Visited 14.04.12
Given the size of the remaining stones and the views from the stones it’s possible to imagine this site as a sacred place for an ancient farming community, built using readily available stones.
I am planning to visit Drummore Castle hillfort soon so I shall take the opportunity to revisit Drummore to test this theory.
Visited 16.05.09
“Billy Marshall’s Cave is situated at NX494679, approximately 900 metres north west of the summit. Again this cave is worth a visit, but difficult to find. Fortunately a rock above the cave has an iron bar protruding from it – thus helping to identify its location.”
The above quote is from Newton Stewart WalkFest.
It is more of a rock recess than a cave lying 2 metres below the slope and extending for around 10 metres. There is not much room for Billy Marshall’s Band of Gypsies.
Visited 01/12/13
The stone was not easy to spot from the N.
I was in the field before I saw my target.
It’s a handsome stone for a short walk so why not visit if you are in the area?
Visited 02.10.18
I was visiting Cairngarroch Bay nearby so I decided to revisit Whirlpool Stone. As indicated by my 2012 pictures, it is still in a recumbent position.
To find this stone follow the following directions.
From Stranraer follow the A716 Drummore for 6.5 miles until you reach Sandhead. Turn R onto the signposted B7042 Portpatrick road for 0.3 miles. Turn L onto the unsigned road at the end of the wood. Follow this road for 1.4 miles until you pass Auchentibbert Cottage on your R, then turn L after 100 yards. Stay on this narrow lane for 0.6 miles observing the 3 wind turbines on Whirlpool Farm on the R. You can park at a double gate at the base of a hill. The Whirlpool Stone lies 300 yards up the hill in the field to the L.
Canmore ID 60453 (go to Links) indicates the Whirpool Stone was standing in 1984 but recumbent in 1995.
15.09.18
There is a parking space at NX 3575 5797, where the B7052 signposted for Sorbie turns off the B733 Kircowan to Wigtown road. The Boreland Cairn is on the R hand side 50m before the junction. There is a gate 200m along the road avoiding an electric fence. The cairn is evident in an otherwise flat field.
15.09.18
The stone lies opposite no 18 in Bladnoch main street. It is an irregular stone prominent above the regular wall. It’s true nature can be seen from the field side of the wall where the breadth of the stone is visible. There is an entrance into the field c. 75 yards W of the standing stone.
Bladnoch Standing Stone is noted by Canmore ID 63382 (go to Links).
Visited 06.11.11
I parked at the Auchmantle farm on the minor road from Castle Kennedy to New Luce. The Glentirrow Stones are 500m W of this location. I headed N from Glentirrow Stones over bleak moorland towards a distant stone cairn. The summit of Cairnharrow lies 1.5k NW of the cairn over rough ground. Cairnscarrow Trig Point is at NX 13626 64802. There is a clear path bearing NNW from here. Follow it for c. 200m straight to Auld Wife’s Grave. The OS position is NX 1355 6497 on the Landranger map. Retrace your path to return. This is a walk for a good dry day because of visibility and going underfoot. The total distance covered was around 8km (5 miles).
Canmore ID 61688 (go to Links) suggests that the cairn’s chamber may been created from a natural rock formation.
29.08.18 On the way back from Dun Mor Vaul I found a small house by the shore. About 100m W there was an obvious dun as pictured by Thelonius. I ascended the steep slope to discover two significant depressions which looked to be man-made. It could have been a small fort or settlement.
Canmore ID 21527 (go to Links) states that pottery found on Dun Beag, Vaul links it’s occupation to a similar period as Dun Mor Vaul Broch.
I approached Clach a’ Choire from Vaul. I visited Dun Mor Vaul first then struck out west along some moorland hugging the coast. After about a mile I saw a large boulder on the edge of the sea. As well as taking photos I tried the ringing experiment with a large rock with surprisingly resonant results. The number of cup marks on the rock are impressive, though I didn’t feel it necessary to check the 53 suggested by the imaginative info board.
All in all, a curious site.