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A decade ago, whilst doing a 10 week archaeology evening course at the local college, we came to this barrow one evening.
I remember it's near some properties, but I'd forgotten that it sits at the bottom of someone's actual garden (although sloping upwards from house to hill). The mound and house sit next to a byway, so approach is easy.
As the owner was busy in the garden, I thought I'd ask if he minded me observing/taking pictures. After a few polite queries about why I was interested we struck up conversation about the barrow's history. I think he had to check out that I wasn't some 'treasure hunter', as he said nothing of value was in it - which struck me as kinda sad to have to worry that I might be up to no good (I'd have done the same, but....). Said I was welcome to see it closer. (unfortunately a few panoramic shots didn't work on my cheap old camera, but got a couple, so...).
Anyway, nice guy, and a brilliant barrow; quite enigmatic in it's current location, with the trees adding to the drama somehow.
Wish I had one in my garden.....better than fairies....
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You wouldn't suspect much to be here, really, but this roughly rectangular patch of heath has some surprises. Despite passing nearby here on a regular basis for most of my life, I never thought of stopping to explore. Maybe I didn't consider it 'important' or 'showy' enough? It's hardly Avebury now is it..
Closer examination of the nearby locality reveals close proximity of the Angles Way, a very close Roman road, and several other tasty morsels.
Anyway, I parked half way along the road which passes through Broome, at the sign for the fishing pits, and walked off to the left (SW) corner. Here I stumbled across a small barrow, which didn't appear noted on my map, though has a identification board by it. About a third of it disappears under the fences of some back gardens -(got me wondering how much can/do these people dig on their side when gardening - a bit of blood, fish & bone...and grave goods!).
Then headed up the east side of the heath past the large Neolithic enclosure, which is fairly undecipherable under bushes and scrub, but large enough to note. Walking back towards the middle of the heath, brought me to a larger round barrow, and just beyond that is the long barrow. This runs NE-SW, with the NE end being easier to view. Apparently it aligns to the centre of the nearby enclosure, though it is hard to fathom. There seems to be a slope down (to a ditch?) which runs parallel with the SE side, which if viewed from a way away gives the impression that the long barrow is very large indeed, or sitting on a great mound.
Well, well....I'm glad I did check it out, and I feel I may well be back often.
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Somewhat sad and lonely stone, sitting defiant between the busy road and the lay-by. Hard to connect with it's surroundings, really, but as Norfolk and Suffolk have very little in the way of standing stones (!), I'll take this one.
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I don't know whether Boudicca rests here, or one of the more famous sites claimed, but I would like to believe so.
There are several barrows around here on the Norfolk/Suffolk border (including the nearby Soldier's Hill - another reckoned Boudicca site..), and this is my favourite.
It is close to home, and it is easily visible from the passing car heading along the Diss to Thetford road. When driving past you sweep down into the dip of the Devil's Ditch, which gives the area an enclosed feel, and highlights the enigmatic barrow which juts out from the nearby trees of Home Covert, on Garboldisham Heath.
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From East Kennett church I took the byway up to the right, circling East Kennett Longbarrow from a distance. I overshot it to explore Harestone Down SC, and if my way onward to Little Avebury hadn't been blocked, I probably wouldn't have ventured any closer to the great mound - just taking a picture from afar. Instead I had to descend the track back towards Manor farm, passing by the end of the barrow.
After passing by and looking back up to it against the sky, level with the horizon, suddenly it began to dawn on me how big the thing actually was.
Although, obviously a different beast from WKLB, EKLB has such an unexplorable wildness to it.
Could've spent longer, but saw the farmer milling around below, and the wind was biting now, so walked on (...past the sign saying "no admittance"). Whoops.....looked ok on the map, and the farmer said nothing, so.....
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It took me a return visit the next day to finally find the Devil's Den (the day earlier I taken the wrong byway, only to spot the Den down in the valley below, as the light faded, and the weather worsened).
But, on this morning I was determined to visit it, and so the walk from Clatford, through the ankle-twisting frozen ridges of mud was always going to be worth it.
Sitting peacefully in a little amphitheatre of surrounding slopes, the monument looks more striking from a little distance away. Could have stayed for longer, soaking up the place, despite the bitter cold.
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Thought I'd finish my Avebury area tour by checking out East Kennett Longbarrow, Little Avebury and Harestone Down SC.
Parked near the church, and headed up towards the circle in gale force winds and a temperature of just below zero. It was a battle between sunshine and snow flurries, with both trying to break from the clouds.
Harestone Down initially appeared underwhelming, but the longer I spent looking around the more I could get a sense of place. As I passed the seemingly randomly placed collected stones beneath the platform of the circle, and headed off in the direction of Little Avebury I found the way fenced off. Whilst walking down towards East Kennett Longbarrow, I looked back up at the circle, and that was when it really revealed itself, up on the ridge above.
Coupled with the massive EKLB, I glad I braved the cold.
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Despite a slight feeling of 'too-perfectness' of one of those 'show' sites, you still can't help feeling in awe of such a great monument. As others have said, Pentre Ifan does have great views from here, but the thing itself is the great view!
Apologies to the new age old guy, with the 2 ladies (one seemingly just come from a wedding - nice hat!), for the not-great view of myself in Bermuda shorts and almost day-glo t-shirt, straight from Newport beach. Not exactly TMA garb, I suspect, but at least I drew the line at flip-flops....
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I was torn between feeling a bit sad for this small, but sturdy-looking dolmen, overwhelmed by the nearby bungalows, making it look like a puppy put out in the backyard, or admiring its determination to hold its ground and ignore its neighbours.
It's a lovely, lovely dolmen, but it was hard to feel a sense of place, however much I tried to focus up towards Carn Ingli.
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As Postman says, the gap in the hedge is easy to find, with a short walk over strewn stones until you circle 'round to face the court and chamber. On such a beautiful day, and with it's wide open vista, it really felt very impressive. That capstone really is a biggie, isn't it.
Of all the Pembrokeshire sites I visited (including the obvious Pentre Ifan/Carreg Samson/Coetan Arthurs) on this trip, Garn Turne was my favourite.....despite nearly getting run over heading back through the hedge onto the (unbusy) road. Still, no pain no gain.
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Although I did better than Carl (my namesake, actually) and managed to find Garnwnda, the scramble up towards it was too brutal-looking today. Merrick's directions are pretty comprehensive, except to add that if coming from the church, head uphill and look out for the outcrop on the right. The capstone looks strikingly out of place, being a flat, rectangle seemingly thrown into the side of the cliff.
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