Mr Hamhead

I have been wanting to get out here for years....So, seeing it is my 40th birthday and I felt like doing something special I decided to walk up Brown Willy taking in King Arthurs Hall, Garrow Tor, Loudon Hill and Middle Moor Cross.
Loaded up with lots of goodies I set out from Casehill (I have never had a problem parking there), first stop KAH. What a site, the sun was shining like it only does in Cornwall and in the middle of the hall the reeds were all topped with cottony blossom. Overhead Skylarks kept up what would be the soundtrack to the day and everything was perfect.
Must geta picture I thought........got camera out focused everything with Roughtor standing proud in the background......click......something don’t sound right.....the shutter has not closed.
Well it wasn’t going to spoil my day but I am afraid i will have no photos of my birthday walk to share with you.
I had a great day, didnt make Loudon or Middle moor but I can reccomend using the Garrow route to climb Brown Willy. It took me 2 hrs each way...but I do stop and look at things.

Slightly overshadowed by the numbers at Stonehenge, there was still quite a gathering on Bodmin Moor early saturday morning. About 30 people gathered to watch the sunrise and then walk over to Craddock circle whilst approx 40 bikers from the Plymouth area also joined us on the barrow. Add to this those camping out and you have numbers approaching 100.
The sun rose right on time over the northern edge of Dartmoor before dissapearing into the cloud cover, the mist sitting in the Tamar valley making for a wonderful vista. The bikers departed to visit a friends grave, we headed off towards the Hurlers and Craddock Moor.

I know this site as Ballowal Barrow, but whats in a name? This has got to be one of the most perfect spots in the British Isles. What a place to be laid to rest.
This is the Lands End...not that commercialised ediface to the south. On a clear day like what we had last Sunday (9.2.03) when you can look out and see the Scilly Isles....the sea below you white with spray....the sky blue as it can be, you forget all the troubles in the world.
I noticed that the information board has disapeared from the side of the road, shame because it was very informative. I hope it will be replaced soon otherwise the site can look just like a pile of mine waste which it was I believe before it was uncovered.
If you find yourselves in West Penwith and have done all th circles and standing stones...make your way out to Carn Gluze as the sun is setting over the sea.........you wont regret it.

This Iron Age Round is situated on the northeast side of Hawks Tor, near the village of North Hill. Not easy to get at, it is also on private land. A footpath runs above and below it, the one running below giving best access.
At first I thought I was just in another field untill i noticed the size of the banks. These run round about two thirds of the round and have a deep ditch outside them. On top grow ancient oaks. The area above ythe round is gradually being taken over by rhododrendrons whilst below it the valley is of ancient woodland.
I have not been able to find out too much about this site, and would welcome any other info.

One of the Pipers has a ordnance survey mark carved into it and there is also a cross carved on one, was this to get rid of the pagan forces?

Sited on the landward side of the Coast Path between Gorran Haven and Mevagissey. This low earth mound is described on the OS map as an enclosure. At the west end a crescent shaped mound joins on to a larger raised level that runs down the field.
If any other remains lie under the thicket through which the path runs I could not tell, but they would be very close to the cliff edge.
A nearby tumulus, also marked on the map, appears to have been ploughed out.

Not your usual assortment of fallen stones in a roughly circular shape but a series of diamond shaped fields with hugh earth banks. Best seen from the northern end of Stowes Hill (Cheesewring) on a sunny evening when the sun is over to the west.
The field system is inside a modern field system and is on private land, however a permissable path runs along below them and then turns sharp left to take you up on to Sharptor itself.
When you get close you realise how big the banks are, and then wonder if they carry on under the gorse to the east.
It is worth going up on to Sharptor for the view, on a good day you can make out the whale shaped hump of Lundy Island far away to the north.

Wish I had looked at the fieldnotes before i went up to Leskernick last weekend. I was begining to think that the OS map was lying!
Did not find any trace of the circles, mind you it was not a day for standing around looking too hard.
Will try again when the weather improves.
Great hut circles on the hillside.

Don’t like to be fussy but it is pronounced row (as in argument).

To get to Roughtor drive to Camelford and head SE, a single track road takes you out to a car park(look out for the big dipper !!) and from ther it is a good walk up to the tor. On your way you will pass many hut circles, head for the left end of the tor as it is easier to ascend the top from there.

Don’t miss the Charlotte Drymond memorial stone to the right of the ford just below the carpark. A modern day menhir.

15 Dec 2001

It is one of those days on the moor when there is not a cloud in the sky but it is bitterly cold. Driving from south coast to north coast I decided to take a detour and ended up here. The stones are easy to find, walk up the track from the works gate and they are on your right. Shame about the clay works, they are supposed to be closing down but will no doubt be worked for waste products in near future. The circle is perfect, one can imagine what it was like years ago before the works was here, sitting in the shadow of roughtor (which is looking amazing today). I wonder why it was sited here? what was destroyed by the clay works? any thoughts.
A large flock of sheep decide they should check me out, one inparticuler with a black face and large twirly horns keeps a close eye on me all the time I am within the circle. She never goes more than 4ft away , but no closer....if i move she moves......
will post photos when I get film back

To find the circle head out along the track from the Hurlers carpark. When it forks, take the left one out towards Golddiggings Quarry. About half way along, as the track starts to bend right there seems to be a barrow/mound ? on your left. From here leave the track and head off towards the low tor towards the SW. Bearing slightly left of a line between the tor and the Cheesewring behind you you will somehow find the circle, it has a gorse bush in the middle of it..but there are several bushes!

Better still buy a map.

Sunday 4 Nov

There is a BIG sky, a flock of Golden Plover circle overhead before landing in a nearby field to roost for the night. This is my first visit to the stones, expected them to be bigger, there is no way I am going to squeeze my healthy body through there!. i take a couple more photos and head off towards Ding Dong mine. The colours are amazing today, just what I needed after a few heavy weeks of work. The view from the mine into Mount’s Bay is breathtaking, the sun catching the coast all the way down to Lizard Point. I head back, two others have now found the stones and others are on the way, I say hello and head back to the car to drive to Cape Cornwall to watch the sunset over the Scillies before heading for home contented.