drewbhoy

Head south from the coastal village of New Aberdour taking the Glasslaw/Cowbog road. After approximately a 1/2 mile take the first farm track east then south to Sunnybrae Farm.

To the west of the road is a bog which has had several attempts at drainage. A new ditch has recently been dug as well. The crannog sits near the edge of the bog near to the track with its causeway heading in a north easterly direction. A cairn on the nearby hill has been completely ploughed out, a pity because Bennachie can somehow be seen from here. Not much of a walk and not much to see but Dundarg cliff fort is nearby!

Visited 12/11/2010.

From the standing stones head to the top of the hill past some very large flat rocks. Unfortunately I couldn’t find any rock art. The burial cairn has all but been removed and replaced by one of these modern jobbies which I dislike. (same feelings as Gladdie)

To say it has totally gone might be wrong as on the eastern flank boulders still remain along with odd humps and lumps so an aerial photo would be a good thing. Unfortunately for me I left my camera on the 3rd standing stone so another climb needed. Good boots as the land is fairly boggy.

Visited 23/10/2010.

A short distance from the stone circle/kerb/cairn at the Chapel Of Sink is the legendary Ark Stone. Many think, and I agree, that it is the recumbent from the nearby site. It seems very sad that they had to move it.

Head east from the cairn to the fence then head north. Follow the dyke/fence until the corner at which the Ark Stone acts as a meeting place. As usual brilliant, today very cold and damp, views of Bennachie, particularly the Mither Tap.

Visited 8/11/2010.

Situated in next field south and over the shoulder of Dilly Hill. Even better views on Bennachie, with stone seemingly aligned to the Mither Tap. Sadly the other stones in the picture formerly stood their positions being used as rubbing stones again.

However a chance meeting with an elderly gentleman, who had worked at Conglas farm, ended with the information that Dilly Hill had stones circling it. This is even more interesting that considering that a cairn and settlement existed on the hill. Even more interesting is that a henge, settlement and/or enclosure stood at Middleton. Further investigation needed.

Visited 23/10/2010.

Standing at just over 1 meter tall this stone has spwerb views of the River Urie, Barra and Bennachie, seemingly the stone is aligned to this but has been used as a ‘rubbing stone’. But what a shape, bang on line with Mither Tap.

When parking for Dilly Hill 1 go into the next foeld north, half way up the hill which also has another standing stone. What I didn’t but now know that a remains of a cairn are near the top and a local housing estate was built on top of a probably Bronze Age village.

Visited 23/10/2010.

During the winter earlier this year I came looking for this cairn knowing full well that agriculture might have completely destroyed it. However snow defeated me that time and an unknown RSC more than made up for the non find.

With this field being harvested it was much easier to find. Basically all that is left is the cairn’s base which is oval in shape running at almost 17 meters north to south and 13 meters wide. What remains is about 0.5 meters at its highest. This cairn will vanish but the location is superb. It is surrounded by RSCs, hillforts, cairns and standing stones. Another link in the valley which runs from Tap O Noth down to Bennachie.

From the small town of Insch head east past Dunnydeer and Stonehead. Keep going until Newton of Wardhouse. The site is in the second field in the north side of the road, a walk of no more than 300 meters.

Visited 14/10/2010.

Strathspey siad quite correctly that how the Brownhills cairn, near Turriff, survives is something of a miracle despite intensive agricultural use. In direct contast, the Hill Of Foulzie is a sad story of destruction during the 1800s plus more modern mutilations of quarrying, rubbish tip, agricultural damage. Almost all of the site has gone except for few stones which have been added to by field clearance. It must have been impressive with outstanding views towards Bennachie and Knock. At least several luckier cairns are in sight along with several hill forts.

Going north from Turriff go through King Edward until the next hamlet Keilhill. Turn right following the Balgreen signpost. Balgreen has it’s cairn as does Fisherie further along the road. Foulzie Hill is the first hill climb on the road. Keep going until the White Cottage. The site, somewhat optimistic word, is at the top of the hill behind the trig point some 400 meters from the house.

Visited 16/10/2010.

Follow the directions for the nearby Ardler Wood cairn and from there look in a north westerly direction. The cairn is on the crest of the hill. Unfortunately a lot of damage has been done here by quads, especially on the eastern side. Pity because this must have some place. As usual the scenery all round is stunning. What is left is a grass covered mound sitting at 13 meters wide, with the highest point at half a meter.

The last time I ventured here I was faced with whiteout conditions and was up to my waist in snow. This time nature was happy enough with a fairly warm breeze.

Visited 14/10/2010.

Follow the directions for the Trancie cairn but this time head south from Mill Of Culfork farm. Follow the track until the trees stop then turn east. Somehow get over the Long Burn, there are stones and head to the top of the hill. This is quite a brute of a climb, if I’d looked more closely at the map I’d have found another easier route from the farm. However the scenery more than makes up for this. Simply stunning the top of Cardlunchart looks across to Trancie and beyond. Good all round views.

The cairn itself is fairly small and is on the south eastern slopes of the hill. It sits at just over 6 meters high and 0.3 high. The grass covering this time helps as it is easily found in the heather.

With that it was back down the hill, the legs had survived so it was on to the next destination.

Visited 14/10/2010.