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Fieldnotes by drewbhoy

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Blackfaulds Stone Circle

After visiting the cairn at Williamston / Tammieteeth I kept heading north west until a farm track that headed north east.

Jump the dyke, chances are if you jump far enough you'll end up landing in the site. 10 stones remain, perhaps only 2 remain upright, 8 of them are taking a rest.

Nice way to finish the day.

Visited 05/01/2024.

Williamston (Cairn(s))

From Ardgilzean, I headed north on the A93 taking the first minor road east at Newmiln Cottages. Take the first minor road that heads north west, go past St Martin's Mill, look for clump with tees on top in a field to the west.

Fortunately some frost remained which made the ground easy to walk on. Unlike Ardgilzean, it hasn't been invaded badly by field clearance. There is some, but much of the original cairn is visible.

It is 12m wide and almost 1m tall, a wall that surrounded the site is in a very ruinous condition.

With darkness on its way it was a good time to visit as the sun hadn't vanished, instead the light seemed perfect for visiting, almost an otherworldly feel.

Visited 05/01/2024.

Ardgilzean Cottage (Cairn(s))

With night fast approaching I headed for the huge cairn at Ardgilzean. After being given permission to park I made my way, west, along the farm track. Today the cairn stands at 32m wide and is 2.5m tall (I would think they should add a meter to that. Sadly most of the visible stones are tonnes upon tonnes of field clearance. Not much of the original cairn can be seen.

The north / south east has best views of what originally stood. Future years will, no doubt, see these parts covered up as well.

Still the night hasn't fallen completely, so a chance to visit a couple of nearby sites.

Visited 05/01/2024.

Kilspindie (Stone Row / Alignment)

Three fallen stones, two with cup marks, make up this stone row.

The east stone has a clearly visible cup mark, the west stone has 3 well worn cup marks, and the middle stone missed out on the rock art.

Nearby woods have more cup marked rocks, another day for them.

Visited 05/01/2024.

Kilspindie (Stone Circle)

I parked mid-way between Oliverbank and Arnbathie Cottages near a small wood. Heading straight south I jumped the fence and headed straight for site(s). A nice gentle climb.

The four poster is near a fallen stone row and consists of two larger stones and two earthfast smaller stones, along with some field clearance.

Not much to look at but the cup marks and stone row make it an interesting place to visit.

Great views to south, to north east Law Hill Fort.

Visited 05/01/2024.

Over Durdie (Hillfort)

Not much remains of the fort at Over Durdie but what a place it must have been if aerial photography is anything to go by.

After the misfortunes of hunting for cairns in the lower regions of Pole Hill, I headed over to Over Durdie where I was given permission to park by the owners.

From the farm I headed east, downhill then uphill via jumping a couple of fences. Not much of the ramparts remain, a broken circular rampart barely exists (bits have been ploughed out), a small patch of erosion shows some stonework, on the south the remains of a wall can be seen. The forts interior is featureless, however there are a load of sites on the other side of the River Tay that can be seen.

After the battering of gorse, furze, anything that has jabby stuff it was good to get some proper walking done.

Worth a look.

Visited 05/01/2024.

Law Hill (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork)

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The best preserved of the hut circles. Follow the route to Law Hill Hillfort and this will be the first hut circle seen. Walls are at least 2m wide and stand at an average height of 0.4m, many stones still sit in place, with the entrance in the north west.

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On the slopes leading to the fort, sadly has field clearance or the remains of other hut circles dumped inside. It still stands at 11m wide with walls at almost 4m wide, 0.5m tall. The probable entrance is on the east.

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The furthest north of the hut circles that I visited before darkness descended. It is almost 13m wide and has a well defined wall. What I thought might be an entrance on the west is probably recent damage.

There are a few more hut circles in the area, however by the time I reached the car it was getting dark. A good time to be heading home.

Visited 29/12/2023.

Law Hill (Hillfort)

From Shien Hill I headed, west, retracing my easily found steps in the track or mudbath until I reached a track heading south. Follow this until some trees, then follow the fence heading west. A gentle climb to a small ridge gives a superb view of the hillfort plus a couple of hut circles.

I approached through the north entrance which is lined by two small dry stane dykes (the borders of the probable main entrance), cutting through several defences. 5 ramparts plus a cheveaux de frise protect the north, it being the most easiest climb. Entrances can also be found to east, west (very steep) and south. The southern entrance appears to have been quarried almost out of existence.

A 6m wide wall surrounds the hilltop, protecting the 154m by 90m site, the best remnants are on the north west.

A much easier climb than Evelick.

Visited 29/12/2023.

Arnbathie (Cairn(s))

The Arnbathie cairn is situated on the highest point of Law Hill, which is also the highest point of the hillfort. Some stonework remains on the North East and along with, perhaps, a very earthfast sunken kerb.

At just over 7.0m wide and 0.5m tall the cairn is grass covered, superb views as the winter's sun begins to fade.

Visited 29/12/2023.

Shien Hill (Cairn(s))

Just north of Easthill Farm there is a track that heads east. Follow the track, sometimes mud bath, as it heads east and look for the tree covered hill to the north. Not all of the hill is tree covered, jump the fence and head north through the trees, the north side clear. Glorious views of snow covered mountains to the north. After weeks of rain and flood it's nice to see the sun.

The cairn is huge, being 34m wide and 6m high. Something is disturbed on top, a marker or walker's cairn. Some stones do poke through the grass / turf covered site. Canmore says it hasn't been disturbed, long may that continue to be the case.

Lovely place, very quiet.

Visited 29/12/2023.

Pole Hill (Cairn(s))

Pole Hill can be seen from all surrounding areas, indeed it seemed to keep an eye on me most of the day. From Evelick Hillfort I walked past the Goddens cup marked rock. There is a fence to be contested with, in the end I cheated and rolled underneath.

At 20m wide and 3m high the site has superb all round views, but appears to be built in three sections. As per usual, a trig has been plonked on top. Some stonework can be seen but short grass mainly covers the

The cairn doesn't seem to have been damaged in any way, apart from the obvious, let's hope it stays that way.

A stunning site.

Visited 29/12/2023.

Evelick (Hillfort)

From the cup marked rock at Goddens walk south east, you'll walk straight into the multiple defences of Evelick Hillfort. There are 5 ramparts, some several metres in height, to climb over before getting to the centre of the fort.

Elsewhere, defences are provided by natural features and a single rampart, steep climbs are in place to the east, south and west. There are entrances on the north, a causeway type feature and in the east.

Fantastic views looking south to the multiple forts south of the River Tay in Fife, to north the large cairn on Pole Hill, the next stop.

Visited 29/12/2023.

Goddens (Cup Marked Stone)

I was allowed to park at Evelick Farm, next to Evelick Castle (scene of quite a few murders). From there I headed north west to the first gate, jumped it and headed west, climbing the fairly steep slopes of Pole Hill. Easier paths can be found at the summit of the minor road.

5 well worn cup marks are on the rock which is almost between the cairn on Pole Hill and the fort at Evelick. At certain angles they can be made out, and other angles they are barely visible. They are all about 0.65cm wide.

Visited 29/12/2023.

Sig More (Chambered Cairn)

Follow the same directions as Mark, and stop at the same place. The way over to the cairn was kinder to me, there was hardly any seaweed and in any case I'd had my troubles for the earlier at Ardnamonie.

Unlike the previous two sites I could get to this one and there is quite a lot to see. At 20m wide, damage by both humans and erosion has led to stones falling all around the site 13 in total, some of which might be capstones. Thanks to robbing the chamber can be seen and thanks to the robbing its difficult to tell if there are three areas / compartments. Two can be certainly seen, of the third only two stones remain standing.

One of the nicest 'what ifs' I've seen.

A great way to finish the trip.

Visited 13/08/2023

Dun Buidhe (Broch)

Slightly to the east Ardnamonie is the much more recognisable broch Dun Buidhe. I walked along the fence line until I reached the site, the ground looked drier so I jumped the fence, walked 8 or 9 paces to end up almost waist deep in the bog.

Sadly it appears that, on drier days, it looks like the site is used as a rubbish tip. Also later buildings have been attached to site, as at Ardnamonie. Even from where I stood or sank, you could see the circular shape of a broch despite being covered vegetation.

Luckily no washer-woman was washing or drying any shrouds on my visit, so all would be fine.

Worth a (re) visit when much, much drier conditions.

Visited 11/08/2023.

Ardnamonie (Cairn(s))

From Loch an Daill we headed south on the A865 and took the first road heading west.

Similar to Loch an Daill Mary provided a parking space, or rather her shrine did, at the end of the road, or just before it headed south. From the shine I jumped the gate and headed south east, the site is easily spotted.

It has been a trip in which water levels have featured quite a bit, and this is a massive example of dropping water levels. What used to be loch has vanished and changed into a large marsh, perhaps you can get in from the south but looking at aerial photos on Canmore I'd suggest not trying.

However, I got as close as I could, before deciding it was unsafe.

What remains is a bit of a shambles, it appears to have been used for several functions, the outlines of buildings can be seen. It probably has been a cairn or a dun or a broch. Stones could easily have been recycled but as Canmore suggests a proper excavation is needed.

A bit of a what-if.

Visited 11/08/2023.

Loch An Daill (Promontory Fort)

Not much to see here, look for the promontory on the north east side of the shrine beside the telegraph poles.

There is a wall amongst the tall vegetation which I found very easily by tripping over it. Further towards the shore there is the remains of another small wall before you are in the fort proper.

Worth looking at it, if looking for the dun.

Visited 11/08/2023.

Loch An Daill (Stone Fort / Dun)

If there was a causeway here, reportedly seen in 1915 but well submerged - by 2003 it had vanished. By the time of my arrival with reports of water levels being quite a bit lower it would be safe to say it might never be found.

The actual dun is still there clearly visible by looking east from the shrine at Ardmore, if heading north from Daliburgh (South Uist) its just before the causeway to Benbecula, if heading south from Benbecula park at the first shrine.

Not much remains on the 'high crannog' except the usual fallen stones and what appears to some kind of standing stone.

Beinn Tairbeirt and Beinn A' Phortair provide dramatic backdrops to the south east.

Visited 11/08/2023.

Tigh Cloiche (South Uist) (Cairn(s))

The cairn at Tigh Cloiche has seen a lot of damage done to it throughout the centuries. It still stands, grass covered, at 12m wide by 1m high. Stones can be seen in the middle, first thoughts, to me, it might be remains of a cist but more likely a small shelter of some kind. The site is surrounded in fairly marshy ground. It seems Canmore can't make their minds up also, they didn't declare if it was Neolithic or Bronze Age, perhaps it might even be an Iron Age Wheelhouse. I'd go for a robbed Bronze Age Round Cairn, an excavation would be interesting.

To the north of the cairn there is a minor road heading east, there is plenty pull over space a short distance from the A865. Not wishing to walk down the busy road I headed cross country, straight south via some marsh and the occasional dry bit.

A but of a what if, but worth a visit to speculate.

Visited 11/08/2023.

Dun Altabrug (Stone Fort / Dun)

We returned to West Loch Ollay from the standing stone at Crois Chnoca Breaca and took the car to Dun Altabrug.

Take the road that swings north, the road we came, and at the junction head west. Keep going, past a minor road, and as the road swings north east take the first minor road south, stopping at the road's end. We were given permission to park by the occupant at Peninerine.

Head south east up and over a wee hill and the dun will be clearly seen along with the causeway, the causeway being just over 30m in length.

Decent walls still exist on the 'high crannog' / dun with the entrance on the east. Most of the site is overgrown. The circular wall is over 1.2m, the island is slightly oval and measures 9.5m by 8m.

Once again it was explained that water levels are low here also, as they are over North and South Uist and Benbecula. The photos proved that when compared with photos taken from 5 years ago, vegetation had grown, the causeway is much more visible and the land from the farmhouse a lot les boggy.

Superb site.

Visited 10/08/2023.
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