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Fieldnotes by markj99

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Showing 1-20 of 447 fieldnotes. Most recent first | Next 20

Friar's Kirk NW (Cairn(s))

Directions to Friar's Kirk NW Cairn: Follow the directions to Drumanwherran S Cairn Cemetery. Take a 4x4 track N from the modern shepherd's cairn until you reach NX 11116 72105, where a vague track heads WNW . Head W downhill for c. 175 yards to reach Drumanwherran N Cairn. An extended pathless route NNW leads to Friar's Kirk Cairns. Wellies and GPS navigation are strongly recommended. My route can be seen on Friar's Kirk Cairns via Drumanwherran N Cairn.

Friar's Kirk SE (Cairn(s))

Directions to Friar's Kirk SE Cairn: Follow the directions to Drumanwherran S Cairn Cemetery. Take a 4x4 track N from the modern shepherd's cairn until you reach NX 11116 72105, where a vague track heads WNW . Head W downhill for c. 175 yards to reach Drumanwherran N Cairn. An extended pathless route NNW leads to Friar's Kirk Cairns. Wellies and GPS navigation are strongly recommended. My route can be seen on Friar's Kirk Cairns via Drumanwherran N Cairn.

Drumanwherran N (Cairn(s))

Directions to Drumanwherran N Cairn: Follow the directions to Drumanwherran S Cairn Cemetery. Take a 4x4 track N from the modern shepherd's cairn until you reach NX 11116 72105, where a vague track heads WNW . Head W downhill for c. 175 yards to reach Drumanwherran N Cairn. An extended pathless route NNW leads to Friar's Kirk Cairns. Wellies and GPS navigation are strongly recommended. My route can be seen on Friar's Kirk Cairns via Drumanwherran N Cairn.

Claywarnies (Cairn(s))

Directions to Claywarnies Cairn: Follow the directions to Drumanwherran S Cairn Cemetery. Head NW across a burn and boggy moorland to a forest ride beginning at NX 10911 71685. Walk W along the ride for c. 600 yards to reach a wide clearing. Head WNW for 50 yards across the clearing to a forest ride. Follow it for c. 150 yards to reach Claywarnies Cairn in a round clearing. Wellies and GPS Navigation are strongly recommended. My route can be viewed on Claywarnies Cairn.

Altigoukie Burn Cairn (Cairn(s))

Directions to Altigoukie Burn Cairn: Take the W turn to Glenluce off the A75. Turn left for New Luce after 0.2 mile. Stay on this road for c. 5 miles to reach New Luce. Go straight on at the top of Main Street for 1.3 miles to reach Barlure Farm track. There is a room for one car to park at the junction. Walk along Barlure Farm track for c. 225 yards to reach a cattle grid. There is a sign which reads "Start of path to Kilfeddar farm - Distance 2.9km". Continue W along the track for c. 150 yards to the centre of Barlure Farm. Turn left at the farmhouse heading downhill through pasture to Barlure Farm Railway Bridge. (There was a pool of water one foot deep under the bridge: lucky I was wearing wellies!) Head NW along the muddy track beside the railway line. Continue along this track for 0.8 miles to NX 15845 67587, 100 yards before it crosses a stream. Head NE across rough pasture for the railway line for c. 0.5 miles. When the glen narrows cross a fence, head W for Altigoukie Burn in boggy moorland. Altigoukie Burn Burnt Mound is located on the S bank of the burn at NX 1633 6810. Altigoukie Burn Cairn lies c. 110 yards NW from the burnt mound. My route can be viewed on Altigoukie Burn Cairn and Burnt Mound.

Drumanwherran S (Barrow / Cairn Cemetery)

Directions to Drumanwherran S Cairn Cemetery: The access to the cairn cemetery is complicated by the construction of a nearby windfarm which may cause future restrictions. The following route is currently open: Take the unsigned New Luce turn off the straight on the A77 at NX 08557 63769, c. 0.3 miles N of the A751 Innermessan junction. There are traffic cones on the road restricting it to one lane. Follow this road for c. 5.3 miles to reach the disused Penwhirn Filter Station. Continue past the Penwhirn houses for c. 200 yards to a dead-end single track left turn over a bridge. This is the road to Lagafater Lodge. Take this road for c. 1 mile to reach Darnigap Farm. A track leading W into forestry starts opposite Dalnigap Farm. It is possible to park 50 yards up this track. The track runs for c. 1.2 miles through the trees. Follow this track on bike or foot to reach the dead-end. The track becomes a forest ride which is boggy underfoot. Follow this NW for c. 0.4 miles to the end of the forest ride. Head W for c. 50 yards to cross the burn at a narrow channel. Head NW through boggy rushes towards a prominent natural mound. Canmore Id : 61893 is c. 40 yards N, a circle covered in rushes. Follow a rough 4x4 track N for c. 120 yards to reach a small grassy cairn, Canmore Id : 61892. The most obvious landmark on Drumanwherrran Moor is c. 50 yard N along the 4x4 track. It is a modern Shepherds Cairn measuring c.10 feet high in the centre of a large robbed cairn, listed as Canmore Id : 61935. Take a 4x4 track heading W from here, passing a natural mound then bear S to Canmore Id : 61894, a grassy cairn with a recumbent slab in its centre. My walking route can be viewed on Drumanwherran S Cairns.

The Witching Stone (Standing Stone / Menhir)

Visited 17.02.24

I've passed by The Witching Stone countless times, however, the field was usually in crop or I was on my way to somewhere. Yesterday, while travelling home from a Bill Bailey concert, I noticed that the field enclosing The Witching Stone was being drained so it seemed like a good opportunity to finally visit the standing stone.

My first difficulty was finding a place to park on the busy A77. After some trial and error I parked down the track to the cottages S of the Alginate factory. The lane is a high tide detour off the Ayrshire Coastal Path. The track leads onto the beach. After following the coast S for c. 0.5 mile i headed to a gate in the NW corner of the field. The Witching Stone was c. 150 yards SE from the gateway across a sodden field (I had wellies on obviously).

The Witching Stone is natural pointed boulder leaning c. 30 degrees ESE. It is set upright with broad sides on a ESE-WNW axis. The stone measures c. 4x3x1 feet. The overall height is reduced to 3.5 feet by the lean. It is located at NS 19924 01730 (transcribed from OS Aerial Mapping).

There is no obvious reason why this rather ordinary stone has been set upright and preserved in the field. It is not listed on Canmore and a Google search for Standing Stone The Curragh Girvan produced no result.

Friar's Kirk NW (Cairn(s))

Visited 11.02.24

Friar's Kirk NW Cairn is located on open moorland c. 3 miles NNW of Penwhirn Reservoir in Dumfries and Galloway. The round grassy mound has small stones studded on the surface. The N half of the cairn has a hollow up to 1 foot deep. Conversely, there is a loose mound of stones c. 6 feet wide by 1.5 feet high on the S arc. A large slab measuring c. 3x2x0.33 feet lies on the mound, towards the centre of the cairn. The slab could be a remnant of a cist. The overall dimensions of the cairn are c. 36 feet across by 3 feet high.

Friar's Kirk SE Cairn lies c. 270 yards SE of Friar's Kirk NW Cairn. Further details of Friar's Kirk NW Cairn are available in Canmore ID 61882.

Friar's Kirk SE (Cairn(s))

Visited 11.02.24

Friar's Kirk SE Cairn is located on open moorland c. 3 miles NNW of Penwhirn Reservoir in Dumfries and Galloway. The round grassy mound has small stones scattered on the surface, concentrated on a round stone structure built around a hollow in the E arc. The ruined structure has an internal diameter of c. 3 feet with a wall c. 1 feet wide. The overall dimensions of the cairn are c. 40 feet across by 2 feet high.

Friar's Kirk NW Cairn lies c. 270 yards NW of Friar's Kirk SE Cairn. According to Canmore ID 61924, Friar's Kirk SE Cairn is c. 120m NW of Friar's Kirk Enclosure, a ruined sheepfold.

Claywarnies (Cairn(s))

Visited 10.02.24

Claywarnies Cairn is located in a forest clearing c. 2 miles NW of Penwhirn Reservoir in Dumfries and Galloway. The large sub-circular mound has been extensively modified by man over time. Several enclosures have been constructed on and around the cairn, presumably using original cairn stones. There is a rectangular enclosure outside the N perimeter, a cluster of stones on the S arc and a ruined enclosure in the W half. The cairn, which measures c. 66 feet in diameter and 3 feet high, is covered in rushes obscuring any surface stones.

Canmore ID 61891 has details of Claywarnies Cairn, including a survey carried out in 1985.

Drumanwherran N (Cairn(s))

Visited 11.02.24

Drumanwherran N Cairn lies c. 700 yards NNW of Drumanwherran S Cairn Cemetery, c. 2 miles NNW of Penwhirn Reservoir in Dumfries and Galloway. It is located on the W slope of Drummanwherran.

The round cairn measures c. 18 feet in diameter and 1 foot high. The rough surface of the mound is covered in green rushes, making it stand out from the brown moorland. There are no stones visible on the cairn except for a cluster of small stones embedded on the E perimeter.

Further details are available in Canmore ID 61895.

Drumanwherran S (Barrow / Cairn Cemetery)

Visited 10.02.24

There is a group of 4 cairns located in a rectangular area, measuring c. 175 by 130 yards, on Drumanwherran moor c. 1.5 miles NNW of Penwhirn Reservoir. The largest cairn lies on the NE corner of the boggy moorland rectangle. It is the most prominent landmark due to a modern shepherds cairn erected in the centre of the grassy mound. The OS grid reference quoted above refers to this cairn.

Canmore ID 61935 describes a large round cairn measuring c. 75 feet in diameter and 4 feet high. The grassy surface is studded with small stones. A modern shepherds cairn measuring c. 10 feet high has been erected in the centre of the mound. This may account for a hollow up to c. 1 foot deep in the N half. Additionally, there is a small stone structure built onto the S perimeter.

Canmore ID 61892 suggests that "a peat-covered mound measuring 7.5m in diameter and 0.5m in height", c. 50 yards S of Canmore ID 61935, "is probably a cairn". In situ, the rough tussocky green mound stands out in the brown moorland lending credence to its status.

Canmore ID 61893 lies c. 175 yards S of Canmore ID 61935. The cairn is a sub-circular hollow of rushes measuring c. 24 feet across and 1 foot deep.

Canmore ID 61894 has details of a robbed round cairn c. 130 yards WSW of Canmore ID 61935. The mound, which measures c. 27 feet in diameter and 1.5 feet high, has a grassy central plateau. A large slab measuring c. 3x2x0.5 feet lies on the W arc, possibly a remnant of a destroyed cist.

Altigoukie Burn Burnt Mound (Burnt Mound / Fulacht Fia)

Visited 01.02.24

Altigoukie Burn Burnt Mound is located c. 2.5 miles NNW of New Luce in Dumfries and Galloway. It lies c. 50 yards NW of the Stranraer railway line, on the S bank of Altigoukie Burn. According to Canmore ID 61415 the burnt mound "measures 7m from E to W by 4.5m transversely and is up to 0.6m in height". The visible burnt stones noted in Canmore were obscured by vegetation on my visit.

Altigoukie Burn Cairn lies c. 110 yards NW of Altigoukie Burn Burnt Mound.

Altigoukie Burn Cairn (Cairn(s))

Visited 01/02/24

Altigoukie Burn Cairn is located in moorland c. 2.5 miles NNW of New Luce in Dumfries and Galloway. The grassy round cairn lies c. 150 yards NW of the Stranraer railway line. There are no visible stones on the mound which measures c. 54 feet in diameter by 3 feet high. The cairn has a central hollow up to 1 foot deep. Canmore ID 61425 has a full description of Altigoukie Burn Cairn.

Kilfeddar Farm Cairn is c. 0.5 mile NE of Altigoukie Burn Cairn.

Kilfeddar Farm (Cairn(s))

Directions to Kilfeddar Farm Cairn: Take the W turn to Glenluce off the A75. Turn left for New Luce after 0.2 mile. Stay on this road for c. 5 miles to reach New Luce. Go straight on at the top of Main Street for 1.3 miles to reach Barlure Farm track. There is a room for one car to park at the junction. Walk along Barlure Farm track for c. 225 yards to reach a cattle grid. There is a sign which reads "Start of path to Kilfeddar farm - Distance 2.9km". Continue W along the track for c. 150 yards to the centre of Barlure Farm. Turn left at the farmhouse heading downhill through pasture to Barlure Farm Railway Bridge. (There was a pool of water one foot deep under the bridge: lucky I was wearing wellies!) Head NW along the muddy track beside the railway line. Continue along this track for 1.3 miles to Kilfeddar Farm ruin. Head NE for c. 225 yards towards a gate in an adjacent field. Kilfeddar Farm Cairn is c. 160 yards NE from the gateway, down a sloping field. My route can be viewed on Kilfedder Farm Cairn.

Visited 01.02.24

Kilfeddar Farm Cairn is located in pasture c. 3 miles NNW of New Luce in Dumfries and Galloway. It is on a slope c. 350 yards NE of Kilfeddar Farm ruin. The round cairn was originally c. 60 feet in diameter, however, small to medium-sized field clearance stones deposited on the SE and NW arcs have changed it into an oval mound measuring "25.7m from NW to SE by 16.5m transversely and up to 1.4m in height" according to Canmore ID 61414. My estimated measurements of the cairn accord with the Canmore dimensions. The centre of the cairn retains a layer of small stones with a patina of age suggesting that they may be original stones.

Brockloch Fell (Cairn(s))

It may be only a 4 mile walk there and back to the Brockloch Fell Cairn, however its location in an isolated forest surrounded by difficult terrain make this a nightmare to find. Wellies are essential for a burn crossing and GPS navigation strongly recommended. There were several trees partially blocking access on the forest track and narrow forest lane on my visit. My route can be followed on Brockloch Fell Cairn.

Directions to Brockloch Fell Cairn: The access to the cairn is complicated by the construction of a nearby windfarm which may cause future restrictions. The following route is currently open: Take the unsigned New Luce turn off the straight on the A77 at NX 08557 63769, c. 0.3 miles N of the A751 Innermessan junction. There are traffic cones on the road restricting it to one lane. Follow this road for c. 5.3 miles to reach the disused Penwhirn Filter Station. Continue past the Penwhirn houses for c. 200 yards to a dead-end single track left turn over a bridge. This is the road to Lagafater Lodge. Take this road for c. 1 mile to reach Darnigap Farm. A track leading W into forestry starts opposite Dalnigap Farm. It is possible to park 50 yards up this track. The track runs for c. 1.2 miles through the trees. Follow this track on bike or foot to reach the dead-end. The track becomes a forest ride which is boggy underfoot. Follow this NW for 0.3 miles to reach a forest lane heading SW. Take the narrow grassy lane for c. 0.2 mile to reach open moorland. Head W across boggy ground, crossing a burn, towards a corner in the forest at NX 1105 7096. Follow the forest edge SW for c. 300 yards then head S for c. 50 yards into replanted forestry to a stony cairn surrounded by small trees.

Visited 28.01.23

Brockloch Fell Cairn is a round stony mound in replanted forestry c. 1 mile NW of Penwhirn Reservoir in Dumfries and Galloway. The cairn, measuring c. 39 feet in diameter and 4 feet high, is surrounded by small trees. A small stone enclosure has been constructed on the NW perimeter and a trench has been excavated along the NE-SW axis bisecting the mound. Further details of the site are available on Canmore ID 61880.

Grey Hill (Shennas) (Cairn(s))

Visited 18.01.24

Grey Hill (Shennas) Cairn is difficult to access due to its location in boggy moorland. I deliberately chose a cold day in January hoping for frozen ground underfoot. I would recommend a winter or a dry summer visit.
The access to the cairn is further complicated by the construction of a nearby windfarm which may cause future restrictions. The following route is currently open: Take the unsigned New Luce turn off the straight on the A77 at NX 08557 63769, c. 0.3 miles N of the A751 Innermessan junction. There are traffic cones on the road restricting it to one lane. Follow this road for c. 5.3 miles to reach the disused Penwhirn Filter Station. Continue past the Penwhirn houses for c. 200 yards to a dead-end single track left turn over a bridge. This is the road to Lagafater Lodge. Take this road for c. 1.5 miles to reach NX 12683 71548. There is a grass lay-by on the left at the edge of a forest just before a cattle grid. Walk through the cattle grid then turn right, following a dry stone dyke round the edge of the forest for c. 600 yards to cross a stream at NX 13149 71645, then head NNE across boggy moorland for c. 400 yards towards a green mound. My route is viewable on Grey Hill (Shennas) Cairn.
Wellies, dry weather and persistence are essential for this difficult walk.

Visited 18.01.24

There is a cairn in moorland on Grey Hill c. 1.7 miles N of Penwhirn Reservoir in Dumfries and Galloway. The sub-circular cairn is in an oval grass clearing in open moorland c. 0.5 miles E of the dead-end single track road to Lagafater Lodge. The cairn has been reduced to a grassy mound c. 40 feet in diameter and 2 feet high. There are two deposits of stones on the surface of the cairn. There is a low line of stones c. 4 feet wide and 1 foot high on a N-S axis in the centre of the mound, possibly remains of a wall. On the E arc there is a loose mound of stones c. 9 feet in diameter and 3 feet high. A smaller cluster of stones remain on the NE perimeter.
Canmore ID 61937 describes the footings of two shieling bothies on the NW and S sides of the cairn: There is a low platform of stones on the S arc however the NW arc is flat and featureless.
Showing 1-20 of 447 fieldnotes. Most recent first | Next 20
I love to travel, especially to antiquarian sites. I'm working through the extensive Cornwall site list with an annual week holiday. Avebury is my favourite spiritual destination. Las Vegas is my favourite sinful destination.

I also enjoy hill climbing however as time passes the hills grow steeper. I have climbed around 30 munros, however, I've also climbed The Cobbler, Stac Pollaidh and Suilven so height is not the only criteria.

I used to play golf (9 handicap) and support Queen of the South however I gave up both bad habits. Horse racing was a more recent obsession. Epsom and Newmarket are my favourite racecourses. At the moment my current obsession is music gigs: Arcade Fire, Dinosaur Jr, Sparks, Jesus and Mary Chain and Belle & Sebastian, my favourite band.

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