drewbhoy

I love this place, the scenery, a decent climb and generally some excellent feelings here. The weather being fairly warm and pleasant helped plus it was in much better condition than what I’d seen at Pitcandlich and High Cairn.

I’ll let Canmore tell you all the details with a link but they don’t describe how to get there. I left the A97 at Glenkindie and turned towards Towie, the standing stone is near the junction. Go thru the small village and keep going until Newton farm. Take the minor road opposite and stop at the Mill Of Culfork. Carlunchart Cairn is nearby as well.

I walked down, east, the road until a quarry opposite which a bridge crosses the Long Burn. Keep going north on a fairly steep climb. The grass covered ditch cairn is at the top of the hill. This is ancient central with cairns, cup marked rocks, standing stones and ancient villages on most of the surrounding hills. I’ve walked many times in this area and this place is now one of favourites.

Visited 14/10/2010.

The remains of these three hut circles are a tragedy and have suffered a similar fate as the nearby cairn. All of them are about 9 meters wide with various bank sizes. Nj43521512 is the best preserved as the northern bank is still there although it is now mostly covered in ferns.

Visited 14/10/2010.

Go thru the village of Glenkindie on A97 heading south and take the first minor road to the right. Head up the hill and take the next right as well. The first farm to the left is Pitcandlich. Luckily the farmer gave me permission to park the car. Unluckily he didn’t know about the cairns or the hut circles up the hill.

Head north up the hill till the trees and make for deer fence. Follow this east until a rusty gate is seen Next to this a gap has been left above the barbed wire fence to climb thru.

Unfortunately the cairn is largely ruined as farm work, forestry and pheasant rearing have battered it. On its west curve quads have flattened it. In a very sad state it remains. On the plus side is the scenery and nearby ancient village. Grass covers the cairn which is some 10 meters wide and 0.5 meters tall.

Visited 14/10/2010.

Going south from Turriff (fine place!) on the A947 leave the road at Birkenhills turning left following the directions to Lendrum. Take the first right, then the first left stopping at the West Brownhills farm. I’d only found about this cairn after a conversation with an old farmer who spoke about various ancient monuments I’d never heard about. (a cist at another Brownhill being another near one to check on.)

Originally this cairn must have been massive and still looks impressive even if a lot of damage has been done to it. Some ploughing damage, pile of rotting wood etc etc but still it survives. I’d guess that it is still over 20 meters wide, 1.5 meters high and mainly grass covered.

Today the North East was a murky damp place to be with underfoot conditions best described as very sodden. From the farm look south to the bottom of the valley. However it would be lovely on a sunny day, I think.

Visited 9/10/2010.

To the north of the Lauchentilly road and up the hill from the other Leylodge School stone this stone stands looking down onto its near neighbour. Closer still is the brilliantly shaped The Knock to the north west, heading east is South Leylodge RSC and to the west the sadly fallen Lauchentilly. So lots going on including a direct line of stones from Castle Fraser involving all of the mentioned.

Fairly easy walk, going slightly uphill with just the underfoot conditions both cow and man made giving cause for concern. All in all a doddle!

Visited 7/10/2010.

Situated in a field just south of the Lauchentilly road just east of the old Leylodge school, long since converted. The red granite stone stands at 1.1 meters and has great views looking east towards South Leylodge RSC. Slightly to the north are the other Leylodge standing stone and the Knock.

Very easy walk but with amount of rain recently poured on top of us boots are essential.

Visited 7/10/2010.

Leave Inverurie going north on the Brandsbutt road going towards the A96 stopping opposite Conglas farm. The stone, which stands at 1.1 meters was noted by Coles, is in the middle of a field to the west of the farm on the lower slopes of Dilly Hill.

Brilliant views of Bennachie especially the Mither Tap which it seems to be aligned with. Perfect symmetry almost. Also close by is the River Urie, the stones at Drimmies and Dilly Hill as well as Balquhain RSC.

Visited 7/10.2010.

This stone can be found on the southern side of the A96 just north after Inverurie. About a mile, first farm track south, from there a short climb up the Dilly Hill.

The stone itself stands at almost a meter high and has been used as rubbing stone. however I was told look at what it was aligned with. Almost matchs the Mither Tap section of Bennachie. there are numerous standing stones here which are part of Chris’s (and my own) ideas of various strands leaving and surrounding Broomend Of Crichie, this the northern end is pretty close to Balquhain RSC.

Visited 7/10/2010.

After several enquiries with local people, including Patrick Will, it seems that this stone was moved from Shethin Stone Circle during the late 1800s. Fairly obviously it has been used as a gatepost but it hasn’t been damaged. Standing at 4 feet tall it still is an impressive piece of granite.

Can be found at the northern entrance to Shethin farm. Both neighbours spoke and asked loads of questions about the area. Thankfully it was me they spoke to, if Patrick had been there he’d still be there and the locals would have been much richer in the knowledge of their local area. The man is a genius!

Visited 27/09/2010.