drewbhoy

Sadly nothing now remains of the henge as it has been ‘ploughed out’ over the years. But it’s location was prehistoric central. Bennachie can be seen, Dilly Hill cairn and standing stones opposite, Blairbowie standing stone is a 1/2 mile away whilst Balquhain and Easter Aquhorthies RSC’s are nearby as is the Whitecross cairn. Now a darker brown patch indicates it’s position and as Tiompan suggests there is nothing much to see but as for location it is spot on. A shame as a lot is going on but agriculture, as normal in this corner, had the final say.

Visited 3/2/2011.

The second of the Bronze Age burial cairns is ten meters to the north east. It is slightly smaller being 4 meters wide and 0.3 meters tall. There is a possible kerb on the southern flank.

Visited 13/01/2011.

This can be approached from the east (from the A96) or from the west (the B9002). Brownhills farm is on the east side of the hill.

The cairns are on top of the hill behind and date from the Bronze Age. Bennachie is to the south in area covered with cairns, standing stones and RSC,s. Also my good friend from Tealing might want to hunt here. There are many flat surfaces so a summer time search is required.

As for the cairn it is now covered in grass, is some 5 meters wide and 0.4 tall. But it’s builders had the right idea. Whoever was in this burial cairn rests in a beautiful place.

Visited 13/01/2011.

Go south from Kintore, on the B977, past Leylodge (home to several standing stones and it’s RSC) and turn east at the Broomhill Stores. On the hill behind the store is the modern Breemies RSC. I kept going until the first farm track north and parked the car at the top. Luckily the owner was at the top of the road collecting her mail. The track was a skating rink. She also mentioned that they had been stranded for several weeks with kindly neighbours bringing in much needed supplies.

Instead of walking the 3/4 mile on the track we walked back to the farmhouse via the fields. Once the thaw comes this will be another mud bath. The stone is situated to the North East of the house in the middle of a field with it’s slopes facing northwards and towards Bennachie. At 2.6 meters, this granite stone can be see for miles but not from the B977.

After a few photos I climbed back up the hill to South Fornet via several fences and a ditch. In amongst the trees some wee deer played and ignored me altogether. By the time I climbed back down it was growing dark so Thursdays walking was complete. Back to the car avoiding the ice rink!

Visited 13/01/2011.

There are two hut circles near the Slacks burial cairn. Unfortunately the site at NJ84311420 has taken a bit of a battering by forest agriculture and nature – fallen trees.

The hut circle in the photos is no more than a few steps away from the cairn. It is almost 9 meters wide, the bank width is 1.5 meters with a height of 0.5 meters. All sections are grass grown with the light covering of snow making it look like a cake with icing sugar. How I missed this on my first visit seems bizarre but miss it I did.

Normally the road to the Slacks car park is fine but today it was a skating rink. The paths to and fro hardly used except for some hardy souls and their dogs.

Visited 8/01/2011.

Taking the Brandsbutt road out of Inverurie I walked to Conglas farm. There I walked through the farm and underneath the railway. The stone looks like it is aligned to the Miter Tap but is in Prehistoric central. Balhalgardy is on top of the hill in front, Balquhain is to the valley heading west, Dilly Hill behind, Barra Hill east along with many circles and standing stones all with a view of Bennachie. Today the walk was pleasant as the ground was frozen, if not this would be a mud bath. Probably about 2 miles walk, there and back.

As night came down a crescent moon parked itself above the stone. The atmosphere of the place changed, the silence beautiful, time seemed to stand still. Perhaps all of these years ago it did.

Visited 8/01/2011.