drewbhoy

Follow the directions for Corrachree, the remains of this cairn are a small distance to the east. Originally this was a tall cairn but most of the stones have gone leaving a circular bank 23 meters wide. 4 kerbs remain in place looking down onto the village of Tarland.

Further to east there is a more modern cairn dedicated to a woman who died before her time. Her husband must have loved her very much to erect this in an awkward place. Maybe the old ways of remembering those departed hasn’t gone altogether.

Visited 2/08/2010.

In fact the stone hasn’t been painted white for twenty years, and then an old guy of whom I asked directions promptly told me about the connections to Lumphanan and the Macbeth story. Then he said I sounded like a ‘Turra Loon’ (I am) and had a strong Buchan accent. This rapidly changed as I was on my way down to the football in the East End of Glasgow.

Aerial foties suggest that this might be in an enclosure, but nothing on the ground indicates this. Still the stone stands 6ft 9 inches with the white paint gradually fading away. It looks over to the Mearns Hills, including Millplough and a heap of cairns. Although in a prominent position it can’t be seen from the dual carriageway below, the A90. I pulled in at Mondynes and climbed the hill heading north west, the old guy keeping me right before I went.

With that done I resumed my journey, the first home game of the season, south.

Visited 4/08/2010.

History tells us that this must have been a massive cairn But forestry and power lines have badly damaged the surrounds. Most of the stones have long gone. What remains is a circular bank almost 20 meters in width almost resembling a small fort. A cist sits in the middle but couldn’t be seen thanks to turf, ferns and nettles.

Heading north from Logie Coldstone this is the next place up from the famous Blue Cairn RSC with its massive recumbent. I asked permission to park at Knocksoul farm and was given directions from the elderly occupant. Climb the hill behind the farm heading for the hydro electrics clearing, for their cables. Reach the south east corner of the wood then head in a north westerly direction.

Visited 2/08/2010.

Head west from the Knock Soul cairn over uneven turf until the clearing in the wood. There are three hut circles here but only one was visible today as it was built on top of a cairn. At 12.5 meters wide and 0.5 meters tall, this is the biggest of the hut circles. Glorious views looking south onto Milton Of Whitehouse.

Visited 2/08/2010.

Head direct north from Knock Hill and you will walk straight into this small cairn which nestles between two hills. (same field) Some kerbs remain with height of the cairn being 0.4 meters and width being 6 meters.

From here back to Fernyhowe is fairly easy. A track heading west should be followed until a track heading south can be found. This evenually leads to behind the bunch of cottages at Fernyhowe. Fernyhowe, Knockargety Fort, Knock Hill and Corblelack a walk containing some easy bits, climbs, bogs, fences, streams and track. A fine way to spend a morning.

Visited 31/07/2010.

Take the road west just befor entering Tarland from the south and pull in after the caravan/camp site. There are two cairns and a settlement on the Drummy Hill. Thru a field, then cross a bog and up the heathery hill.

This cairn is the furthest west on the hill. Canmore suggest that this was 12 meters but I’d say some robbing has gone on since 1968 leaving only the central ring of kerbs, some 6 meters in width. By this stage of exploring the Tarland area I’m convinced that ancients must of liked it here. Everywhere I look I find cairns, souterrains etc, etc........

Visited 2/08/2010.

All that remains of this cairn is a few boulders and a mound that is less than 0.5 meters tall. The scatter of stones measures 8 meters but this cairn has been badly robbed. Still, the views over to Morven and Logie Coldstone/Kinord are Grampian at it’s best.

From Meikle Tom, name of the cairn and hill, walk to the south west crest of the hill, about 250 meters.

Visted 2/08/2010.

This at one time must have been an impressive site/sight. Time has seen greatly reduced but the steep climb is worthwhile if just for the view over Morven (a mountain to the west 2,600 ft with an ancient cairn on top, next time in the area for this one.) It is 19 meters having at least 13 earthfast kerbs in place. Some of the pictured boulders may well be kerbs moved by farm machinery and dumped in the middle. At its highest the cairn stands at just over 0.5 meters.

From Migvie crossroads head east taking the first farm track north to Blackmill farm. From here it is a steep climb up the track thru two gates. The cairn is just short of the tree line. Very friendly cows, they ignored me altogether.

2/08/2010.

Unfortunately this site has collapsed leaving faint markings on the ground. One of the biggish stones can be seen but the rest are buried under earth, trees and nettles. To make matters worse the farmer is beginning to use the site as a skip. A cattle feeder and barbed being abandoned within the sites fence. Never mind plenty of nearby cairns to see.

Go north of Logie Coldstone on the A97 taking the second road east, signposted Migvie. Keep going until the first crossroads. The site is within a clump of trees to the north west, in the middle of a field.

Visited 2/08/2010.

From Loch Kinord car park follow the road to the lochs for a few yards until a wooden post can be seen to the north. Follow the path here, thru the gate and the settlement is another 50 yards or so. Its a pity the ferns have taken over as a lot of enclosures, small cairns etc. are hidden from view. Hopefully the links section will give some idea of whats here. Winter time would probably be the best time for this place.

Visited 31/07/2010.

The main ring cairn at Altries is set amongst another 4 much smaller ring cairns. I found three of them, presumably the fourth was under vegetation or has been damaged beyond recognition. The widest of these is 4 meters in width.

Visited 1/08/2010.