A R Cane
Reasonably large cairn just off the A837 South of Lairg. Seemed to be on private land, but I’m sure enquiries at the nearby houses might yield access.
Image credit: A R Cane
What I took to be one of the many hut circles in the vicinity but, according to drewbhoy, they’re mostly sheepfolds and farm building ruins left as a grim reminder of ‘The Clearances’.
Image credit: A R Cane
‘Possible’ cup marks on the stone on which I was standing to try and spot the standing stones. They were supposed to be the other side of the river, but heavy rainfall had made it unfordable. Compensation of sorts.
Image credit: A R Cane
The two surviving standing stones of what may, or may not, have been a circle. The number of large recumbents scattered around certainly gives the feel of a ruined circle and the open situation with views all around on a flattish bit of upland adds to that. There were also numerous hut circles in the vicinity so it must have been a fairly well populated area once.
Image credit: A R Cane
Once part of a stone circle. I’d like to think so!
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Outer and inner arcs of the ruined concentric stone circle with just seven stones remaining and yet it still seems to exude some charm and dignity!
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Looking back across the Strath Shin Valley. The inner arc stones are really tiny.
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The charming Ord North viewed from the top of Ord South
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The blocked up entrance, with two remaining large lintels, to an ‘octagonal’ burial chamber, apparently.
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A ‘burnt mound’ on the way up to The Ord from Lairg, according to a handy nearby information board.
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The view back up Loch Shin and the badly sited telecoms mast. This shot makes it look like it’s a tiny five stoned circle but evidently there are a lot of other stones lying around covered by the long grass.
Image credit: A R Cane
Standing alongside the Strath Tirry about half a mile before it flows into Loch Shin. This is about as close as you can get to it without straddling high metal fencing.
Image credit: A R Cane
Close up of the top of the mound. Very little survives of the stone walls, no doubt incorporated into nearby farm buildings and houses over the centuries.
Image credit: A R Cane
Possibly one of the most beautiful and enigmatic circles we’ve ever visited, obviously helped by the weather conditions on the day, but I’m sure it would shine out in any circumstances.
Image credit: A R Cane
Highlighted by the gods! Seems to be something going on with groups of three, but that might just be where stones are missing or fallen.
Image credit: A R Cane
Couldn’t work out if these were cup marks or just natural holes. There seems to be a suggestion that some of the stones are marked.
Image credit: A R Cane
The circle, the whole circle and nothing but the circle, diminutive as it is.
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The lonesome standing stone outside the circle with a walk on part as an island.
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Yet more damned photos of the Plague Market! Eastern terminus of the Southern rows on a soggy September evening.
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As well as the leat that runs parallel and between the two sets of stone rows, on this particular damp and rain-filled evening there were streams running along the centres of each avenue. This may be to do with centuries of people trudging up and down and creating a depression, but given our ancestors relationship with water could this have been a reason for building this monument originally? A sacred stream or Bronze Age water feature?
Image credit: A R Cane
Curbed cist about midway along the Southern rows (strangely dry!).
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The barrow on the South side of the A4 next to The Sanctuary.
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Not as well known as it’s neighbour but certainly holding it’s own in magnificence!
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Viewed from the North as you head back down to East Kennett village.
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Sarsens built into the structure of the garden wall of a house in the village of East Kennett.
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The first barrow in the NW of the arc at Waltham Down.
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Hidden in it’s own little enclave on the South Downs.
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The biggest barrow in the group at the SE end of the arc. Mrs Cane in all her glory for scale purposes.
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The hollowed out core of the biggest barrow.
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Some of the flint nodules which make up the big barrow.
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Panorama of Stagsbury Hill. Originally a Bronze Age barrow cemetery and latterly a Medieval rabbit warren which re-used the barrows as pillow mounds.
Image credit: A R Cane
You can just about make out a small ditch and bank here which made me think I’d come across a small Iron Age enclosure at first, but apparently this was a later addition and probably supported a fence to contain the rabbits.
Image credit: A R Cane
Difficult to make out, but this is one of the more prominent barrows on the hill top with a view of Furzley beyond.
Image credit: A R Cane