drewbhoy

The Green Cairn is a hillfort situated to the south west of Fettercairn a stones throw from Balbegno cottage a short walk to the north.

This is/was a superb site, on a superb day (fair degree of hindsight here!!) and one I’ve wanted to visit for a long, long time. A lot of important Scottish history has happened here so a lot of folklore.

The fort is some 50 meters in length by 18 meters wide. Ramparts still exist most of the way round with a possible entrance on the north east. Several trenches can be still be seen, the remains of excavation work. Part of the wall beneath the ramparts contains stonework from original. Vitrified rock can also be seen along with a long dried out bog. This was built with great all round views but would have taken some amount of defending, it isn’t very high, maybe there was a great deal of boggy stuff all round. I’d like to think so.

With that it was away to my favourite part of Scotland in the east end of Glasgow, via Templewood, to watch the modern day Celts.

Visited 4/05/2010.

Templewood is found by leaving the by turning north east onto the minor road after leaving the B966 on the Brechin side of the A90. Follow the road until a wood, keep going until a row of trees appears on the east side. Immediately west is the cairn, a few meters walk.

The cairn itself is in fairly decent condition. Some trees have been clean bowled as only the stumps remain on the grass covered mound. At almost 14 meters wide and 11/2 meters it still remains looking west to the Grampian mountains, especially to Cairn O’ Mount from where I’d came via the Green cairn, a hillfort. Once again a wonderful place so close to a large population centre. Magical!! (so was the result!)

Visited 4/05/2010.

From the main cairn walk down the road for another 50 meters and second cairn appears. It is next to road (immediately west), which has damaged it’s eastern side. Still it remains over 8 meters in width and over a 1/2 meter tall. Most likely it stood like it’s near neighbour but now it is a faint reminder of olden days.

Visited 5/05/2010.

The cairn is situated on the west side on Scotland’s most famous roads, the B974. Normally one of the first roads blocked during winter and almost always the last to re-open. From Strachan head south on the twisty and often steep road. The cairn can’t be missed. It sits on the crest of hill with fantastic views south, the all round scenery is superb.

The cairn is over 15 meters wide and stands at 31/2 meters high. Being in a scenic place the cairn is still used. Flowers are left in respect of those who have passed away. Other offerings have also probably been left. The trig point that sat on top of the cairn has hopefully fallen down and not been vandalised.

Only a few meters walk from the lay by. A perfect stop for fresh air on the way down to Glasgow.

5/05/2010.

What is left of the cairn sits in the middle of the Barmkyn Fort, the only feature in the interior. Only a few scattered stones remain of the 8 meters wide site. A climbers cairn has been built on top. When the vegetation returns it will be very difficult to spot.

Visited 2/05/2010.

When looking for the RSC at North Keig most people will park at the quarry. Walk down thru the trees and the famous circle is reached. For the fort, Neolithic, walk the opposite direction up the Hill Of Airlie. A walk of about a 1/2 mile. There is a path of sorts.

There are two walls one almost gone and the outer wall. In parts this stone wall is almost 8 meters wide and 1 meter tall. Some stones poke thru the turf. In the south eastern corner a 4 meter gap indicates the entrance. What a place for a fort. Magnificient views down the the Don valley, west to Strathdon, east to Bennachie and north looking towards the Brindy hill and road. (The road to Premnay.)

Also there is the remains of a cairn in the forts middle. The only thing left of the interior.

Visited 2/05/2010.

Bowman’s Rock can be found by parking at the church in the small village of Kirkton Of Rayne. It is short walk of 500 meters to the stone on the track just to the north of the church.

The cup mark can be seen on the second picture but it is badly weathered. Something nags me about this place so I’ll have to go back. What a shame there seems to tractor marks on some of the outcrops. Bennachie is the obvious focal point and wonderful it looks, ironic that next to the rock is a demolished farm building.

Visited 29/04/2010.

This stone is slightly to the east of Bowmans rock and at last I’ve taken the cup mark. (1st pic)

Visited 29/04/2010.

Scotlands Places say this cairn is badly ruined and it is but it has enough to remind us of former glories. Much the same views as its wonderful neighbour. Head west from Both Hill 1 and follow the old dry stane dyke which leads straight to and over the cairn.

The site sits at over 11 metres wide and is 1 metre at its highest. However stones do poke over the heather making it relatively easy to spot.

Visited 30/04/2010.

On the way up to Dufftown to play a gig I had a brain turn and decided to climb Both Hill. Fortunately the boots happened to be in the car. From Huntly travel west along the A920 Dufftown road. Belnaboth farm is slightly to the north, just before the Haugh Of Glass road, and here I asked permission to park.

From the A920 Both Hill looks a fairly gentle. In reality it is a very steep climb first thru grass then deep heather. The hill is covered in holes, stones and bogs, also a couple of small streams for jumping practice.

The cairn is on the summit of the hill with all round views up and down the Deveron valley, north to Knock and west to the Cairngorms. This is an area I have often walked as the area is covered in various cairns. This cairn is over 17 meters in width and almost 2 meters. Some damage has been done to the eastern side and it has been hollowed out to make a sheltering spot for a weary shepherd/Drew.

From here its head west to next cairn. For this time of year its freezing!!

Visited 30/04/2010.