The Modern Antiquarian. Stone Circles, Ancient Sites, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic MysteriesThe Modern Antiquarian

Fieldnotes by jimithy pagan

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Drumtroddan Carved Rocks (Cup and Ring Marks / Rock Art)

Definitely not for the hygiene-obsessives amongst us.
An early start and an 80 mile drive saw me'n'Bony at Drumtroddan Farm by 10.30. The farmer lady gave us a fine welcome and directed us behind the farmhouse to the fenced cup and ring stones.
'Muddy' is an understatement, the field with the carved stones held only a horse, which stared at us nonchalantly. No mental cows anywhere.
An unfeasibly mild and windless, though colourlessly grey January day meant it was actually a warm walk across the field.
The circles and cups are indeed impressive and the visitor is rewarded with patient inspection of the lichen-covered stones. In the shadowless light we encountered, it was actually quite difficult to make out the shallower patterns - in fact I'm sure there WERE some we missed; photography was pointless because of this. Superb stuff though.
The third group behind the dry-stane wall are very easy to reach thanks to the protruding stones set as steps to aid the clamber.

And on to the standing stones... what a trip they are. Across a couple of fields from the carved stones and visible almost from the farmhouse, they CAN be reached more easily from the road if when travelling south past the farm entrance, you drive round the bend and take the first left. There are no signs until you have actually passed the stones - although they are clearly visible to the left of the road. However you have to be a wuss to drive round - we almost did but decided to brave the mud - the journey is half the fun n'est-ce pas?
These stones are monsters and are in such an exposed and elevated position that makes them seem even larger. The one with the thin base looks like a dagger driven deep into the very flesh of the earth, the other standing stone is almost triangular in cross section looking about to throw itself skywards.
A magical place worthy of your diligence. (Who wants to make these places easy to get to?)
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