Visited 14.09.23
I followed directions to Dolmen de Mané Rutuel from the Tourist Office in Locmariaquer. After a 5 minute walk, I discovered that the long mound is closed to the public due to safety concerns. I was reduced to walking round a protective fence, making the best of limited views. Mané Rutuel is an impressive monument but a disappointing outcome.
Visited 14.09.23
I found the Menhir du Bronzo by following the Sites des Megalithes sign opposite the Tourist Office. The broken menhir is located in a vacant plot on the left of Ruelle du Bronzo. The site has two large stones: the erect bottom half in the SW and the displaced top half lying to the NE. Each half of the broken stone measures c. 6 feet long.
Visited 13.09.23
Dolmens des Grays is located 5 minutes E along the coastal path starting in Pen Lan Car Park. At first sight the monument is a jumble of stones. There is an interpretation board, suggesting that the cairn consists of an amalgam of 3 separate tombs. It divides the cairn into Tomb A,B & C. They are in the N, SW & SE respectively.
Continue E along the path for 10 minutes to reach Dolmen du Crapaud.
Visited 13.09.23
Dolmen du Crapaud is located on a cliff edge SE of Plage des Granges, S of Pen Lan (Penn Lann). The remains of this site have been much reduced by coastal erosion. The chamber resembles a toad viewed from N, hence the french name Dolmen du Crapaud.
The site is easily accessible from a coastal path starting in Pen Lan Car Park, heading E past Cairn des Grays to Les Granges.
Visited 05.09.23
Camrie Fell Cairn is a low grassy cairn, c. 2 miles N of Glenluce in Dumfries and Galloway. The mound is located in high pastureland, c. 500 yards NNE of Gleniron Farm.
The footprint of a round cairn is located on an E-W slope in a grass field. There is a grass bank on the perimeter of the cairn, running clock-wise from the S Arc to the N Arc. The bank measures up to c. 6 feet wide and 2 feet high. The radius of the W half of the cairn is c. 27 feet. The E half of Camrie Fell Cairn has been reduced to ground level. There is only one stone, measuring c. 1.5 feet by 1 foot, on the flat surface of the cairn. It is located in the NE quadrant.
Canmore ID 61601 has a full description of Camrie Fell Cairn.
Take the North St turn-off in Glenluce, heading for the Three Lochs. After c. 1.3 miles turn left down a narrow unsigned lane. Follow this single track lane for c. 0.9 miles. Take a sharp right turn at Keepers Cottage. This rough farm track leads to Gleniron Farm. After c. 0.3 of a mile you will reach a 90 degree corner at NX 1961 5983. There is room to park here. A gate leads NNE up a slope adjacent to a dry stane dyke to a ruined farm. Follow the track though the farm. The cairn is located c. 150 yards NNW in the next field. My route is viewable on Camrie Fell Cairn.
Visited 03.09.23
Craig Fell N & S Cairns are located in Glenwhan Forest, c. 3 miles S of New Luce in Dumfries and Galloway. An off-road bike is preferable to travel the c. 3.5 miles via rocky forest tracks.
Craig Fell N Cairn is in a clearing c. 100 yards E of the forest track. It can be accessed by a vague boggy path through scrubby trees. The irregular grassy mound measures c. 50 feet across and 3 feet high according to Canmore ID 61609. Its surface is scarred by plough-lines. There are some medium-sized embedded stones scattered amongst the tussocks.
The smaller S cairn is located c. 75 yards S of Craig Fell N Cairn. According to Canmore ID 61604 Craig Fell S Cairn was one of many small cairns destroyed by afforestation. It is inaccessible due to an impenetrable forest.
There is room to park at NX 1412 6188. My route is viewable on Craig Fell Cairns.
Visited 15.08.23
Cairn Wood (Barskeoch) Cairn is located in Cairn Wood c. 3 miles W of Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway. The cairn is hidden in an enclosed wood c. 300 yards N of Barskeoch Farm. The circular grassy cairn is surrounded by mature trees. It measures c. 70 feet in diameter and 4 feet high. According to a 1912 report in Canmore ID 62939, the mound was surrounded by a peristalith of large stones laid at irregular intervals. These stones are no longer in situ, however, a jumble of around 10 large stones has been deposited on the S arc of the cairn. It is possible that these were the original peristalith stones. The kerb of Cairn Wood (Barskeoch) Cairn is defined by an earth bank c. 1.5 feet high on the E arc and an intermittent circle of kerb stones. There is a large cup mark measuring c. 5 inches in diameter and 2 inches deep on an upright kerb stone on the NE of the perimeter. The interior of the cairn has been robbed-out, leaving an irregular grassy surface dotted with protruding stones. The centre of the cairn has a low grassy mound and a sub-circular rubble of exposed mossy stones, c. 5 feet in diameter.
Visited 11.08.23
Cairn of Knockglass is a circular mound in arable land c. 1.5 miles N of Creetown in Dumfries and Galloway. The cairn measures c. 90 feet in diameter and 6 feet high. This is a substantial increase of the dimensions quoted in Canmore ID 63531. Cairn of Knockglass had a diameter of c. 50 feet as reported in a 1912 visit. The increase in diameter can be ascribed to the addition of large field clearance stone deposited round the perimeter of the mound. Canmore also records that the centre of the cairn had been cleared out. The current cairn has a flat grassy centre with a few stones dotted on the surface. There are extensive views to the south and west of Cairn of Knockglass.
Visited 11.08.23
Cairn Hill (Barraer) Cairn is a grassy cairn in arable land c. 2.5 miles SW of Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway. It is located on the southern slope of Cairn Hill (Barraer). The elliptical cairn measures c. 22 yards on the NE-SW axis and 16 yards on the NW-SE axis. Almost all stones have been removed from the cairn, except for the NW arc. Additionally, field clearance stones have been dumped on the NW arc. Cairn Hill (Barraer) Cairn is listed as Canmore ID 62953.
Visited 11.08.23
High Baltersan Cairn is a circular grassy mound located in arable land c. 2 miles S of Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway. It is situated adjacent to a natural rocky knoll which has field clearance stones deposited on its summit. The mound measures c. 33 feet in diameter and 3 feet high. The perimeter is studded with small and medium-sized stones. The flat summit is covered in grass. Canmore ID 63565 has further details of High Baltersan Cairn.
Visited 11.08.23
Cairnhouse E Cairn is a stony mound on the N edge of Cairnhouse Farm, c. 2 miles NNW of Wigtown in Dumfries and Galloway. The round mound is contained within a square stone-walled enclosure attached to a farmhouse. It is inaccessible due to the stone wall and surrounding ferns. According to Canmore ID 63373 material has been removed from the E arc. Canmore estimates that Cairnhouse E Cairn measures c. 60 feet in diameter and 7.5 feet high.
Visited 11.08.23
Cairnhouse W Cairn is a grassy platform in arable land c. 0.33 miles W of Cairnhouse Farm, c. 2 miles NNW of Wigtown in Dumfries and Galloway. The round mound measures c. 50 feet in diameter and 3 feet high. Large field clearance stones have been dumped on the N arc. The remainder of the cairn has small to medium stones scattered on its surface. Canmore ID 63373 states that there is no sign of an exposed internment.
Visited 06.08.23
Elrig Cairn is a grassy mound c. 400 yards NE of Elrig, a small village in Dumfries and Galloway. The sub-circular cairn is located in arable land c. 350 yards SW of Elrig Farm. The mound measures c. 66 feet in diameter and 5 feet high. The S half is covered in thorn bushes. Old farm equipment and field clearance stones have been dumped in the N half. The cairn appears to be be unexcavated. Canmore ID 62713 has details of Elrig Cairn.
Visited 04.08.23
Mochrum Fell (Elrig) Cairn is located c. 1.7 miles NW of Elrig in Dumfries and Galloway. It was constructed on the summit of Mochrum Fell (Elrig) with panoramic views. The sub-circular cairn measures c. 70 feet in diameter and 3 feet high. The perimeter is delineated by a belt of small stones with gaps in the N and SW. A stone slab, c. 3 feet high, has been erected as a standing stone in the E arc and a marker cairn, c. 3 feet high, has been built on the SE perimeter. These features are presumably modern additions to the cairn. The grassy centre of the mound has been cleared of stones. Canmore ID 62897 suggests that a central cist was destroyed by a bonfire previous to 1911. There is a central rectangular depression occupied by a large split rock with two large drill holes on its upper surface. The depression measures c. 4 feet long x 3 feet wide x 1 foot deep on a NE-SW axis. A c. 3 feet long slab on the SE edge could have been a cist side slab.
Visited 01.08.23
Cairn Hill (Dalquharran) Cairn is a ploughed-out cairn c. 0.5 miles north of Dailly in South Ayrshire. The grassy mound is located on the crest of Cairn Hill in arable land. According to Canmore ID 40870 the cairn measured 21m in diameter by 0.9m in height in 1982. Canmore also stated that in 1820 four cists were found in it.
Visited on 29.07.23
Airyolland W Cairn is located c. 0.6 miles NNW of Elrig, a small village in Dumfries and Galloway. Airyolland Farm is c. 0.6 miles SSW of the irregular stony mound constructed in pastureland. Airyolland W Cairn measures c. 80 feet in diameter and c. 8 feet high. The mound retains a covering of stones except for the W half of the cairn which has a grassy surface with scattered stones. Low traces of ruined enclosures can be seen c. 20 yards E of Airyolland W Cairn. Canmore ID 62703 has details of Airyolland W Cairn.
Airyolland E Cairn is c. 50 yards NE of Airyolland W Cairn.
Visited on 29.07.23
Airyolland E Cairn is located c. 0.6 miles NNW of Elrig, a small village in Dumfries and Galloway. Airyolland Farm is c. 0.6 miles SSW of the round mound lying in pastureland. The grassy platform has been reduced to c. 3 feet high with a c. 60 feet diameter. Medium-sized field clearance stones have been scattered on the surface of the cairn, especially on the NW half. A standing stone, c. 4 feet tall, has been erected in the centre of the platform. It is probably a modern addition to the monument. Canmore ID 62703 has details of Airyolland E Cairn.
Airyolland W Cairn is c. 50 yards SW of Airyolland E Cairn.
Visited 24.07.23
Corwall E Cairn is a grassy round cairn located c. 0.9 miles from the coast, c. 5 miles NW of Port William in Dumfries and Galloway. The low platform is situated in pasture c. 450 yards ENE of Corwall Farm. Corwall E Cairn, which measures c. 40 feet in diameter and 1.5 feet high, has an irregular perimeter with a line of kerb stones on the N Arc. A modern marker cairn, 3 feet high, has been erected on the N Arc. The cairn has been extensively stone-robbed, leaving a grassy surface with scattered stones. Canmore ID 62127 has further details of Corwall E Cairn.
Corwall S Cairn is c. 700 yards SW of Corwall E Cairn.
Visited 24.07.23
Corwall S Cairn is a stony round cairn located c. 0.5 miles from the coast, c. 5 miles NW of Port William in Dumfries and Galloway. It is constructed in rough pasture c. 450 yards south of Corwall Farm. The stony central hollow of the mound is surrounded by a grassy perimeter. Corwall S Cairn measures c. 50 feet in diameter and 3 feet high except for the central modern marker cairn which reaches up to 6 feet high. Canmore ID 62125 has further details of Corwall S Cairn.
Corwall E Cairn is c. 700 yards NE of Corwall S Cairn.
Visited 16.07.23
The May Cairn is a low mound located c. 100 yards SSW of The May Farm, c. 5 miles NNW of Port William in Dumfries and Galloway. The circular platform has a flat grassy surface. The perimeter of the cairn is studded with small exposed stones. It measures c. 54 feet in diameter and 2 feet high. Canmore ID 62915 has further details of The May Cairn
The May Cairn is one of a small cluster of cairns at The May consisting of Court Cairn, The May and Lang Rigs.
Visited 16.07.23
Lang Riggs (The May) Cairn is located c. 400 yards SSW of The May Farm in Dumfries and Galloway. The round cairn, situated in the centre of a field, was reduced to c. 60 feet in diameter and 4 feet high according to a 1911 account in Canmore ID 62205. The grassy platform has been used as a dumping ground for medium to large field clearance stones, mostly round the perimeter, increasing its height to c. 6 feet. Canmore ID 62205 speculated that the cairn was excavated by the Marquis of Bute in 1942. A stony trench in the eastern half may be the result of this excavation.
Court Cairn is one of a small cluster of cairns at The May consisting of Court Cairn, The May and Lang Rigs.
Visited 16.07.23
White Loch of Myrton Crannog is located in the SE corner of the loch c. 1.5 miles N of Monreith, a coastal village in Dumfries and Galloway. According to Canmore ID 62814 the crannog was constructed as a stone mound bounded by c. 100 vertical piles driven into the loch bed. The surface of the crannog is densely tree-covered obscuring any signs of occupation. There is no visible evidence of a causeway from the east bank due to a high water level.
White Loch of Myrton Crannog is accessible from a public path round the loch in Monreith House Estate. Parking is possible at the estate entrance. The best views of the crannog are from the west bank. It is possible to approach the crannog from the east via a woodland path veering off the loch circuit. The views of the crannog from the east bank are restricted by trees bordering the loch. My route is viewable on White Loch of Myrton.
Visited 09.07.23
A second cairn on the summit of Cairnsmore of Fleet is noted in Canmore ID 63764 at NX 502 671, c. 40m NE of the Summit Cairn. This cairn, adjacent to a modern shelter, has a trig point surmounted on its centre. The round mound is c. 6m in diameter and 0.2m high. It has scattered stones, ranging from small to large, on its grassy surface.
Visited 09.07.23
Knee of Cairnsmore Cairn is c. 1.2 miles SSE of the N Summit of Cairnsmore of Fleet, a hill c. 5.5 miles E of Newton Stewart. The round stony cairn, on the southern summit of Cairnsmore of Fleet, has been reduced to c. 15 yards in diameter reaching a height of 1 yard. A modern marker cairn c. 5 feet high has been constructed on the N Arc. Canmore ID 63763 has further details of Knee of Cairnsmore Cairn.
Visited 08.07.23
Glenquicken Moor Standing Stone is located on Glenquicken Moor, N of Garrochar Tree Farm, c. 2 miles E of Creetown. Canmore ID 63672 describes the stone as a “thin broad whinstone slab”. The stone’s dimensions, taken from Canmore, are 3 feet 6 inches high by 3 feet 4 inches broad by 6 inches thick. The broad faces are on a NE-SW Axis.
The stone is hard to find in summer due to a sea of ferns. I walked c. 50 yards SSW from the rocky knoll at NX 51610 58608 to find the hidden stone.
Glenquicken Moor Standing Stone is difficult to access due to its proximity to Garrochar Tree Farm. The route to Glenquicken Moor Standing Stone is short but is tricky underfoot, over rough ground for half of it. A detour is required round Garrocher Tree Farm’s high fences. My route is viewable on Glenquicken Moor Standing Stone.
Visited 02.07.23
East Threave Cairn is located in pasture land c. 2 miles NNW of Dailly in South Ayrshire. The grassy round mound is in a hollow on the edge of a moraine c. 0.5 miles ESE of East Threave farm. According to Canmore 40882 the cairn is 13m in diameter and 1.5m high. An earth set stone, possibly a kerb stone, is visible on the E Arc. There is some erosion on the W half of the summit. A central hollow c. 0.5m deep has been created by excavation on the summit of the cairn.
Visited 22.06.23
Milton Loch SE Crannog is located in the south-east corner of Milton Loch, c. 1 mile south-east of Crocketford in Dumfries and Galloway. According to Canmore ID 65047 the crannog was discovered in 1953 when the water level in Loch Milton was lowered. Milton Loch SE Crannog is situated c. 20 metres west of the bank near the Milton Burn outlet from the loch. It consists of an oval platform of stones measuring c. 20 metres east-west and 14 metres north-south. Low water level in 1973 exposed 38 vertical piles and several horizontal timbers on the platform. Around 10 of the vertical piles delineated a causeway to the shore. A pile taken from the crannog in 1989 was dated to c. 110 BC.
The crannog is currently occupied by a large mature tree and shrubbery. The high water level has obscured any features of the crannog excepting a short stony projection on the east arc, probably remains of the original causeway.
Visited 22.06.23
Milton Loch Central Crannog is located centrally in Milton Loch c. 1 mile SE of Crocketford in Dumfries and Galloway. According to Canmore ID 72519 the island was identified as a crannog by an underwater examination in 1989. It was constructed using wooden piles and transverse timbers laid on a bed of boulders set on a natural outcrop. The crannog measures c. 20 metres across above the water level, sloping away to c. 30 metres in diameter at a depth of c. 3 metres. Wooden samples taken from the crannog have been dated to c. 480 AD.
The crannog is prominent in the middle of Milton Loch, a low circular island covered by mature trees. According to Canmore ID 72521 an island lying c. 110 metres W of the crannog was examined in 2002. The island was found to be a natural outcrop.
Visited 22.06.23
Milton Loch NW Crannog is in the NW corner of Milton Loch c. 1 mile SE of Crocketford in Dumfries and Galloway. According to Canmore ID 65046 the crannog was revealed when the water level of Milton Loch was lowered in 1953. A causeway c. 100 yards long was marked by a double line of wooden posts leading east to a low stone covered island, measuring 35 feet in diameter. The crannog was a circular house, measuring c. 47 feet in overall diameter, constructed in timber. The interior of the house was subdivided radially into compartments. A 6 feet platform supported by wooden posts surrounded the stony island. A small harbour measuring 35 feet was constructed on the SE of the crannog. Further details of archaeological excavations are available in Canmore ID 65046.
The crannog is now populated by mature trees obscuring the surface of the island and the current high water level has submerged the causeway.
Visited 22.06.23
There is a mysterious earthwork on Green Island, a promontory on the W bank of Milton Loch in Dumfries and Galloway. Milton Loch is c. 1 mile SE of Crocketford, near Dumfries.
The earthwork runs on a east-west axis along the promontory. The narrow boat shaped enclosure, measuring c. 246 feet east-west by 73 feet north-south according to Canmore ID 65045, is protected by a surrounding ditch and rampart defensive system. The rampart is c. 3 feet high and the surrounding shallow ditch 10-12 feet wide. The entrance to the enclosure is in the centre of the west flank, measuring c. 8 feet wide. The flat grassy enclosure is featureless.
There is some doubt as to the age and classification of the earthwork. C M Piggott thought it dated to the Dark Age or Medieval periods while A E Truckell stated it ‘seems a definitely Viking type of site.’ Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland has a description of the earthwork but notes that it ’ cannot be classified as a fort as such.‘
Visited 07.06.23
If you have walked to the shy and retiring Craddock Moor Stone Circle it is only an extension of c. 500 yards WSW towards a low mound on the horizon to reach Craddock Moor E Barrow. The round mound measures c. 17 yards across and 1 yard high. The fern-covered mound is studded with small protruding stones. Craddock Moor W Barrow, which is located c. 40 yards W, measures c. 20 yards across. It consists of a central mound c. 8 yards across and 1 yard high surrounded by a circular stony bank up to 0.5 yard high.
Visited 06.06.23
When I read Mr Hamhead’s fieldnotes I realised that I had been walking past the original Minions Mound on every visit to Minions. The stone wall constructed round the mound may be protecting it for future antiquarians, however it also disguises the antiquity of the site.
I decided to visit the Minions Mound currently marked on the OS as it was a flat walk for c. 300 yards. The round barrow stands out of the moorland, a horseshoe-shaped bank up to 1 yard high on the S Arc and c. 20 yards in diameter. The centre of the mound has been stone robbed down to ground level from the NW.
Historic England 1010256 has further information on the tumulus.
Visited 08.06.23
I am magnetically attracted to Twelve Men’s Moor every time I visit Cornwall. The landscape is a unique mix of spectacular rock formations, ancient cairns, and post-industrial remains. I like to revisit old friends, Kilmar Tor Quoit and the Pyramid Stone, to renew my acquaintance.
Visited 07.06.23
Craddock Moor NE Cairn is located in the NE of Craddock Moor in Cornwall. The grassy platform cairn measures c 33 yards in diameter and 1 yard high. A central mound measures c. 25 yards across. The mound is enclosed by an earth bank c. 3 yards wide and 1 foot high, c. 1 yard outside the edge of the mound. Further details of Craddock Moor NE Cairn are available in Historic England 1010310.
Craddock Moor Stone Circle lies c. 200 yards SW of Craddock Moor NE Cairn.
Visited 08.06.23
A walk on Twelve Men’s Moor and its associated tors is always rewarded with a rich variety of antiquarian sites. On my recent visit I discovered that the Bearah Tramway Cist had been cleared of vegetation, giving an improved aspect to the site.
Visited 27.05.23
Moss Knowes Rocking Stone is located in South Ayrshire, c. 0.5 mile W of the S end of Loch Ricawr in Galloway Forest Park. It is marked on OS Mapping. The rocking stone is a sub-rectangular stone measuring c. 10 x 5 x 5 feet. The long axis runs E-W. It is balanced on a large wedge-shaped boulder measuring c. 11 feet high by 15 feet wide in the SW side sloping down to 3 feet high in the NE side. A choke stone on the NE slope of the wedge-shaped boulder appears to have wedged the rocking stone in position. As a result, the rocking stone doesn’t rock. It is unclear whether the choke stone is natural or a later addition by man.
Moss Knowes Rocking Stone is accessed via Carrick Forest Drive, which is currently closed to vehicles. A mountain bike is the best way to reach the rocking stone from the W terminus of Carrick Forest Drive at NX 41312 95695. Follow the Carrick Forest Drive for c. 1.7 miles to reach a right turn just before Loch Riecawr. Take the right turn heading S for c. 1.1 miles to reach Moss Knowes Rocking Stone. It is c. 25 yards SE of the forest track in an open area of felled forest.
Visited 15.05.23
There is a submerged crannog in the centre of Cults Loch, c. 1 mile NE of Castle Kennedy in Dumfries and Galloway. An additional crannog site can be found in the NW corner of Cults Loch.
Cults Loch Central Crannog is visible as a scrubby island c. 100 yards off the W bank of Cults Loch. According to Canmore ID 61693, the island “measures about 7.5m from N to S by 5.1m transversely.” An underwater archaeological survey in 2002 estimated the dimensions of the submerged crannog to be 19.5m N-S by 17m transversely, rising 2.5m above the loch bed.
Cults Loch NW Crannog was located on a sub circular promontory, projecting c. 50 yards into the NW corner of Cults Loch at NX 1203 6058. Archaeological excavations carried out between 2007 and 2010 established that the promontory was man-made. Traces of a ditch and wooden palisade defensive structure were found at the neck of the promontory. The excavation of the interior yielded evidence of multi-phase occupation. Canmore ID 276231 has further detail of the archaelogical excavations of Cults Loch NW Crannog. The present waterlogged condition of the site on the N margin of the loch precluded me from making any investigation of the promontory.
Visited 04.05.23
Captain’s Bridge (Drummochreen) W Hillfort is located immediately W of Captain’s Bridge on the B741, c. 4 miles S of Maybole in South Ayrshire.
The E flank of the hillfort has been truncated by the construction of Captain’s Bridge, leaving a 20 foot sheer rock face. The N and S flanks are protected by natural contours. There are remains of a defensive ditch and rampart on the exposed W flank of the fort. The ditch is c. 10 feet wide and 1 foot deep, the rampart c. 5 feet high. The open enclosure, sloping gently from W to E, has a sparse population of trees. It measures c. 20 yards E-W and 18 yards N-S. There are no man-made features visible in the enclosure.
Canmore ID 40869 has further details of Captain’s Bridge (Drummochreen) W Hillfort.
Visited 02.05.23
Captain’s Bridge (Drummochreen) SE Dun is located c. 20 yards SE of Captain’s Bridge on the B741, c. 4 miles S of Maybole in South Ayrshire.
The small dun which reaches up to 20 feet high on the W end has steep defensive sides on the N and E flanks. The S and W flanks provide possible access to the SW-NE sloping summit plateau. It has been populated by mature trees making measurement difficult. Canmore ID 40868 quotes the internal dimensions of Captain’s Bridge (Drummochreen) SE Dun as “11 m by at least 8m”. There are no significant stones visible on the summit plateau.
Visited 09.05.23
Barnsallie Fell Cairn is a small grassy mound, located c. 130 yards N of Whitefield Loch, in the SE corner of Barnsallie Fell in Dumfries and Galloway. It is in a clearing in scrubland on the W edge of Craigenveoch Wood. A tree growing out of the central hollow of the cairn has all but obscured the ancient remains. Viewed from the S, a tree surrounded by a circle of brushwood can be seen. According to Canmore ID 62154 the mound measured “5.0m in diameter and 0.8m high” in 1976. This was difficult to check accurately due to impenetrable vegetation but it seemed to be a good visual estimate.
Visited 12.05.23
Loch Heron is located immediately S of Three Lochs Holiday Park between Glenluce and Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway. The aforementioned three lochs, from SW to NE, are Loch Ronald, Loch Heron and Black Loch. According to Canmore ID 62396, there were two crannogs on Loch Heron.
Loch Heron NW Crannog was constructed on an artificial island c. 80 yards E from the centre of the W bank. The small isle has been intensively populated by trees and shrubs obscuring any view of the crannog’s remains. Canmore gives the dimensions of a mound on the isle as 51m NW-SE, 26m transversely and 2.2m high.
Loch Heron SW Crannog is a submerged islet located c. 50m SE of the wooded isle. There are no signs of it from the W bank. Details of Loch Heron SW Crannog are available in Canmore ID 62396.
Visited 02.04.23
Ballageich Hill Cairn is located on the E edge of the summit plateau of Ballageich Hill, c. 2 miles SW of Eaglesham in East Renfrewshire. There is a lay-by on the B764 at NS 53933 50021, opposite to Greenfield Farm track. A path from the lay-by, heading NW, leads c. 180 yards up to the elevated remains of Ballageich Hill Cairn. The grassy sub-circular cairn measures c. 3 feet high and 66 feet in diameter. The surface of the cairn is irregular with exposed stones protruding through the turf. There is a round excavation pit, measuring c. 6 feet across and 1 foot deep, in the S half of the mound. Ballageich Hill Cairn has expansive views to the N, E and S. The W view looks across moorland towards the summit of Ballageich Hill. Canmore ID 43978 lists the cairn under the alternative spelling “Ballagioch”.
Law Knowe was the site of a cairn on a natural knoll on the N fringe of East Kilbride in South Lanarkshire. The cairn measured 8 or 10 yards and had a kerb of large flagstones according to Canmore ID 44899. Canmore states that a large part of the cairn was robbed by the end of the 18th Century and no traces of the cairn remained in 1955.
A Playsport golf course has been constructed on the site of the cairn. The location, in the SW corner of the golf course, has a Marker Cairn with an information plaque constructed on top of Law Knowe.
Visited 21.04.23
There was a hillfort on a natural knoll on the lower E slopes of Caerketton Hill, c. 0.33 miles S of Hillend Ski Centre in Midlothian. The knoll reaches up to a height of 10 yards above the surrounding area. The enclosed area of the oval fort was c. 80 yards E-W and 70 yards N-S. According to Canmore ID 51763 virtually all traces of the fort have been erased by cultivation. There are remains of a defensive bank and ditch extant on the W Arc. The only surviving sign of habitation on the summit plateau is a small hut circle c. 5 yards S of the central summit.
Visited 21.04.23
There is a stony footprint of a cairn on the summit of Caerketton Hill, c. 0.5 mile SW of Hillend Ski Centre in Midlothian. The round cairn, which measures c. 50 feet in diameter, has been razed to ground level on all but the S Arc. A fence running E-W bisects the S half of the cairn, leaving a perimeter of original cairn stones c. 6 feet wide on the S Arc. A modern cairn, c. 3 feet high, has been constructed in the centre of the cairn. Caerketton Hill Cairn has panoramic views in all directions due to it’s elevated location, c. 480m above Sea Level.
Canmore ID 51764 has details of surveys of Caerketton Hill Cairn in 1928 and 1969.
Visited 21.04.23
Galachlaw Cairn is a sub-circular mound in woodland on the S edge of a housing estate in Fairmilehead on the S fringe of Edinburgh. The cairn, which measures c. 45 feet in diameter and 5 feet high, has been almost entirely robbed of stone, leaving several putative kerb stones on the S Arc, as noted in Canmore ID 51710. The largest stone measures c. 1.5 x 1 x 0.5 feet. An eroded path crosses the centre of the cairn on an E-W Axis. There is a significant excavated hollow in the N half of the cairn. Galachlaw Cairn would have had a 360° vista previous to afforestation and urban development.
Visited 20.02.23
Rosesnannon W Barrow is located on Rosenannon Downs c. 3.5 miles SW of Wadebridge. The oval mound is c. 500 yards W of Rosenannon N Barrow in rough moorland.
Historic England List Entry Number:1021224 lists its dimensions as 28m E-W, 25.5m N-S and 1.7m high. There is a shallow excavation in the centre of the barrow leaving stones exposed.
Visited 14.04.23
Brae Farm SW Cairn is one of a group of 3 cairns on Brae Farm, c. 5 miles NNW of Port William in Dumfries and Galloway. The SW cairn is located in the corner of a field c. 270 yards S of the B7005 and 20 yards W of Brae Farmhouse.
Brae Farm SW Cairn is the best preserved of the group, retaining original cairn stones on the N Half. The round mound measures c. 60 feet in diameter and 3 feet high. There is a stone covered hollow in the W Quadrant, possibly a result of a 1942 excavation mentioned in Canmore ID 62913. Some medium-sized field clearance stones have been dumped on the W Quadrant.
Brae Farm NE Cairn is located c. 300 yards NE and Brae Farm Central Cairn is located c. 100 yards N of Brae Farm SW Cairn.
Visited 14.04.23
Brae Farm Central Cairn is one of a group of 3 cairns on Brae Farm, c. 5 miles NNW of Port William in Dumfries and Galloway. The Central cairn is located in pasture c. 170 yards S of the B7005 and 30 yards W of Brae Farm road.
Brae Farm Central Cairn is constructed on a natural rocky knoll according to Canmore ID 62900. The round mound measures c. 50 feet in diameter and 2 feet high. The grassy surface is pock-marked with small clusters of exposed stones.
Brae Farm NE Cairn is located c. 200 yards NE and Brae Farm SW Cairn is located c. 100 yards S of Brae Farm Central Cairn.
Visited 03.04.23
High Moor Hut Circle is a circular grassy footprint in rough pasture c. 5 miles NNW of Port William in Dumfries and Galloway. The hut circle is located c. 70 yards W of Corwall Farm track, c. 0.5 mile yards S of the B7005.
Usually, when I am searching for a hut circle, I seem to spend 30 minutes grid searching moorland without success. High Moor Hut Circle is a glorious exception to the norm. Heading S from Brae Moor Cairn I spotted my quarry from 100 yards away.
High Moor Hut Circle measures c. 33 feet in diameter and up to 1.5 feet high. There is only one substantial stone on the perimeter, an upright stone c. 1.5 feet high, in the S Arc. The SW Arc of the circle has been obscured by gorse bushes. The probable entrance is a gap in the bank, measuring c. 3 feet wide, in the SE Arc according to Canmore ID 62228. The interior of High Moor Hut Circle is flat and featureless.
Brae Moor Cairn is located c. 200 yards NNE of High Moor Hut Circle.