Kammer

Visited 22/01/11: Walked to Disgwylfa Fawr from a parking spot next to Llyn Syfydrin to the west. This is the shortest & simplest route up (my friend’s 7 year old daughter had no trouble with it).

I’m embarrassed to say this was my first time up Disgwylfa Fawr and it’s hard to imagine why it’s taken me so long to make the journey. The cairn is large and earth-covered with an indentation in the top, presumably from excavation. It’s a nice lump the stand on and the views of the surrounding peaks are splendid (especially Pumlumon and Dinas). Well worth a visit.

Visited 13/04/07: As Merrick says, this isn’t an easy site to get to. Having looked at large scale maps since our visit I have a strong suspicion that one of the public footpaths that should pass close to the tomb is blocked by a fence.

The tomb stands just to the south of a rocky outcrop that’s clearly visible from the road (see Moss’ photo) but not marked on the Landranger. It’s in the corner of a field, with gorse obscuring the view of it from the south.

We found our way to Ffyst Samson with some difficulty. We tried working from Merrick’s directions, approaching from the south, but I wish I’d taken a better map with me. We ended up loosing the footpath, which I wasn’t really comfortable about, but it really wasn’t clear where it went. If I did it again I’d try an alternative route, approaching from the north east.

Visited 24th April 2005: I found it tricky to park on the A4120, then a bit scary walking the boys along the road. There’s not a lot of traffic, but nobody is really expecting pedestrians.

The fort itself is extremely small, only really big enough to contain one family. It’s the hillfort equivalent of a farmstead, built on a small promontory above the Rheidol valley. There are one or two hut platforms visible within the defences, but they’re too subtle to photograph.

The remaining defences are pretty meagre, and unfortunately the strategic position of the fort isn’t as obvious as it might be because of the surrounding trees. It’s still a beautiful place to visit on a fine day.

Although I wasn’t aware of it during my visit, there is permissive public access to Pen-y-Felin Wynt (hats off to the land owner!). If you want to see the approved route, visit the Countryside Access in Wales web site.

Visited 14th November 2004: This sorry looking stone is easy to find, and easy to get at because it’s right next to the road. The hedge had just been cut when we visited, and I was alarmed at how close the the flail had got to the top of the stone.

This standing stone isn’t in it’s original location. It once stood in the centre of the field, but for the life of me I can’t figure out where I read that (as soon as I remember I’ll post it up).

Visited 29th January 2005: I approached Buckholt Wood on foot from the direction of Nympsfield Long Barrow. It’s a pleasant enough walk, but crossing the main road (the B4066) is tricky.

Buckholt Wood is not the most exciting megalithic site you could visit. Definately one for the hardened enthusiast.

Visited 8th January 2005: Not much to add here except to reiterate Moss’ comments about mud. The coastal footpath is supposed to be part of the route to the chamber from the main road (A487), but we ended up walking on the farm track instead (it runs parallel). We’d have lost the boys in the mud if we hadn’t!

Parking isn’t a problem, but the walk to the stone is about half a mile with an incline towards the beginning. An adventurous wheelchair user might make the distance with some assistance.

Visited 29th January 2005: The parking area right near the barrow is gone now, so no Travellers encampment this time. On this visit it was full of dry leaves, which made for good entertainment for the boys.

I have to say Nympsfield Long Barrow itself still leaves me cold. It’s been reconstructed in such a clinical way that there’s nothing left of the place except artifice.

Visited 30th January 2005: Back to the tump with some friends. The kids loved being inside with torches. I was sad to see relatively new looking carvings and candle damage.

Visited 26th September 2004: We parked the car on the A470 in a lay-by opposite the track to Maen Llwyd. Crossing the road with the boys was a bit tricky, but once we were on the track (basically a private road giving access to a couple of houses) the going was easy.

Finding the stone was not so easy. The map indicated it was very close to the road, but we couldn’t see anything that looked likely. Bearing in mind we’d not got any photos to go on I think we anticipated something a bit more like Llech Idris. In the end we came to a small cottage by the side of the track and asked a gentleman who was coming out of it for directions (I think the cottage might have been called Maen Llwyd). He was exceedingly helpful. It turned out we had over-shot.

As it happened the owner of the cottage was heading in the direction of the standing stone to check his water supply, so he led us back up the track in the direction we had come from, stoically enduring a lot of pestering from William. It turns out that Maen Llwyd is visible from the road, but although it’s not far into the field it’s surrounded by boggy ground and reeds. The others stayed on the track and watched me hop from tussock to tussock until I could get a closer look at the stone. Trainers are not recommended footwear if you visit Maen Llwyd! It’s not very large, and the tricky access means I’d not recommend it unless you’re a thorough enthusiast. I was pleased we’d found it, but at the end of a long day it was a little bit disappointing.

Thanks to the gentleman from the cottage!

Visited 13th August 2004: I confess that we drove up the track, which got us pretty close to the stones. I don’t think you’re supposed to do this though, and it was very tricky turning the car round.

I can’t add much to Nick’s notes. The sheep in the field where the row lies are extremely friendly, which entertained the kids loads. Also, there’s an exclellent view of Josie Jump’s house from the stones.

Visited 15th August 2004: We decided to approach Greycroft from the east, but weren’t ready for the eeriness of approaching the nuclear power station down the main access road. Wide and straight, the road has ‘ready for trouble’ stamped all over it.

We parked near Seascale Hall (specifically NY040027) and took the footpath under the access road. This turned out to be a bad idea because the underpass was very muddy and culminated in a field with a big bull in it. We edged into the adjoining field, which was probably a good idea anyway because the footpath (now on the other side of the fence) looked impassable.

Skirting the perimeter of the field that Greycroft Circle sits in, we went past the point where the footpath goes onto the golf course (that looked impassable too because of giant bracken, so glad we didn’t approach that way). We kept on skirting the perimeter of the field (spotting a Grass Snake on the way) and eventually landed up to the south of the circle. This was the point at which there is the least cultivated land between the field boundary and the stone, so we went for it, following an existing path through the crops.

OK, that’s how we got there. It took quite a while, especially as it was hot and the kids were tired. As for the place itself, well I think everyone except me thought it was rubbish. Even I’d have to admit that the circle is a tad disappointing. Knowing that it’s heavily ‘reconstructed’ doesn’t help much. Basically you’re faced with a load of randomly placed boulders in a field near a nuclear power station. While I wanted to be struck by the way the site has withstood centuries of abuse, I couldn’t muster it. It has to be said that although the power station is menacing, Greycroft would still be a sad place to visit even if it weren’t there.

On the way back I tried to cheer the boys up by collecting golf balls (recommended as a pick-you-up). We went over the access road on our return journey, avoiding a load of bull.

When I was living in Carmarthen we used to go out to Merlin’s Hill. I don’t think there’s public access up there, but we were young and foolish. I remember trying to sneak past the farm without the dogs spotting us.

Up at the top is a beautiful meadow. I remember taking a very large pink kite up there and flying it. Some friends back home were looking out for the kite, but although Merlin’s Hill itself is really obvious from town, the kite was too darned small. Happy (and in hindsight very innocent) memories. This is a beautiful spot!

Visited 11th August 2004: Taoslin is accessible over a small stile. It’s a hefty lump of rock, with large packing stones around the base of it. It’s a lot smaller than Tiraghoil and far less elegant than Fionnphort. On my visit the hollow around the base of the stone was full of water, forming quite an aesthetically pleasing pond. The reflection of the stone in the water was great. I wonder whether Taoslin is the real deal though? Those packing stones can’t be original. They’re far too large, and inexpertly placed.

Visited 11th August 2004: Tiraghoil was the second stone we came to heading east. I left the others in the car (the rain had subsided a bit) and made my way to the stone. This is a large lump of rock, much bigger than Fionnphort. It has quite a presence to it. With the weather as it was the stone did a good job looking immoveable (sort of, “I ain’t budging!“). The lichen hair might have been what suckered me into thinking of the stone as human.

Visited 11th August 2004: On our way back from Iona I persuade Louise that we should pop in and see a few standing stones. Fionnphort was the first we came to, and at the point when we arrived the rain was torrential.

What I should have done was ask at the house for permission to take some photos of the stone. Instead I wound the car window down and took some hurried photos from the relative dry of the driver’s seat. Yes, I know, this is not in the spirit of things at all. The stone looks rather pleasant as a sort of garden feature. It’s an elegant monolith.

Visited 10th August 2004: I was a little bit disappointed by the circle itself, having trudged through the wet to get there. The ‘natural amphitheatre formed by the surrounding hills’ was partially obscured by low lying cloud, which in itself might have seemed mystical had we been a little more dry.

In hindsight I think the weather played a big part in our desire not to linger. We were feeling pretty soaked, and were ready to get back in the dry as soon as possible.

Visited 10th August 2004: This is the largest stone in the Lochbuie group, and it’s so close to the circle that it may as well be part of the same site. An impressive lump of rock, even in the rain.

Visited 10th August 2004: This is the first ‘proper’ outlier to the stone circle (I can’t see how the more distant stone can be described as an outlier). Contained within the same field as the circle and Outlier 1 you have to double back on yourself a bit from the gate to get to it. It was at this stage in our visit that the severity of the rain really became apparent. We were sodden!

Visited 10th August 2004: This was the second Lochbuie site that we came to. The light was very poor thanks to the low cloud and drizzle, but the site was relatively easy to find. The trees sit in amongst the stones making the site a bit of a jumble to interpret.

Visited 10th August 2004: With a foolhardy lack of regard for the weather we set out from our parking spot (NM61552557) and made our way to the ‘Lochbuie’ standing stone (the one furthest away from the circle). In this instance we approached over water-logged ground. The stone itself was difficult to get close to without getting soggy feet. At least the rain wasn’t too bad...

Visited 9th August 2004: Not such much a visit as a drive-by. Caisteal Eoghainn A’ Chinn Bhig is clearly visible from the A849, so I insisted on taking a look from the road.

Despite not getting all that close to the site I was disproportionately excited at seeing my first Crannog. The whole valley has quite an appeal, in a bleak sort of way. In this instance the dire weather seemed a very appropriate backdrop.

Visited 9th August 2004: William and I visited this stone without the others (they opted to stay in the car).

When we visited there was a lot of silage stacked up near the stone tractor in the field and a knackered old tractor (William liked this). The biggest obstacle we faced was mud. The part of the field nearest he gate was awash with it. It took us ages to cover a short distance.

The stone itself is tall and slender, but this I didn’t find the site very inspiring. Perhaps I had the wrong head on for it, or perhaps it was the mud, but I didn’t feel any great urge to contemplate the place for very long.

Visited 8th August 2004: Parking is a bit tricky if you’re visiting Kilninian, and when we visited the giant bracken was quite an obstacle. The stone itself is beautifully positioned, but possibly easier to appreciate in the winter when the undergrowth has died back.

Visited 8th August 2004: Dervaig B is easier to find and get to than the other two Dervaig rows. As a result it’s the most visited of the three. Unsurprisingly, this site isn’t wheelchair friendly.

The row is now just inside a forest plantation, with tall pine tress planted on either side of it. Any intervisibility between Dervaig B and it’s neighbours (if there ever was any) is now hard to imagine. There’s an ambience here though, and the stones are impressively large. Well worth a visit, even for the non-enthusiast.

Visited 8th August 2004: This site is relatively easy to get to, but not by any means wheelchair friendly. It took a couple of passes on the road for me to realise that the cemetery is the landmark we should really have been looking for (much easier to spot than the stones).

Because it’s built into a dry stone wall Dervaig C is unlike the other two neighbouring stone rows. It feels a bit tainted, especially with fencing wire still attached to the largest stone. Not exactly brimming with atmosphere.

I can’t really complain about our visit though. It was the first day of our week on Mull, and we had brilliant sunshine (unaware that it would be chucking it down in buckets for most of the remainder of the week).

Visited 9th July 2005: This is not an easy site to find. For directions detailing how to get to Bedd yr Afanc, take a look at my map and notes. We were blessed with glorious sunshine. The heat was almost too much really. I had Emily (less than two weeks old) in sling on my front and Lou was supervising the boys. We trudged our way to the site. It felt a bit like a scene out of Beau Geste.

Bedd yr Afanc is a modest site, especially when compared to it’s nearest neighbour Pentre Ifan. Having seen photos of the site I knew what to expect, but there’s a danger of disappointment if you’re expecting something like a Breton gallery grave.

I wondered about for a while trying to figure out where the capstones could have ended up, and found one large stone a few metres away from the tomb. Assuming that this is a capstone, why would anyone come to this place and shift a stone that large only a few metres?

Bedd yr Afanc is definitely worth a visit if you’re an enthusiast, but is probably not worth the walk if you only have a casual interest in prehistory. The terrain is relatively level, but by no means wheelchair friendly.

Visited 6th August 2004: We asked at the farm before going to see the stones (presumably this was M’Lellan’s croft). The owner was very friendly and didn’t seem to mind us taking a look. The route to the stones takes you across a rocky and seaweed strewn beach, so not recommended for anyone with limited mobility.

The site is relatively easy to find, but not quite so easy to interpret. In contrast to the experiences of some others we found Fang Circle to be a pretty inhospitable place, mainly because of the insects. It may have been the time of day that we visited (late afternoon) or the weather that made it bad, but the midges were a nightmare.

Visited 15th August 2004: I spotted this stone on the way up the Wrynose Pass (I was actually looking for a picnic spot). As it turns out there’s space to park just to the west of the stone, so this is where we ate our lunch.

Then I pegged it back to take a closer look at what I’d seen on the way up the hill. It did look like a standing stone of some sort, with possible packing stones exposed on one side. I got severely rained on taking photos and taking a grid reference (NY2830903302), and just assumed that when I got home I’d find some reference to this lump of rock on the Web.

Now having done some research I can find nothing to indicate that a standing stone exists has been identified on this site. I’m 90% sure it is an artificially placed stone though. It seems extremely unlikely to me that a genuine Bronze Age megalith has been overlooked in such an obvious location, so there’s got to be a strong likelihood that this stone is not prehistoric.

Pending further evidence I’ve put the photos here. Please feel free to pass comment (the best place for this is probably the Forum).

Visited 6th August 2004: This is an easy site to find thanks to the Halfway Garage. My visit was extremely brief because we were pressed for time, but to be honest there isn’t a great deal of ambience to be soaked up here.

Visited 6th August 2004: Relatively easy to find if you have the grid reference or some local knowledge, but we had neither. It took a while to track down Creed Lodge, but once we’d found that is was easy. Watch out for the traffic though!

Visited 6th August 2005: This site isn’t acknowledged by everyone as prehistoric, but having read about it and spoken to Margaret Ponting about it, I was curious. Cnoc Sgeir na h-Uidhe (pronounced kroc skayth na hoo-ya) is on the way to Na Dromannan:

Starting from the A858, park in the lay-by nearest to Cnoc Fillibhear Bheag. Cross the road and follow it, heading away from Calanais, until you are past the cottages on your left (I think you may cross over a cattle grid, but I’m not 100% sure). Here there’s a gate taking you into a small paddock on the other of which is another gate. From this point on you’re in open countryside.

At this point work your way onto the rocky outcrop behind the cottages, and this is where you’ll find Cnoc Sgeir na h-Uidhe. Don’t expect to find it easily!

Visited 3rd and 6th August 2004: Lou and I visited Na Dromannan on two occasions, partly because I left the camera in the car on the first visit, but also because we were bowled over by the stones and their location.

It’s such a peaceful spot up on the hill overlooking the other big Callanish sites (most clearly Calanais itself). We took the opportunity to sit in quiet contemplation (in a Swarth Fell stylee). You’ve got to make this little pilgrimage if you’re able!

This route is not very exact, so use it as an aide rather than relying on it. I’ve based it on memory and some photos that I took. I wouldn’t recommend the walk for anyone with limited mobility. Pushchairs or wheelchairs are out of the question because of the frequently changing levels of peat. Good footwear with ankle support is advisable, and if it’s been raining be ready to get wet feet.

Starting from the A858, park in the lay-by nearest to Cnoc Fillibhear Bheag. Cross the road and follow it, heading away from Calanais, until you are past the cottages on your left (I think you may cross over a cattle grid, but I’m not 100% sure). Here there’s a gate taking you into a small paddock on the other of which is another gate. From this point on you’re in open countryside.

Keeping to the east of the little hill behind the cottages you should find a peat cutters track. This track starts off being well defined, but very uneven, leading off to the north-east. You can follow the path for about half a mile before it becomes almost impossible to distinguish from the heather and peat. At this point you should change course and head north towards high ground. You should have the lake off to your right at the point when you change course.

This is where the going get tougher. You’ll find yourself going from one heather covered island of peat to another. The ‘valleys’ between each island can get very wet very quickly if it rains. Wherever possible keep on the high ground. The first ‘bump’ to aim for has a couple of distinctive boulders on the summit which make it quite distinctive. Once you’re on the top of that you can potentially see the bump that Na Dromannan sits on. We were lucky because the spoil heaps from the archaeological dig made for an excellent target, but once they’re gone it could be tricky finding the site without a GPS or some top notch map reading.

Visited 2nd August 2004: We parked by the Bernera Bridge information board and walked back across the bridge to Iarsiadar. There’s a gate by the road giving access into the field where the stone now stands. The climb up to the stone isn’t too steep, but there’s no path as such.

When you’re up by the stone you just have to imagine that you’re a few metres further west than you actually are.

Visited 2nd August 2004: Just as enigmatic as I’d anticipated, Bernera Bridge is a weird old thing. It’s situation above the channel of Sruth Iarsiadar is a great sensory bonus. The reflection of light (even on a dull day), the sound of the sea, the distant views, and even the modern bridge make it a great spot.

Long before the bridge this was a crossing point to Bernera, but what would it have looked like during the Neolithic? The sea levels were lower, so what did this spot represent to the people who put up the stones?

The Bernera Bridge ‘circle’ could be a lot more accessible than it is, given how close it is to the road. A steep gravel slope leads up to the site, so not ideal for anyone who’s got limited mobility.

Visited 2nd August 2004: The first site of the day, it was good to meet Ceann Hulavig in the flesh. Shame that the weather wasn’t great, but you can’t have everything. We were pressed for time (not recommended) and so any scope for chilling out and enjoying the place was rather limited. Would have liked to have made a second visit in the sunshine.

Visited 4th August 2004: We started off trying to get a view of Clach Stei Lin from the village of Siadar Uarach. You can see it from the end of the cul-de-sac that lies to the north west of the stone, but it’s not a great view.

In the end I approached on foot from the track to the south west of the stone, leaving Louise in the car. At the site there are two obvious stones, one standing (which we’d seen from the village) and the other, much smaller, lieing prone just to the north.

This is one of those places where you know very few people visit, despite being relatively close to the road. If these stones were in souther England they’d be litterred with rubbish and graffiti, but here on Lewis they represent a relatively minor site.

Vive l’indifférence!

Visited 5th August 2004: This is an interestingly placed site. It’s effectively become a garden feature, but it’s a well kept garden, and when we visited the owner was very friendly. She was happy for us to take a look at the stones from the garden side of the boundary.

If you visit, please ask before entering the garden area or taking photos from inside the garden. It would be a shame to upset the people who look after this site, especially as they are so congenial.

Coir Fhinn may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I rather liked it. Well worth taking a look at if you’re in the area visiting other sites.

Visited 5th August 2004: We approached this one all wrong. It was entirely my fault as well. We parked on the wrong side of the stream near the picnic area, and had to paddle across where the water was shallow. Then we worked our way up the headland, past some serious sand extraction quarries, up to the top then down towards Clach Mhic Leòid. It was an interesting route, but not ideal for the kids. There was a fence to get over before we got to the stone, and at this point I realised we should have done it all differently (presumably parking near the cattle grid).

The stone is big and macho. The views are splendid, but we weren’t blessed with sunshine. There’s a weird sort of notch in the top of the stone (like an inverted arrow), and I couldn’t help but wonder whether it’s an original feature. It could equally be the result of a lightning strike. A ‘must see’ if you’re on Harris, but not as charming as Sgarasta.

Visited 5th August 2004: On the Ordnance Survey map Sgarasta looks pretty accessible, sitting as it does just off the A859. I hadn’t anticipated the cows though. The farmer had kindly placed a ‘Beware Highland Cattle’ sign on the gate as a warning, but the presence of the cows on the other side of the wall rendered it unnecessary.

In the sunshine the stone and the views looked gorgeous, and I wasn’t about to back down. The cows watched me intently as I climbed over the gate and after a moment of hesitation I decided not to run for the stone. I casually strolled in a respectful arc around the cattle and kept up the same sort of pace until I got to the stone (it unnerved me having my back to them).

What a great stone! What a great view. The mountains and the sand make for a staggering back-drop. I nearly forgot about my bovine audience. Despite the road, this place has a real feeling of solitude. Not much time to enjoy the ambience though because everyone else was waiting in the car. We spent the afternoon on the beach (Bàgh Steingidh) within site of the stone. Highly recommended!

Visited 2nd August 2004: Cliacabhaigh is on the grass verge to the east of the lane, usually obscured by farm machinery. I understand that this is not private land, but the local crofter is not at all keen on visitors.

When I visited I found the stone had been vandalised with yellow paint. Hand prints on the south size indicated that children had been involved. Unfortunately the farm machinery that has accumulated around the stone means that it would be easy to paint the stone without being seen from the lane. Having said that, the nearest croft is relatively nearby, and overlooks the stone.

Lining up the stone with the main Calanais site is interesting. There is certainly a relatively straight route between the two, marked by the modern lane. The only advantage of the yellow paint is that you can now just about make out Cliacabhaigh from the main site.

Visited 3rd August 2004: We parked above the harbour in Cealagbhal (aka Port Nis) and walked to the Clach Stein. It was a pleasant enough stroll, but it would have been easy enough to park a lot closer.

I don’t recall seeing a sign for the stones, but they’re easy enough to find with a map. They’re sited very close to a croft in a small paddock (home to some very jumpy sheep when we visited). The scene was rather bleak. They look like they’re huddling down to keep of the chill. Belligerent stones!

Visited 3rd August 2004: Carnan a’Ghrodhair is easy to get to, but not really worth the journey. There’s nothing much to see of the souterrain, but if you’re interested in Second World War architecture you may want to ponder the Home Guard bunker that’s been planted on top of it.

This was my first visit to a souterrain, and based on what I’ve seen so far I’m a bit disappointed.

Visited 1st August 2004: Achmore is now signposted from the road, but there’s a degree of guesswork involved. You need to go through the gate, then ascend the hill bearing right. From the gate you can’t see it, but you’re aiming for a bench and an information board.

I’d strongly advise reading the information board before you leap off looking for stones. This isn’t an easy site to interpret without a plan. The bench is a nice touch, with excellent views towards the pregnant ‘Sleeping Beauty’.

Achmore is great! I loved it. The stones that remain buried in the peat fascinated me. It’s a real insight into how parts of Calanais would have looked before the peat clearance. As for the stones and sockets that are clearly visible, some are in very good condition. There are excellent examples of stone sockets that are extremely clear and easy to match with their accompanying stones (all now fallen). If you’re interested in how standing stones were planted this is a fantastic place to visit.

Visited 1st August 2004: These cairns weren’t high on my list of places to visit, but William and I came across them on our way to Airigh Na Beinn Bige stone circle. Because of the topography of the hillside, there’s a good chance you’ll get to the cairns before the circle.

They’re both pretty large, and the northerly one is obviously a cairn (you can’t miss it). Both are slightly to the east of the circle on the same plateau. For directions to this site see my fieldnotes for Airigh Na Beinn Bige circle.

Visited 1st August 2004: When I set out to find Airigh Na Beinne Bige I got lead on a wild goose chase by the GPS, wondering around in totally the wrong area. The following directions might save you from the same fate:

Follow the road inland from Breascleit until you come to a cattle grid. Immediately after the cattle grid park up (if you’re driving) and walk up the hill (approximately north). You’ll come to a ‘peat covered terrace’ below the summit of the hill. The remaining standing stone is relatively easy to spot, as is the larger of the two cairns.

William and I found the big cairn first, then the standing stone and the hollow. Will found the remains of a dead sheep at the foot of the stone fascinating. The views of the Callanish area are spectacular! We had fun taking photos of each other with the digital camera. It was what people would have once described as ‘a lark’.

Unfortunately I only spoke to Margaret Curtis after this visit, and it was then that I came to fully appreciate that Airigh Na Beinne Bige is widely accepted as a ruined stone circle. If you can’t speak to Margaret, read The Stones Around Callanish before you visit.

31st July 2004: I failed to visit this stone, even though we stayed the night in Uig. Just ran out of time. However, I did see it from the quayside in Uig, armed with binoculars and a Landranger map. As we sailed away on the ferry I watched it wistfully (the one that got away).

Visited 1st August 2004: Having missed this stone when I visited in ‘95 I was pleased to see it ‘in the flesh’. This is one of those extremely accessible sites that you can drive right up to. Compared to its neighbours (with the possible exception of Olcote) it’s extremely unglamorous, but there’s something intriguing about the contrast of old and new here. At least Stonefield hasn’t been chopped in two by a road!

Visited 30th July 2004: Armed with insuficient notes and a grid reference I tried to find this circle. I found some stones that weren’t conclusive, and subsequent research suggests that these are nothing to do with the circle.

So, where are the stones I was looking for? They’re not exactly tiny, so how did I manage to miss them? I was searching to the south of the little road to Cuidrach, but I’m not 100% sure that’s right. Hopefully someone else will have better luck than me.

Visited 30th July 2004: I left the others in the car and walked to the stones on my own (they were suffering from megalith fatigue). I made my way across the field without any adverse bovine attention, and got a few shots of the stones before running out of memory on the digital camera.

The stones are pleasantly perched on the edge of Loch Eyre. They’re not especially close to the water, and with the lower sea levels of the Bronze Age it would be a mistake to think of the stones as strongly linked to the modern loch. These two megaliths are big and bold. They leave you in no doubt that someone wanted to make a statement here!

Visited 30th July 2004: This is one of those sites where access couldn’t be much better. Wheelchair, pushchair and car friendly.

Three stones remain standing in the village of Borve, overlooked by modern houses on the other side of the road. They are thought by some to be the remains of a stone circle. The row is aligned approximately in a north-westerly (or south-easterly) direction, with the road running parallel. The smallest stone is in the north west but the other two are approximately the same height. Look out for the friendly sheep. They’ll want to know what you’re looking at.