drewbhoy

This stone is only ten meters from the tragic cairn at the Hawk Law being possibly one of the stones that once stood there. Bennachie is in clear view as are hillforts at Barra and further afield at Dunnydeer and Tap O Noth. Now it stands at a jaunty angle and if standing at attention would be 1.5 meters tall.

Follow the directions for the Hawk Law and the stone will be easily found.

Visted 21/3/2010.

Sadly this cairn is all but destroyed. In the past a circle was supposed to have surrounded the site basking in the view of Bennachie. At present it is encircled by trees and a dry stane dyke most probably made up of the cairn. Some of the stones in the dyke certainly look like they might have stood a some stage. Urns found at the site were taken to nearby museum. To make matters worse some farm wastage is also being dumped onto to it. Quite sad despite the scenery Barra, Bennachie et al. However a few yards away a somewhat different picture, The Hillhead of Barra stone.

Going south from Oldmeldrum on the B9170 take the first minor road east, indicated Kirkton Of Bourtie. Climb the hill and turn south pulling in at the trees. Within the trees are the remnants of the cairn which also has possibly two kerbs in place. Further up the road are the RSC’s at Bourtie and Sheldon, the Pipers Stone and the back path to the Barra Hillfort.

Visited 21/03/2010.

With the music of Arne, Purcell, Schubert, Schumann from todays Moray Music Festival in Elgin and the sound of Stiff Little Fingers (Aberdeen Tues 17th) still birling in my head some much needed fresh air was needed.

The 2 remaining stones, both standing over 1.7 meters tall, of a circle near Llanbryde provided the perfect escape. Sadly the other stones were destroyed to build a railway bridge. Still it must have some place in the past.

Heading west from Fochabers on A96 turn south just before the first Llanbryde roundabout over the railway bridge marked Greenfields. The garden centre has a tearoom. Follow the footpath sign until the tar track runs out, the stones are in the field slightly to the south.

With that it was back Elgin for the songs of Britten, Grieg and Strauss. Sometimes I love my job!

Visited 18/03/2010

The Ythan valley provides a lot of Aberdeenshires ancient sites and this is another fine example. Although robbed of most of the stones it still stands amongst the trees on the south slopes of Laverock Hill at East Kinharrachie farm near Ellon overlooking the River Ythan. Leave Ellon heading west on the B9005, the cairn is in the first clump of trees to the north.

This must have a beautiful place with significant views all round including Bennachie. Nowadays it is grass covered and stands at almost 13 meters wide, 1.2 meters high with the centre robbed. Like Den Of Howie there is something that says, in my head, that this place is very, very old. In this valley anything is possible.

Visited 17/10/2010.

There are four kerb cairns at the Den Of Howe in various states of existence. Leave the A952 north of Mintlaw taking the road east to Fetterangus. Go thru the village and follow the signpost to Den o’ Howie at the crossroads. Go past the farm and stop amongst the trees at the first track heading north. From here, walk, the site is a 1/2 mile, the second clearing to the east/left. The minor road ends at Cairnorchie farm so a bit of a double back. Follow the track, after the minor road, leads to the car parks for the White Cow Cairn and Louden Wood RSC.

Kerb 1.

This is a magnificent kerb of 7 continuous stones. As with all the cairns a fair amount of moss had to be moved before the remains became visible.

Kerb 2.

Is a few meters to the east of kerb 1 and has three stones remaining. Two stones are underneath a young fir tree whilst the third lies out in the open.

Kerb 3.

Further to south east is the third cairn. 5 stones rest side by side. In the middle there seems to be a pit with a stone sat in the middle. then again it might just be glacerial. I had to move the most amount of moss/heather at this cairn.

Kerb 4.

Slightly to the south of Kerb 3, this cairn only has two stones remaining.

This place is like a small Forvie. It feels old and I got the feeling that more cairns kerb or otherwise might be found in this ancient and lovely part of the world. However the density of the trees make it hard to look. I only hope that the Forestry people take extreme care when taking down trees and are careful not to destroy any sites.

These woods also contain the Louden Wood RSC some distance in an easterly direction. There is a better chance to find the circle as there are no signposts here to direct you to the wrong place!

Visited 16/3/2010.

Keep going south on the A97 at Mossat, past Kildrummy Castle until the minor road heading west. Turn up this for a 1/2 mile and stop at the the first track. We parked and walked up the steep hill taking the sharp corner north for a further 3/4 of a mile. Fortunately the forestry track was clear of snow and a pleasant walk was had to the cairn. The sun was out with heat seeping into the frozen landscape. Spring is on its way but it has its work cut out the snow in the fields is mostly all over 2 feet in depth. Much deeper in some parts as we later found out.

However this track has caused a bit of damage to the eastern side of the cairn. It now stands at 14 meters wide and is less than a meter tall. A dry stane dyke runs over it and a boundary marker stone also stands here. Once again a very beautiful place.

Canmore says 150 meters from the Morlich steading and the OS indicates a road to it. Once upon a time there was but not now as the steading has been, sadly, empty for years.

Visited 8/03/2010.