GLADMAN

Looking across the kerb to the larger of the pair of circle stones.

The kerb is pretty hefty in places, it has to be said.

The smaller circle stone..

Two substantial ‘circle upright plus a pretty intact kerb........

Where has this beauty been for the past 20 years? Glad I finally got around to visiting after numerous false starts. Gorgeous.

Assuming it’s your thing.... a venture up Creag nan Abhag is recommended for the views.

Not too canny weather, but nonetheless I managed to get back to the car without any more soakings.

As DB says, this must’ve been some cairn back in the day....

The cairn lies to the left of the tip of the copse of trees to centre foreground.

The fort is seen to centre far left, descending Creag nan Abhag to Glen Banchor

The ‘fort in its landscape looking toward The Cairngorms

The defences are better defined when seen in retrospect ascending Creag nan Abhag to approx NW.

To be fair, Nature had taken care of any defences for the eastern flank, looking south(ish)

Looking approx eastward across the northern flank of the ‘fort

Looking north... despite the dodgy weather, the urge to explore further was strong.

Looking approx south from the hill fort.

The approach to the hill fort heading north beside the Allt a’ Chaorainn

North-east

To the approx south-west

Southern defences looking east

The main western wall looking approx north

Western defences, looking west

Looking southwards....

Looking across the enclosure from the ‘other summit’ to the east.

To west, as one arrives.........

The great western wall looking north(ish)

Final approach from south-west

Ah, the tree of redemption. I sheltered within its protective branches under siege from dangerously rearing heifers arriving seemingly out of nowhere... figuring how to get back to the car without being trampled under hoof. In the end, I decided to back away facing the creatures, brandishing my walking pole as I went. It worked. The right to roam is great, but it brings possible dangers – pastureland has cows on it.

What I took to be the entrance causeway across the inner ditch.

To be fair I can’t imagine what else this might be if not a henge.... it has all the classic attributes.

With a couple of hours free after a visit to the nearby Easthill stone circle, it would’ve been rude not to take a look here. However, note the gnarled tree.... this – possibly – helped to save my life following a sudden stampede from numerous cows suddenly arriving in the field.

Looking for somewhere to break the ludicrously long journey from Essex as near to the border as possible... with one eye upon finally seeing the great Capenloch long cairn... one can do a lot worse than this. Thanks to members for recently highlighting.

I had intentions to also visit the nearby fort of Tynron Doon before heading north... however, the vibe here was so exquisite I stayed for the full term.

I initially thought this end of the long cairn was the result of stone robbing... but left reckoning this ‘horn’ was maybe part of the design? However Audrey Henshall disagrees – and she knew a bit about cairns, to be fair – so upon reflection, best go with her!

There’s something about mossy cairns that connects with the primaeval in me...