left it alone. It still stands at just over 5m wide / 0.8m tall and is surrounded by short grass.

A little look round the village, school and beach then it would be time for a walk over to the west side of the island.

Visited 15/07/2022.

After watching an old STV programme featuring the legendary walker and whisky drinker, Tom Weir, I’d always wanted to visit Mingulay. So the opportunity arose and we found ourselves on a boat, having boarded at Castlebay (on Barra), heading towards the island with a history, like a lot of these islands, very similar to St. Kilda.

There is no landing place or pier on Mingulay, the boat gets close to rocks to the south of Aenir Bay, someone pulls you ashore or you jump.

The small burial cairn is a short walk south through some tough heather.

In amongst the grass and heather the 6m wide site can be seen, sitting no more than 0.5m tall. Some kerbs remain steadfast, and perhaps there is a hint of a cist. Like Branigan suggests islanders appear to have treated the site with respect and left it alone.

Perhaps not the most stunning site I’ve ever seen, the views are some of the best I’ve ever seen.

Visited 15/07/2022

Finding this site was relatively easily as we were holidaying in Bruernish.

Just before the small village of Northbay, on Barra’s east side, there is a signpost indicating Bruernish. Take this and head east until a cattle grid at Boggach. Park here and jump the fence heading north, the east of the very small sea loch. I walked up the west side of fence, not much room but enough. In front, a headland will be seen, and 70m north of that is the dun.

The 70m is an easy guess as the causeway is that length, on my visit submerged. However, the dun can be easily viewed and some some stonework remains in place. Elsewhere vegetation is taking over or walls have fallen.

Lovely views, and the sea was calm.

Visited 14/07/2022

From the dun/broch at Dun Chaolais, I walked along the track on the north side of Bagh Chornaig, jumped over a few boggy bits and walked almost straight to the chamber cairn.

Bizarrely used as a hen house many years ago the oval shaped cairn has tremendous views of stunning seascapes, and going by the eagle that flew past the chickens did well to be out of view.

Not many of the stones remain, the main passage remains, the chamber is in a bad way and has had a variety of uses including the aforementioned chickens suggest.

Most of the cairn material has been removed, however the grassy areas reveal the width and oval shape being approximately 12m by 10m, not much height, 0.6m.

A lovely site with lovely views.

Visited 14/07/2022.

We parked in a small car park at the west end of Bagh Chornaig, walked west along the road then uphill to the north west to reach this impressive site.

There is plenty of visible wall built wall to see, there is plenty of fallen stonework to see as well. Like all of these things if there was time, the money, the people etc to give this place a gentle clean up would a Clachtoll type site might appear. Hard to tell but the aerial photographs suggest that something once stood here that was impressive, with a wee clean-up it could be impressive again.

Superb site, nearby a few of these odd semi circular sites which must be something but my friend Brannigan doesn’t exactly give good co-ordinates for many of them.

Visited 14/07/2022.

You can’t really miss the Dun on Vatersay once near the village and cafe, it rather obvious. We approached from the south.

Although very ruinous there remains a few remnants of the defences. The west defence is natural whilst foundation stones reveal the shape of the site in the north, east and south.

Once again spectacular all round views.

Another beautiful site.

Visited 14/07/2022

Another one of these confusing stone settings worthy of mention. From the nearby cairn keep walking north towards the dun. To the west of the main path is this possible four poster, with an added boulder to confuse matters.

Whatever it is, it is impressively sited, with stunning views north. Like T, I discovered a load of these sites, Brannigan’s book is good but doesn’t help in finding the sites. Still I’m pretty sure I’ll be back and I’ll take his book next time.

Beautiful site.

Visited 14/07/2022.

Walking north from Cuithe Heillanish you’ll see loads of peculiar stones and shapes. One of the more definite is this 6m x 1m cairn, Brannigan counted 9 kerbs, I counted 13.

Nice site, great views north towards Castlebay and the hills beyond on Barra.

Visited 14/07/2022.

Ignoring the walk on the notice board we went via Bienn Chuidir and then headed west in an attempt to find standing stones that proved invisible. Undaunted we climbed over the east side of Beinn Ruilibreac to walk into a small valley then headed south. By this time direction posts had come into view, also into view on a small ridge appeared the standing stone, Cuithe Heillanish.

The stone stands at 1.7m high having great views to the islands south of Vatersay. An enclosure or dry stane dyke seems to have included the stone.

Fine looking stone!

Visited 14/07/2022.

Loch Nic Ruaidhe has been near the top of the places to visit list for a long long time. From Nam Bodach I headed back up to my parking place and then headed west. This proved be a slog through fairly boggy ground with dry parts every now then. Despite the fairly short distance it is an exhausting walk, it is all worth while when you reach the shores of Loch Nic Ruaidhe.

The dun is in front, despite the clouds the weather had held, it was a glorious sunny evening. Better still, the walk round the north of the loch proved to be dry. Remaining traces of built wall can be best seen on the west side, the rest has fallen but indicates that an impressive wall was here at some stage.

From my position on the north bank I could see the boulders mentioned by Canmore that could indicate a causeway. A causeway that looks like it was never completed.

Looking west the hills of Bhirisig and Corra Bhienn behind which are some of Barra’s best prehistoric sites.

Making my way back I chose an alternative route nearer the River Ob, this proved equally boggy, worse was to follow as I fell down one of these holes which seem to be only wide enough for one person. A nasty scare when you end up waste deep in an ancient bog. A slow trudge back to the car where fortunately I had dry boots and clothes.

Still, a great site, stunning scenery.

Visited 13/07/2022.

Plenty room to park at the entrance to some masts at Balnabodach. From here I walked back north on the A888 and headed north east to the promontory at Bodach/ Loch Ob.

For a change Brannigan, or more likely Canmore managed, to find proper grid refs.

There appears to be a wall in the north bank, and a wall to the south. Sadly ferns and other long vegetation cover the interior. Watch conditions underfoot as boulders make an excellent trip hazard.

Visited 13/07/2022.

On the rocks at the bottom of the dun / broch’s east side there are at least 7 cup marks approximately 7cm wide by 1cm deep.

Report sent to Canmore.

Visited 13/07/2022

After parking at Barra (International) Airport I walked back down the road and retraced my steps back to the cairn at Suiachan, then jumped the fence and followed the coast line south. With heavy overnight rain I’d put on wellingtons and heavy duty wets to keep myself dry as the route to Suiachan had long grass. This proved to be a slice of good fortune as when I reached Dun Chlif the tide was still high. It didn’t stop me, I waded across onto the island dun.

Another of these possible dun or brochs, I thought the walls wide enough for a broch but the location maybe to small. It is impressive and with a carnyx, Iron Age wind instrument, shaped stick stuck in the middle making the the site feels old. However, it was a long way from being isolated as cairns to the north and south prove.

On leaving something caught my eye, cup marks.

Visited 13/07/2022

A couple of days before I parked in the same place, on that occasion to walk south to climb up to Dun Sgurabhal, which confusingly isn’t on the hill of the same name. On the north side of Beinn Sgurabhal there is a small cairn with stunning views. From my parking place I jumped the gate and climbed Beinn Sgurabhal accompanied by several very polite cows and squally showers.

Immediately north is the island of Fiaraigh, and further North East – Eriskay and South Uist.

The cairn is suffering with erosion caused by high winds, torrential rain and various cows. A kerb remains on the north side, however some stones have fallen down the rock plate immediately in front. What remains is over 4m wide and stands at 0.5m high.

Time and nature might reclaim this site but at the moment it has stunning views.

Lovely.

Visited 12/07/2022.

We parked at Tangasdale and followed the Hebridean Way, west, heading towards the coast and dunes. Following various marker posts we headed south via various inlets and very odd rock placements, oddly not noted by Brannigan etc. Other rock settings they did note, once again where not found.

Still Dun Ban is a fantastic site, it probably is a promontory fort, once again it could be described as broch, the walls are wide enough, in parts still in good condition.

We had the good weather, which luckily had accompanied us on the days before and after.

On returning to the car we walked up to Loch Tangasdale to have a look at Castle Sinclair / Dun Mhic Leoid, a tower built on top of an island. Sadly no dun or crannog, no sign of a chamber cairn also despite a good look.

Visited 12/07/2022.

Heading south from Bruernish, on the A888, I parked just beyond the junction to the houses of Breibhig near quite a severe corner. People have used this space to head south west on a small track that leads straight to the stones, one up and one down.

One of the best settings for views east, back then and more recently as the concrete block shelter proves.

Once again I provided a masterclass of being unable to find invisible sites, including a supposed stone circle, a case of Canmore’s favourite phrase ‘no trace’.

Still the standing stones and scenery make it all worthwhile.

Visited 12/07/2022.

Slightly wider than it’s near neighbour this site sits at 9m wide and is 0.7m in height. There is a kerb on the south east.

Now another nearby cairn could not be found as the jinx of Brannigan and co re-appeared. The mound to the north east could also not be found in a masterclass of not finding the invisible sites. This had already happened a few times and I can guarantee that this wouldn’t be the last hunt for the invisible.

Still we headed up Beinn Mhartainn, by which time the weather had cleared.

Visited 11/07/2022.

From Taigh Talamhanta we headed back west via the fallen standing stone and Dun Bharpa to visit the first of two cairns, I could find, near the track/fence south of massive chamber cairn.

The grass covered site is 8m wide and in parts 1m high. Interestingly it appears to have a double kerb on the south side. Infuriatingly someone plonked a fence on the site’s south east.

Not the biggest site in the area, but another indicator that this was perhaps used as a path to and from both sides of Barra.

Visited 11/07/2022.

Like the T’s I found this is a hard place to describe and at the same time found it to be reasonably similar to nearby Balnacraig or Aird Veenish – multi purpose and oft used sites.

We came down the hill from Dun Bharpa were it was almost dry, trying to find a place to cross the marsh to Talamhanta proved a difficult task. Eventually we found a place we could get across and jumped a stream which thanks to the previous nights rain had grown a bit larger in size. The dog was delighted to have a paddle ;-)

Traces of roundhouse, wheelhouse, souterrain, enclosure everywhere. I had read about this place but that made it even more confusing.

Now if the place was to get a good excavation and allowed onlookers I’d be straight over. Great views north and east.

Confusing and interesting at the same time.

Visited 11/07/2022.

From Balnacraig we headed cross country over the west edge of Grianan, to find a sort of track that led straight to Dun Bharpa, situated in the shoulder between Grianan and Beinn Mhartainn.

A stunning place, a huge place, a massive amount of stones / stonework, stones still standing, mega capstones and a view that is outstanding. To the north fairly clear, and today looking south and west misty but clearing gradually.

Standing beside the cairn and walking round it seemed fairly calm, trying to climb to the middle I was met with the full force of the Atlantic wind. However, I didn’t fall, or vanish into the cairn. Bizarrely as soon as we stepped back down on turf, or bog in certain bits, the wind died down.

The fallen stone is to the east and it must have been impressive as it is 3m in length, an outlier to the chamber cairn. We found the stone on the way to Taigh Talamhanta.

It is a must visit, a wonderful place.

Visited 11/07/2022.

Like Clettraval in North Uist and its near neighbours at Taigh Talamhanta and Aird Veenish on Barra, Balnacraig appears to have been a multi purpose site that originated with its chamber cairn.

All sorts of things have happened here with later peoples recycling the stones meaning not much remains of the original cairn apart from the upright slabs.

The Ts had the sunny weather, we had the fog and cloud, a completely different atmosphere which appeared to add to the age of the site. All was very quiet except for the fly past of a sea eagle.

We parked at the end of the Craigston / Baile Na Creige road, just to the north of Borve, then headed east along the track until it’s end, the Hebridean Way heads towards Dun Bharpa but we headed east through a boggy area towards Balnacraig, which can be seen from the tracks end.

Visited 11/07/2022.

Graveyards seem to hold numerous prehistoric monuments, the wall that surrounds it is probably made from stones from the invisible cairn at nearby Bearnasdale, slightly east, and the dun/broch that once stood here.

The site is situated in the south east part of cemetery, with all the crosses and headstones it resembles an Empire Of The Sun video. Nothing much remains except a low mound and some large base boulders that surround it. The entrance perhaps being in the east.

From the standing stone at Borve I headed west towards the Atlantic, jump the gate, head south following the eastern wall which will lead straight to the remains of the site.

One thing can’t be disputed, the view east is stunning, I’d get a closer view very soon.

Visited 10/07/2022.