drewbhoy

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.