drewbhoy

This cairn has been badly damaged over the years. It has been excavated with the hollow indicating the work done. It is 10 meters wide and about a half meter tall. The wooden shed that Canmore mentions has long gone. Views are of the Deveron valley and several hills with sites can be seen, Backtack, Cairnborrow, Glenshee and Knock Hill. Unfotunately the boulders pictured are field clearance. I looked for the hut circles but they have vanished underneath heavy growth or they have been demolished by farm machinery.

Travel east on the A920, from Huntly, taking the first minor road south eastish, marked Edinglassie. About a mile on take the first minor road direct south and pull in at the entrance to Bowman Hillock. In the overgrown field is the stone circle with the same name. (also known as Garran Burn) From here jump the gate and climb in a south easterly direction, this leads to a track, which in turn leads to the top of the hill and the first cairn. Not a steep climb this time!

Visited 2/07/2010.

Possibly several cairns existed here at some point but only the remnants of one remain. Good views are all around giving a faint reminder of far better, historically speaking, times.

What is left is a shell of a cairn which was near 4 meters in width standing at just over a 1/2 meter tall. Some good folks in the past surrounded the site with a dry stane dyke at 9 meters in width. The site is overgrown, possibly a winter visit might glean more details. Unfortunately when heavy rain or snow happens the site becomes a bog. Fortunately, today it was dry so no unexpected drenching.

The easiest way to find the cairn is heading west past the Boyndlie Hall on the A98 and take the second minor road north. Blink and this will be missed. Follow the road, thru Hindstones farm, till it ends. Then head west taking the first track south, to Crookahill, the cairn is to the east at the end of the first straight. The area is fenced. Although badly damaged it is still inspiring as Bennachie could be spied in the gathering gloom.

Visited 30/06/2010.

Near the bottom of Knock on its south eastern side there are a few hut circles of which this is the best preserved. Canmore says the hut is 13 meters NW-SE and a 11 meters traversely with the huts entrance on the south eastern side. The surrounding bank is heather covered being 3 meters wide and 1 meter tall. Forestation seems to have been fairly kind, then again I didn’t see the other huts (or the stone circle) to make any further comment.

Once again a beautiful part of the NE, this time looking back to the Monk’s Cairn, which I had just visited. From Glenbarry on the A95 take the first minor road heading in a north westerly direction. About 1/2 a mile along this road there is a track heading north. Follow this, past the new fencing, until the first style. Climb this then head back west for 100 meters approx, the hut is just to the north of the so called path, look for a pile of dried out tree trunks.

Visited 28/06/2010.

The Monks’s Cairn is set in one of the most beautiful parts of the North East of Scotland with tremendous views north and east. With a free night, not often that happens, I headed up to Moray via the A95 heading west. Take the second minor road south after B9117 meets the A95. This leads thru the hamlet of Garrowood, keep going east under the railway bridge stopping at the second forestry track indicated by the Balloch Wood sign.

By foot head south for a 1/2 mile, then take the track east basically going back to Garrowood south of the railway line. Today its warm and fleas have had an excellent feed, but in winter this would probably be a nightmare. (so I’ll go back then). Keep going until the track has a severe corner and piles of logs are all around. After a short climb a lonely looking gate can be seen. The cairn is only a few metres away.

It is then that you realise how clever the builders have been. The views are stunning. The forestry people have kept their side of the bargain as the cairn appears relatively undamaged. It is 9 meters wide, standing 1.5 meters on the east and 1 meter on the west. Today it is covered in ferns and heather but some of the stones still poke their noses thru.

This is an easy walk thru beautiful countryside that I’m proud to say is on my doorstep. Today has been a good day.

Visited 28/06/2010.

Head east from Gardenstown along the B9031 towards Macduff. After some very severe twists and steep drops/climbs follow the signpost to St John’s Church. The road/track leads to car park the rest of the journey is by foot. Follow the path to church, well worth a look if only for the view, taking the path downhill immediately before the church. Follow this for at least a mile jumping over (made a change from not into!) the Kirk Burn. (just after the second wooden bridge) From here to the top is very steep and I would advise that you don’t walk alone on this route. If there is a fall then it will be all the way back down.

Remnants of ditches can be seen and vitrified rock has been found. It is easy to see why this was built – the views are spectacular with clear views all round, very similar to the fairly close Troup e.g. the meeting place of three valleys. Natural harbours can be seen at both sides, plus fresh water from the burn, an ideal place for a fort.

The way back down proved to be dangerous but safe but yet again very steep. Luckily we had ropes and tackle for the steepest parts. When at the top a much easier route would be to park at Findon farm and walk north westerly thru the fields.

Not for me tho, no fun!

Visited 26/06/2010.

At Pennan, the Local Hero village, travel south on the minor road for two miles, past the Cummertown cairns, until a radio mast can be seen to the east. At that point on the western side their is a forked track, take the track that goes in a south westerly direction. Follow this for a 1/2 mile and then its cross country. I headed straight east, the heather is knee deep until the first small valley. Fortunately the stream is dry so I followed the bed north which leads to the Stormy Burn. This is more of a bog so watch were you place your feet. The climb at the other side is short and very steep. Head east again, cross another burn, climb a fence and make for the top of the hill then turn south. The fort is in the junction of three valleys being located in a very beautiful place.

Canmore have fortunately put up aerial foties (see links) which gives a good idea of the forts shape. The east and west ramparts are just visible but are crowned with ferns and whin bushes, the entrance to the fort being in the north. Various hut circles are nearby so another visit will be required. However the fort is still used. As I walked thru the fort a wily badger watched me the whole time from underneath a jabby thing. Only hiding when I tried to take a fotie. Deer ran about the forts interior and to the northern side foxes ran about playing in the heather. This is an unspoilt part of the NE so I hope it stays that way.

So after some quality silence it was time to head back. After seeing some red squirrels at the first burn crossing things went somewhat pear shaped. As well as getting lost it was beginning to get dark. Eventually I found a path heading in a north easterly direction but my luck had ran out. The previously mentioned Stormy Burn had a victim as I stumbled down the steep bank and landed up to my waist in water and boggy muck. What mess and what a stink. The walk to the car being a squelchy nightmare. At least I had towels, water and a change of clothes in the car!

Visited 23/06/2010.

From the first Hill Of Cairns cairn keep walking in a south westerly direction. Somehow this cairn still remains.......just. A wall has been built thru the middle of it, a fence also does the same, field clearance has been dumped on top as well as trees plus cow damage. Just about everything that could be done to it has been done. Still it remains at 14 meters wide with a top height of less than a meter. Some of the original cairn material remains and it would be a safe bet if there was a kerb it would still be here, unfortunately ripped up and flung amongst the clearance. Unfortunately no rock art on the dumped rocks.

Sometimes I wonder why the ancient peoples built their monuments. When I turned round to a see mist covered Knock Hill I found out.

Visited 21/06/2010.

Head east towards Rothiemay on the B9117 taking the 3rd minor road north. Follow this road to the top and pull in at the forestry commission track. These are the same directions for the Cairns of Beith, for them follow the track south. For the hill of cairns head in a south westerly direction.

There are no paths so take care in amongst the ferns and forest waste. Keep going for a 1/2 mile and the cairn be found in a small forest clearing. It is some 15 meters wide and possibly 1 meter tall. Unfortunately it has been badly damaged by the foresters. But somehow it survives but like almost 30 other cairns, in the immediate area, it will eventually vanish.

Visited 21/06/2010.