Visited 16.4.12
The B3274 is certainly a busy road and has several Barrows running either side of it.
There is just about room to pull over at the field gate where this particular Barrow is.
The gate is right next to the Barrow.
Unfortunately like Bogee Barrow A I forgot to record how big the Barrow was – double doh!
Visited 16.4.12
I was unable to get access into the field from the surprising busy B3274 so had to settle for a view from the roadside. The Barrow can be seen under some telegraph lines.
Looking at my notes I forgot to make a note of how big the Barrow is – doh!
Visited 16.4.12
Taking the minor road west off the B3274 I parked at a field gate opposite Mowhay Barn. The gate was heavily barbed wired and the field full of sheep and lambs. Some of the sheep were using the stone to rub up against.
Given this (and the fact the field is overlooked by the house opposite) I settled for a view from the gate. The stone is a whopper, approx 3m high x 1.5m across, and is easily seen from the gate. The stone looks to be square at the bottom and goes to a point.
The sun was shining, the nearby stream bubbling away and the stone was a lovely sight to see.
All in all well worth a visit when in the area.
Visited 16.4.12
Directions:
From Men Gurta take the minor road south. Drive past the two farm buildings on the left and pull in at the next track on the left. From here it is a muddy walk up the track to the field gate leading to the Barrows. The top of the nearest Barrow is just visible on the far side of the field.
Unfortunately when I visited the field was full of cows with their calves, which came running over to the gate when they saw me. Any thoughts I had of jumping over the gate for a closer look at the Barrows were soon dispelled by the constant mooing and the ‘don’t even think of coming any closer to by baby’ stare from the suspicious mums!
All E.H. has to say on the matter is:
‘Two round barrows 500 yards S/E of Higher Tregolls’.
Visited 16.4.12
Very easy to spot when making your way to Men Gurta – between the road and the wind turbines. The other side of a barbed wire fence.
The field was full of sheep/lambs so I saw little point in climbing over the fence to get closer to the stone.
Visited 16.4.12
Very easy to spot when making your way to Men Gurta – between the road and the wind turbines. The other side of a barbed wire fence.
I would say it is approximately 1.5m high x 10m across.
Visited 16.4.12
This Dolmen is very close to Men Gurta but you can’t actually see it from the stone.
The reason for that is that it is hidden behind large gorse/bramble bushes.
To find the Dolmen all you have to do is face away from Men Gurta and make your way through the gorse to the right of the lane leading to a farm. As soon as you get in among the gorse you will easily see these large slabs of stone.
I nearly stepped on a dead rabbit hidden in the gorse – nice (not!)
Well worth looking for when visiting the more famous standing stone.
Visited 16.4.12
Aha, another E.H. site to knock off the list!
Although unusually for E.H. this site is not sign posted from any of the minor roads so finding it would be tricky without an O/S map.
Once you do find the stone access is very easy. You can park virtually next to the stone and it was nice to see that the area around the stone had been kept clear of the dreaded gorse. An information panel stands in front of the stone.
Despite the near by wind turbines there are good views to be had.
Visited 16.4.12
In the booklet ‘A guide to the ancient parish church of St Eval’ (£2.00) I picked up in the church I came across the following extracts:
In 1917 St Eval was described as ‘one of the roughest and most ungetable places in the county!’
‘There must have been an earlier pagan site here as the churchyard and boundary is built in a ‘round’ – indicating an earlier settlement’.
‘There is a Bronze and Iron Age settlement at Trevisher, one mile to the east, and there were at least 6 sets of Barrows around the church which were destroyed with the building of the airfield’
‘Lady Chapel screen (built around 1540) shows a winged dragon eating a bone – Basilisk?’ (The carvings on this screen are excellent)
The church is well worth a look around and has lots of RAF related items. A lot older are the 7 Green Man ceiling bosses, high in the rafters.
I thought I counted 8 but the booklet states there are 7. No doubt the booklet is correct!
Visited 17.4.12
Directions:
From Carland Cross junction (A30 / A 39) take the minor road east.
You will pass a transmitter on your left and then come to a concrete track on your right (heading to Hendra Farm) – park here.
Head south along the track (public right of way) and look across the field to your right. You will easily see a large Barrow in the middle of the field. It is large – approx 2.5m high x 30m across. The Barrow isn’t visible from the road; only from the track.
Keeping walking down the path and you will come to the other Barrows on your left – in amongst the trees/bushes – not that easy to spot.
Although the O/S map shows 3 Barrows I was only able to spot 2. One was approx 3m high x 15m across and the other was 3m high x 20 m across
There are several Barrow groups in the area and these appear to be the easiest to visit.
Visited 16.4.12
The church can be found just outside the airfield on the northern perimeter. In fact the church is directly across the airfield from the St Eval Airfield stone.
It is a nice church and was / is used by the RAF. There are many RAF related items in the church. Of more interest to readers here of course are the Green Man bosses found high on the beams, the St Eval Dragon and the standing stones around the graveyard.
There is a large car park outside the church.
As soon as Dafydd saw the church he was ‘well up’ for a visit! Karen stayed in the car as Sophie was asleep.
Workmen were cutting the grass and I befriended their dog – a little Jack Russell.
As they tended the graves I rummaged about in the hedges trying to spot the stones – not an easy task.
Eventually I managed to spot 5 stones of various shapes and sizes.
Without doubt the highlight was the large pinky/white coloured stone diagonally across from the church entrance, next to a bench. It is about 2m high and 1m wide – very pretty.
The same type of stone as the Airfield stone.
Visited 16.4.12
Very easy to visit; being right on the junction of a minor road on the south side of the airport. Parking is possible virtually next to the stone.
The stone was a lot bigger than I was expecting – approx 3m high x 1.5m across.
It is a pinky/white colour (the same as the stone at St Eval church) and has been concreted in at the base.
This is an attractive stone and well worth a look when in the area.
Visited 17.4.12
Although marked as Tumulus on the map there is no sign of it on the ground.
Ploughed out?
E.H. have no information on this site.
‘Drive By’ 17.4.12
There are 3 Barrows right next to the junction of the busy A30 / A390.
I thought it would be easy enough to spot the Barrows from the A30 but I was wrong!
E.H. state:
‘Three plough-reduced Bronze Age bowl barrows situated just east of Chiverton Cross at Three Burrows. The tree barrows probably gave rise to the place-name for the area. Two barrows lie about 25m apart and appear as mounds between 20m and 22m in diameter 1m high. The third barrow – 80m west of the pair – has a mound 1.5m high and 20m in diameter with traces of a surrounding quarry ditch’.
Visited 17.4.12
Directions:
Situated next to a minor road in Two Burrows – just to the west of Three Burrows!
I came off the main junction of the A30 / A390 and took the B3277 North West.
I then planned to come off the B3277 and take the minor road to the Barrows.
Unfortunately there was resurfacing work going on and the road was closed.
I therefore pared at the entrance to a cricket club and was able to spot the Barrows in the distance, just beyond some electricity pylons.
They both looked large and covered in gorse.
E.H. state:
‘Two Bronze Age bowl barrows alongside the road from Two Burrows to Mount Hawke. The eastern barrow is 2.8m high and 22m across with a rounded profile. It has a large central depression which may be the result of an antiquarian excavation or internal collapse. The barrow 125m to the west is larger being 3.6m high and 24m across. The two barrows are almost certainly the barrows which have given their name to the area’.
‘Visited’ 17.4.12
Taking the minor road east from the Carland Cross junction (A30 / A39) I stopped along the lane and climbed up the bank to look over the hedge in the hope of see something. Unfortunately I couldn’t see any trace of the Barrows from the road and I couldn’t see any obvious access point into the fields (there is no public right of way)
Given that the Barrows are only 0.2m high perhaps it is no surprise I couldn’t spot them!
E.H. state:
‘The monument includes a long barrow and four round barrows. The four round barrows are aligned WSW-ENE over 210m. The long barrow has a long mound orientated north east – south west with a slightly irregular tapered ovoid plan and measuring 22m long x 13m across and 0.4m high. The barrows are approximately 0.2m high and 15m across’.
‘Drive By’ 17.4.12
The Barrows are either side of the road at the junction of the A30 / A39 (Carland Cross)
Driving past I was able to 5 Barrows.
Two are large; one is of a medium size and two little more than ‘bumps’ in the field.
It is hard to be more precise about their size when viewing from a moving car!
Not sure which would be the best approach for a closer look due to the very busy roads?
Visited 17.4.12
I parked at the turning to Silver Valley Farm, jumped over the locked gate opposite and walked along the track to see if I could find the Barrow. Unfortunately I could find no trace of it. Perhaps now completely ploughed out?
E.H. state:
‘A plough-reduced bowl barrow 425m west of Little Regarded Farm. The barrow mound survives to a max height of 0.7m and is 20m in diameter. It is clearly visible as a rounded mound in the field in which it is situated’.
Visited 17.4.12
Although marked as Tumulus on the map there is no sign of it on the ground.
Ploughed out?
E.H state:
‘The monument includes a bell barrow of Bronze Age date situated 520m west of Pendown. The barrow is situated on a gentle north west facing spur about 900m north west of the barrow group at Four Burrows. Earlier descriptions of the barrow make it clear that it had a berm – or level platform – around the central mound and was ditched. Due to ploughing these features can no longer be recognised and the monument appears now as a mound with a rounded profile, 2m high with a diameter of 34m‘
Visited 17.4.12
Situated at the junction of the A30 / B3284.
It is now no more than a very slight grass ‘bulge’.
E.H state:
‘A bowl barrow situated 100m south west of Callestick Vean. The barrow is on low lying land close to the head of a tributary of the River Kerwyn. The barrow survives as a low mound which has been reduced by ploughing but which retains a height of 0.5m and a diameter of 20m’.
‘Drive-By’ 17.4.12
We were heading back to the caravan park so didn’t have time to stop.
I asked Karen to drive as slow as possible along the very busy A30 and was able to spot two of the Barrows. Both were covered in gorse.
The O/S map has the site marked as Four Burrows.
Visited 15.4.12
Directions:
Take the B3276 north out of Newquay and drive past the Barrows on Trevelgue Head.
Keep looking to the left and you will see these two Barrows over the hedgerows.
There is a lay by with just enough about room to squeeze a car in opposite the turning for ‘Spheremania’.
I hopped over the gate and made my way across the field towards the Barrows. I then had to hop over a barbed wire fence/wall at the other side of the field. There is a costal footpath which runs right past the Barrows but I am not sure where the nearest point is where you could join it?
Over the years I have been to many, many Barrows – some it great locations, others less so. I have to say that these are probably the best located Barrows I have ever visited. The location is simply stunning!
The sky was blue and there were magnificent coastal views. To the left you were looking back towards Newquay – to the right a rugged Cornish coast. Waves smashing into the rocks sending plumes of white waves into the air. Fantastic.
As for the Barrows themselves, one is approximately 3m high x 25 m across and has been dug into. The other (which is right next to the first) is about 2.5m high x 20m across.
Of all the sites I visited in Cornwall this week, this was the one which sticks in my mind the most. The Barrows are impressive in their own right but those views……..
Do yourself a favour and visit but take care as the Barrows are right on the cliff edge and there are no fences!!
Visited 15.4.12
This is a great place to visit – and so easy to access.
There is a Tesco directly opposite the Barrows which you can park in or if that is full, do what we did and park in the hotel car park next door!
There is an information board which states that in 1819 there were 17 Barrows here.
Besides the 3 obvious Barrows I was able to spot the slight mound of a 4th.
The 3 large Barrows are approximately 1m x 20m, 1.5m x 20m and the largest being 2.5m x 30m – this is the Barrow which has the ditch running around it.
As has been previously stated there are great costal views to be had.
It does seem a little strange however to have a Barrow cemetery in the middle of a seaside resort!
I would heartily recommend a visit to this site when visiting Newquay.
Visited 16.4.12
This is a cracker of a site and well worth a visit.
Access is easy as the Hillfort is sign posted and there is a rough car park which is reached via an equally rough track. It is at the back of some farm buildings.
The walk from the car park up to the site only takes about 5 minutes.
The Hillfort is well preserved with 3 sets of ramparts ranging in height from 2 metres to 4 metres.
The two Barrows in the middle of the site have certainly seen better days but at least they are still with us. Both of the Barrows are about 0.5 metres high and 10 metres across. One of the Barrows has a large stone lying in it.
There are good views to be had in all directions.
As with every other site I visited in Cornwall this week I had the place to myself.
Visited 16.4.12
Directions:
Follow the minor road east from Castle-an-Dinas Hillfort (crossing over the A30).
Go straight across the junction and then take the first left. Stop where the road ends (there is a stone wall built across the road!). The Barrows are either side of the road.
The Barrow on the left is approximately 0.3m high x 8m across – in a paddock.
The Barrow on the right is about 1.5m high x 10m across. Scrub covered with no access to field due to a gorse hedge.
The Barrows are under an electricity pylon. Whilst looking at the Barrows I could hear the cables crackling with electricity!! I wonder what the Barrow builders would have thought?
There is a third Barrow marked on the O/S map a little to the south next to the B3274 but I couldn’t see any trace of it on the ground.
Another Barrow is a bit to the north on Belowda Beacon which I didn’t investigate.
Not much to recommend a visit to these Barrows I am afraid to say.
Visited 14.4.12
A short distance to the east of the main cluster of Barrows on Hingston Down are two more Barrows.
I only had time to have a look at the one nearest the road. It is approximately 1 metre high and 25 metres across – grass covered. It is easily seen from the road and does not look like it has ever been disturbed.
The second Barrow is slightly south east of the one closest to the road but cannot be seen from the road. The O/S map shows a further Barrow a few hundred yards further to the east of these two. Again, I didn’t have time to investigate.
Visited 14.4.12
Directions:
3km north east of Callington – just off the A390. Follow the brown road sign for Kit Hill summit. There is a large free car park right next to the Barrows so access is very easy.
After a visit to the Dupath Well-House (E.H. site) in Callington I just had time to visit this Barrow cemetery. (As an aside the well-house is a cracker and well worth a visit)
The Barrow immediately south of the car park is approximately 0.5m high and 10m across. It has been dug into and is well mangled. There are two stones sticking out of it.
The Barrow immediately east of the car park (the other side of the road) is approximately 1.5m high x 15 m across.
The next one along is 1.5m x 10m
The last of the Barrows was the other side of a very muddy field and had tractor tyre marks across the top of it! It is another mangled Barrow and looked to be about 1.5m high x 30m across
As I said, all of these Barrows are easy to see but you do have to jump over a field gate to get close to the 3 across the road from the car park. (Muddy)
There are good views to be had and I would certainly recommend a visit to see these Barrows when in the area.
The O/S map shows a further two Barrows to the south west which I didn’t investigate.
Visited 16.4.12
Directions: On a minor road east of St Columb Major – off the A39.
Even on a Sunday evening this is a surprisingly busy road so you have to take care.
The Dolmen is to the left of a bungalow opposite a lane signposted for the RSPB.
If you are careful you can just about find somewhere to pull over on the junction.
14.4.12
Not a visit as such, more a view from afar:
From the top of Brent Tor to be exact!
With the help of my trusty binoculars I was able to spot 3 of the Barrows – one of which looked to be well mangled.
My O/S map shows 6 Barrows in a line running East / West. There does not appear to be any public access to the Barrows.
Obviously a proper visit to the Barrows would confirm this?
Visited 14.4.12
Another church – Dafydd was delighted!
We parked in the large free car park and whilst the others stayed in the car – ‘if you think I am walking all the way up there……………….’ myself and Dafydd headed up the path.
The path was a bit muddy at first but soon dried out as we went uphill.
The defensive stone rampart / ditch is actually at the base of the hill and not further up the slope as you would expect. The curving rampart is about 4 metres high in places (from the outside) and 1 metre from the inside. Quite well preserved along the northern section.
We went all the way up to the church and had a look around inside. I picked up a booklet on the history of the site.
It was a misty old day with drizzle in the air and a cold, biting wind.
On a clear day you would be able to see for miles in all directions – but not today!
Well worth a visit when in the area.
Visited 14.4.12
Directions:
Immediately north of the village of Lydford (just off the A386) – where the road forks. There is a convenient parking space at the junction.
As part of my on-going attempt to visit every E.H. site I stopped off at Lydford to look at the castle on my way down to Cornwall. (There is a cracking church to visit right next to the castle with a funny tomb inscription of a clock maker!)
Anyway, looking at the map I spotted a ‘Tumulus’ just to the north of the village.
How could I resist?
Gallows Hill? – No prizes for what must have taken place here in the past!
The field in which the Barrow stands is surrounded by a hedge and barbed wire fence and I couldn’t find a way in. However, the Barrow can be easily seen over the fence so it’s not a problem.
E.H. state:
‘A large bowl barrow, 35m in diameter and 1.56m high, with no trace of a ditch. It is turf covered and very well preserved’.
Visited 21.4.12
Easily seen from the B3263 just north of Tintagel.
It looks like a mini Motte to me and has a large tree growing out of the top.
It is approximately 3 metres high and 20 metres across.
Nothing much else I can add.
Visited 21.4.12
I was originally going to walk here with Dafydd from Tintagel Castle but was too tired after carrying him back up the hill so decided to drive to the church instead. There is a large N.T. car park next to the church (which is worth a look in its own right.
It took a few minutes to actually spot the stone as it is amid the headstones in the grave yard and about the same height. The stone has quite a lot of lichen covering it.
I looked for the possible Ballaun hole and found it just above ground level.
However, feeling with my fingers it felt like 3 small holes in a triangle (a bit like the holes in a bowling ball) not one hole. Either way, the hole(s) is not very deep and didn’t look like any Ballaun hole I have seen in pictures.
Worth a look when visiting Tintagel Castle and gives good views out over the castle and along the coast.
Visited 21.4.12
Whatever your views on all things ‘King Arthur’, this is a great place to visit.
Whilst Karen and Sophie were happily looking around the ‘themed’ shops, I of course headed out towards the Castle/Cliff Fort with Dafydd. It is a bit of a hike from the town out to the headland and I’m afraid it would be difficult (impossible) for those with mobility problems. There are a series of steep stone steps to get up to the headland.
For those who are able to make it the views are simply superb. Waves crashing on rocks all around; fine coastal views on both sides. (It helps of course if the weather is good!) There actually isn’t that much to see of the castle ruins although the outline of the ‘Dark Age’ buildings are very interesting. There are several information boards scattered around and much more details in the guide book you can buy.
We then made our way down onto the beach to have a look at ‘Merlin’s Cave’ (Dafydd wanted to throw pebbles into the sea). This is even more difficult to access than the castle as the lower concrete steps have been washed away by the sea and you have to clamber over large boulders. There were lots of people about but you do need to be fairly agile.
Unsurprisingly Dafydd developed his ‘bad leg syndrome’ on the steep walk back up to the town and we agreed on a joint carry/walk solution. By the time I reached the top of the slope I was pretty well knackered. Perhaps the £3 I could have paid to have been driven up the hill in a Land Rover wasn’t so expensive after all?
All in all well worth a visit.
Don’t let the ‘Arthur’ hype put you off.
Visited 18.4.12
Directions:
The church is clearly visible from the B3279. Just follow the narrow lanes up to the church. There is plenty of room to park outside the church. Access to the church is either through the ornate metal gate or up the stone steps over the church yard wall.
Dafydd has a ‘thing’ for churches and he didn’t need any encouraging to go exploring with me although the church itself was unfortunately locked.
There is an info board at the entrance to the church although there is no mention of any prehistoric activity. The church yard is clearly circular.
This is a lovely place to visit, very quiet with only bird song to break the silence. The grave stones are slightly overgrown which I feel adds to the charm of the place. There were several very elaborate head stones which must have cost a small fortune – a wise investment?
There are decent views to be had in all directions and this was a nice place to visit.
Directions:
Take the A39 north out of Wells and after a couple of miles you will come to a minor road to the left; signposted Priddy. Turn here and follow the road until you come to the crossroads where a hotel is situated. Take the turning north (right), heading uphill, with a forest to your right. You will pass a forestry commission car park on your right and come to a lay by on your left overlooking a lake – park here.
Take the ‘path’ past the lake to the right and look for a single large pine tree on the brow of the hill – it is growing out of the Barrow!
The path is muddy and the bracken high but will only take you a couple of minutes.
The Barrow is covered in bracken and I would guess there wouldn’t be a lot to see in the middle of summer. The Barrow is about 10 metres across and 1.5 metres high.
You can see 3 of the Priddy Nine Barrows along the skyline.
The O/S map shows a further three Barrows on the other side of the road in amongst the trees. I didn’t go exploring but think I spotted one of the Barrows in the undergrowth next to the forestry car park – on the left of the entrance.
There were plenty of walkers about and a woman with the longest camera lens I have ever seen taking photos of ducks on the lake – it must have been about a foot long!
I liked this area a lot.
Visited 7.4.12
Directions:
ake the A39 north out of Wells and after a couple of miles will come to a minor road to the left sign posted Priddy. Turn here and follow the road until you come to the crossroads where the Hunter’s Lodge hotel is situated. There are two Barrows near the hotel.
The eastern Barrow is in a small stone wall surrounded field to the east of the hotel and is easily visible from the road.
I have one word to describe this little grass covered Barrow – cute!
(Don’t think I have ever called a Barrow cute before!)
E.H. has a more scientific description:
‘A Bowl Barrow 18m in diameter and c1.75m in height. The ditch surrounding the Barrow has become infilled but survives as a buried feature c3m wide. A slight central depression may mark the site of a partial excavation by an amateur archaeologist in 1926. No finds were reported’.
The western barrow is supposed to be on the other side of the cross roads, to the west of the hotel.
I say ‘supposed’ as although the Barrow is marked on the O/S map I couldn’t see it.
Perhaps it is no longer visible?
(or I was looking in the wrong place!)
E. H. state:
‘A Bowl Barrow 1 m in diameter and 0.5m high at its highest point. The ditch surrounding the barrow has become infilled but survives as a buries feature c2m wide’
There is certainly a lot of prehistoric activity in this area.
My O/S map shows three Barrows in a cluster west of the Drove Cottage henge, although I could only spot one from the roadside.
The Barrow in question was not much more than a low ‘hump’ in a field which had a drystone field wall running over it. There is no public right of way to the fields the Barrows are in.
E.H. report:
‘A Bowl Barrow with a mound 18m in diameter and 1.25m in height at its highest point. The ditch surrounding the Barrow has become infilled but survives as a buried feature c3m wide. A drystone wall runs east / west across the Barrow mound’.
Another Barrow directly opposite Drove Cottage Henge (on the other side of the road).
There is no public access to the Barrow and the fact the farmer was still watching me meant I had to again settle for a view from the road.
The Barrow is easily seen on the brow of the hill and looks to be much mangled.
E.H. state:
‘A Disc Barrow 18m in diameter and 1.25m in height. A level berm 7 m wide surrounds the mound and separates the Barrow from a ditch 3.5m wide and 0.75m deep. An outer bank 3.5m wide and 0.5m high surrounds the ditch. Quarrying in the area has disturbed the ditch and bank on the eastern side and there is further quarrying on the northern edge of the monument’.
Visited 7.4.12
Directions: Take the A39 north out of Wells and after a couple of miles will come to a minor road to the left sign posted Priddy. Turn here and the Henge is a short distance on the left just past Priddy Road Farm (on right).
The Henge is clearly visible from the road, looking a bit like a large doughnut with a circular ditch and a raised centre. Big for a doughnut but small by Henge standards.
I was tempted to nip over the fence to get a closer look but there was a farmer in his tractor keeping a close eye on me in the next field.
I therefore stood on the low drystone wall and viewed from the roadside.
E.H. has this to say:
‘The henge includes a circular bank 11.5m wide and 0.4m high, inside a ditch 6 m wide and 0.3m deep. Both bank and ditch are broken by a single entrance on the North West side. Near to the entrance is a low oval mound. The overall diameter of the henge is 54m’
Directions:
Opposite the lay by for Pen Hill Long Barrow is a house. To the north, in the garden, you will find this fine looking Round Barrow.
Carefully walking along the verge of the busy A39 you can easily spot the Barrow covered in trees (Beech trees I assume?)
Next to the Barrow was a garden furniture set and someone had planted daffodils in the side of the Barrow.
Given the Barrow is clearly on private land I settled for the view from the roadside.
E.H. has this to say:
‘A Bronze Age Bowl Barrow situated in the south east corner of the garden at Beechbarrow. The mound of the barrow is slightly irregular in plan with an approx diameter of 20 metres and a max height of 2 metres. In common with other barrows in the area the mound is surrounded by a ditch from which material was quarried during its construction. This has become infilled but is likely to survive as a buried feature up to 2.5m wide’.
Visited 7.4.12
Parking is easy – in a lay by next to a public footpath sign. (room for about 3 cars)
The it’s a case of climbing over the stone stile and walking up the tarmac road leading to the transmitter and the Long Barrow.
Karen sat in the car with Sophie while myself and Dafydd walked up the hill through the drizzle. I admired the views whilst Dafydd admired the large dried cow pats!
The Barrow itself is as expected – a long, low grass covered mound. Not a lot to see but worth the walk to admire the views (and the cow pats perhaps?!)
Visited 7.4.12
First time I had been to Wells – and what a very nice place it is.
After having a look at the outside of the very impressive cathedral (I refused to pay the £12 for myself and Karen to get in) and a look around the Bishop’s Palace next door we headed for the museum to have a look at the oath stone.
Easy enough to find; on the lawn right outside the museum which is next to the Bishop’s Palace.
Dafydd and myself walked over to the stone and shook hands through the hole.
The stone is about 5 foot high and has lots of yellow and white lichen on it.
The hole is about 6 inches square so no worries of getting your arm stuck!
Next to the ‘old stone’ is a new one – a memorial to the late First World War veteran Harry Patch (I didn’t know he came from Wells). If you don’t know of Harry Patch I suggest you look him up. I couldn’t see the memorial as it was covered up with a tarpaulin. I think the grand unveiling is next month – 6th May?
All in all well worth a visit.
Visited 7.4.12
Ha, ha……success!
3rd time lucky!
No wonder I couldn’t see the stone before with the field in crop.
It is only about a metre tall and quite difficult to spot in an empty field!
Luckily the weather has been dry of late so it didn’t get too messy walking over the ploughed earth. The stone is largely covered in white lichen.
Not much to merit a visit but just glad I actually managed to see it.
Whatever you do, come before the crop grows!!
Visited 1.4.12
It had been quite a frustrating day with me unable to find a couple of stones I was looking for. However, it was certainly a case of keeping the best till last.
I had previously looked for this site but been given wrong directions by a farmer. This time I came armed with an O/S map so there would be no such mistake!
For directions follow the advice given by Elderford but please note you need to take a right TURN not a fork in the road to the right. Also, ignore the first footpath sign you will see on the right – you need to stop at the next public footpath a bit further along the lane which is not signposted but it is easy to spot as there is a place to pull in at the field gate. The Long Barrow is visible from the gate near some trees.
Sophie was asleep so Karen stayed in the car whilst myself and Dafydd did some exploring. Having practiced his stile climbing skills earlier in the day Dafydd was keen to go solo. Despite some early nerves he managed to get over safely. I also showed Dafydd the correct way to climb over a gate if needed (hinges end of course!)
We strolled over to the Long Barrow (marked long cairn on the O/S map)
It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, not a cloud in the sky, with only bird song and the bleating of nearby lambs to break the silence. I sat on one of the four remaining stones and looked down the valley. Simply wonderful. I felt at peace with the world. I looked up into the blue sky and pointed out the moon and the white trails from aeroplanes criss-crossing like a giant version of noughts and crosses. I pondered on who may have been buried here and what a shame it was that they hadn’t been left in peace. They deserved better. I could have stayed for hours.
Peace shattered :– ‘Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad!! – the stingies have got me!’
I looked up to see Dafydd hopping on one leg whilst frantically rubbing the ankle of his other leg! I told him he should have been more careful near the nettles when wearing shorts and that his mother had some cream in the car. He put his new stile climbing skills into action for the first time as he quickly headed back to the car and the comfort of his mother. I ambled behind, reluctant to leave such a peaceful place.
Needless to say this site is well worth a visit when in the area although it can be a bit tricky to find.
Visited 1.4.12
As we were passing this site on our way to Mynydd Brith Standing Stone I thought I may as well have a look to see if I could see any of the stones mentioned as being embedded in the roadside verge. I couldn’t.
The verges are very high near Archenfield Farm – well over head height in places.
It wouldn’t take much for any remaining stones to be hidden away forever.
Good luck if you intend looking for the stones. Perhaps asking at the Farm may be an option?
‘Visited’ 1.4.12
Despite being not too far from Hay-On-Wye this site has a ‘middle of nowhere’ feel about it. You first have to navigate the very minor roads and then try to find the stone!
There is plenty of room to park outside the locked gate leading into the forestry plantation with a handy stile next to it. Dafydd enjoyed learning how to safely climb a stile on his own!
The track leads down the hill and through the saplings. It looks like the mature trees had been cut down a few years ago and been replanted. There were plenty of tree stumps about which doesn’t help looking for a stone – particularly when you have no idea what the stone looks like!
We walked as far as a deserted caravan – which looked further than we needed looking at the O/S map which does have the word ‘stone’ marked on it. We walked back up the hill to have another look but were unable to spot the ‘stone’.
The weather was glorious, the views lovely and Dafydd was happily spotting tractor tyre and horse shoe tracks in the hardened mud – poking about here and there with a stick. Just us and the ‘wildernesses. It somehow didn’t really seem to matter we couldn’t find the stone.
A ‘father and son’ moment.
***
Just read TSC notes. Would have helped if I had read them first! Still didn’’t see the stone!
Visited 1.4.12
Parking is easy – outside a house directly opposite the entrance to Baskerville Hall.
This can be found on the A483 (busy) just to the west of Hay-On-Wye.
The remains of the Long Barrow can be seen from the road. The tops of the stones just visible from the slight grass covered mound which is all that remains of the Long Barrow. I was going to ask for permission to have a proper look but there was no-one about. As the site is overlooked by both the house and Court Farm I decided to settle on my roadside view.
Not great but better than nothing.
‘Visited’ 1.4.12
After spending an enjoyable couple of hours looking around the famous Hay-On-Wye bookshops (and purchasing 5 O/S maps for a total of £3.50!!) it was time for a bit of ‘old stoning’ – at least that was the plan. Unfortunately I couldn’t find the stone.
Taking the minor road north out of Clyro we soon came to the concrete drive which leads to Crossfoot Farm. My O/S map showed this is roughly where the stone is but did not give an exact location
We parked here and I walked down the drive looked in the fields either side for a glimpse of the stone. At this point I encountered a rambler and asked her if she had by any chance spotted a 6ft high standing stone on her travels?
She at first looked at me a bit strange but when I showed her the map she seemed quite interested. She said she hadn’t seen anything but would keep an eye out and give me a ‘shout’ if she did see it – unfortunately no such ‘shout’ was heard.
I walked right down the drive and back up the other side, jumping up onto the high verges for a better look. A dog barked at me in the distance. In the end I gave up.
Visited 25.3.12
I had no idea there were Barrows on top of Kings Weston Hill when I visited the Hillfort.
The first I knew of them was when reading the information board near the top of the steps leading to the Hillfort.
The information board states the Barrows are now ‘barely discernable’.
Although they are either side of the path running across the hilltop I couldn’t make them out.
I can’t remember if the information board said there were 2 or 3 Barrows here.
A map on the information board shows their location.
Visited 25.3.12
Situated on the hilltop opposite Blaise Castle Hillfort.
I walked down through the trees from Blaise Castle Hillfort, across the grass, and up the path leading through the trees to Kings Weston Hillfort.
There are handy steps when you get to the steeper part of the path and a metal gate at the top.
You come out onto a flat grassed area and an unexpected information board. This gives details of the Hillfort, Blaise Castle Hillfort and the nearby Barrows (which I didn’t know were here)
This looked to me to be more of a Promontory Fort rather than a Hillfort. The site sits at the eastern end of Weston Hill and is protected from the flat west by a semi-circle single ditch/rampart. The other sides are protected by the natural steep sided slopes. The defences are easy to spot – approximately 1 metre high bank and 0.5 metre deep ditch.
Nicholas Thomas (Guide to Prehistoric England) states the ditch was originally 2 metres deep and 5 metres across.
As this site is so close to Blaise Castle Hillfort (and a lot smaller) I assume the two would have been connected – perhaps it was where they sent the teenagers?!!
Visited 25.3.12
‘Where do you fancy going this weekend?’ asked I.
‘Somewhere not too far, where we can have a picnic and is a National Trust site’ replies Karen.
That got me scratching my head but I eventually came up with Blaise Castle park – ideal for a picnic (children’s park), close to the lovely Blaise Hamlet (N.T. site) and just so happens to have two Hillforts to explore. That’s what I call a ‘win/win’!!
We parked in the large free car park (which was crammed due to the fine weather) and headed across the grass to set the picnic out. Sophie and Dafydd happily munching their way through anything they could get their hands on! We then went over to the play area and Karen kept an eye on the children while I headed up towards the Hillfort.
This has to be one of the easiest Hillforts there is to access. Across a level park and up any one of many paths which lead to the top. I was conscious of leaving Karen alone with the children for too long so settled for exploring the western defences.
The outer rampart is still very large – approximately 3 metres high in places – although the inner rampart is more around 1.5 metres. The ditches can also be clearly seen. A path runs between the two sets of defences.
Although the sides of the Hillfort are covered in trees, the top is a flat grass clearing in which stands a pretty impressive mock castle ‘folly’ – Blaise Castle. There was a mediaeval re-enactment going on with several men-at-arms going through their paces. I enjoy watching re-enactments but I didn’t have time to stay as long as I would have liked.
This is such an easy site to access (and with the defences pretty well preserved) it is well worth a visit when in the area. You can also get an ice cream or a cuppa on the way back to the car!
Time to head for the nearby Hillfort of Kings Weston – only a 10 minute walk away!