CARL

Visited 19.7.11
I drove along the well maintained minor road north of the village of Shurton (Not signposted Hinkley Point power station – merely: Dead End)
Fortunately the first security barrier was open with no guard on duty. This allowed me to (somewhat nervously) drive through and the Barrow could be easily seen on the right of the road – behind the high security fencing).
I continued to drive forward to look for somewhere to turn around and saw a second barrier which was manned. Luckily there was a place to turn around and I drove slowly back out of the power station.
As I say, the Barrow is easy enough to see and looked to be about 2 metres high and 20 metres across. Two small trees were growing out of its side. Not a place to hang around too long.
A nuclear power station next to a Bronze Age Barrow – how is that for a clash of cultures!

Visited 9.7.11

The second, and final, site of the day took us for a re-visit of the excellent Harold’s Stones.
We again parked in the free public car park next to the church hall and took the footpath through the field (opposite Court Farm) which leads to the field in which the stones stand.
(Be careful crossing the road as it can be surprisingly busy).
I had to carry both Dafydd and Sophie as they were still asleep and that was no mean feat – particularly as I had to wade through nettles and brambles!
When we got to the stones (10 minutes walk) it brought a smile to my face.
I have been to a lot of sites since my last visit and that has only helped confirm that this is a special place. The stones are substantial yet slender and elegant (for a stone!)
Why here?, why in a line?, pointing / leading to what? – so many questions.
When visiting this wonderful site you are sure to leave with more questions than answers.
If you get the chance please visit – you won’t be disappointed.

Visited 9.7.11

Karen wasn’t feeling too well this weekend so I agreed to take the children out for a few hours to give her a break. The question was of course – where to take them? Somewhere not too far, easy to access and something of interest for all of us?
I read about an English Civil War re-enactment at Caldicot Castle, which would also give me the chance to re-visit two prehistoric sites in the vicinity – sorted!
After a couple of enjoyable hours at the castle (re-enactments certainly help to bring a site to life) we headed north to Gaer Llwyd.
Now, every time I had previously visited/passed by this site there has always been Shetland ponies in the field so I though the children would like to see them. Unfortunately on this occasion the field was empty. Which is probably just as well as the children were both fast asleep! I didn’t fancy waking them up to get up close to the tomb so I settled for a good view from the field fence. The tomb was bathed in sunlight and looked quite contented next to the hedge, despite its capstone fallen.
This is a very easy site to access and well worth a look when in the area.

Visited 2.7.11

How this huge stone hasn’t been recorded on TMA before know I don’t know?

The country lanes around Carmarthanshire are particularly narrow and parking is more of a problem than usual. Looking at the O/S map it appeared that I would need to ask permission at the farm house as there is no public right of access and the location of the stone seemed to make a ‘sneak’ visit unlikely. So we duely parked at the farm and politely asked if it was ok to visit the stone.
Despite the farmer looking slightly bemused (it’s a West Wales thing) he was friendly enough and pointed me in the right direction. Dafydd and myself headed across the fields behind the farm house while Sophie and Karen stayed in the car.
We crossed the first field and upon climbing over the next field gate we instantly saw this fine stone – it is huge. Approximately 12ft high x 4ft wide x 1.5ft thick. Even Dafydd was impressed by its size!
There are lovely views from here and perhaps that is why the stone was errected in this spot in the first place?
The sun was shinning, grasshoppers chirped, butterflies fluttered all around and birds sang in the distance. Dafydd played happily in the field, fully at home in the countryside – something I am very glad to see. A beautiful summers day; the type of summers day we all seem to remember we used to have when we were young. Hopefully Dafydd will have the same memories.
This is a cracker of a stone and highly recommended.
If visiting, I suggest asking permission from the farm as it would make a visit far easier.

COFLEIN describes the site thus:
‘A standing stone, 3.5m high, 1.1m wide and 0.4m thick, whose form is suggestive of facing’.

Visited 2.7.11

I am amazed that this mighty stone has not previously been recorded on TMA!

Directions: Head west along the M4 until it ends at junction 49 (Pont Abraham). Take the A483 north and then take the turning right onto the B4297. There is just enough room to park up at the second turning on the left, which leads to Bryn-y-Rhyd Farm.
Karen and Sophie sat in the car whilst myself and Dafydd walked along the concrete farm drive towards the stone.
It is only a short 5 minute walk and the stone is very easy to spot being on the left of the drive. Entrance to the field is through a wooden field gate.
The stone is approx 9ft high x 6ft wide x 1ft deep. The stone had ‘texture’ which reminded me a bit of bark on a tree.
In the field next to the stone was a pen full of calves. Dafydd enjoyed these more than the stone! I preferred the stone although the calves were cute.
At this point I had a text from Karen saying that a woman had come out of the house where we had parked next to (plenty of room) and that we were not allowed to park there! The woman said it was her son’s house and that we would need his permission. Karen gave the woman as good as she got and recommended she go get her son then. Needless to say he never appeared! Nice one Karen.
Don’t be put off by this (there is always ‘one’ everywhere you go), the stone is a cracker, easy to access and well worth a visit.

COFLEIN describes the stone thus:
‘A massive, unshaped erect monolith, c2.4m high and 1.9m wide’.

Visited 2.7.11
Easy enough to access once you know which field gate to go through!
The one you need is at the junction on the minor road immediately to the south of the stone – under the electricity pylon cables. There is room to squeeze a car in at the gate opposite.
The stone itself is quite large; approx 6ft high x 2.5ft wide x 1.5 ft thick.
The stone is dark in colour and square(ish) in shape
Well worth a visit when in the area.

‘Visited’ 2.7.11
My O/S map shows that there are 4 standing stone here but I could only see 3.
This was my last site of the day and we were already running very late.
We continued down the minor road south west from the Gwempa Standing Stone and pulled over by a field gate. From here the stones could be easily seen across the valley and with the help of my trusty binoculars I had a very good view of the stones.
There is a single triangular shaped stone on its own and a short distance away the other two stones. One was also triangular (looked about twice as big as the first stone) and the other was more of a traditional ‘standing stone’ shape.
It looked as if access to the stone would be easy enough although you would need to ask permission at the nearby farm. It would only be a short, flat walk from the farm
Unfortunately I only had time for a ‘distance view’ as we had to start the journey home. This wasn’t helped when I discovered I had left my sun glasses on the gate post and we had to turn around to get them.
Karen wasn’t impressed……………………

Visited 2.7.11
I failed to spot the stone from the road and it took a little searching through the fields before I eventually found it.

Directions: On the minor road to the south east there is a house and just up the road a little a dilapidated shed/barn. Next to said shed/barn is a metal field gate where you can just about squeeze next to. Up and over the gate, go directly across the field and through the gap in the hedge on the far side. Once through the gap, go into the field on your right and you will see the stone on a small rise.
(Somehow I managed to get lost in the field going back to the car – it’s surprising how fields can all look the same!)
The stone itself is very large – approximately 10ft x 3ft x 2ft deep. There doesn’t appear to be much of a view although this could be blocked by the surrounding high field hedgerows?
There is no public right of way to the stone and I have no idea who you should ask?

Well worth a look when in the area.

Visited 19.6.11

This is a difficult site to access.
We parked next to a house on a minor road to the south of the hamlet of Carrow Hill. Karen and the children stayed in the car whilst I walked up the road to climb over the wooden stile near the trees. The stile was overgrown but at least it was there.
The O/S map shows another public right of way directly opposite the house we parked next to. It doesn’t exist – just an impenetrable 10ft high hedgerow!
The field was full of crop so I walked along its edge, keeping the woods to my left. Again, I was faced by a seemingly solid ‘wall’ of bushes/hedge etc but kept walking in the hope of finding a gap. Eventually I did and started the steep and slippery climb up towards the Hillfort.
The undergrowth was very bad and on several occasions I was tempted to give up but kept at it. As I climbed higher it started to thin out a bit. Eventually I got to the top and as luck would have it came out bang on top of the Hillfort!
It wasn’t very easy to make things out clearly due to the undergrowth but when I got my eye in I could make out the arc of the single bank / ditch – about 2 metres high in places when standing in the ditch. I followed the bank around for a short while before getting fed up of battling through brambles etc.
I was then faced with the onerous task of slipping and sliding back down the hill.
Although the defences are fairly well preserved a visit to this site is not one for the faint hearted. Unless you are reasonably fit you would have no chance.
To be honest I can’t say it was really worth the effort.
(But glad I did nonetheless!)

COFLEIN describes the site thus:
‘A roughly D-Shaped enclosure c52 m by 46 m, defined by a bank and ditch, except on the N, where it rests on steep natural slopes. There is a W facing entrance’.

Visited 12.6.11

My last site of the day.
By now I was soaked and leaving puddles in Karen’s car!
We parked at the turn off for St Donats and I walked down the road towards the Barrow. Cars whizzed passed me and the spray from he tyres made me even wetter!
The contour of the Barrow was visible as a low mound in a field of wheat; next to the road hedgerow.
Like all the others Barrows I had visited today there wasn’t much to see and in all honesty one for only the very keen only. I am sure people must think I am mad trapsing about in the pouring rain to look at ‘lumps and bumps’ in fields? – but I enjoyed myself all the same!

p.s – I used to live in the famous area of Cardiff called Splott so visiting this site added a little ‘extra’!

COFLEIN describes the site thus:
A circular mound, 23m in diameter and 0.4m high.
(source Os495card; SS97SW30)

Visited 12.6.11

I parked outside the church in the village of Wick and walked up the sign posted footpath directly opposite. Although it was a little overgrown it wasn’t too bad at all. The path takes you between the houses and once over a stile, out into a field. Just before the field you pass an old derelict windmill, its walls still standing to a height of about 20 feet.
Unfortunately it seems to have become a local fly tipping spot so what could be a lovely local icon is in fact a rubbish strewn disgrace – very sad.
As for the remains of any Barrow it was hard to say. Although the grass was short the ground was very undulating so what could possibly be the remains of a Barrow could also be a natural ‘lump or bump’?
No point in visiting unless you want to check out the windmill.

COFLEIN describes site thus:
‘A circular mound, 18m in diameter and 0.3m high, destroyed 1978-82.‘
(source Os495card; SS97SW14)
Possible traces apparent on AP.

Visited 12.6.11

On the way home from a pleasant (but wet) visit to Slade Farm (Open Farm Sunday) I took the opportunity to check out this Barrow just north of Wick village. There is a lay by to the south of the site which I parked in and walked back up the road to the field gate. I jumped over the gate and walked a little way into the field. All that remains of the Barrow is a small bump in the field – just about recognisable.
To be honest not really worth a visit.

COFLEIN records the site as:
‘A ploughed down, circular mound, 15.2 metres in diameter and 0.4m high’.

Visited 18.5.11

Just in front of Gaulstown Portal Tomb is this cist. It has probably the largest capstone I have ever seen on a cist – approximately 2 metres x 1.5 metres – supported at both ends on a small mound of grass covered stones.
As with the tomb it is in its own little wooded area – a lovely setting.

Visited 25.6.11
Travelling west along the A420 there is a bus stop you can pull into at the turn off for North Wraxall.
Cross over and walk a short distance west along the road until you see a bridleway sign.
Follow the track past a couple of houses and the track then becomes a muddy path; through some trees and down onto the valley floor. Keep on the obvious path, over a handy wooden bridge, over a stream and you then start to climb up through the trees.
As you go into the trees, take the path to the right and follow the very muddy path up hill until you are nearly at the top of the hill. At this point official path goes around to the right (or left) so you need to make your own way up the steep hill through the undergrowth.
It is a bit of a battle but not too bad. I couldn’t see any obvious trace of ditch/ramparts on this part of the Hillfort.
Coming out on the other side of the trees, the centre of the site is a large grass covered field.
I didn’t have time to do a full circuit of the site as I had left Karen and the children back in the car and it had taken me 20 minutes to walk here. I could imagine the children playing up and Karen cursing me! I don’t know about the rest of the site but there are no remains of the defences along the north eastern part of the Hillfort to be seen.
One for the physically able only and if you do visit; remember your boots – the path is very muddy in places.

Visited 25.6.11
Taking a minor road south off the A365 between Box and Corsham we just about managed to park on a grass verge at the junction. The field hedge here is very high (way above head height) and I could see no way into the field from the roadside.
Eventually I managed to scramble up the bank (using the ‘Box (A4)’ road sign for support) and was just about able to peer through the hedge into the field.
The field was under long grass and waht I thought was the Barrow appeared as a long low mound approximately 0.5 metres high.
However, reading Chance’s report it looks like I may have been looking at the wrong part of the field!

Visited 25.6.11

The lay-by mention by Chance is the ONLY place to park when accessing this site.
Be careful when walking along the narrow road as it is a busy road and on several occasions I had to jump up onto the verge in order to keep safe!
A metal field gate gives access but despite wandering up and down I could see no obvious trace of any field works etc?
I did however get stung by thistles which gave a change form being stung by the more usual nettles!
Nothing to recommend a visit I’m afraid.

Visited 25.6.11

The minor road leading south west out of the cheerfully named village of Slaughterford is very narrow and has to be driven with care. As the road rises you drive clear of the trees and at the top of the hill is a metal field gate on the left – park here.
The field was in crop but I managed to carefully make my way towards the Barrow along existing wheel tracks. The Barrow is easy to spot being covered in trees, not far into the field.

There appears to be 3 Barrows here – one large and two small.
The large Barrow is about 2.5 metres high and perhaps 30 metres across.
The smaller two (right next to large one) and about 1.5 metres high and 5 metres across.

On the other hand this could be one very large Barrow which has been cut through the middle at some point so giving the impression of separate Barrows? If so, the original Barrow would have been about 50 metres across and would have quite a site in days gone by.

Worth having a look when in the area. The tree covered Barrow (s) is easily seen from the field gate if you don’t want to cross the field.

Re-Visit 19.6.11
This is another site which has been ‘bugging’ me for a re-visit to try to locate the Barrow.
Being a bit more experienced in these matters since my last visit I now had no heitation in hopping over the padlocked field gate and heading towards the railway embankment where the Barrow is supposed to be.
The bushes/brambles are even higher than I remeber them – up to 10ft in places!
There was no way I could get anywhere near the embankment and it was impossible to make anything out.
IF the Barrow is still there, there can’t be much of it left i’m sorry to report.
The horse is still in the field though.

‘Visited’ 19.6.11
Since my last visit I have read the COFLEIN site report and just ‘had’ to have another look for the Barrow. Unfortunately I am still none the wiser.
I did see what appeared to be a concrete plinth which COFLEIN mentions but this seemed too close to the edge of the field compared to where the O/S map shows it to be.
On the other hand, where the O/S shows it to be was a field chest high in crop. Needless to say nothing could be seen.
Is the O/S map correct and the Barrow hidden in the field or was it the low grass bank I saw below the possible feeding trough?
Either way, there can’t be much to see.

Re-Visited 19.6.11
As I approached the site I realised I had been here before! I am sure I am not the first person to make this mistake!
Still, while I was here a quick ‘shifty’ was in order.
I parked at the same place as last time, hopped over the metal field gate headed off into the trees. Not surprisingly there is no change from my last visit. The two banks / ditches are overgrown but pretty well preserved – over head height in places. The central site being fenced off.

Visited 12.5.11
There are 3 Barrows in this cemetery which straddle the road south east out of the village of Wick. We parked at the turn off for Macross village and Karen and the children sat in the car while I crossed the road, jumped over the field gate and walked along the edge of the field towards the most eastern Barrow. The field was in crop so I made sure I stayed to the hedgerow next to the road.
At first I couldn’t see the Barrow (the wheat was waist high) until I was actually stood on top of it. I then only realised it because I could now see over the top of the hedge where normally the hedge was above head height! Ploughed down and perhaps only a metre high? It was impossible to tell how far the spread of the Barrow was due to the crop.
From my vantage point on top of the Barrow I could see across the road into the field opposite. There stood the second of the 3 Barrows, visible as a low mound. Again the field was full of crop so I didn’t see the point of investigating further.
I didn’t attempt to look for the third Barrow.
By now the rain was getting heavier (it hadn’t stopped all day) so I headed back to the car.
One of a group of three barrows (see also Nprn’s307622 & 307623), c.42m in diameter and 1.2m high, damaged by road construction on the SW.

I visited the caves a couple of years ago with Karen and Dafydd. The caves are well sign posted from the A48 and have a large car park, shop/café, toilets etc. The visitor’s guide states that the caves have been in use since the Bronze Age. The self-guide tour is an easy walk and we were able to take the push chair all the way around – about a 45 minute walk.
All in all we spent a good afternoon here.
A visit I would recommend.

In the same field as Ballymote standing stone (90 metres away), directly in front of the field gate is this Barrow. Covered in the dreaded gorse and various bushes. It is approximately 2 metres high and 10 metres across. I didn’t venture into the field, choosing instead to observe from the gate.

Visited 25.5.11
Well, here we are, my last site to visit on a fantastic weeks holiday in Ireland.
I started with a cracker and it is only right that I finish with a cracker.
And that is exactly what this site is.
The tomb is once more surrounded by green grass and is easily visible from the road.
It is as perfect a little dolmen as you could wish to find. Despite the nearby road the site felt very calm and standing on top of the cap stone you can see a fair distance.
I liked this place a lot – as I have liked nearly every site I have visited this week.
I sat inside the chamber for a short while and contemplated the long journey home.
I was hoping to see a few sites this week but have been very fortunate to see so many. I far exceeded my expectations and I have Karen and the children to thank for their patience.
We hope to return in two years and spend a week along the west coast.
I imagine I will find something of interest to visit……………………….

Visited 25.5.11
My last but one site visit on my week’s holiday in Ireland – and what a site!!
This is one of the ‘touristy’ sites with a large car park, information boards and a dedicated path leading to the tomb. When we arrived there was no one else there and myself and Dafydd strolled up to the tomb – which by the way is easily visible from the car park.
The capstone is very, very large – the info board says it is between 130 – 150 tonnes.
Whatever its true weight it certainly would have taken some serious shifting!
I must admit to having tried to scramble up the capstone but failed miserably – well done do those who have managed it! In the end I contented myself with sitting inside and admiring the surroundings. I did take a photo of Dafydd sitting on the upright in front to the tomb which is now on my desk in work and I am looking at whilst typing this site report.
As we were about to leave a coach load of American tourists arrived who managed to walk to the tomb, take photos and get back on the coach before we had even managed to get back to the car!
This is one of the most famous prehistoric sites in Ireland – and quite rightly so.
A ‘must visit’ when in the area and a site very easy to access.

Visited 25.5.11
Just down the road from Athgreany and equally worth a visit.
You can park next to the field where the stone circle is and it is only a short, flat walk.
(The circle is visible from the road)
As with nearly every site I have visited in Ireland I had the place to myself (Newgrange excepted of course!)
There is an information board, brand new wooden stile and fencing which takes you to the circle.
The grass was knee high and there were lots of bluebells about which helped compensate for the wind and rain.
The bank around the circle is about 0.5 metres high and the tallest stone about 2 metres high.
The stone which (to me anyway) was the most interesting was the one with 5 grooves cut into it. I assume this was to split the stone as there is another stone just outside the circle with 7 grooves cut into it which has clearly split that stone. The cut forms an arc in the stone.
There as a jumble of 5 large fallen stones in the centre of the circle.

Visited 25.5.11
We parked in a small lay by and I walked over the wooden stile towards the information board. (The site is signposted – Pipers stone circle)
It was a good start to the walk to the stone circle – some kind soul had started to kill off the dreaded gorse in the field approaching the stone circle!!
(I hate gorse!)
As I walked up the hill I thought I could see the tops of the stones starting to appear – only to realise that they were in fact sheep!!
The weather had taken a turn for the worse and it had started to rain, with increased wind.
Undeterred I spent a fair bit of time here admiring the stone circle – it really is a cracking site.
Several of the stones are very large, one above head height.
There is a large quartz outliner that appeared to have a groove across the top?
This is another easy site to access and yet another that is well worth a visit when in the area.

Visited 25.5.11
This is an easy site to visit with a place to pull in right next to the field in which the stone circle stands. A quick hop over the fence and a short walk and you are there.
I counted 29 stones which were more boulders than standing stones. The field was full of sheep and two lambs were standing on top of one of the stones!
Over the far side of the field was a bull which I didn’t notice until I was making my way back to the car. Luckily he either didn’t see me or didn’t take any notice of me!
This is a lovely little circle and well worth a visit when in the area.

Visited 25.5.11
This stone is a whopper!
It would be difficult to get up close to this stone but it is easily seen from the Racecourse entrance.
The field was in crop and the hedgerow high when I visited so I settled for a view from afar!

Visited 25.5.11
Like the Craddockstown West standing stone, this stone is very difficult to access.
I parked near the Racecourse entrance (the main entrance – not the official’s entrance)
and walked back down the road.
It is quite difficult to see the stone over the high hedgerow and I found it impossible to get into the field where the stone stands. Firstly I had to wade through waist high nettles; then go down a bramble filled ditch and up the other side through more nettles/brambles. I was then confronted by a barbed wire fence.
Although I think I could have got over the fence, it would have meant jumping from the top of the fence into the ditch on the way back – a drop of about 10ft.
I settled for a view from the fence.
Close but so far away……………………………

Visited 23.5.11
This is a very large henge encircling the top of the hill.
I tried to shelter from the wind which by now was taking my breath away. I watched as the last of the dg walkers gave up and went home, leaving the entire Hill of Tara to me.
Unfortunately in this wind it was impossible to enjoy my isolation. It is not very often that a visit to a site is spoiled by the wind but this was such an occasion.
I headed back to the car for a breather – where Karen and the children were wisely waiting for me. The car was being rocked from side to side.
Karen told me of how she watched a council workman trying to sweep the path clear of dirt, only for it to blow back after every sweep. In the end even he gave up!
I was planning to visit the other sites on Tara (Sloping Trenches, Rath Loegaire etc) but by now I decided enough was enough and time to head back to the hotel.
One thing for sure; today has certainly blown the cobwebs away!!!

This is a very strange Hillfort, being so close to the King’s Seat.
It’s not very big (for a Hillfort) although the banks still stand to an impressive height of 2 metres in places. I would say the interior of the site is about 30 metres across..

As an aside, I picked up a very good guide to the Hill of Tara from the visitor’s centre at Newgrange. A small booklet costing only 50 cents. They do similar booklets for Newgrange, Dowth and Knowth although they were sold out of the Dowth ones when I visited.

Visited 23.5.11
This is a large Barrow with Lia Fail standing stone on its summit.
Lia Fail is set in concrete and is therefore able to happily laugh at the wind.
I’m not; so I couldn’t.
I didn’t manage to stand on top for long before being blown off.

Visited 23.5.11
Although this is listed as an ‘enclosure’ it certainly looks like a cursus.
Walking north from the Mound of the Hostages towards the road, I noticed that there is a ditch on the inside of the bank on the left hand side but not on the right. Whether this is deliberate or that the ditch on the left has silted up I don’t know?
The banks are about 1.5 metres high and walking along the enclosure/cursus did give a certain ‘feeling’ – a bit like when walking the avenue at Avebury.

Visited 23.5.11
‘Blow wind blow’……………….and it certainly did!
The wind by now was near gale force. I could hardly stand up.
In fact it was so windy I had to hang on to Lia Fail to stop myself being blown over!
Around the base of Lia Fail are a set of slate tiles fanning out from the stone.
The stone itself is about 1.5 metres high and fairly slender.
Oddly enough next to the stone is a worn headstone dated 1798 (re-erected 1932). This provided a little welcome shelter out of the wind as I tried to admire the scenery.

Visited 23.5.11
Well, I didn’t know what to make of this little lot?
Reminded me of some mini First World War grass covered trenches – All over the place.
Left me totally confused. Worth a look when visiting the Hill of Tara but wouldn’t be worth making a special visit for.

Visited 23.5.11
After looking at the Churchyard Stones this was my next stop.
I literally staggered to the Passage Grave, battling against the near gale force wind.
The views are tremendous (at least they would be if my eyes weren’t watering so much in the wind). You can see for miles and miles in all directions.
I quickly cooped down at the entrance to the grave (shelter!) and let my eyes adjust to the darkness. I was soon able to peer through the locked metal grill and easily spot the decorated stone on the left hand side of the passage.
What a great site!
Pity about the rubbish strewn inside the passage. What is wrong with (some) people?

Visited 4.6.11
The drive which takes you to Grickstone Farm is directly opposite to the turning off the A46 to Little Sodbury. We drove down the drive but parking is difficult so it would be best to park on the main road and walk down.
The public footpath sign post is there but the ‘footpath’ is completely grown over. Not letting this bother me I happily stomped through the waist high grass along where the footpath should be. All was going well until I painfully realised that hidden amongst the grass were nettles. And one thing is for sure – nettles and shorts don’t mix!
Trying to carefully pick my way across the field behind the back of Grickstone Farm I headed for the small copse of trees where the stone can be found. This took about 5 minutes.
As you approach the trees the stone is easily visible.
This is more of a large boulder of a stone more than an upright standing stone. It is approximately 1 metre high and 1 metre wide – covered in yellow, white and green lichen. It also had a couple of patches of grass growing on top of it.
I sat on top of the stone and spent several minutes rubbing my legs with dock leaves I had found near by. I have always found it strange that you often find dock leaves near nettles. Must be nature’s way of giving and taking?!!
I then returned back to the car (only to be stung several tines again) with patches of green stains on my legs!
I don’t know what Dafydd made of me sat in the car rubbing my legs with leaves?

Visited 23.5.11
The first site on my list for the Hill of Tara.
A sunny day but incredibly windy.
I parked in the car park and walked up the path through the well kemp church yard.
The stones are easy to spot just to the right of the church.
One stone is about 1.8 metres tall, the other about 0.5 metres.
The wind was so strong it was impossible to write my notes and in the end I sought shelter behind the small remaining ruined wall of the medieval church.
If it is this windy here, I dread to think how windy it will be when I go the the next site on top of Tara Hill.

Visited 23.5.11
There is a lovely marble bench next to the well with ‘Jack’s Seat’ engraved in it.
Some sort of memorial? If so, it’s a good one.
The water did indeed look very clear and a cup was provided to sample if you so wished.
I decided not to.
In the bottom of the well someone had left several sea shells – an offering?

Visited 23.5.11
My last visit on a very successful days ‘old stoning’ (despite the wind)
Whilst visiting the Hill of Tara I saw a sign post for this site and obviously just had to investigate!
There was room to pull the car in and then it was a quick ‘up and over’ the rusty padlocked metal field gate. The field was full of sheep.
The large bank (covered in trees/bushes etc) is to the right of the gate and is fairly high – about 3 metres. I climbed to the top and scanned across the field to see if I could follow the contour. The bank on the far side did not look anywhere near as impressive and appeared to be largely ploughed out. This is a large site.
The incessant wind showed no sign of letting up and by now it had started to rain. Sophie had had enough for the day and was crying in the car so I didn’t hang around and soon headed back to the field gate.
If I am ever in the area again I will have to have a proper look around.

Although I didn’t get to visit this Passage Grave up close it is easily visible in the distance from Newgrange itself; in the field the other side of the road you came along in the bus.

Although I didn’t get to visit this Passage Grave up close (in a field full of crop and not part of the Newgrange ‘tour’) I was able to see it out of the bus window.
Easily seen on the left (when travelling from the visitors centre to Newgrange)

Visited 23.5.11
While we were waiting for our turn to enter the passage of Newgrange, Dafydd and myself walked (or more accurately got blown) around the remains of the stone circle.
The stones are large but not as large as Avebury/Stonehenge. They were however big enough to afford shelter from the near gale force wind!
We also walked down to the bottom of the field where a single large standing stone stood.
The stone seemed to align with the entrance to Newgrange?
Two chaps had a long tape measure and were measuring something out across the field – no idea what they were up to?

Visited 23.5.11
At last, I get to visit the famous Newgrange – and what a fab place it is!
Now, I know a lot has been said about the reconstruction, restrictions on visiting times etc but despite all this I thoroughly enjoyed my (brief) visit.
Following out bus ride to Knowth, myself and Dafydd jumped on our allotted bus to Newgrange. There were 4 of us on the bus to Knowth – there were 60 of us on two buses going to Newgrange!! As we wound our way through the country lanes I caught my first glimpse of the famous white façade through the trees – I was getting excited! We disembarked and waited for our guide to lead us to the site.
I won’t talk about the site itself as I doubt there is anything else I can add.

What I will talk about are the visitor arrangements.
I thought the visitor centre was excellent; housing a very good museum, shop and restaurant.
(Far, far better than what Stonehenge has to offer!)
The organisation of the site bookings/buses was slick and the staff friendly and helpful.
I also thought the entry fee was very reasonable (free for Dafydd)
The only down side for me was the lack of time you had actually at the site to have a good look around and try to get a ‘feel’ for the place. In saying that I guess with so many people wishing to visit, it is understandable that time is kept to a minimum?

I can’t finish without mentioning the chamber – wow! fantastic!
The ‘light show’ they do is very well done and adds to the occasion.
All in all a most definite ‘must see’ site.

Visited 4.6.11
I had read previously that the best place to see the Hillfort was from Dryham Park (NT site) but I chose to have a closer look!
In all honesty there wasn’t much to see up close. All that was obvious was the curving ditch heading off into the woods. A hedgerow had grown following the contour of the ditch. The ditch was approximately 1 metre deep.
There is room to park right outside the gate leading you to the field.
Perhaps this is a Hillfort best viewed from afar after all?

Visited 4.6.11
A very easy site to access being right next to a minor road with plenty of places to pull over on the grass verge.
The Long Barrow is approximately 2 metres high x 10 metres wide x 20 metres long.
It stands in a field of wheat and is covered in tall grass / nettles etc. There were a few stones sticking out of the grass at the western end. The opposite end of the Long Barrow seems to have been destroyed by the field hedgerow. There are no signs of the Long barrow in the field the other side of the hedgerow. A large tree grows out of the Barrow at this end.
The O/S map shows a tumulus in a field to the south (under the electricity pylons) but I didn’t have time to go and look for it.

Visited 4.6.11
Driving north up the A46 (passing Old Sodbury Hillfort on the left) I took the left turning signposted Horton. I parked outside the school and followed the public footpath up the hill. The official footpath swings to the right around the base of the Hillfort but I of course headed straight up the steep hill.
When I got to the top (stiff climb) I was confronted by a wooden field fence (no problem) but either side of it was a sea of waist high nettles (problem as I was wearing shorts!). I could see the Hillfort’s ramparts across the field but there was no way I was going to walk through that lot! Instead I followed the fence around to the left and quickly came upon a gate where the nettles were not so bad. The gate had a public footpath sign next to it although this didn’t show on my O/S map. Through the gate and onto the Hillfort.
The ramparts consisted of a sort of arc defending the two sides of the Hillfort which were approached from level ground. The steep slope of the hill presumably was enough to defend the other two sides? The ramparts are well preserved; still standing to approximately 2.5 metres high and 5 metres wide. It looked as though the entrance to the Hillfort was where the bend in the ramparts is – this area was flattened.
The views across the Severn Valley are tremendous and worth the climb for that alone. The Severn Bridge could be seen gleaming in the distance.
This is a site I would recommend but one for those fairly fit and able.

‘Visited’ 4.6.11
Had a look to see if I could see any trace of the Long Barrow when visiting the Grickstone Standing Stone. Unfortunately I couldn’t see any trace. Looks like it has completely disappeared?

Visited 23.5.11
I asked for directions to Dowth at the visitor centre and the lady at the desk kindly gave me a typed slip of paper with details. We headed off into the countryside and were soon there.
The Tomb is large but looking rather sorry for itself, with a huge crater dug into it. I know that this site has not been ‘tarted up’ like Knowth and Newgrange but a little TLC wouldn’t go amiss.
The site itself is easy to access with a lay by to park in. There was no one else there when I visited.
Due to I guess safety reasons? The entrances to the Tomb were fenced off which was a pity. I settled to peer inside and once your eyes adjust you can make out quite a bit of detail. Whilst I was doing this I could here a bird chirping away. It had built a nest in the drystone walling of the entrance so I made a quick exit not to disturb it.
I then climbed to the top of the Tomb and was nearly swept off my feet by the wind. As the day went on the wind was getting stronger. From the top I spotted a Hare who appeared to call Dowth ‘home’. Good for him – or her.
Not as much to see as Knowth or Newgrange but you do get the place to yourself.