drewbhoy

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.