One of the few henges in the NE of Scotland. As of 1997 the trees were cleared away from this site in a forest to the west of Elgin.
Chris
Ceann Hulavig, also known as Callanish 4 is my favourite of the smaller sites on the Island. Perhaps because of the elevation and the near 360 degree view, but also the stones lend a more enclosed feeling. The depression you can see inside the circle was caused by peat cutting which revealed another two feet of depth to the stones. The stones are coated in great sheets of lichen, indicative of the wonderfully clear air here, and this is very much a place to come and breathe deeply, whilst constantly turning and taking in the view.
Visited July 2001.
Anywhere else in Britain this site would be surrounded in fanfare and hordes of people, but its closeness to the main site mean many people do not come here at all. This is a shame, as it has its own features, each stone has unique patterns within the quartz, and although many standing stones were worked & shaped there is nothing so striking as the triangular stone shown here. The main site of Callanish is visible on the horizon, and to the rear a path leads you to yet another impressive circle, Cnoc Fillibhear Bheag.
Visited July 2001
The remains of an RSC. Two stones are standing, clearance against the nearby wall may contain the remains of other circle stones. Reported to be complete in 1850 and consisting of 9 stones, one over 11 feet tall.
Whilst reputed to have been erected in recognition of the architect of Castle Fraser, John Bell, RCAHMS think that this could be a genuine prehistoric stone. Take away the obviously added stone pyramid on top, and you’re left with a very convincing menhir of the exact same stone as the nearby RSC.
A fallen and moved 9 feet long red granite pillar remains of this circle. RCAHMS has a nice aerial photo from 2004 showing the site, and a circular feature remains.
A single stone, heavily cup marked and also cross incised. Rumoured to have come from the now destroyed Sunkenkirk circle (also known as Holywell).
A single stone some 5 feet high stands in the garden of a house named ‘Jeldah’. May be the remains of a circle.
Not visited since 1967, and even then there were only two fallen stones (flankers?) to be seen. Missing from the OS map, I’ve a feeling that a visit may require changing this site to ‘destroyed’.
A single stone, thought to be the last remnant of a possible 4 poster circle.
Surveyed in 1771 as a 6 stone circle, only 1 was left when surveyed in 1964. Sadly, this has now fallen & been broken into 3 pieces. Notable for the 22 cup-marks recorded on it.
This site consists of the two remaining stones of a 5 stone circle, together with a relocated Pictish stone. Destroyed in antiquity, and further ‘enhanced’ by being surrounded by a housing state and partially restored, this site can be found by following the signs to the ‘Brandsbutt Stone’.
Visible from the A96, a solitary standing stone in an embanked circle is all that remains. It is thought that this may be part of the Broomend of Crichie complex.
Remains of a stone circle near Kintore. Only one stone is earthfast, some possible fallen stones may be seen.
Around 1868, a cist containing human remains was found on the slope of Cairnlea. No further notes are recorded.
No trace of this cairn remains.
When last surveyed in 1973, all that remained was the recumbent, partly covered by the stones of the circle/field clearance piled on top. One of these stones is cup marked.
The small recumbent and single flanker are all that remain of this ruinous circle.
A single standing stone 4 feet high, it is not known whether this was ever part of a circle.
This site is now completely destroyed. Standing between Old Keig and Druidsfield circles, this site was reported to have a small causeway leading to it. All is now lost.
Only the recumbent remains (barely) upright, but most of the circle stones can be seen on the ground.
Coles thought this to be the recumbent of an otherwise destroyed stone circle. When last visited in 1965, a stone wedge under the boulder would seem to support this (arf).
This is now thought ot have been a hut circle. No trace remains.
Now thought to have been the remains of a hut circle or souterrain, no trace remains.
The recumbent and flanker remain. Both over 2m high.
A huge stone, 8 feet high and 9 feet long is thought to be the last remnant of a long destroyed circle. It is thought that this site was one of a series encircling the Hill of Drachlaw.
Only the recumbent remains of a reported 4 stones.
The cup-marked recmbent and two other stones were all that remained of this circle when visited by the OS in 1968. No records since.
Two stones remain of an RSC. One 3m high, the other 2.5, Coles thought it was the recumbent and one flanker.
This circle was completely destroyed in 1847. The cretinous farmer reported finding a causeway of paved stones leading up to the site of the circle.
No trace now remains.
One stone remains standing of a circle destroyed c1876. Some of the cleared stones may be seen lying nearby.
Two tall stones (2m & 3m) are all that remain of this circle. From the RCAHMS photos they could well be the flankers. Some Pictish symbols are barely visible on one stone.
Three standing stones remain of a nine stone circle. One has been incised with a cross.
The flanking stones remain upright, with two others fallen. Other fallen stones visible in the 1960’s are now gone.
Lots in this area, including a possible souterrain. Well worth searching the database further.
A recumbent and flanker built into a farm wall is all that remains of this RSC.
The last remnant of a Stone Circle? Keiller thought it to be a flanker, and reported that when the field was cleared, approx 8 fallen stones arranged in a circle around it were also removed. Photo online.
The remains of a recumbent stone circle, with some photographs from 1902.
Apparently a lone standing stone, which may or may not be the remains of a circle. One image available.
I came away liking these stones, despite the frustration of another site thrown down by backward christians.
Built into the South Kirkyard wall are the last remains of the recumbent stone circle which once occupied this site. Thought to be the flankers (where’s the usually bigger recumbent? Buried?), only one is now clearly visible, as the other was further obscured by a wall re-alignment in the past.
Entering through the gates, and walking to your right, look for the large Stephen family monument against the wall. Just poking out of the soil is a thin fillet of stone. Hop down over the wall, and the full length of the stone is revealed. Climb back up, and walk a few feet to where the wall doglegs, and you can make out the top of the second stone.
Driving up to the site from the Fintray road, we noticed two large stones in front of a house which look distinctly megalithic. They could be recent additions, but given that they cannot be seen from the house, or its garden, why? They are not mentioned by RCHAMS, but perhaps they drove in a different way ;-) I wonder if they were part of the circle, and were discarded, re-found and re-erected? If anyone knows, I would love to find out. They can be seen from the Kirkyard, looking over the E wall through the poly tunnel frames.
Visit! These stones deserve to be seen by those who still appreciate them.
Access: Easy, From the Fintray to Blackburn road, take the signposted turn uphill for Kirkton. At the fork, bear right and note the 2 stones in front of the house. Park outside the church, which is no longer in use, and enter the Kirkyard.
The other of the 2 stones approx 150m E of the Kirkyard, in front of a house.
Image credit: Alison Lodge
One of the 2 stones approx 150m E of the Kirkyard, in front of a house.
Image credit: Alison Lodge
The 2 stones approx 150m E of the Kirkyard, in front of a house.
Image credit: Alison Lodge
Viewed from the Kirkyard (directly in the centre of the photo) are the 2 outlying stones.
