LesHamilton

Visited: May 23, 2016

Just two kilometres north of Dunan an Aisilidh at the tip of the Braes peninsula, and just north of the mouth of the Ollach River, stands Dun Vlargveg, which consists of a stone wall positioned along the top of a rock outcrop overlooking a cliff-girt promontory.

This wall is almost twenty metres in length, and its outer facing rises to three courses in places. Canmore states that Dun Vlargveg is connected to the mainland by a natural rock arch, but the topography is so steep that I dared not descend from the neighbourhood of the wall towards the level grassy area to confirm this. I would suggest that safety ropes would be required by those wishing to make the descent, which is down steep grass on which a slip could well prove fatal.

Visited: April 20, 2016

This site is listed in Canmore as Auchlee Stone Circle (not to be confused with the nearby Auchlee Recumbent Stone Circle), although Canmore’s map shows it as the remains of a Ring Cairn.

As there is only one large stone of note in the ring, situated on the bank to the west, the latter is probably most appropriate.
Canmore states:

This enclosure is situated on a low knoll 260m NNE of Auchlee farmhouse. It measures 10.3m in diameter within a stony bank 1.3m in thickness by 0.3m in height, and on the W a large slab, measuring 1.4m by 0.5m and 1.2m in height, stands on the line of the bank.

The way to the cairn starts at a farm gate at NO 894968 on the minor road signposted ‘Cairnwell’, just south of Portlethen on the A90, and follows an excellent farm track north across the field. At the far side of the field, cross into the next field, where Auchlee Ring Cairn can be found in the thick gorse scrub on the immediate left. It’s best to circle around the gorse for about sixty metres or so until it thins, and you will find the cairn on your left.

Visited: April 8, 2016

Credit for this site really belongs to Drew because it was originally his initiative to search for it. Just the day before, he, Ashley, Bess and myself spent an enjoyable time visiting stone circles and cairns in the area. And although we had no trouble locating the giant 3 metre tall Upper Shampher round cairn, we failed to track down this lesser-known kerbed cairn because we lacked an adequately detailed map.

The following day promised superb weather and, after checking my maps, I set out to climb Scolty Hill, including a short detour to search for Upper Shampher Kerbed Cairn. This was accomplished following a 45 minute walk from the FC car-park.

Upper Shampher Kerbed Cairn is reputed, by Canmore, to have been robbed, but nevertheless is an attractive mound, probably only half a metre in height, but exhibiting a robust kerb, somewhat tumbledown on the south, but otherwise essentially complete. The ring is filled with sizeable, moss-covered boulders, though whether they belong to the original cairn, or result from field clearance, is probably anyone’s guess.

The route to the cairn starts at the Forestry car-park for Scolty. and follows the gently rising low-level path that contours round the north side of the hill, eventually reaching a col at NO 674 936. Ahead, a substantial wall stretches off to the west, and a well-worn path follows it on its north side. Five minutes walking brings you to a gate in the wall. Go through the gate and the cairn lies just 40 metres beyond, to the southwest.

More information from Canmore.

Visited: March 17, 2016

I have frequently walked around Loch Kinord, near Dinnet on Deeside and, though I knew full well that there were a number of hut circles in the area, had never bothered to make their acquaintance. But with time on my hands on a warm and sunny March day, I diverted north in the direction of Loch Davan to view the hut circles at Old Kinord. They lie in a small clearing in the birch woodland, 110 metres east of the point where the boundary dyke makes a sudden right-angle turn to the west. The centres of the two larger of the three hut circles are shown on the Google Map below. The coordinates of the first circle are 57.08969°N, 2.91798°W.

These are massively constructed hut circles, the like of which I had never encountered previously. The westernmost circle (the largest) appears as a huge, sunken saucer. Standing at its centre, the surrounding rampart, which is two to three metres in width, rises to eye-level, and must be at least 1½ metres tall. It consists of a mixture of earth, large stones and quite massive boulders. Pacing across the central hollow, I estimated it to be between 10-12 metres in diameter.

The second circle, just a few paces to the east, is equally impressive. Slightly farther east is the third circle, slightly smaller than its fellows, and with a somewhat less impressive surrounding rampart.

If you view the area using Bing Maps, you can zoom in close enough to see the two larger circles quite clearly.

Visited: March 14, 2016

Situated on the Angus coast just north of Boddin, roughly five kilometres south of Montrose, stands an amazing rocky promontory known as Elephant Rock. Very similar in most respects to the Dunnicaer Promontory south of Stonehaven, two wave-worn natural arches through this rock give it a profile reminiscent of an elephant: but there is no record that I can find of Elephant Rock ever being the site of a Fort like Dunnicaer.

From Boddin, head north just before the last house on the left at the end of the public road, behind a whitewashed cottage and some ruined cottages, following the cliff-tops for about half a kilometre till you come to a small, ruined graveyard. Elephant Rock is unmistakable, jutting out to sea from this point.

There is, apparently, a rough path up to the summit of Elephant Rock, but it will take a steadier head then mine to take the risk as the exposure is extreme.

You can read more on the BBC Coast website.