The Modern Antiquarian. Stone Circles, Ancient Sites, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic MysteriesThe Modern Antiquarian

Fieldnotes by 1speed

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Cladh Hallan Round Houses (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork)

Visited 16 August 2012ce while cycle-touring in the Outer Hebrides.

Just to pick up on greywether's comment about signposting, there is now a proper brown "tourist" sign on the B888 road in Dalabrog / Daliburgh to direct interested parties to the roundhouses, though as seems to be the norm on the islands this gives no indication of distance! After following a minor road / track almost to the modern-day burial ground of Cladh Hallan, a further footpath-style sign points the way to the roundhouses which lie a few minutes walk along a sandy track.

As for the roundhouses themselves, the southernmost has almost completely disappeared back into the dunes, but the central and northern houses are still visible as is the "smokery" just to the NE of the latter. Three interpretation boards have at some stage been set up on the rise overlooking the site from the N, but these have become detached from their supports (presumably blown off by the wind!) and now lie rather sadly, albeit neatly, on the ground.

High Hugill Settlement (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork)

Attempted to visit 25/02/2011ce.

In his book Prehistoric Rock Art in Cumbria, Stan Beckensall describes the site as "a very interesting one, seldom visited as far as I know, although it lies just off a public right of way."

Unfortunately, it would appear that the site will probably remain seldom visited, as access to the adjacent field (from which a gate led to the site) is blocked by a (brand-new?) barbed-wire fence and padlocked field-gate. As there was no stock in either field, I might have been tempted to continue had the field-gate not been padlocked, but as it was I took the hint and just went for a walk instead.

The site can be viewed from another adjacent field to the north (technically off the right of way), but unfortunately it was too misty for decent photography.

Barpa Langass (Chambered Cairn)

Visited 21/05/09ce. After waiting in the (newish?) car park / picnic area on the A867 for an hour or so until the Uist Monsoon passed over, myself and Hugo the Megalithic Dog headed up the (also newish?) gravelly path which leads up the hill and around the cairn.

We had the place to ourselves for a good 20 minutes, during which time I didn't pick up any unwelcoming vibes - maybe the presence of HtMD patrolling the perimeter kept any supernatural interference at bay. That said, I did only spend a brief amount of time actually inside the chamber, impressive though it is. Too much talk of potential for collapse playing on the mind, maybe…
Nowt much to tell. Live in Lancashire, would like to live on the Isle of Lewis, enjoy hill-walking, playing on bicycles, attempting to play bass guitar, and spending time at ancient sites (preferably remote ones that have to be walked or mountain-biked to).

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