thelonious

04/08/2016 – Interesting place this Learable Hill. Just about 600m north and a little downhill from all the stone rows are these two cup marked boulders. The lower one (NC 8948 2400) has about 16 cups on it. Lots of moss but the cups are quite deep and not too bad to make out. The second one, 40m uphill (NC 8945 2403) has 3 cups and a ring. I couldn’t see a cup within the ring? This higher up boulder lies alongside two other similar boulders and there was a suggestion in the past that they could have formed part of a stone circle. They are certainly interesting. A nice hut circle is just a little farther up the hill.

03/08/2016 – Not much to see but it’s only just up the hill from Cuag. Time’s not been good to this one as most of the stones have been reused to build a stone structure on top of the grassy mound. All a bit sad really.

03/08/2016 – Just a short walk along the road north from Burn of Houstry brings you opposite Cuag chambered cairn on the other side of the burn. There’s a bridge at ND 1542 3308. Nice cairn with chamber stones visible. It’s in the middle of an area of newly planted trees so could lose its view in a few years time. Buoldhu chambered cairn is just a short walk up hill to the NW.

03/08/2016 – We started from the Laidhay Croft Museum on the A9. You can park much closer but we fancied a bit more of a walk (nothing to do with the fine cakes in the tearoom there honest!) A few miles along quiet lanes and we were there. Easy access across a field. The cairn has had most of its stones removed to the side but the chamber stones remain and are worth a look. Great location for this one with plenty of other sites nearby.

03/08/2016 – If you are up in this part of the world for a day of stones, I think this circle should be included alongside the big hitters of the Grey Cairns, Hill O’Many Stanes etc. It’s a nice change to the wildness of many of the sites in Caithness. Only about 6km away from Stemster but the feeling couldn’t be more different. Located by the banks of the Burn of Latheronwheel (love that name), nestled between gentle hills the placement of the circle is just perfect. About 8 stones left of a large circle. At this time of year the feeling is one of peace and life. Strong summer colours of greens with fluffy white clouds in a blue, blue sky surround the circle. Timeless, perfect, wonderful...

03/08/2016 – After a visit to Broubster, a similar stone setting, a few days earlier we thought a pop in to say hello to the Great U was needed. I love this site. Lots of stones, interesting shape and just a brilliant middle of nowhere feel to the place. One that’s always worth another look. Not sure I’ve been at this time of year before. Loved the wild flowers and grasses growing around and over the stones. Colours of yellow and green against the grey of the stones looked so nice in the sunshine. A must see site.

02/08/2016 – I’ve been wanting to visit here after seeing Gladman’s photos a few years back. Hillfort and cairn in what looked like a great area. Finally made the trip and wasn’t disappointed. The cairn is nice and the view is one of the best I have seen from any of the cairns I’ve been to, just wonderful. Parked at Dorrery, followed the track up to the trigpoint and then walked across to Ben Freiceadain. Great spot for wildlife at this time of year. We had five ospreys in the sky at once on the way. Sunny visit to a lovely place.

01/08/2016 – Easy access from the road (ND 0511 5844, good parking). Only about a 200m walk. Nice views from this one.

01/08/2016 – We came from the stones at Broubster to the north. Underfoot not too bad. We left the circle, heading SW to the road near the ruins of Broubster Village. A little warning that this way was very, very boggy. Still doable but wet. Maybe better from Achnacly, directly west of the circle?

A large circle and fine placement in the middle of an open landscape. A few stones still standing and it was good fun trying to find more hiding in the bog. Enough left to get a good feel of the size of the circle. Nice visit and good site to link up a walk with any of the other many sites nearby.

01/08/2016 – Only about 100m between these two stones but I was tired by then so it seemed like forever. Nice stones in a lovely grassy area.

01/08/2016 – Not many stones left standing but it doesn’t really matter. Broubster stone setting is good. An elongated horse shoe shaped setting of standing stones like the Great U of Stemster (I think these are the only two like this round here? Please correct me if I’m wrong). Like Stemster, the stones are turned to point towards the centre. I had been looking forward to this and I really liked it. Access is a bit of a pain. We came from the SE, through rides from the Tulach Buaile Assery. OKish this way. Access out of the forest is tricky from here though. Heading south down the fence line, we found no gate so a deer fence has to be climbed to head across to Aultan Broubster stone circle. Could be better from the north.