Emma A
Visited yesterday on the first properly warm day of the year. In a really lovely part of Derbyshire, but not easy to get to and rather lonely, this poor stone is almost entirely covered with dried mud/muck (although who knows when the field was last muck-spread as the grass was pretty long). It was a shame as I couldn’t see the crinoids in it (-I love crinoids – if I was going to erect a standing stone, I’d use one full of fossils too! – ), apart from a little tiny one in the top.
Also Bradbourne church is worth visiting too – Saxon cross-shaft and Norman carvings round the door.
The only crinoid I could see was this lovely little one in the top. The rest are hidden by the dried mud covering the stone.
Image credit: Emma Alsop
This side has a weird shaped notch in it, about half way down on the left.
Image credit: Emma Alsop
A pretend old map of Gloucestershire. What does “long-headed” mean?
Image credit: Emma Alsop
A fairly substantial grassy mound. Easy to find and easy to see (if you know what it is). Also saw a barn owl and an aerobatic display from a biplane so it was even more exciting!
Minninglow and the setting Solstice sun. Happy Solstice everyone!
Image credit: Emma Alsop
The smallest stone of the circle seems to have had a chip taken out of it. I didn’t check the other stones, but got a quick picture of this as I was passing.
Image credit: Emma Alsop
This trunk with coins pushed into it has appeared in Lud’s Church since August 2012 (when I last went). Don’t know if it’s fallen down there naturally or been brought in.
Image credit: Emma Alsop
Stanton Moor is easy to spot because of its mast. And it’s a big lump in the landscape!
Image credit: Emma Alsop
Aleck Low on horizon with dramatic sky! (Excuse the pylon.)
Image credit: Emma Alsop
The stones stand out so dark against the whiteness.
Image credit: Emma Alsop
The stones stand out so darkly against the whiteness.
Image credit: Emma Alsop
I can’t believe this site isn’t already on TMA as it is so easily accessible, in a beautiful place and it’s easy to see the remaining parts of it.
In Burnham Beeches, an ancient woodland full of huge, gnarly, old beech and oak pollards, the hill fort has been quite badly damaged due to quarrying and WWII vehicle activity. The banks and ditches are clear to see where they remain. Beware that this part of the wood is grazed – I saw some very pretty cows, some ponies and a tiny deer (muntjac or Chinese water deer)!
I didn’t go there specifically to see this site – the forest alone is worth a visit (especially if you’re into large, ancient trees) and the hillfort is an added bonus! The forest feels bigger than it is, I think because you can’t see out of it.
Free parking in the week. I expect it gets very busy at weekends. Definitely worth the trip though!
Path crossing the banks and ditch, walking through the hillfort.
Image credit: Emma Alsop
Banks and ditch, northern end. The large knobbly tree and the trees to the right mark the nearside bank. The trees in the centre of the photo mark the farside bank, with the ditch between the two. Not very distinct here.
Image credit: Emma Alsop
Bank and ditch, northern end.
Sorry it’s blurry – I don’t know why!
Image credit: Emma Alsop
The path crossing the banks and ditches, southern end.
Image credit: Emma Alsop
My one flint flake from Elton Common – obviously I haven’t done as well as Stubob!
Image credit: Emma Alsop
Supposedly two ring cairns next to each other (confusingly called Beeley North South 1 and 2) – this one is the obvious one which is a clear rubble ring once you’re on/in it. It’s hard to see from a distance though.
The other one should be adjacent, but there’s no discernible ring there, although there are some stones on the ground which might mark a bit of it (I forgot to take a photo though!).
Looking north – it is circular but the heather’s so high it’s hard to make out in the photo!
Image credit: Emma Alsop
Had a bit of a job finding this as we’d headed too far to the east and ended up amongst lots of quarry lumps and bumps and thigh-high heather (tough going if you have short legs!). We found the triple cairn eventually though and it’s unmistakeable once you’re there. Wonderful views – barrows galore on the horizon.
The disused quarry for parking is at SK 282662 not SK 282684 as stated below. There is also a little layby further along the road to the west.
Looking along the triple cairn. The heather is quite high around and on the cairn.
Stanton Moor is in the background as well as Minninglow, Aleck Low, End Low and other sites on the horizon.
Image credit: Emma Alsop
The triple cairn peeking out of the heather. Only the stones of the central mound are visible from a distance.
Image credit: Emma Alsop
Minninglow on centre of horizon, seen from Kenslow Knoll.
Image credit: Emma Alsop
Seen from Kenslow Knoll. Barrow can be seen on horizon to the left of the trees.
Image credit: Emma Alsop
Mystery stone in field on approach to round barrow.
Image credit: Emma Alsop
Mystery stone in field on approach to round barrow. The barrow is in the trees in the background.
Image credit: Emma Alsop
Overgrown but still clearly visible from the path that takes you round the woodland.
Image credit: Emma Alsop
Very overgrown but the mound is still visible.
Image credit: Emma Alsop
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