Visited today, and in comparison with Hamish’s photo, the stone is currently surrounded by a three feet wide moat of mud at least ten inches deep! I hope the stone is well bedded in.
It’s obviously being used as a rubbing stone by the horses in the field – their hoof prints were much in evidence in the mud, hence the depth estimation.
Hopefully LAN will be able to do something about this when the drier weather comes. I’ll be raising it with them later this week.
Visited this simple bowl barrow yesterday. It stands in the corner of a field above a road junction, and has a large oak tree now growing from it.
There is very little evidence of the surrounding ditch, and very little left of the barrow itself, though English Heritage report it as never having been excavated (see Misc link).
Easily seen from the road (through a hedge/fence), I didn’t see any obvious way into the field from the road.
Many thanks to Jane for taking over to see the henge earlier today. As previously stated, this lies in the middle of landfill, on private land. However, we weren’t challenged at all and spent some time looking around the henge and watching the birds all around.
I was extremely surprised at the extent of the site – for some reason I’d only expected an arc of stones at the edge of a gravel pit!
Although only partially restored, it’s possible to relate to the previous splendour of this place, even amongst all the rubbish. The rabbits have made a real mess of the restored part of the ditch, and there are copious deposits of bones (no feathers) all across the site. I expect the bones have been dropped by the many crows and kites around. However, it looks as if some progress is being made as a large number of pits have been dug, including an outlier close to the circle, presumably ready to receive the stones strewn in the centre of the site. The pits are not evenly spaced, suggesting that they have been based upon previous digs noting the original positions of the stones. I look forward to eventually seeing the porject completed!
Visited this early yesterday morning, just before the rain set in. At least, I believe I visited it! As Mr Hamhead says, it’s quite featureless out here apart from the copious stones, and climbing up the incline even the field boundary below disappeared from sight.
Parking is possible just to the east of the farm itself. Continue on foot up the lane, turn right and stick to the wall. At the third field boundary (where the gorse peeks over the wall), strike away from the wall at 90 degrees and head up the hill. Look for a clear area amongst a couple of arcs of stones before the crest of the hill , and you’re there!
I went with some friends up to the Rollrights today.
I’m sad to report that following the recent fire damage there, some follow-up damage and a further attack have occurred.
1. The King Stone notice, where previously cracked, has now been broken off completely.
2. The King’s Men stone which was previously burnt by the tire attack has been significantly chipped on the top.
3. The warden’s hut has again been attacked. Cavity Wall foam was sprayed into the collection box, and also into the locks. This subsequently solidified, breaking the locks and rendering the collection box unusable. An oil fire used by the wardens was lit and placed next to a wooden cabinet and a gas cylinder within the hut, with the obvious intention of causing an explosion. In dousing the fire, the fire service had to substantuially damage the floor of the hut, which is currently unusable by the wardens for overnight stays (and which stank of smoke). These attacks apparently occured on the 9th December according to the warden on duty.
The police are now apparently willing up increase the charge from one of Arson, to Arson with Intent. However, they have no real leads. The only solution may be to install CCTV cameras at the site, which no one really wants to do.
Viisted this last week with Mr Hamhead and Scubi63. I wasn’t previously aware of this site, but took some photos on a glorious autumn morning and stitched the pano photo together.
I’d heard of the recent fire attack at the stones, so decided to pop up and take a look at the damage for myself.
I’d arrived early, so as to avoid the tourists, and had the circle to myself for all of 5 minutes. I nearly cried when I saw the aftermath of the damage, both in the circle and to the King Stone sign.
At least 4 inches of wood ash surrounded the base of the stone at the right of the entrance to the circle, and the entire top was blackened, presumably where the tyre was hung and filled with wood. Looking at the ashes, it was plain that the wood used had been brought deliberately for the attack, rather than just using saplings etc from the adjoining brush, as the wood that hadn’t been fully burnt was worked, like short strips of 10mmx2mm. This wasn’t a spur of the moment thing, but had obviously been carefully planned.
Across the way, the cast iron sign by the King Stone had also been attacked, looking like it had been set to with a gemmy bar, as the iron was split and buckled.
Luckily, it looks as if the Whispering Knights were left alone.
I’ve tried to understand the mindset of people who would do such a pointless thing. I’ve failed. Maybe it was because there was only £7 in the collection box that they also raided?
Apparently the police aren’t particularly interested in following this one through, presumably because there’s so little to go on. Which means the perps may be encouraged to come back and have another go? I sincerely hope not. Very sad.
Visited here today on a gloriously sunny Bank Holiday weekend.
Access is fairly straighforward. On the road just sough of the camp, it’s possible to pull in by a marked bridleway. Follow the bridleway two fields north, then turn right. The camp is laid out in front of you, enclosed by a fence and gate.
Beware if sheep are in the enclosure (as they were today), as the gate does not meet properly, and it’s not possibile to secure it shut – remember the country code?
The camp itself is as JackSprat says, quite impressive in its size. The bank and ditch are still very well defined for the most part.
A most worthwhile stop on what was a pleasant BH drive.
On holiday in Penwith last week, I’d agreed to meet Mr Hamhead for lunch in the Tinners Arms as he was also in the area. Suitable refreshed after a pint and a meal, we set off for our agreed target, Mulfra Quoit. I’d last visited the quoit some 3 years ago, and took the steep approach from Try Farm on that occasion. Today though, we took the much easier (but longer) approach from the north. After a couple of comedy pictures, we discussed the apparent moulding on the underside of the capstone, whether the quoit was ever ‘whole’, and the alignments with Chysauster and Castle an Dinas (and the time difference between the ages of the sites).
Some of the gorse had been burnt off near the quoit, and investigation to the south uncovered some old field boundary walls, and a possible hut circle. As the weather was closing in from the south, we made our way back to the car, and the heavens opened as if to say “Get orff my hill!“. We got.
There is supposedly a second circle in the vicinity, known as ‘Tregurnow circle’, located roughly at SW 437 245. However, I was there last week, and could see no sign of it on the ground (last reported sighting was in the 1970s.)
Lots of interesting stones in the field boundary wall a few yards away, but that’s not unusual around these parts.
OK, I’ve tried a couple of times to get here – each time giving up within 100 yards or so of the prize.
My first attempt was along the defined path toward the radio station. Sadly, this got me close, but the barbed wire fencing and waist high gorse combined to thwart me.
Today I tried a different approach. Following the track east from the road, then heading south along what, according to the MAGIC map, is a pathway leading very close to the stone. Unfortunately, the same barbed wire fence continues rght round the area, and the path no longer exists. I did pop over a gate and got into the field though, and the pathway ‘sort of’ exists, but within a couple of hundred yards of the stone is gobbled up by the encroaching gorse, and as the horseflies were having a good feed on my arm and not wishing to encounter any adders in the gorse, I backed off again.
Back at the car, a local lady was talking to Mikki, explaining that the farmers received a lot of money to fence off the area (despite it being Right to Roam land!), and this had detered the horseriders. Subsequently, the path had become unused and is gradually disappearing. I may well raise this issue with CASPN when I see them tomorrow.
I’ve passed this loads of times on the way to the Lizard without realising it was there!
Travel south on the A3083 toward the Lizard, and turn right at the Lizard Cyder Barn. There are only two houses in the road, before you come to the gate of the Predannack Airfield (part of RNAS Culdrose). The stone is on the left.
Just got back from a stroll up here again, and thought I’d add an additional Access note.
The approach from the north is much more straightforward. It’s just about possible to park near the entrance to Beersheba itself, then it’s just a case of hopping over 2 cornish stiles to the field containing the stone. Still not wheelchair accessible, but it’s a lot easier than trekking up that narrow path from Bowl Rock!
Remedial work at Madron is ‘well’ under way. The area around the baptistry has been relandscaped, and a gated wall has been built up. The stonework at the cloutie tree has been improved (though the well is some way off, this is where most people think the well is), and the path from the car park has been widened, cleared and laid, making the whole site wheelchair accessible at last (see photos).
The car park is still being relaid and landscaped, and work should be completed in a few weeks time.
It still rains every time I come here though, so some things don’t change!
Grubbing around today, I found a couple of stones in the surrounding hedge (see photos). The vicar arrived at the same time, but knew nothing about a possible circle. As a service was due to start, I didn’t get a chance to get a good look around the church itself, which apparently has some Green Man roof bosses.
Found a reference to this in Meyn Mamvro, so thought I’d check it out. It’s best to approach this from Engollan, as the road from the main coast road B3276 is gated.
Access to the stone is straightforward: park by the farmhouse, cross the road and walk along the footpath to within 50 yards of the stone. I had to duck under an electrified fence, and the field had plenty of evidence of ruminant activity.
The stone, which stands around 5 feet, looks a bit precarious, as the packing stones are exposed and there is an evident lean, but the stone itself has a wonderful shape and colouring.
There is a nice view of the Atlantic along the valley to the nearby coast, but otherwise, not much in the way of obvious sight alignments.
I was up here today, having a poke around. As can be seen from the photo, the stone is now almost invisible in the undergrowth. I’d like to have seen the stone properly, it looks a monster.
Parking is easy, as there’s a pull-in right next to the junction.
Just for the record, it’s still raining up there! The horizontal stuff that soaks you right through...
The bracken was only just sprouting, so I had no problem in finding it, though for some reason I had some doubts until a passing(!) farmer confirmed that this was indeed what I was looking for.
I can only re-iterate Mr Hamhead’s directions – it’s actually a relatively easy walk up the hill, with a couple of streams to cross, but the upright stone is quite distinctive and easily spotted from below.
Found it! The 1:7500 print I took from MAGIC helped! Basically, go up the path by the side of the house, and continue until you get to another gate. Go through this gate. On the right is a smallish enclosed field. The hut circles (as far as I could see) are in the next field beyond this. Stay on the path.
The hedge on the right eventually opens up to an area of bracken and gorse. There was a trodden path through this that I followed, that led directkly to a large upright stone, hidden in the far hedge.
Take care, as the disused quarry starts in the adjoining ‘field’, and may be the various stones that purejoy found.
Easily visible from the road, I’m surprised I’ve not noticed this one before. Parking in the farm driveway is possible without blocking access, so I risked it for a quick grab shot, as no-one was around though the weather was closing in.
Managed to get here last Friday, on a glorious day (heavy rain was forecast but never appeared).
Builders were working on the farm buildings, the first time in many vists that I’ve seen anyone here. I asked them for permission to visit, they thought I wanted Chun, or Lanyon Quoit. As the farmer wasn’t around, and I had a copy of the map from Magic, they were happy for me to whizz across and take a look.
Into the field to the right of the farmhouse, and over the gate to the rear. On into the next field back from the farm (another gate), then turn right to the bottom of the long field. Over the last gate, and the quoit remains are in the field. Basically, two large stones, one leant against the other with many packing stones at the base.
Magic shows a ‘settlement’ in the corner of this field also, but before I could investigate, a brief shower started up. As I was carrying my camera without a bag, I hurried back to the car before it could get too soaked.
The Cornish Ancient Sites Protection Network have recently done some clearance work at the cairn, uncovering a stone on the cairn with an amazing quartz vein. See Meyn Mamvro #58 for details.
Thanks to Mr Hamhead’s instructions below, I finally found this at the third time of trying! All I’d add is that the wall on the right is located just after the stream on the left (which tends to make the pathway extremely muddy), and there’s a minor barbed wire fence to navigate at the top of the wall. Once in the clearing of the field, just follow the pathway up the hill.
A massive stone, covered in that hairy lichen. Due to the weather I didn’t tarry long, or look for the other nearby stones. Another day maybe, now I know how to get here!
Visited 22/5/5
It’s a stiff old walk up from the bottom of the village, but just over a year on from the unintentional scorching the stones received (see News), they appear to be healing well. Most of the burnt lichen has been removed, and the stones look in good condition. I didn’t notice any obvious cracking on the stones I inspected closely.
Visited 21/5/5
I parked the car at Chysauster car park and walked along the road to the footpath at SW465347. The woman at the house next to the footpath advised me to avoid the horses in the field as they can become a ‘bit too friendly’. Following the footpath across the first stile (into a roped off corner of the horse’s field), this was easily done by jinking into the next field through a gate (horses in field), and returning at the far corner by dodging under the fence which appears to have been designed for exactly that purpose.
After the second stile, the footpath is poorly defined, but I headed straight across the meadow as depicted on the map to a stile hidden in the undergrowth of the hedge. After this third stile, the stone can be seen on the far side of the second field on the left. I couldn’t find a way into this field (the footpath carries on up to Try Farm, but is very poorly defined from here).
Sadly, in the evening I found that the photos I’d taken had mysteriously disappeared from the camera! This meant I had to return later in the week, when it was much dryer than the 8am dew flood I’d encountered this time round.
Visited 21/5/5
This is a neat little ‘fairy’ circle on the edge of the plantation with a stone cist in the centre. Plonkers had lit a fire within the cist. FFS why?
Visited 21/5/5
What a fantastic place! From the layby, walk up the steps then keep up the hill till the stream is heard. Keep the stream on the right until a ‘stone path’ is seen. Follow the path to the settlement – the path continues on up to Hookney Tor.
There’s a real sense of loss here – it’s easy to imagine the bustling community that once existed within the encircling wall with its three entrances.
Visited 21/5/5. Noted elsewhere as ‘Meacombe Cist’.
Parking is difficult. Best places seem to be the next gate up to the north, or a bit further to the south, by the farm entrance.
I couldn’t get close to the actual chamber without trespassing into a field full of a quantity of bovine population with young, so I chickened out and contented myself with the long view through the herd.
After a stroll with Mr Hamhead (Mark) across Bodmin to see King Arthur’s Hall, just a short way east from the King Arthur’s Down circle (following the field wall), we came across this fallen menhir.
The stone is almost certainly fallen, as the shape is ideal for a ‘stander’, and the base is thicker and shaped for support, being much thicker in width as well as breadth.
Mark shoved his trusty walking pole under the thin end, and ascertained that the stone is no more than about 9 inches thick at the pointy end.
There is a possibility that this is part of a fallen stone row, as at least two more large granite blocks were seen directly in line with this one on the other side of the wall. Barbed wire and long-horn cattle prevented closer inspection of these other stones.
As it lays, the stone is pointing directly to Rough Tor.
Stopped off here on the way home from Brum. Absolutely stunned to have the place to myself on a Saturday afternoon! Panos will follow if I can stitch them correctly...
Apparently today is the day when the police decide whether to charge the person arrested for damaging the stones. As for correcting the damage, the decision has been taken to follow the ‘dental pick’ route. Tenders have been issued for conducting this work.
Trotted along to take a look at Long Tom today. A pleasant enough walk from Avebury, up to the Ridgeway, down across Fyfield Down along the old London-Bath road and up the other side.
Just before the reservoir, there’s a notice on the right denoting a private racehorse training field. Nicely cut grass, and about 100 yards into the field can be seen Long Tom, with a much smaller partner on the other side of the ‘racetrack’. Very much a ‘finishing post’.
As to the stone iteself, it’s very angular and clean cut. Very little evidence of the lichen that covers all other stones in the area. All in all, it looks too ‘new’ to be that ancient, even if it’s thought to be Iron Age rather than neolithic. It looks very similar in condition to a small modern rubbing post I spotted in an adjacent field.
Overall, I’m not convinced.
Popped up to Oxfordshire on a whim at the weekend, my first visit for a while, and the first since the damage.
The photos I’d seen really don’t put across the sheer mindlessness of the damage. It looks as though some progress may be made, as tests were being undertaken for removing the paint – see the picture of the info sheet, and test area.
A tourist coach arrived while I was there. They’d spent about 5 minutes at the King Stone, and were being rapidly shown around the stones. I don’t spend a great deal of time at sites (so many sites, so little time), but even I’m not that quick, and I’ve not paid for the privilege of a guide!
It’s possible (and easy) to gain access via Brane Farm. I was lucky in that someone was around to ask, I had no problem in getting permission, and the cows were safely locked away.
There is a path from the cowshed (obviously used by our bovine friends) down to the gate in the adjoining field, and again to the third field where the chamber lies.
From this direction, the first view is of the rear of the chamber (see photo), which consists of some large stones.
The actual chamber was quite overgrown with weeds and small shrubs on my visit, and I suspect some root damage may occur, as several smaller stones which had obviously come from the chamber were spread about near the entrance.
Managed to get up here this week for a look-see.
A couple of holes in the ground, with stones laying beside them waiting to be raised. Not sure how many they’ll be working on in total.
Information notices have been graffittied by the locals who are against the restoration. Had a quick chat with Cherryl Straffon in St Justs about the restoration. Her comment? It’ll be good to see the big stones up again...
Walked up here last week, having parked by the Bowl Rock (SW522367). A pleasant enough stroll up the hill, squeezing past a cottage on the way, then over a stile, look to the right, and there it is, on the edge of a sloping field which returns down the hill.
I managed to get some photos with what I think was Hayle and St Ives bay in the background, despite the farmer’s dog in the next field warning me away (or so I thought).
The dog was warning me, but only of the bull that was in the field, which I didn’t see until I was almost back to the stile! There had been no sign of it on my approach to the stone (thanks to the sloping hill, no doubt), but suddenly it was just there! So be warned...
Unlike just about everyone else on TMA, I declined to park on the A4 verge due to the madness of various daredevil drivers. Instead, we headed for the car park at SU159699, and I took a longer, leisurely walk along the bridleway at the opposite corner to the entrance to the car park.
The bridleway is bounded on the left by a white topped, electrified fence. I didn’t test to see if it was on, but after about 500 yards or so, the Den appeared on the near horizon. It seemed a long way away, and following the fence, I wasn’t sure if I’d actually be able to get access, but the fence and bridleway headed left eventually, and down into the dale. A gate at the bottom of the hill led to the overgrown footpath, about 500 yards away from the barbed wire ‘stile’ near the stones. This last stretch was muddy, and I’d imagine could be quite overgrown in high season, unlike the lush grass track I’d taken thus far. The round trip took me an hour, and I’m not as fit as Moth, so it’s probably a comparable distance, with no difficulty parking.
The location itself is stunning, but I kept asking myself, ‘why here?’ Surrounded by hills on all sides, there is no obvious view or alignment for the ‘barrow’. The stones lie on a distintive mound, but I suspect most of this is field clearance, as the restoration is is quite obvious, and the concrete was, for me, quite off-putting. I’ll be back though, if only for the views from the approach.
Easily found, following the map, and the NW outlier at the junction tells you you’ve arrived. We pulled into the No Through Road on the left, and parked on the verge (the pull-in that Moth mentioned was gated, and very muddy).
A real mystery, this one. I scaled the ladder stile and entered the field, to find 5 stones in a parabola, suggesting an ovoid ‘circle’. And unusually, a central stone. Plus of course, the two outliers. None still standing, and the possibility that this wasn’t the original location of the stones anyway. Lots of questions and very few answers. I could get no real feeling of what was what, so had to leave somewhat unsatisfied.
I was amazed I’d not seen this before given how close it actually is to the road. On return to the car, I found that the remaining stone of the circle can actually be seen from the road. I’d expected it to be much further up the hill toward the Ridgeway for some reason.
I’d parked at the end of West Kennet Avenue and just followed the new signpost to “Falkner’s Circle 1/4 mile”.
On the way I saw the hedgerow stone pictured by stubob, but devoid of the vegetation in his photo (see my picture). Oh, and there was a crop circle just to the south, but it looked a bit ‘amateurish’ to my eye, kind of incomplete...
Brooding.
The weather was wet. Raining and misty all at the same time. We parked outside the church, and like a div, I still hadn’t spotted the barrow.
When I did spot it, looming large next to the church, covered in trees, it was like , Wow!
It’s big, and the immediate impression I got was of darkness, as if it resented the church being there. Maybe that’s why the children mentioned in Rhiannon’s Folklore entry avoided the place?
8th October 2003
This is a tricky one. It’s actually set in the grounds of the school, but a footpath from Porthpean Road just south of the A390 goes quite near. Follow the path along the back of the tennis courts into the field beyond, then look back to see the stone.
There are signs advising against trespass onto the school grounds, and when I was there, the school had just gone onto a break period and the kids were coming out.
Because of this I couldn’t get too close, and taking pictures was tricky in case anyone got the wrong idea! I managed a couple of shots though...
10th October 2003
There are apparently 8 tombs in total here. The main one is well signposted, and has been restored by EH. I managed to find two of the others in the thick heather, as well as a strangely sculpted rock that looked like two IKEA armchairs, before the rain finally started. The landscape is difficult to make out, the various lumps and bumps looking like a lunar landscape hidden in the plush heather.
9th October 2003
No problems here. Turn off the road just south of the Goonhilly Visitor Centre, into the old RAF centre, which is now in use as a car park. Take the path that leads back to the Earth Centre. And follow the path round to the left. When the fence disappears to the right, follow it around, keeping the fence on your left at all times. After a couple of corners, the Dry Tree is in front of you. Watch out for adders in season, apparently!
This is a big old stone, and as others have said before me, affords lots of photographic opportunities with the modern comms dishes in the background. It was re-raised early in the 20thC, supposedly not too far from its original position.
7th October 2003
The way this has been ‘restored’ onto the church boundary wall, makes it look like one with the large (probably originally standing) stone underneath it. I don’t think this is the case though. Andrew Langdon in ‘Stone Crosses of West Penwith’ states that “the shaft and base no longer exist”.
7th October 2003
Nice to see that Gun Rith has been re-erected, complete with original (or near as dammit) lean. The base has been placed into concrete this time, and the field wall has been reconstructed around it, so hopefully it won’t fall again in a hurry.
7th October 2003
I spent quite a while at the Maidens today, and had the place to myself for a change. The wind was blowing a gale, but at least the fog had lifted by the time we got here. I managed to take some nice photos, but nothing that isn’t on TMA already, though I may try to stitch a panorama together at a later date.
6th October 2003
The fogou is actually in sight of the road, opposite the entrance gate to Trewardreva House itself. A herd of cows in the adjoining field made me slightly nervous, as they all charged toward the gate as I entered the field. I wasn’t sure if they could get into the field containing the fogou…
Andy Norfolk described this as a “cosy, cuddly fogou” on the Stones Mailing List, and I’d have to agree with him. I didn’t descend all the way in, partly because of my bovine nerves, but it looks as if the main passageway may open out to the right at the end. Craig Wetherill in Cornovia refutes this stating that “it was once thought a branch passage may have run southwards…this is now considered unlikely”.
Daylight pervades the far end of the fogou, where the covering stones have shifted somewhat, but this didn’t detract from the cuddliness for me.
6th October 2003
There’s a car park right next to the church, and a 30yd or so gated path down to the church. The stone is just past the entrance door to the church.
I didn’t notice when I was there, but from the photos I took, it looks as if a smaller stone has been perched on top of the main stone, which stands on a slight mound next to the path.
An old cross stands on the opposite side of the path (W Cornwall 69). This cross was first recorded in the 1890s, located in the vicarage grounds. It had moved to its current location by the 1920s.
5th October 2003
I took the approach from the telephone box opposite Sancreed Church, which had a sign advising that an alternative path was available 300yds up the road. The approach was long and narrow – no room for a wheelchair here. The path is quite clearly delineated, except for one point where stiles appear both in front, and to the right. I chose right, which was right! A short incline, and the well appeared in front of me. The first thing I saw was the ugly modern cross that’s been erected here. Climbing down into the well, I spotted the phosphorescence straight away, but it proved difficult to photograph. Sitting in the cracks on the far walls, it gave the impression of minute fairy grottoes, complete with lighting!
After 10 minutes or so, I began to feel uneasy, and had the start of a headache, so decided to leave. But before finally leaving I took a quick look at the remains of the small chapel just above the well. Only part of the walls remain, similar to, but in a worse condition than the chapel at Madron Well.
Leaving via the continuation of the footpath, after a short climb a stile led to the road, just around the corner from my starting point.
5th October 2003
After a false start, confused a little by the directions here, I found the stile easily enough. Park by the Alsia Farm entrance drive, and walk down (West) past the Mill. The stile is on the left, opposite what would be a parking place if not blocked off by stones. Climb up the stile steps and a totally unexpected view awaits. A pleasant meadow with a large informational sign leads to the far field boundary, where another small sign points to the (private) footpath leading to the well. Down the hill, the bracken and brambles open up on the right, and turning right into the brambles again reveals the rusty gate by the well.
Access: The initial stile is quite high, but the walk is reasonable across grassland. The return trip is uphill, and the stile can be tricky to return down to the road.
5th October 2003
From opposite Sennen Church (with its couple of fine old crosses), a private road runs back toward the farm buildings. The footpath is shown as going up to the shed, but I’m not sure where it goes from there. I ventured over the locked gate, and around the back of the shed, startling a large fox in the process.
The stone, visible from the road when the foliage is low, is built into the field boundary wall, is covered in lichen, and I’d guess stands approx 3-4 metres tall. Being on private land, permission should really be sought, but there was no-one around during my brief visit, other than a herd of cows in the neighbouring field.