postman

Ever since seeing this “barrow” on here some years ago I knew I had to come and have a look, it looked so together, so well, perfect. Now I’ve been, I can say with certainty that it is perfect.

I needed no help in finding it, beyond that which the map offers, I got a bit confused on the small lanes leading to it, completely failing to see Lanyon Quoit on the way past. Parking was dodgy if not completely devoid of such, we left Phil in charge of the car whilst Eric and me went up the track to the stones. Just keep following the path, whilst looking right for some stones poking over the bracken/gorse down a less well defined path and hey presto, Bobs yer Uncle and ding dong etc etc.

There are quite a few sites on the Lands End peninsula that appear to be absolutely perfect, this most definitely is one of them. The stones fitting together smartly, the open chamber points to the winter solstice sunrise, I would be there at that time if I lived half as close. I sat and watched Eric doing a bit of gardening, emptying the chamber of ferns and so on, once he was done I leaped into action and took a hoard of photos, saving the photography for the end , wanting to just look, wonder and ponder at this diamond of a site. Certainly in the top five sites of Lands end. Perfect.

I’ve never been here before, I think, Its always nice to see something new. Cant imagine why I didn’t come here before, perhaps I was trying to not over stone my new girlfriend, with bags of hind sight I shouldn’t have bothered.

When Alken and me were at the Giants grave in Cumbria he likened them to these here stones at Drift, he was right, not so much the stones them selves but their surroundings and spacing is just like them.

The good and tall stones are in a field full of Wheat? but long lanes weave through it taking me circuitously to the stones. Close to the road again, abundant parking spaces, nice lichens, good views south and west.
Perhaps not the best place to linger for hours.

A perfect example of peoples laziness and unwillingness to walk long distances to see a stone or two, Altarnun’s nine stone circle has half as many pictures even though it’s not that hard to find or to get to.

That said this is a very fine and very tall standing stone, as easy to view as it gets, a little further from the road might have been nicer though. It’s been fifteen years since my first visit, ahhh those happy uncomplicated days, all gone now, but the stone remains happily the same.

The first time I came here was before the kids were born, so that’s at least fifteen years ago, it’s all a bit different now. The new path that comes straight off the busy A30 makes it all much easier to find and to get to. But it may have lost a touch of seclusion, a hint of exclusivity, but the stones are the same as ever, which is part of the reason why we like them.

The trip down here was awful, half of the roads were closed, diversions abound, roadworks everywhere. Crap ! so we missed the sunrise by a good two hours. I could see the circle, just, from Creeg Tol, but I missed taking a picture of the rocks and didn’t know of the little circle there, or I would have had a look, new or old.
Dewy grass soaked our feet and ankles, and we didn’t have the place to ourselves for long, a large older lady turned up, with two barking dogs, but kudos to her for keeping them under control if not quiet and for sitting out of the way until we had taken our fill of Cornwall’s best stone circle. But I’d have rather not felt rushed, I presume she’s local so it’s her circle more than mine. In the last couple of minutes of our visit the sun came out, the dew sparkled and the quartz stone shone (it didn’t take long for Eric to point out that it was the only one).
What are the two smaller stones that clutter the circles edge near the gate, TSC mentions a cist, but wouldn’t any covering cairn have almost totally obscure the two nearest circle stones, don’t see it myself.

Time to go, a smidgen of disappointment pestered me, was it the late arrival, the large lady with dogs or something less tangible, dunno, but it wont keep me away for another fifteen years, I promise.

My first time here was quite a while ago now, and I couldn’t remember where I left the car last time, nor did I read Carl’s notes, specifically on how to get there. I started down the track that Carl mentions, but then changed my mind and went the long way instead. I drove down the little road that eventually hugs the Loch’s shore but only for a hundred yards until the road bends sharply right. We got the bikes and the dogs out of the car, keeping two promises with one stone, then rode slowly while taking the dogs for a light jog, down the off turning east track. Immediately I recognised this as the route I took last time.

The approach to a stone circle appears to be utmost to your impression of a place, from on the long route track a gap in the trees opened out onto the field with the circle in, the whole farm estate next to it, but above it and further on some forested hill sides and towering above that the big mountains, Meall Ghaordie and Beinn nan Oighreag amongst others. A Nice little stone circle Or probably the best stone circle in Perthshire
We rode down the main track into the estate, but just short of the entrance absolute there was a sign pointing us the way to the stones, we went that way, it was left.
At one point the stones were just on the other side of the wall, we passed them by, in the corner is the entry into the field. Going into the field keep left by the wall, you have no choice in the matter, a farm line DO NOT CROSS was strung up just like the police version, giving us a two foot wide walkway to the stones, and around the stones, no wandering allowed here, you may trample delicate grasses, or worse still enjoying yourself to the point of wanting to come again or even tell a friend.
But it was easy to tune out, and even ignore completely and wander about, Eric and the dogs slumped in front of the stone with the biggest shadow, taking in fluids, whilst I exhausted my memory card to the max, 844 pictures.
One of the wooden posts has gone that are in some of the older pictures, I nearly took the last one, but it was too hot to even think.
This is the most perfect place in Scotland right now, too knackered and hot to move about and do stuff we just sit and take in the scene, birds seem to be everywhere, a very slight breeze moves the grasses too and fro, and these six big stones perfecting the moment. In future times of hardship, and a “happy place” is needed , this will be it.

I’d still feel better with out the do not cross taper.

Parking is still non existent !

Came here once many years ago, high time for a reacquainting. Parked in front of a gate at the south east end of the stones field. Left Eric in the car as I was only going to be five minutes, because I wanted to spend the last couple of hours in Perthshire at the Kinnel of Killin.
I hopped over one gate, then another, then became unspeakably dizzy and fell flat on me arse, right into a cow pat, see, that’s Karma that is. No it isn’t, but it’s close.
The stones were much bigger than my memory had them, and the scenery was much nicer too, perhaps it was a dull day when last I came. A very nice place with some impressive stones, I shall have to make more of an effort to spend more time here next time, for there will be a next time god willing.
Changing trousers by the roadside is not to be recommended, no matter how essential, some spray called Patbegone, that’s what you need.

I’ve wanted, nay, needed to come here for years, ever since two family trips in the area failed to get me up here. The trick is, not to bring the whole family, no problem there now.
Parked at the bottom of the hill in Acharn and then followed the river up hill, though of course the river is on it’s way down. I like a good waterfall, there’s plenty of them in my not so local Snowdonia, but their not like this one. Lots of small falls all leading to the big one and it is a biiig one, trees overhang the gorge at every opportunity, and across the gorge is a cave like grotto from where one can watch the many splendoured thing that is the falls of Acharn.

But we are here old stoning and one must almost physically tear oneself away, but the loveliness doesn’t end with waterfalls, once your on open ground following the just about driveable track uphill the mountain views start to unfold. And they are very good views, I don’t know the names of them all, nor could I pronounce them if I did, but Ben Lawers and Scheihallion are, well pretty famous, aren’t they?
It is here, just over half way up that we pass by the fabulously placed tumulus called Acharn Burn, it’s nowt when compared to the stone circle but it is a good place to sit and wait for your legs to catch up.

The stones finally come into view on there little mound/hillock, Eric thanks the Lord out loud, I let out a long windy sigh that agrees with him whole heartedly, it has been a long haul in the midday heat of another typical Scottish heatwave.
We’ve made it, hot and bothered but glad all over, we slump to the ground in a heap in the shadow of the big wide stone. We sit there for an age, then I walk the walk, touch the stones, curse the wall builders and try my best to photograph the site. I must admit that ive not been so giddy and goosebumped at a stone circle since the ring of brodgar. I love this place, it is beautiful in the extreme, and the stone circle, though some stones are down and one is getting buried beneath the grass of ages is more than enough to keep one here for ever, all we need now is a passing Golden eagle to do a fly by, but nature doesn’t do requests, or perhaps it does, but only one at a time.

Brilliant.......I’ll be back.

The walk up to this cairn is quite possibly the best walk to a cairn there is, parking at the bottom of the hill in Acharn then following the river up as it tumbles, falls and splashes its way down. The big water fall is simply sublime, heavy tree cover and this big show offy waterfall really does it’s best to keep one away from the stone circle on the hill above. But the stones are a’calling me away and I must leave this idyllic place. When a farm track crosses the river follow it left then up the hill a touch and there we have it. One of the best sited cairns in all of Pagan-dom, perched on a high shelf with views of Loch Tay and some pretty big mountains, including Ben Lawers.
A very good place to sit and rest while en route to Greenland stone circle.

We parked the car in the wide entrance to the castle, and walked round the big gatehouse, the stones were in the long grass and ferns left of the track.
We were here in July and the plant life was in full vigor, the whole place is very green and verdant, the stones are about head height but only the top foot or so was visible. Perhaps it’s the ideal weather and climate that makes the plants so big and all stone concealing. but once we’d walked around heavy footed for ten minutes we could see a good couple of stones. They are almost aligned on a natural barrow shaped hill top upon Drummond hill, the other side of which are the Fortinghall circles. But only nearly, is it the tress that lend it it’s barrow shape ? could the stones erectors see any barrow shape ? was it anything at all to do with it or is it something else entirely ?
Or am I reading in to it too much.

Carl was bang on when he said that once you’ve been here you just have to come back, and so I am back, it must be close to a decade since we were last here though.
I have no digital photos, only paper ones, and I really don’t want to be scanning pictures, so there’s one reason to come back. Another is on my first time I really couldn’t make sense of what I was seeing, such a complicated history, I wanted another chance to “get it” without the whole family at my heels, this was it.
One last reason was, it’s so close to the road, if your passing you’d have to be insane or willfully ignorant not to stop off for a look.

The days weather started off a bit overcast and I thought the country had reverted to type, but some blue sky has just put in an appearance as we approach the stones and with a bit of luck will spread across the skies.
It’s such a good place this, loads of stones, most of them are still up, there’s cup marks for those who know where to find them. Even the ground there stood upon is man made, it’s got it all here. A kerbed rubble bank, supposed alignments to southern moons and midsummer sunrises, really extreme dates, burials. I think I get it now.
This is not simply a stone circle, this is history, all of it.

Well, I said I’d be back, I was kinda hoping that it was going to be sooner than six years though.

My last visit was in late spring and there was bluebells a go go, but this time the weather is treating? us to a heat wave, as a consequence of that all the grass is brown, except the long grass that hides the cup marked stone, fairly typical is that.
It’s very nice to sit in the shade with your back to the tree, pick a stone or a view to stare at, get comfy and stay a while, even our two Jack Russell’s got the chilled vibe here, there isn’t much reason to leave, the only reason I could think of was Croft Moraig, then that leads to the Falls of Acharn and it doesnt really stop till you get to the Kinnel of Killin, curse you abundant stone circle erecting Scotlanders.
I’ll be back, again, winter or Autumn next time I think.

My list of places to try and get to this weekend is long and always changing, I saw this one on the map and seeing as the last stone circle was in someone’s yard we hoped this one would be more agreeable. After an initial bit of a faff I realised where I was, damn, I thought, it’s the one in a garden center.We parked the car, as it’s a garden canter there is plenty of room, and we had a look at the signs on the gate, a please use other gate sign, Rottweilers work here, and stone circle please come in and have a look.
It was almost nine o’clock so I knew we’d have to come back tomorrow so we only had a glimpse over the gate and prepared to go. Just then a lady passed by the gate, she saw us and came over, hi, she said, are you alright. I gave back my hello, and said It’s a bit late I know but could we have a look at your stone circle ?
Course you can love, come in. Are you listening miserable B’stard, that’s how you treat guests.

We followed her through the little home owned garden center, passing what must have been the husband, he looked quizzically and she said its OK for them to have a quick look at the stone circle isn’t it ? it seemed a statement of fact rather a question. He took over and showed us the rest of the way. He told us it’s a six stone circle, they’re quite common round here, then he left us for more gardening activities.

The sun was just going down on another gorgeous day, diffused evening sun glow streamed in through the hedge and this stone circle is perfect, all of its stones are exactly where they should be. Eric played what we call obvious hide and seek, hidden , but in plain view, what ever keeps you quiet dude.
Sure it would be better in more conducive surroundings like on a slight hill with little tree cover, but if it wasn’t right where it is then there would not have been anyone around to restore my bit of faith in humanity.
We only had a quick fifteen minutes, but it was better than an hour at somewhere else , it was time to go, we passed by the gardening husband, we both waved and I thanked him with all the genuine warmth I could, we never saw his wife though, and thankfully the Rottweilers were out working elsewhere.
Thank you.

I knew nothing of this stone circle, only where it is on the map, and seeing as it was only 25 miles from our hotel, I didn’t have to think long on what to do in the evening.
I didn’t see the stone circle immediately, we parked down the road and walked the dogs back up to where the stones are, it was now that I saw they were in someones front garden. After a bit of a groan it was apparent that to get a closer look we’d have to ask for permission. Not something I usually relish doing, but the man at the door at the house next to the stones said it was OK so we entered the neatly manicured garden.
The stones are a bit of a muddle, ive only just read the other field notes and discovered that it is a four poster with added stones, rascally stone adders. The big stone seems unnaturally split, into three, from top to bottom, with perfect right angles. It was after a dozen photos or so that next door let his golden retrievers out who naturally started barking at my two Jack Russell’s, who started barking back. We retreated and sat on a log to calm them down, it was now that an old man came over and gave us a stern look and said “Its not a free for all you know”
“Pardon” I replied
“A bit cheeky just coming in and making such a ruckus” he said
I told him we asked permission from the house, it was then that he told me they are just here on holiday. Oh, I see, your the home owner ?
I asked.
He answered in the affirmative, the dogs still wouldn’t shut up so we walked them back to the car, and then went back. Even though it wasn’t my dogs that started it I apologised for the noise, but he definitely had the hump now. I tried to change the subject and asked him about the split stone, he ignored my question and asked where I was from, I told him we were from Cheshire, I asked where he was from, seeing as he was clearly English, but that was the second question he ignored. He asked if I knew anything about the stones, I told him I did, he asked their age, I told him between 3 and 4 thousand years, he replied 3 and a half, like my answer was wrong, but I could see in his face that he didn’t like the fact that I was right.
Then he said he’d allowed hundreds of people to see the stones but in all his years he’d never seen such audacity, I told him I don’t feel very audacious, I could feel my anger begin to rise, but I am always in control so I took a few more pictures just as the holidayers came out to play frisbee, we were just on our way out when he chucked us out, “that’s enough photos now I think ”
Okay, I thanked him again and said i’m very sorry for any inconvenience.
With that we left, I took a couple of pics from the road and we were gone, there’s another stone circle down the road, perhaps that one will be more amenable to the weary traveler.

After I got home I saw the other field notes that all say he is a decent chap, but that isn’t how I saw him, more like he bought his ideas of possession with him, and to get on his good side you have to be a bit of a kiss ass, and not have any dogs with you. Honestly if I was working for Historic Scotland or someone with a bit of power I’d take the site off him, cut his garden in two so anyone anytime can go see a very interesting stone circle with out having to feel like a schmuck‘
I know it’s not his real name but for me it will always be Miserable B’stard.

A very nice stone is this, easily spotted from the road, easy parking too. We walked down to the stone whilst not in the same field as it, under the trees is a slight track that leads to a horse paddock. Climbing the fence we entered the field, a few photos later and Eric just had to have a look in the big wooden structure, that then turned out to be a horse paddock with horses very nosy ones. ok that’s close enough, a bit of evasive action and its back over the fence, guard horses ? what ever next.
Beautiful horses though, well cared for, but very big.

Took me a while to find this one, the map was a tad vague about it’s exact whereabouts, only showing that it was in some woods near the road. We walked about the trees, which was nice, until we got too far away from the road and turned back, we even had a look in some dense scrub, just in case.
Then I noticed that the stones on the map were also opposite a road entrance, which was slightly up the road a short distance, thirty yards maybe. We walked up and there they were, not in the trees, exactly, but a lovely little clearing just for the stones.
Ah ha ! said I, yaay said Eric, with what I assumed was less than enthusiasm. We lay down on the ground and stared up into the canopy above us, trees are good, a very close second or a tie though is stones. This four poster is still complete, all four are here, but three have fallen and seem still to be exactly where they fell. The only slight detraction is, and its really less than nothing , and yet still noteworthy, is the low tree stump in amongst the stones, it desperately wants to be mistaken for a stone, it can never be a tree again, so there’s not really much use in hanging about, couldn’t they have taken it down a bit lower. The site would look very different and better without it. But then it’s easily ignored and it will be gone eventually. ive said too much, it really isn’t much, and yet.

Twenty Schilling wood stone circle, Is there supposed to be a C in Shilling ? the map doesn’t seem to think so.
Very easy to find, and plenty of room to park in the lanes entry from the A 85.
This would have been a big four poster, the two that remain are large enough, the third stone fell around 1894, but they are far enough apart for one to recognise that this would have been much bigger than, say, Dalginross two miles east.
Blue skies, warm sunshine, good stones in an easy to get to pretty place, whats not to like ?

In Gilmerton, near Crieff, turn north onto the A 822, pass by the turn off for Monzie stone circle, pass through two Roman sites whilst passing the right B 8063 turn. A cairn, called The Giants grave is on the right somewhere we had a quick look, couldnt find it, but it was only a cursory glance. Just over a kilometer further north is Clach Ossian, it is easily spotted, due to its size and nearness to the road. Parking for one, maybe two.
The huge square monolith is maybe eight feet tall, and very very bulky. Some one with as much time as upper arm strength has hauled a couple of big boulders on to it’s summit.
Nick Brands folklore note suggests that there was some kind of cist under it, and that the big stone had to be moved to keep General Wades military road as straight as possible. I’d have liked to see that, were it true.

But the best thing about Clach Ossian is it’s surroundings, as pretty as a picture and as dreamy as a doorknob.....
sorry.
It really is lovely up here in Sma’ Glen, the sky is blue and the clouds are small white and fluffy.
The mountains look high and domineering though they aren’t as high as they get.
The river is, well, it’s less than rushing but more than burbling, and cooling just to look at.

Very nice place, big stone.

Of all the chambered cairns in Scotland, why did he pick this one to name himself after. Who knows.
After the dusty and rickety ride down the badly laid track, we arrived eventually at this long chambered cairn and ruined four poster. At first glance it looks like there is only one stone left to the stone circle, but a stump still resides five meters away and a fallen stone is hiding just below the grass.

The cairn is very long and very thin, any visible chambers are slight and only just there. A small capstone is sited half way down near a three sided cist. The information board is very informative, as you’d expect. All in all, not the best of histories antiquities but it is in a very lovely part of Scotland, we only saw a few people and they were in the river. I kid you not.

Bless my soul !
This place has lent it’s name to one of our top contributors, so I thought I’d better go take a look, if only to see why he named himself after it.

After passing the long chambered cairn and very ruined four poster, this second ruined four poster was easy to spot off to the left less than a hundred yards from the road. And I use the word road as loosely as I can, it is a several mile long bone shaking, head hurting, filling dislodging nightmare, “oh god when will it end”.
Previous fieldnotes have described this as “Quite ruinous” and “sad remains” both statements are true, but I found it to be hugely enlightening and informative.
Yes, there are only two stones left of this stone circle, but they are poking out of what looks to be a small cairn, I did not know for sure that bona fide four posters are sometimes built into a cairn. Just the other day I was at Hafodygors wen, the only four poster in North Wales, but its position in a cairn casts some doubt over it for me. But now I know first hand that some four posters are in a cairn. But that is not all, both circles are near the meeting of mountain rivers, both sites are in the valley between big mountains.
It was a revelation.
And a good site too, even if you’ve never been anywhere near Conway.

Still see no reason to have your user name named after here though, no rock art, ruined stone circles, and a slightly less than impressive chambered cairn. Oh well who cares.

When I first got Copes big orange book it opened my eyes to a larger and deeper world, I could have said with absolute confidence that there’s no more than a dozen stone circles in Britain. Ignorant beyond belief.
After seeing the first few in his book that were closest to me I knew that i’d have to go to each and every one, no matter how far away they were. Then of course came Burl, and all those cairns and standing stones we can see on the map, enough there to last a life time of stone hunting, but the big orange book comes first, apart from some Aberdeenshire sites and far away island sites these are my last Scottish mainland sites. So together with the Falls of Acharn, Monzie inspired this trip. For this little circle, with stones missing ive driven two hundred and fifty miles, or there about.

Just north east of Crieff (Obi wan kenobi’s birth place) on the A85 in Gilmerton turn north onto the A822 and then almost immediately left again onto a minor road, again almost immediately look left for a big gate house leading to Monzie castle. Parking was obtained down the road from the gatehouse on a grass verge. Bikes out and one minute later we are at the stone circle.
The stones are hidden in long grass at this time of year (July) but after rolling around on the floor like you were on fire they all become tickety boo, that is, we can see them.
The circle is like a small Moel ty Uchaf, made of largish boulders, a few are missing it’s true but it doesn’t detract from the site much at all. One of the stones looks like a recumbent, that is, its a long stone, but its upper surface is nicely cup marked.
Which brings us to the star pupil here, the heavily carved outlying stone, it’s almost flush with the ground, and we had to clear the long grasses away before we could see it properly. The rock art didn’t show up very well at first, but luckily for once I came prepared, two bottles of water later and we could see what we were looking at, cups, rings, dumbbells all showing up neatly, it made a very pretty picture.

Also worthy of note is the nearness of a standing stone just a couple of hundred yards away down the track towards the castle, it would be criminal not to take a look.

If you go to the local municipal buildings in Creiff and look up unusual laws and charters, you’ll find it’s actually illegal to not visit this stone if your visiting the circle and rock art.
But it is no hardship, it is only a minutes bike ride down the lane towards the castle.
The stone, about five foot tall, has weird striations, strange patterns on it from when the rock was formed. The world has been doing rock art for billions of years.
Most of the surroundings here are agricultural in nature, but the hills are not far away, The Knock of Creiff is very close, and off in the distant west are the mountains that surround Loch Earn, like Ben Vorlich and Beinn Leabhain.
Remember if your here to see the circle it is an offence not to go and see the Witches stone, which stone , that one there.
Sorry, that was lie.

This is a big cairn, found in the corner of a field just a few meters from the road, you cant miss it as you head up hill for the Fowlis wester stones.

I parked near the bus stop on the A85.

There are places where you can still see the cairn material used in its construction, but mostly its all grassed over and covered in nettles and fallen branches. Around it is much field clearance.
But one stone looks to be intentionally stood upright, just over three feet high it is a mini menhir, were there more ?

A good cairn

Just to re-iterate whats been said before, there is no where to park. I squeezed into the space before a gate and ran over to the stones. Just a quick five minutes, is all.
First is the big split boulder with a couple of faint cup marks, which I couldn’t see. As I walked round it a Hare darted out from it’s hiding place, startling me in the process.
The two standing stones are close to each other, no more than ten yards. Around six feet tall, one pointy one flat topped. A small stream runs by them but it was all dried up when I was there. It was very hot and sweaty.
Quickly back to the car and away , no one bothered no one any the wiser. You might not be so lucky.
Then again you might.

“There is little here to excite the megalithic heart, on the dreariness of the moor of Ardoch”. wrote Aubrey Burl in his guide to stone circles. I’m somewhat inclined to agree having now been there myself. But don’t let that stop you from calling in, I didn’t.
I parked to the east of the circles. There is no where good to park on the road, I opened the gate, drove through and on to the moor, not far, just by the gate. It was hot and sweaty, walking two draggy dogs and with Eric on his bike we headed for the big stone we could see on the horizon. The still standing menhir is over six feet tall, hard by it is a stone circle with a small kerb cairn inside it. Someone has added stones to it, making it look less like a stone circle and more like the footing of a sheep fold.
Just to the west is another menhir, this time fallen, just a few meters from the lazing stone is another stone circle. This one is less fiddled with, though three stones at least are missing and all the stones are down. It still looks like a good little stone circle, re-erection might be worth it here.
All the time we were here a Curlew hassled us, trying to keep us away from it’s nest site.
Which we were keen to do.

So....... Not a brilliant site, but one to see if your inclined to make a list of places to see.

An early morning visit, I couldn’t find any where good to park, drove right past it, pointed it out to Eric, then proceeded to get myself lost in a housing estate. I had to retrace my route back to the roundabout until I saw the well known burger shop and the petrol station, past there onto the industrial estate. Parking was obtained in the front car park of Xtreme karting, they didn’t know about it though, which serves them right for purposely spelling words wrong, where will that end.

Like Bigsweetie before me, despite the very modernity of the very immediate surroundings I rather liked this place. Eric and myself had the whole site to ourselves, xcepting a single dog walker, she took her poops home with her. I didnt much graffiti either.
This is a strange site, not the roads and stuff, the site it self. Are the three standing stones part of a larger circle like a Clava cairn ? Is the mound a barrow, a chambered cairn ? or an artificial mound ? has it ever been xcavated ? I suppose it’s too much to ask if the stones are in their original places.

From the mound we cross over the road and cross over the M8 on the big footbridge, then cross another duel carriage way (don’t try this at home) to get to the outlier. My memory might not be xact but wasn’t this stone once in different surroundings, like a garden or something. Anyway.
Its a good tall stone.
Which is all one can really say from looking at it through the bars of the fence.
Back to the mound , we decide, to lie in wait for the next plane, Eric is lying on the mound looking upwards, I am crouched behind the mound intending to catch both in the same xciting picture, I like planes, their big and noisy, I like stones and mounds their soft and quiet, bringing the two together is like finding out that rain can be drunk.

With a Sunday afternoon free of hassles we headed into the Peak District, no plan, and not really knowing where to head for, then it came to me, or rather I came to it, Hollins hill round barrow was still awaiting my imminent arrival, honestly it’s taken me ages to get me back side up here.

We parked on the track to Stoop farm north of Hollins hill, i’m not sure if it is a recognised parking place but there was three cars there already so that was good enough for me, we abandoned the motor, and started the long walk, the green mile, the grueller.
The footpath passes by just to the west of Hollins hill, but I was sure a quick jog to the top would go unremarked and unnoticed, and so it did, we had the hill top to ourselves, but not the whole valley there was a number of walkers dotted about, walking no less.

The barrow is very noticeable on its hill top perched right on the edge, from many places all about the valley. But I was still glad to see that this is a big barrow, despite the bloody great hole in it. Dotted about the interior are a number of stones, at the bottom of the hole is a rectangular depression, possibly the upper half of the rock cut grave mentioned by Sir Stubob. It’s a good barrow worth an hour of any ones time, but
throw into the mix one of the best views of one of the best places in the whole Peak District and you’ve got a recipe for a whole afternoon here.
Foremost is the wonderful Chrome hill, right behind that is Parkhouse hill, these are both ancient coral reefs, not our kind of ancient but the real kind of ancient, lifted high in the air by magic or the will of God. Next door to Parkhouse hill is Hatch-a-way hill with another good barrow on it, behind that is Hitter hill and beyond that High Wheeldon hill with the now closed Fox hole cave.
There are more barrows and more caves around here, a whole day could be easily spent here, ive spent three days here, over the last eight years, and come again I will.

Fabulous.

Parking was easily obtained in a field with no gate north of the tumulus and fort. A three minute walk up a gentle hill and the long barrow is just over the wall and just under the forts northern edge. It is more interesting than the fort.
For a long barrow it is not noticeably long, and for a mere tumulus it has two very noticeable stones at its eastern end. What they are for I don’t know, surely not part of a chamber, are they even ancient ? I just don’t know.
The two stones are very dissimilar, one wide and broad, the other tall and pointy. The latter is so gnarly that at first glance I took it to be an old tree stump, but stone it be made of, to a fetching degree.
Good barrow, bonus stones, good veiw. Yaaay !
Emergency at home gotta go immediately. Boooo !

I approached from the north, easier parking, better views north to the mountains. Just over the only wall between car and fort is the long barrow with stones on top, I doffed my cap and told it I’d be back soon.
The fort is fairly underwhelming, only the faintest of ramparts remain, but the limestone outcrop that helps defend the position are not devoid of interest and beauty. But the best thing here is the view, on a clear day it might be breathtaking, but the weather curtailed my perambulation and any distant views, some far off mountains disappeared into the mist, and some lower hills north might be Osmotherly moor, and the little peak paradoxically known as The Alps.
The long barrow at it’s lower northern slope helps lend reason to come here.

It was a very beautiful day at the end of May, about four in the afternoon, Eric and his best mate Luke stoically riding their bikes in front of me and my two Jack Russells taking me for a walk. It had been a long drive, getting away from home late, but we were here now, and it was good.
About a hundred yards up the path to the hill fort is Ffynnon Gybi, Saint Cybi’s well, it is a place of extreme beauty. The spring first empties into a square pool behind the main building, channeled in under the wall into the main chamber. This chamber is the oldest part, (no date)it is angled inwards all around suggesting a sort of beehive hut shape. The later building attached to it is Victorian. The path carries on behind the Well and up through thickly bluebelled woods, the air thick with birdsong and myriad flying insects. The path sadly ejects one from this earthly paradise and up into the next one. In front the fort stands out well on its hill top, in the first field is a long rectangular cairn, is it a cairn ? field clearance or something to do with the nearby fort.

At the top the fort is very impressive, high banks and deep ditches,obvious entrances and all that stone from the later walls. But the view from the top is a belter. The view north and east are the best , because it contains lots of big lovely mountains. Eric’s mate Luke said it was the first time he’d seen the sea, and that this was only his second time out of England and the furthest from home he’d ever been. Poor child, we’ll go the beach in a month or two.
With in the fort is a strange little hut circle affair, for people no bigger than a few inches, what exactly it is I haven’t a clue, something modern ? a Fullact fiadh, don’t know.
We sat up here for ages, talking about the kind of things that one does in these high places, Alien invasions, Volcanic eruptions, immortality, over population, and of course where and when are we having Tea.
Usually, having to leave such a well proportioned vantage point as this would make me a bit annoyed for not having longer to linger, but those bluebelled woods in early evening light back down the hill and the slow trickle of water at the well are a welcome addition to the walk/pulled run back to the car.

A fold in my map had hidden this large barrow from me for years, but, the Portal awakened me to it’s presence. Last nights Springwatch inspired an early morning wander round Delamere forest, in which we saw no remarkable wildlife. To compensate for no Badgers, Foxes or Deer we also went to Eddisbury Hill fort and this barrow.
It is situated on Private land on a hill top in a fenced off copse, needless to say there was no keep out signs so I helped my self (I would’ve anyway).
Though the barrow is presumably somewhat flattened and spread out, it is still about two meters high and at least twenty to thirty meters across. Some very mature trees are growing on and around the barrow, a smattering of Bluebells and copious birdsong made this a fine barrow to get to.

More hats off to Rhiannon for finding this and adding the site. In some ways this turned out to be the very unsung star of the day.
Whilst we were at the fantabulous Arthur’s stone we noticed on the information board that a standing stone was nearby to the north east, it wasn’t on the map and none of us had a clue about it. A quick fiddle on the I phone and technology, the TMA and Rhiannon had furnished us with everything we needed.
We went a searching for Ralph.

A short drive later and were outside Ralph’s house, it’s a nice house. Alken takes the honour of knocking on the door, Ralph’s wife answers, she is an old woman and I wonder what she made of us. Ralph soon appears at the door and confides that she thought we were Witnesses, couldn’t have been further from the truth, we are godless heathens mostly interested in sciencey things.

Ralph dons his wellies and takes us to his stone, it is but a short slippy walk down to the stream at the bottom of his garden. I wish I had a stream at the bottom of my garden, never mind a lost megalith that i’d returned to the world after who knows how long.
It has to be said, the pictures on the
Bredwardine and Brobury – Through the Ages website are a little better than mine, because of the undergrowth being cleared away and the edges being better defined. But if you go now this is what it looks like.
The stone is somewhat squarish, more pointy at one end, Ralph suggests that this was the end in the ground. The stone is maybe eight feet long, stood upright maybe six feet tall. it is a thick and sturdy stone.
I liked this one a lot, Ralph obviously likes it too.

This was perhaps the last of today’s long cairns, barring Arthur’s stone, and it may just perhaps have been the least as well. But it is still well worth the minimal effort involved in getting here. Getting here involves a few minor roads, but having a sweetcheat to do the navigating helps a lot. Dubious parking for one by the gate/stile and its just a few yards to the long cairn. Simples.

The cairn itself is fairly ruinous but the chamber is a good one and pays for itself. Other stones protrude from the ruined cairn, one in particular looks to have been part of a cist or small chamber. One of the longer side stones in the chamber has a squarish hole at the bottom which I feel could have served some function.

A very nice place to sit and ponder and while away some loose time.

Across the road from Little Lodge long cairn, over a gate, and five minutes of an uphill saunter brings us to this pretty good round barrow. Only a fence or two separate us now, after deftly jumping them we can see that the barrow is really quite a long one, not very round at all.
Slumped next to the barrow is a load of loose stony rubble, and more further down on the side of the barrow.
Excepting from north to east there are very good long views. Little lodge can be seen in the valley below. Two farmery type people eyeballed us before we went up but nothing came from it. Sunny silence abounded.

A lovely place is this.
The sun was shining, the birds were singing, the horses ignored us, and with not one stone hunting buddy but two, this was getting to be a good day out. We parked at Little Lodge farm and strolled over to the long cairn unhindered by livestock or their human captors.
More Hawthorn trees, with Mistletoe, never seen mistletoe before, except at parties, and that could have been plastic.
It was a bit of an anti climax, as we’d just been to the sleeping giant of Penyrwrlod, and the two corkers at Ffostyll, today was a day of Black Mountain long cairns, six in all, this one was number four. Even though Little Lodge is not as big or as cool as the last two it does have some charm, and enough interesting features to keep one occupied for at least a couple of hours.
The chamber at the south end is still complete, minus it’s capstone. There is a large long stone under the Hawthorn tree, it could be a blocking stone. Just twenty yards further south and the ground falls steeply down to a wee brook that is fed by at least two nearby springs.
Across the road and up the hill is a fairly good round barrow called Coed-y-Polyn (nice one Alken) it has good views of the surrounding fields and of the high hills of the Black Mountains and with Little Lodge Long cairn in it’s place among it all

How does something this size escape attention for so long, hidden in plain view, yet not “discovered ” until 1972.
We unknowingly followed Elderfords directions, and parked right outside the Penywyrlod farmhouse, hoping to grab a bit of easy parking courtesy of the obliging farm owner, we were blessed indeed, the farm was empty, unoccupied, gone away, as we say at work.
With no one about we made our unhurried and unhindered way over to the long cairn.
It was our first site of the day, a list of Black mountain chambered long cairns fortuitously never far from a road, which was a world of comfort to Simon, our new field wandering friend, who had knee issues. It was so much bigger than we anticipated, much much bigger, and the terrible road building scar where they’d dragged off tonnes of cairn material and almost all the chamber stones, broken up like so much peanut brittle, sandstone isn’t a very durable stone at the best of times.
Three large stones are to be seen at the rear ? one is poking out of the cairn, the other two are having a lie down, another large flat stone resides by the front north side. Elderford seems to know what all the stones are, but it’s a bit of a confusion and so much is gone that I find it a struggle to believe anything can be said for certain.
But there are some certainties, it is a giant of a cairn, with a giant fatal wound, but in a beautiful place with cracking views, it is a nice place to lay down and die, for a cairn.

I dont know the right name for this fort it could as easily be Ewloe fort, but ive name it after the river that runs by and the parkland it is in.

High above the Wepra brook, in deep woodland on a sandstone promontory is this little fort. It is only about 30m x 10m. There isn’t much in the way of surviving defences either, just a few meters of a ditch separating the promontory to the rest of the high ground, now a golf course. But I can well imagine the place with less trees high above the place where two water courses meet, being a good place to live.
Nowadays the place is Wepra park, with nicely stepped paths all the way along the brook to the much better known Ewloe castle. Today there were many people about, from picnicing families to groups of lads.
Not a decent fort , but a very nice place.
Ps , not really suited to boys with bikes.

Just north east of the little village of Rhosesmor is yet another Moel y Gaer, occupying a suitable hill top 303 meters above sea level. Parking is obtained on the west side of the hill, there is room for many cars. I headed up the hill with my camera and two straining at the lead dogs, whilst Eric and his mate Luke pushed their bikes up (bikes were part of the deal).Phil elected to stay in the car with the radio.

There were quite a lot of people up on the fort, some were walking the circuit of the fort like me, some were just lounging around on the reservoir, enjoying the sunshine and the views. The views are extensive, the best are west to the bigger hills and east to the Dee estuary. A reservoir on a hill top? with a big dome over it ? in a hill fort ? Absurd.

This is a good hill fort, the hill is just the perfect place to keep an eye on the surroundings, two well defined banks encircle the hill. The main entrance is on the east side facing the estuary, but smaller entrances are at the north and south.
Surely I must have known about this place before now, but then forgot about it, I thought I’d been to all of the good hill forts in North Wales and some crap ones, perhaps now I have. But probably not.

After Rhiannon’s misc post , I just had to come back and check it out, it went straight to the top of the list. It is just like the reports indicated, 6 feet high, over six feet wide and only a foot ‘n alf wide, leaning a bit to the west. It was suggested that it was part of a burial chamber, and I can see it being the only survivor of a dolmen of some sort. The coflein entry seems to suggest that the stone was moved off a tumulus, coarsely paved, but surely that is right where it is now. It is on a slight mound that could be described as coarsely paved, on the highest ground, in this field at least. No distant views can be had except a bit to the south east off into Denbighshire.
It is a gnarled old stone, scarred and pitted, and very reminding of some of Avebury’s sarsens stones.

We approached from the south west, parking in Gerlan on the east side of Bethesda. As we gain some height, the wind which had been negligible down by the car began to get stronger, fortunately at this point it was pushing us up the hill, TSC reminded me of the wind on Carnedd Llewelyn last year and I make the unwarranted assertion that it’s not that strong yet. The wind soon began to be the third member in our highland walkabout, we shall call him windy.

We make for the Drosgl summit as directly as possible, the walk was mostly nice and easy, it’s not too boggy, other parts of Snowdonia are mostly boggy, but here it is obligingly firm and dry. To the east the mountain views are long and wide from on top of Gyrn Wigau, all the high Carneddau are strung out before us from Foel Fras to Pen yr Ole Wen, all speckled with snow hidden from the sun.
In the opposite direction is cairn topped Moel Faban, ditto for Moel Wnion, and beyond these shapely hills Angelsey floats amid a tropical looking sea.
Behind us is the not so pretty site of the Penrhyn quarries, a massive ugly scar forced upon the most lovely countryside in Wales, a constant reminder of Mans willingness to sell even the ground under his feet.

Half way between Gyrn Wigau and Drosgl are two rock stacks, the path, such as it is , weaves between them.
As we approach them they appear to us as rocky sentinels, guarding the higher “heavenly” lands, we pick one and sit out of the wind as best we can. Just below us three wild-ish ponies are grazing on the wide ridge, they seem utterly ignorant of old windy. The sight of the high mountains to our east growing dark in cloud shadows, then bright and colourful in the bright sunlight, are really very easy on the eye. We head on.
The footpath wont take us to the top of Drosgl, instead it passes by on the south side and carries on up to Carnedd Uchaf, now renamed as Carnedd Gwenllian (Why, how and by whom I dont know). We take the path as long as we can and then bolt off to our left just making for the highest point, it gets very rocky on the summit, thousands of tonnes of broken shattered rock, enough cairn material to create a whole cairn cemetery. There are three cairns here, the highest point is occupied at the moment by a small walkers cairn. It also has the best view of the mountains.

Away from the mountain view, on the north west edge of the summit plateau are the other two cairns, obviously the view this way was far more important to them, but is it the sea ? or is it Angelsey that holds such captivation ?
Windy is now in a far more playful mood, if you turn your back on him for a moment he’ll try and push you over, if you turn and face him its like being continuously hit in the face by an eleven year old with a heavy pillow, just like it in fact.
We sit in the wind shadow cast by the big cairn admiring the view over Moel Wnion, immediately beyond our feet is the strangest cairn up here, sited as to be oblivious to the geographical grandeur behind us and the big cairn. It is apparent it’s been reconstructed, the large kerb stones are perfect and obvious, no slippage here. But among all the superfluous cairn material it is hard to discern, it only reaches a height of perhaps two feet, regarding it from the north it is all but invisible. The big cairn overshadows it somewhat as well, being at least ten times the size, it is flat topped and hazardous to walk across, not vengeful spirits, nor some overwhelming respect for ancient monuments, just trying to protect your ankles.
It is roundabout now that I internally concede that it is now as windy or windier than it was last year up on Llewelyn, you have to brace yourself against it just in order to take a picture. Windy is fair screaming in my ears like a Harrier jump jet hovering before me, I cant hear a word Alken says and instead try to read his lips/facial expressions/ posture. We decide that this isn’t the time for sitting around and watching, so we agree that a walk over to the twin rocky citadels of Bera Mawr or Bera Bach would be most beneficial. In the end just one wouldn’t do, so we have a scramble all over them both telling ourselves it’s training wheels for Tryfan in the summer. I hope so.

But now it is time to move on some more, sadly all on the way back to the car, we head for Moel Wnion but change our minds as windy has brought his mate with him, Drizzle.
Minds changed we head straight for Moel Faban, via a mellow gorge named Bwlch ym Mhwll-le, the weather likes our decision and shows it’s sunny side. But from here, it is somewhere else’s field notes.

Unless your on a long mountain walk like we were, when you can approach it from any where and any angle, then your best coming at these two cairns from the south west, parking can be had at the end of Cilfodan terrace, right next to Pen-y-gaer, well, two fields away.
You can skirt round the eastern edge of Moel Faban, going past a settlement or two, or you could go up to the top of Moel Faban passing three substantial bronze age cairns, I know which way i’d go. At the other side of Moel Faban the ground again begins to rise, up to the 443 m hill top Llefn, but between the two hills is the strange and out of place gorge, the softest and most mellowed gorge there is, there seems no reason for this arrow straight natural feature, it has a man made feel to it its so out of place.
So it must have made an impression upon our ancient brethren also, because it is here that two more cairns have been constructed, the cairns of Bwlch ym Mhwll-le, the place of passing ? or the Pool room. Not much in it is there?

The two cairns are quite different, the larger northern cairn, the one we didn’t get up close to, is a large spread of loose stones, very close to a large squarish boulder. We never saw it untill we were on the other side of the Bwlch and didnt have the energy to go back up hill again.
The southern cairn, is, to me, more interesting, it has half of a large cist at it’s center, the cairn has kept maybe half it’s kerb stones, and many more stones protrude through the grass. But the best thing about it, is it wasn’t on the map and we just stumbled across it on our way elsewhere, 1:25000 map just has a circle in the vicinity, but the 1:50000 map has the customary little star that denotes Barrow/cairn, even so, both these cairns should be on any map.

It is a nice little cairn, if it were a little more accessible, i’m sure it would have grabbed our attention years ago, but as nice as the cairn is, it is the surroundings that grab and hold our attention, explicitly, the view south. Looking south with the cairn at our feet , the top of Cardnedd Dafydd is on the left, further away, above the Ogwen valley are the high tops of the Glyders, moving right, Y Garn, then Carnedd y Filiast, and far far left is the mountain we’ve just conquered and been conquered by, Drosgl. It is a rich and beautiful eyeful, to be stared at, oggled and drooled upon.

Just one word of warning, it gets a touch windy up the hills at times, if its windy down by the road it will be much stronger up here.

It’s now time to go and get out of this biting wind, but just before I do there’s just one more new site to see.
A mere fifty yards from Brian (Circle 275) is this massively overlooked barrow/cairn, with so many megalithic wonders here about it’s almost understandable. About a meter tall and maybe five across this heather and grass covered mound melts seamlessly into it’s surroundings, look for the telegraph pole uncaringly stuck right on top of it, blighters.
When Anglicising this site name have a giggle, a smirk, maybe even a titter, Fridd Wanc, giggle smirk titter.

From Cefn Coch barrow I skirt around the base of becairned Moelfre following the path towards these two cairns. Passing the site of crashed WWII bomber ” Bachelors baby ” a B24 Liberator, they were probably looking for stone circles and never saw the hill coming.
Coflein still isn’t co-operating, so I didn’t know what to expect, if anything. But I was pleasantly surprised to find the remains of a substantial kerb cairn. Half the kerbing has gone but those that remain are quite large, the interior of the cairn has a slight rise in ground level .
About fifty yards up the hill back in the direction of the Druids circle, is what I presumed must be the other cairn. It is heather covered and is either situated upon a rocky knoll or the whole thing is the rocky knoll, there was nothing else in the vicinity so I clicked the camera and moved on.
The view of the snowy mountains is very overpowering to me and the urge to climb one right now is almost too much to bear, I have to turn my back upon them and carry on walking.

I came here from the wonder that is Wet Withens, from that stone circle head west and slightly south, keeping to the edge of the land, when your among the hill tops make for the large boulders, one of which has a large basin upon it, and a possible cup mark.
From these large rocks head down hill, north, the cairn will come into view to the right of the footpath.
Of course things didn’t go as smoothly for me, The Peak district turns me around, confuses me, and sends me the wrong way, I was in one place but thought I was somewhere else I ended up at the trig point near the radio mast before realising my gaff. Turning around I followed an ageing couple I’d seen earlier enjoying a brew down off the rocky edge and hey presto a ring cairn with much cuppy goodness.
It would be much easier approaching straight from the road, where a footpath follows along a wall, or more direct follow the line of knackered grouse butts, and heaps of ruination they should be, game birds indeed, I don’t think they enjoy the “game” much.

The cairn is fairly self evident, a rare flat topped round cairn apparently. From some angles it melts seamlessly into the surroundings, but from others it stands up and proud, like the Withens and it’s cairn the heather is trying it’s best to hide and obscure it’s treasures. It should be treated like the weed it is, Dictionary says a weed is simply a plant that is growing where you don’t want it. An exact definition of intrusive heather if ever ive heard one.
But of course it’s the profusely cup marked stone that brings me here, the stone is generally squarish, cups cover the top and two sides. Big cups they are too, how the stone stayed in one piece whilst someone continuously bashed at it I cannot say, grit stone isn’t that strong is it ?
I have a quick look for the other nearby cup marked stone but time has run out, the curse that is the mobile phone has come upon me, now ive got an hour and a half to get back in time for the school run. The other cupped stone and the other Withens circles will bring me back at least once more.
A great way to end a great day in the Peak.

The first time I came here I gave up after losing my map, the second time I had one or both kids with me and the visit didn’t really stay with me and I can barely remember it at all, this time I was all tooled up for a proper visit, much prior planning, and most importantly, it’s just me.
I took the long route as per usual (wont next time though) and spotted the cairn first, after a perusal of this impressive stone gathering I sit atop a rather suspicious mound and survey the Wet Withens.

What is a Withen I wonder, and why are they wet ? as strange site names go this is a good one.

What impressed me most was the bank around the stones, its dead visible on Google earth and from the mound that I sit upon. I walk slowly over to the ring and enter it somewhat reverentially. A really good feeling came over me, it was like I was seeing it for the first time. Like an Indian man meeting his chosen intended for the first time, and, Wow shes a looker.
It was also much bigger than I remember it, god, how long has it been, this was one of the first non Big Orange Book sites I went to. And more stones too, plus Ive no recollection of there being carved initials in many of the stones, but there are. Its like ive never been here before, is it just the passage of time or did I not see it all properly or did I travel to an alternate reality, probably the former.
In the middle of the circle is a weird depression, first time ive seen that too.
But no matter how wonderful and ridiculous my time spent here, the higher rocks over to the east are pulling me away, to that other Eyam target of mine Stanage ring cairn and it’s fantastical carved stone.

Arses. This is not easy to find !!!

Coming from the south, where the two paths diverge, I take the right hand path. All the way to a mostly fallen wall with two large gate post stones. Turn left from these stones and head exactly west, this should take you straight to the cairn. Unless like me you keep getting side tracked by the many small cairn like things.
Eventually I arrive at the cairn, it is situated on flat ground right next to where the heather covered earth falls quickly away to Hathersage just over a mile away. The heather is all consuming, stray from the path and your in a world of hurt.
Barrow or cairn ? i’ll go for cairn, for only a cairn can have cairn material, of which there is much. But its a seriously mangled cairn, difficult to determine it’s exact shape because of the dreaded heather (there is no such thing as lucky heather) and all the pits and hollows in the middle of the cairn. Hiding among its interior is a cup marked stone, couldn’t find it though.
Superb vistas north to many hills with various names of which I am mostly ignorant. But it is difficult to remain at the cairn for too long as the Wet Withens stone circle is just a few yards away. And just over the hill away is Stanage ring cairn with its terrifically cup marked stone, but getting there can be a bit of an arse.

Start and finish with an arse, yeaaah !

I first came up here a couple of years ago in mid summer, but was with full family and dogs, needless to say we didn’t get all the way up to the top.
Today it was round two, the weather was, shall we say, the decent side of crap and I’m well out of shape, but without any, errrrm hindrances ? I fancied my chances, in fact it was a total knockout.

Parking was had at the pay and display close to the entrance to Mam tor, I didn’t so I didn’t, I took a picture of the nice painting of Mam tor on the information board and started my way up. En route to the place of a ascension I noted a pair of iron age replicas carved on to earth fast rocks, a Torc, and a dagger, the dagger is under a celticly carved seat.
The way up is actually quite easy, it only gets steep a couple of times, but it gets really very muddy, luckily it was all frozen so progress went on apace. Plus the views open out immediately and are hugely enjoyed, the view of Mam tor is sufficient to get me up here on it’s own.

The top of the hill is flat and quite large , the barrow is sited as close to Mam tor as possible without coming down off the top. The barrow is about seven feet high and is getting eroded quite badly the footpath and bridleway is very close and too many feet have taken their toll on top, perhaps that’s the price you pay for being in the most visited National park in the world.
I was mightily disappointed to found out that the Lord in question was Mr Peveril of nearby castle building renown, surely a place like this up here with such a view should be named after Thee Lord, not many views like this one. Having said that the thin fog hid most of the distant hill sides, I was aware of it all out there, somewhere but could I see it ? Like fudge chocolate brownie I could.

The plan was ephemeral at best, it was to watch the sunrise over Mam Tor from Lords seat barrow to the west. It would have worked too if it wasn’t for those pesky clouds, so the plan changed slightly and Green low became my first site of the day.
Parking was had at the large lay by at the junction of the Pennine bridleway and the long road from Chapel en le Frith to Mam tor, it is a good road.

It took about fifteen minutes to get from car to stones, at a brisk walk to keep the cold biting wind to a minimum, after the first copse of trees on the left the earthwork became visible in front and to the right, but it isn’t immediately definitely a cairn circle. But the bridleway takes us straight to it more or less just turn right off the path at a left turn, then up a bit.

Even when your stood right before it , it’s still not obviously a ring cairn, as has been said, it is rather hengiform, and a whiff of sea breeze from Dorset isn’t out of the question, robbed embanked stone circle is also a real possibility. Whatever it’s status, it is there, it’s easily spotted on Google earth, as is it’s lesser sibling to the east and also another ring above the two and in between them.
It sits on an east facing hill slope, some stones can be seen poking through the grass on the ring, and on the inner ring. The inner ring isn’t exactly ring shaped, it’s not in the center of the outer ring. It is a strange one, “after four thousand years look so good you will not”, Yoda would probably say, I cant disagree. All of the different variant forms of cairn, henge and stone circle could all look like each other or nothing like each other, pah , it’s impossible to tell from just looking at it, Time Teeeeam. Then again no, just Stewart Ainsworth, John Gater, don’t want no diggers here.

After wrapping my scarf round my face, god it’s cold, there’s still snow in places, I go for the now almost obligatory wander round the site from a distance, first I head west, half heartedly looking for the other lesser ring cairn , ive not much to go on I cant even remember where it is i’m supposed to be looking. From the fields edge the ring cairn is almost invisible, just a slight rise in the land, I head over into the trees north west of the site, peeking through the trees , although i’m now twenty feet higher than before its completely gone. More height is gained and the trees left behind, now I can see it, it’s far away though, but a bit of camera zoom brings it close. Now back down hill over the all but dry stream Bolehill Clough??? and I begin to get east of the circle and it gets more prominent. Not knowing it at the time, I’m now passing by another ringy feature visible on Google earth but not on the ground, is it another ring cairn or part of an as yet undiscovered settlement. I can see an ever so slight rise in the land over to me left so I sidle over and, it turns out to be other ring cairn. It is much smaller than the other greater ring cairn, and much more ground level. It is lesser in every way than its near nieghbour.

I try mostly in vain to photograph the little ring, it’s green on green and very much the shy one. I say a goodbye and go back towards the big ring, it’s here on this low hill across the beck??? that one gets the best view of it, a really big stone has been dropped into the sea of grass and ripples ensue outwards.
The fog is now, not so thick, the clouds not so overwhelming so I decide it’s time for a climb up to the Lords seat. I’m leaving now.

Yaaaay! somewhere else I haven’t been before.
The list gets smaller still.
Probably one of the lesser known of Cornwall’s quoits. The Lands end quoits are a bit holidayish, but even though its only four and nine miles from Padstow and Newquay respectively, Pawton quoit takes a bit of finding, there’s not very good access either, and in the summer the ferns get high. All in all making it a bit lesser known than others.

I parked in the space before a little used gate at the north east corner of the chamber’s field, left the kids in the car and walked back up the road to where a scramble place has been carved over the field wall, deftly jumping over it I entered the field of choice and jogged over. Time was short and the sun was going down upon a long day that still had a nearly three hundred mile drive to finish with.
Since I first put this site on my list more pictures have been added on here, but none of them show how big the mound is on which the quoit sits. Even without the stone chamber I would still have made a special visit just to see the barrow if it were closer to home, it’s really quite large.
But then I didn’t get many of it either, just a couple with the sun going down behind it, and then just time enough to walk all the way round it hand draped affectionately across the stones. A gander underneath the whopper capstone, then came the car beeps.
Time for a couple of minutes inspecting the quartz veins running through it, a theme for the day, and looking round the vista the capstone points to, then another beep.
Damn! it’s time to go.

Yaaaay! somewhere I haven’t been before.
The list gets smaller.
I spied around the place using Google earth, the 21st centuries scrying equipment, and used the parking place on the A39, and the stile by the gate.
What Google couldn’t tell me was how boggy and muddy is the entry into the field, but Carl and Mr Hamhead sorted us with that information. But even so, I still went over in my trainers, they were soaked by the time I got to the stones, and brown in general colour.

The distressing colour of my feet was however off set against the more than pretty colour of the Maidens. Whilst grey in the main, some maidens have a pink quartzy shine to them, and they all have white quartz veins running through them, it’s impact upon me may have been lessened though ive just come here straight from Duloe stone circle ( Via Newquay zoo, they have a Fishing cat Dontcha know).
They are very pretty, maidens draped in long pearl necklaces.
But some Maidens have fallen, one seems to be calling out unheeded for help from her friends, but it gets worse, the end Maiden has fallen and broken her self in two. Sad.
But.
They still retain some composure though, I have a liking for stones having a lie down.
The trickle of water that runs by the stones could be construed as pleasant, I certainly found it conducive to a happy disposition.
Still, it was wet and muddy so all things in balance.

I haven’t been here for a long time, it was before the kids were born i’m sure. There was only one concrete plan for the day, and that was Newquay zoo (They have a Fossa, dontcha know) so I could pick anywhere in the vicinity so long as it’s not far from the road.
I could have chosen anywhere, but my last trip here was in the pre-digital days so I just had to come back, first it was The Hurlers then Trethevy quoit now this brilliant little circle.

There are several reasons for its brilliance, it’s really close to the road for a start, I parked by the front of the church, left the kids, two minutes later it was “wheres my shades man”.
The circle described by the stones is small, I like small stone circles over the great big ones like Stannon and Fernacre, much more cozy and homely.
Though the circle is small the stones are large, mainly, the highest is eight and a half feet tall, five others coming down to about head height.
But the most brilliant thing is the shiny glowing whiteness of the quartz stones, ever since my first trip here thirteen years ago all the quartz stones ive seen have been compared to these stones here at Duloe, and ive got to tell you, nothing compares to them. If anything my long absence has whitened them , they seem more white than my memory allows.
The smaller butterfly inspired stone can stay as far as i’m concerned, it could do with being a bit bigger but it seems to fit well, probably the whiteness.

Brilliant !!!