nickbrand

This setting is about 40 yards from the first, and is pretty overgrown and difficult to make out at first. Two stones are fairly prominent but again, the more northerly is virtually buried. CANMORE carries this group as 3 stones of a four-poster, about 4m in diameter, and states that an ‘urn’ was found buried here in the 19th century.

Three small stones forming a rough triangle. Two stand about 2 feet proud of the ground, the most northerly is almost buried. Forestry work has been going on around them, and they are partially covered by felled trees. They stand in a little clearing, and once the lumber has been cleared away they will be a bit more obvious.According to CANMORE they are three stones of a four-poster, about 3.5m in diameter.

I’m not sure if this may have been part of the original circle or not. It’s not too distant from the standing stone, and in the same alignment along the ridge. It’s pretty heavily scarred by ploughs, so may have been buried at some point. Hard to tell, I’ll leave others to make their minds up about this one!

This stone stands around 4’6” in height, with the broad faces aligned NW/SE. There are no significant markings to be seen on it.

This is an interesting little group of sites. There is a single standing stone at the top of a ridge, just beside a small wood and near a trig point – easiest way to find the group is to head up the side of the wood to the trig point. The stone is just a few metres away. Just to the SW of the standing stone is a large recumbent stone, heavily scored by ploughs. Whether this is part of the original circle I’m not sure, but have included it for completeness! Entering the wood to the north east, about 40 yards in is a small group of three stones. Another 40 yards on in the same direction is yet another group of three. Forestry work and natural growth obscure both of the small groups, but it was fairly peacefull there when I visited today, despite the fact that standing out on the ridge I was face-on to a 40+ knot northerly wind, which changed into a blizzard as I descended the ridge!

Visiting this one risks life and limb! It lies on the A911 about a mile west of Leslie, and there are no pavements and very little in the way of a verge... Fife drivers exhibit a blithe disregard for minor impediments like speed restrictions, so be very careful. There is a place to park a little way past the stone in the side road leading south.

This pair stand in the fields of Longloch Farm just north of the Binn Hill at the back of Burntisland. Use your map carefully, I’m not even going to try to describe the route! Permission should be sought at the farm but is readily granted.

Canmore says of them: “These two standing stones are situated on the summit of a gently rising pasture. The ground immediately surrounding their bases may have been made higher. The stones are vertical, stand 19’2” across centres and exactly E-W. The bases of both are packed with small stones. The W stone is a smooth-sided block of quartziferous rock 6’2” high, 12’8” maximum girth. Close to it is a block of stone 1’4” above ground. The E stone is of much weathered whinstone and is 5’7” high. Its greatest girth is 12’9”. Several small circular hollows are attributed to weathering. It is unlikely that the stones formed part of a stone circle.” What you see is pretty much what is described, and there’s no point in adding to it, other than to say that the two stones each have a very unique appearance from each other. The view over the Forth from here, even on a cold and windy winter afternoon, is pretty stunning.

I visited today. This stone stands in a field just on the eastern outskirts of Kirkcaldy, just where the A921 branches from the A92. Parking can be accomplished a couple of hundred metres along this road (a small layby). It is a large lump of sandstone standing just under 2m high, 1m wide, and about 0.6m thick, aligned E-W. There is one small cup mark high on the north face of the stone.

Creich Manse is situated off the A92 between Glenrothes and Dundee, just beside the village of Brunton. The Reverend Collins is the Minister of this parish, and the circle is within the grounds of the manse. He and his wife are friendly and welcoming, and must be approached for permission to view the circle – which is readily given.

These delightful concentric circles were moved from their original position in 1817, and set up exactly as found within the grounds of the manse. Canmore describes it thus: “In the centre of this feature was an upright cylindrical sandstone 14” high by 12” diameter, around which at a distance of 3’ was a circle of 16 upright stones, and beyond that a circle 15’ in diameter consisting of 32 upright stones the number of points in a compass, and in both circles, a stone larger than the rest was placed at each end of the cardinal points. The stones forming the inner circle were of sandstone which could not be obtained nearer than Cupar Moor, seven miles away; the stones of the outer circle were of local whinstone. Due S of the centre, and between it and circle B were two sculptured stones, the remaining space being paved. When being removed, burned human bones and charcoal were found under the inner of the two sculptured stones.” And that’s pretty much what you see today.

The sculptured stones are interesting, if vaguely detailed: a circle, a circle with extensions (ewer?), two raised mounds with a groove between, and a square with circle on top containing a crescent.

This site may have been moved from its original locus, but retains a great deal of charm, even on a cold winter’s morning. Well worth a visit!

A large hill fort, thought to be around 2500 years old, with a massive stone rampart, ditch and outer ramparts – two concentric walls. The inner wall was originally some 12 m thick and several metres high, enclosing an area of about 2 acres. A cup marked stone was found on the west slope of White Caterthun – link to photo

The stone stands nearly 4m tall, and is quite an impressive sight. There are cupmarks on both main faces of the stone, 4 or 5 on the north face, and quite a number on the southern face. Unfortunately, it has also suffered from vandalism with some names and initials carved on the eastern portion, along with (more suitably), a thistle...