markj99

Visited 03.04.23

Brae Moor Cairn is a sub-circular grassy footprint in rough pasture c. 5 miles NNW of Port William in Dumfries and Galloway. The cairn is located c. 15 yards W of Corwall Farm track, c. 600 yards S of the B7005. There are intermittent remains of an earth bank on the perimeter, best preserved on the SE Arc up to a height of 2 feet. The cairn is c. 50 feet in diameter with an exposed cist on a NE-SW Axis in the centre. The rectangular cist, which is surrounded by bracken, measures c. 3 x 1.5 x 1.5 feet.

Canmore ID 62227 has further details of Brae Moor Cairn.

Visited 03.04.23

Brae Farm NE Cairn is one of a group of 3 cairns on Brae Farm, c. 5 miles NNW of Port William in Dumfries and Galloway. The NE cairn is located in pasture c. 20 yards S of the B7005 and 120 yards E of the Brae Farm road end.

Brae Farm NE is constructed on a natural rocky knoll according to Canmore ID 62898. There are large putative kerb stones on the SE and NW perimeter of the mound. The sub-circular grassy cairn measures c. 20 feet in diameter and 2 feet high. A modern clearance cairn has been accumulated on the field margin 10 yards N of Brae Farm NE Cairn.

Brae Farm SW Cairn is located c. 300 yards SW and Brae Farm Central Cairn is located c. 200 yards N of Brae Farm SW Cairn.

Visited 02.04.23

Craignarget Hill Cairn is a stony cairn on the S slope of Craignarget Hill c. 5 miles SE of Glenluce in Dumfries and Galloway It is situated 0.4 miles of the Rocks of the Garheugh (pronounced Garchy locally) on Luce Bay.
The cairn measures c. 10 yards in diameter reaching up to c. 5 feet high in the undisturbed N Arc. There is a carpet of moss on the N & E Arcs. The S half of the cairn has been extensively robbed leaving a hollow in the centre of the mound.
Canmore ID 62200 has further details of Craignarget Hill Cairn.

Visited 26.05.12

Tinnis Hill Summit Cairn is located c. 4.25 miles ENE of Langholm. The round cairn lies 0.25 miles E of the Scottish Borders/Dumfries and Galloway border. There is an oval grass mound on the summit of Tinnis Hill. There are low remains of a stone wall enclosure at the base of the mound. On the N & S Axis the wall is c. 40 yards from the summit and c. 25 yards from the summit on the E-W Axis. The cairn was constructed on the centre of the mound. It has been greatly reduced over the centuries to a low grassy mound measuring c. 20 yards in diameter and 2 feet high, according to Canmore ID 67879. A trig point has been erected on the E edge of the cairn. A horseshoe-shaped stone shelter up to c. 4 feet high surrounds the trig point on the N,S & W Arcs.

When visiting this isolated site it is worthwile extending your route 1 mile S to visit Windy Edge Long Cairn and Windy Edge Stone Circle sites in Dumfries and Galloway.

High Gillespie Cairn is a ruined grassy mound located in pasture land c. 4 miles SE of Glenluce in Dumfries and Galloway. The surface of the sub-circular cairn has been smothered by gorse bushes. Field clearance stones have been dumped on the N perimeter of the cairn. The current mound measures c. 110 feet in diameter and 5 feet high on a summit plateau.

Canmore ID 62207 states that High Gillespie Cairn had a facade on the E Arc with 5 visible stones. There are no signs of a facade and visible stones in the E arc today. In fact there is evidence of recent excavation on the E Arc. This may be related to a badgers sett dug into the E perimeter of the mound.

Canmore ID 62207 also states that the main axis of the cairn was ENE-WSW, with at least 6 chambers constructed therein. This is difficult to confirm given the ruinous state of the cairn. I located a possible square capstone, measuring c. 4 x 4 x 1 feet, on a collapsed cist on the NE Arc and an exposed cist, measuring c. 5 x 3 x 3 feet on the S Quadrant. The S cist consists of a buried N end slab, an E slab measuring c. 5 x 3 x 1 feet, a missing S slab and a W slab measuring c. 7 x 3 x 1 feet.

Visited 27.03.23

Castle Loch Cairn is located c. 500 yards N of Castle Loch, c. 5 miles ESE of Glenluce in Dumfries and Galloway. It is accessed via a rough track running E from Culroy Farm, opposite White Cairn (Culroy) (listed on TMA).

Castle Loch Cairn is a flat grass circular footprint, c. 75 feet in diameter, with earth banks on the S and W Arcs. The S bank measures c. 9 feet wide and 1.5 feet high. The W bank measures c. 5 feet wide by 1 foot high. There is a gap in the perimeter on the SW, possibly due to a farm track which runs from NE-SW across the cairn. There several possible kerb stones on the W Arc: an embedded stone on the SW, a large displaced stone on the W and a recumbent stone on the NW. Field clearance stones have been deposited in the grassy centre of Castle Loch Cairn, creating a stony mound c. 15 feet in diameter and 3 feet high. The mound is offset c. 10 feet to the S.

Castle Loch Cairn is listed as Canmore ID 62234, titled as Drumwhirn. I named the cairn after the nearby Castle Loch because there is already a Drumwhirn Cairn listed on the TMA Dumfries and Galloway page.

Directions to Castle Loch Cairn: Take the A747 Port William road off the A75 at the E End of Glenluce. Turn left onto a single track road for Whitefield Loch after 1.8 miles. Stay on this narrow lane for c. 2 miles to reach Culroy Farm Track. Head E along a rough track. The track reaches a vehicular dead-end at a gate after c. 2 miles. Walk c. 450 yards E along a rocky road to reach a gate. Turn right here, heading NE for c. 400 yards into a narrow rectangular grass field to reach Castle Loch Cairn. There is an evident stony mound in the centre of the cairn.

Visited 25.03.23

Smittons Bridge Kerb Cairn has been reduced to a low grassy circular platform at the base of Stroanfreggan Crags, c. 5 miles E of Carsphairn. It is located c. 100 yards E of Smittons Bridge on the B729 Moniaive road. The cairn has been bisected by a grass track, starting c. 100 yards E of Smittons Bridge, leading N to a disused quarry at the foot of Stroanfreggan Crags. The platform measures c. 60 feet in diameter reaching a height of c. 2 feet on the NE Arc. An earth bank survives on the NE, SE and W Arcs of the kerb cairn. There are several large kerb stone extant on the W Arc. The centre of the platform is flat with a grass track on a N-S Axis despoiling its surface. Canmore ID 64347 has a full description of Smittons Bridge Kerb Cairn.

Visited 30.04.10

Barsloisnoch Cists are located c. 150 yards E of Barsloisnoch Farm in rough pasture, c. 75 yards S of the minor road to Crinan Ferry. Barsloisnoch SE cist (NR 8136 9567) is located in a patch of marsh. The cist is buried up to ground level. It has an impressive sub-rectangular capstone slab measuring c. 9 x 4 x 0.75 feet. The second ruined cist, Barsloisnoch NW (NR 8135 9568), is located c. 10 yards NW on a stony grass mound. The remains of the cist consist of one upright side slab and a small capstone slab, measuring c. 4.5 x 2.5 x 0.25 feet, in a shallow hollow. The measurements and grid references were taken from Canmore ID 39476. Further information is available in Canmore ID 39476.

Visited 20.02.23

There is a Barrow Cemetery on Roseannon Downs c. 3.5 miles SW of Wadebridge. There are 3 barrows in an approximate N-S alignment.

The largest barrow, Roseannon Downs N Barrow, is on the N margin of Roseannon Downs at SW 95548 68101. It is a bell barrow measuring c. 66 feet in diameter and 10 feet high. The mound is clothed in moor grass and heather. The centre of the barrow has a central hollow, c. 20 feet across and 4 feet deep.

Roseannon Downs Central Barrow is located at SW 95604 68035, c. 100 yards SE of Roseannon Downs N Barrow. The round grassy barrow has a diameter measuring c. 66 feet, reaching up to c. 7 feet high. There are several kerb stones exposed on the N perimeter. The mound has a deep central hollow measuring c. 10 feet in diameter and 5 feet deep.

The third barrow, Roseannon Downs S Barrow, located at SW 95516 67891, is c. 240 yards S of Roseannon Downs N Barrow. This ruined barrow is only evident on close approach. The low platform, measuring c. 45 feet in diameter and 3 feet high, has a pitted surface covered in tufts of moor grass and heather.

Further details of Roseannon Downs Barrow Cemetery are available in Historic England List Entry Number: 1004406.

Visited 19.02.23

There is a group of 3 barrows in a field c. 220 yards NW of Pawton Springs Farm on St Breocks Downs. They are in an approximate N-S alignment.

Pawton Springs N Barrow (SW 95960 68779) is a small mound measuring c. 10 yards in diameter and 2 feet high. There is a large earthfast stone on the N perimeter. The grassy surface of the barrow is studded with small stones, topped by a gorse bush.

Pawton Springs Central Barrow (SW 95962 68761) is a small mound measuring c. 10 yards in diameter and 2 feet high. It overlaps the S Arc of Pawton Springs N Barrow. The grassy surface of the barrow is studded with small to medium stones.

Pawton Springs SW Barrow (SW 95934 68737) is a low grassy mound measuring c. 17 yards in diameter and 1.5 feet high. It is located c. 65 yards NW of Pawton Springs Central Barrow. A large earthfast stone is located on the S perimeter of Pawton Springs SW Barrow. There is a central hollow measuring c. 5 yards in diameter and 6 inches deep. The grassy surface of the barrow is featureless.

Further details of Pawton Springs Barrow Cemetery are included in English Heritage List Entry Number: 1004619.

Visited 20.02.23

Pawton Gate Round Barrow measures c. 22 yards in diameter and 1 foot high on pastureland 250 yards N of Roseannon Downs. The surface of the barrow is featureless, covered in tufts of grass with few stones visible. There is an earthfast stone in the SE Arc and a small cluster of stones breaking the surface in the W Arc.
Further details of Pawton Gate Barrow are included in English Heritage List Entry Number: 1004405.

Visited 19.02.23

There are 3 barrows in a E-W alignment on St Breock Downs c. 3 miles SSW of Wadebridge:

St Breock Downs NW Barrow (SW 97124 68370) measures c. 19 yards in diameter and 2 feet high and has a shallow ditch c. 1 foot deep surrounding the barrow. There is a central hollow measuring c. 6 yards in diameter and 1.5 feet deep, offset to the S by several yards. A plaque defining the barrow as a protected ancient monument is located on the S Arc of the barrow.

St Breock Downs N Central Barrow (SW 97244 68388) measures c. 35 yards in diameter and 4 feet high and has a shallow ditch c. 2 yards wide and 1 foot deep surrounding the barrow. There is an outer grassy bank measuring up to c. 6 yards wide and 2 feet high. A broken plaque defining the barrow as a protected ancient monument is located on the SW Arc of the barrow.

St Breock Downs NE Barrow (SW 97376 68449) measures c. 20 yards in diameter and 1 feet high. There is a central circular mound measuring c. 7 yards in diameter and 1 foot high with a shallow central hollow c. 6 inches deep. The perimeter of the central mound has a horseshoe of small earthfast stones from the NW to S Arcs.

Historic England List Entry Number: 1004404 has further details of St Breock Downs North Barrow Cemetery.

Visited 27.02.23

I visited Castlehowe Scar Stone Circle on my way back home from Cornwall. I was disappointed to see a feed ring in the centre of the circle (picture submitted). This is not a recommended conservation option!

Visited 19.02.23

I had difficulty in locating St Breock Beacon Kistvaen on my revisit. The thick vegetation lining the path to the trig point made an approach from here impossible. After some perseverance I found a way in from the road running W past Beacon Farm road end. Walk 40 yards W of the Beacon Farm road end to reach a vague path heading S into briars and gorse bushes. Head S towards a small gap between gorse and taller brushwood. After a 30 yard scramble through gorse and briars I reached a clear spot containing the ancient stones. The smaller E Stone is c. 7 ft long on a N-S Axis and the wedge-shaped W Stone is c. 9 ft long on a NW-SE Axis.

Visited 06.02.23

Drumduff Cairn is a sub-circular low mound, c. 4 miles S of Ballantrae in South Ayrshire. It is a green oasis in open moorland. A horseshoe of reeds delineate the cairn, leaving the W Arc clear. I estimated a diameter of 20 yards and a height of 2 feet. Canmore ID 60858 describes an “oval cairn measuring 19m by 17.5m and 0.6m in height”. There are no stones visible on Drumduff Cairn. The grassy surface is flat and featureless.

Visited 06.02.23

There is a ruined cairn on the summit of Carlock Hill, c. 3.5 miles S of Ballantrae in South Ayrshire. The remains of the cairn are located c. 0.5 miles NE of the N end of Glen App.
Carlock Hill Cairn stones were used to construct dry stane dykes in the 19th Century according to Canmore ID 60852. Canmore also states that “human bones of enormous size (Name Book 1856) were found” during the robbing.
A dry stane dyke, running on a NNE-SSW Axis, bisects the original footprint of Carlock Hill Cairn. The N & W quadrants of the cairn have been erased, leaving a grassy semicircle in the E & S quadrants. The semicircle, which measures c. 7 yards in radius is delineated by an outer grassy bank. This bank measures c. 3 feet wide by up to 1 foot high. The flat interior of the semicircle has patches of reeds on a grassy surface.

Visited 05.02.23

There is a round grassy cairn on the summit of Penderry Hill, c. 4.5 miles S of Ballantrae in South Ayrshire. Penderry Hill is c. 0.7 miles NW of Glenapp Church. The cairn measures c. 7 yards in diameter and 1 foot high. There are no visible stones on Penderry Hill Cairn. The green grass circle stands out from the brown moorland grass. An OS Trig Point has been constructed on the centre of the cairn. It is listed as Canmore ID 60859.

Craigbirnoch NW Cairn is located on a knoll in open boggy moorland c. 450 yards NE of a passing place (NX 17641 69180) on the New Luce to Barrhill single-track road in Dumfries and Galloway. The grassy round mound measures c. 12 yards in diameter and 5 feet high. The cairn is intact except for a quarry pit in the N half of the mound. There are only a few visible small stones on the surface of the cairn, embedded in the centre. Craigbirnoch NW Cairn is listed as Canmore ID 61367.

Craigbirnoch NW Cairn is one of a cluster of cairns E of Craigbirnoch Farm. Craigbirnoch NE Cairn is located c. 100 yards ESE of Craigbirnoch NW Cairn.

Craigbirnoch NE Cairn is located in open boggy moorland c. 500 yards NE of a passing place (NX 17641 69180) on the New Luce to Barrhill single-track road in Dumfries and Galloway. The grassy round cairn, which lies c. 80 yards W of the Cross Water of Luce, measures c. 20 yards in diameter and 2 feet high. The largely quarried cairn has an irregular grassy surface in the centre, with original cairn stones, covered in a patina of moss, preserved on the E and W Arcs. Craigbirnoch NE Cairn is listed as Canmore ID 61392.

Craigbirnoch NE Cairn is one of a cluster of cairns E of Craigbirnoch Farm. Craigbirnoch NW Cairn is located c. 100 yards WNW of Craigbirnoch NE Cairn.

Craigbirnoch Central NW Cairn is located c. 300 yards NNE of the junction of Craigbirnoch Farm Track with the New Luce to Barrhill single-track road. It is c. 80 yards N of a passing place (NX 17641 69180) on a sharp corner in open boggy moorland. Canmore ID 61403 states that a cist was exposed when Craigbirnoch Central NW Cairn was robbed for road metal in 1914. The cist was excavated in 1916, revealing evidence of a cremation. There are no visible signs of a cist in the remains of the cairn. The round cairn, which measures c. 14 yards in diameter and 2 feet high, survives as a grassy horseshoe bank with a central hollow. The outer bank varies from 2-3 yards wide around the perimeter with a gap in the NE Arc. The interior of the cairn is grassy with a group of embedded small stones in the N half.

Craigbirnoch Central NW Cairn is one of a cluster of cairns E of Craigbirnoch Farm. Craigbirnoch Central SE Cairn is located c. 70 yards SSE of Craigbirnoch Central NW Cairn.

Craigbirnoch Central SE Cairn is located c. 300 yards NE of the junction of Craigbirnoch Farm Track with the New Luce to Barrhill single-track road. It is c. 70 yards E of a passing place (NX 17641 69180) on a sharp corner in open boggy moorland. The round cairn, listed as Canmore ID 61402, measures c. 14 yards in diameter and 2 feet high. The W half of Craigbirnoch Central SE Cairn has an irregular grassy surface in contrast to the lower E half, which has scattered field clearance stones deposited on its grassy surface. A quarried hollow in the NE quadrant has been filled in with medium sized clearance boulders.

Craigbirnoch Central SE Cairn is one of a cluster of cairns E of Craigbirnoch Farm. Craigbirnoch Central NW Cairn is located c. 70 yards NNW of Craigbirnoch Central SE Cairn.

Craigbirnoch S Cairn is located c. 350 yards ESE of Craigbirnoch Farm junction with the New Luce to Barrhill single-track road, in Dumfries and Galloway. The round grassy mound, measuring c. 17 yards in diameter and 4 feet high, lies c. 150 yards down an E slope next to a low stone wall. There are no stones visible on the surface of the cairn. The centre of Craigbirnoch S Cairn has been quarried, leaving a roughly circular hollow measuring c. 5 yards in diameter. Canmore 61421 has details of Craigbirnoch S Cairn. It is one of a cluster of cairns E of Craigbirnoch Farm.

Visited 07.01.23

Gallop Hole Cairn is located on the W edge of Haggstone Moor in South Ayrshire. It was identified as the remains of a possible burial cairn by RCHAMS in 1981. Gallop Hole Cairn is a grassy oval mound measuring 7m (E-W Axis) and 4.5m (N-S Axis), reaching a height of 0.4m according to Canmore ID 60882. The S Arc is preserved as a grass-covered bank. The only stones visible on the cairn are two stones embedded in the N Arc. The centre of the cairn has been excavated, leaving a hollow in the centre.

There is a standing stone on the SE verge of the A855 Portree road c. 50 yards NE of the Skye Museum of Island Life. Osmigarry Standing Stone is a broad irregular pillar reaching c. 5 feet high. The stone has gravitas and the patina of antiquity, but it has no provenance. It is not marked on OS Mapping or listed in Canmore. Despite this, I think it’s physical presence merits a listing as a standing stone. A recumbent stone, c. 4 feet long lies on the NW verge of the A855, opposite Osmigarry Standing Stone. Perhaps it was originally erect, one of a pair of standing stones.

Directions: Take the B7044 Colmonell turn off the A77 on the S end of Ballantrae. This road is narrow with very few passing places. Follow the road for c. 2.8 miles to reach Finnart Cottage. There is a muddy parking space c. 50 yards E on the right side. Knockdolian path starts c. 30 yards E from here. The path climbs steeply NW up a field towards a gate which leads to Knockdolian summit ridge. Knockdolian cairn is located on the summit. An OS Trig Point has been supplanted in the centre of the cairn. My route can be viewed on Knockdolian Cairn.

Directions: Take the narrow lane signed for Works Traffic at NX 0662 7380 off the A77 between Glen App Church and Haggstone. After c. 0.6 miles park up in a lay-by at NX 0603 7311. Walk SW along the Stranraer Coastal Path for c. 0.5 miles to reach a gate into the rough pasture which contains Haggstone Moor Cairn. My route is viewable on Haggstone Moor Cairn.

Visited 08.12.22

I found Haggstone Moor Standing Stone listed on Canmore ID 60883. The stone had fallen in 1971 when A Thom found it. A Thom suggested that the standing stone gave Haggstone Moor its name. He also noted that it was “of significance for lunar observations”. I thought that finding a fallen stone in a forest would be like finding a needle in a haystack, however, there were two factors in my favour. Firstly, the Grid Reference plotted on a margin of the forest. Secondly, the Wind Farm has constructed roads which gave me easy pedestrian access to the site. Using my GPS I search an area around NX 065 726. Surprisingly, I found a small recumbent stone embedded in the turf at the base of a solitary spruce tree on the SE margin of the forest at NX 06485 72626. The stone was difficult to measure as it was half-buried but I estimate that it was 1.5 feet by 1.5 feet in cross section by 3 feet long. It is orientated on a SE-NW Axis with a rounded point on the NW end. The irregular SE end may be the result of the top half of a tall standing stone breaking off. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find out any information about the original dimensions of Haggstone Moor Standing Stone. The recumbent stone has the shape of a typical standing stone. I can suggest that the recumbent stone I found could be the original Haggstone Moor Standing Stone, or at least a surviving portion of it.

There is a cairn located in South Ayrshire, c. 2 miles N of Cairnryan, listed on Canmore ID 60867 as a kerb cairn. The grassy cairn measures c. 50 feet in diameter and 3 feet high. There are no visible stones on the cairn, except for 8 probable kerb stones on the SW perimeter. The largest stone is a triangular stone, measuring c. 3 feet long by 1 foot wide at the base, resembling a recumbent standing stone. The surface of the cairn is irregular with a central grassy hollow, probably an excavation pit.

Visited 05.12.22

Arnsheen N Cairn is a robbed cairn located c. 4 miles SE of Barrhill, in South Ayrshire. The grassy cairn measures c. 12 yards in diameter and 1 yard high. A quarry pit from the S Arc has exposed a jumble of small to medium sized stones in the centre of the cairn, the only stones visible on the cairn. Canmore ID 62459 (go to Links) has further details of Arnsheen N Cairn. There are traces of a low stone wall on the NW Arc of Arnsheen N Cairn. A triangular stone on the SW end of the wall has two double cup marks and a single cup mark on its NE face. Canmore ID 62456 does not consider this stone to be an antiquity. Arnsheen S Cairn, a large robbed out cairn, is situated c. 30 yards NNE of Arnsheen N Cairn.

Visited 05.12.22

Arnsheen S Cairn is a robbed out cairn located in a forestry clearing c. 4 miles SE of Barrhill, in South Ayrshire. The stones quarried from the cairn were used to construct a large sheepfold on the surface of the cairn. Canmore ID 62455 (go to Links) estimates that the original cairn had a diameter measuring c. 30 yards, based on remains of the N and E Arcs. Arnsheen N Cairn, a smaller cairn, is situated c. 30 yards SSW of Arnsheen S Cairn.

Visited 03.12.22

Airyhemming E Cairn is located c. 2 miles NE of Dunragit, in pasture c. 500 yards W of Airyhemming Farm. It measures c. 33 feet in diameter and 3 feet high, but large field clearance stones have been dumped all round the surface of the cairn. Consequently, Airyhemming E Cairn reaches up to 5 feet high. There is an embedded pointed stone, measuring c. 1.5 feet high, on the SE perimeter, possibly an original kerb stone. The centre of the cairn is a round hollow, c. 3 feet across surrounded by large clearance stones. Canmore ID 61184 (go to Links) has further details on Airyhemming E Cairn. There is a companion cairn, Airyhemming W Cairn, c. 250 yards W of Airyhemming E Cairn.

Visited 03.12.22

Airyhemming W Cairn is an extensively robbed oval cairn c, 2 miles NE of Dunragit, measuring c. 23 feet in diameter according to Canmore ID 61162 (go to Links). The original cairn has been extended to the SE by deposited field clearance stones, resulting in a sub-rectangular long cairn measuring c. 90 feet long by 36 feet wide. There is a significant deposit of small stones on the NW flank of the cairn. The centre of the cairn is largely clear of stones but the SE end is covered in clearance stones. The largest boulder in the SE half measures c. 6 x 5 x 3 feet. There is a companion cairn, Airyhemming E Cairn, c. 250 yards E of Airyhemming W Cairn.

Visited 27.11.22

Cruise Back Fell Fort is located c. 0.5 miles SE of Cruise Farm, c. 1.3 miles S of New Luce. The fort is situated on an elongated natural knoll on the summit of Cruise Back Fell. The fort is protected by steep slopes on the N and E Flanks. The S flank is less steep but was protected by a stone wall. The entrance to the fort is located in a gap on the W flank which leads into the S Enclosure. The flat interior of the enclosure measures c. 36 feet N-S and 24 feet E-W, bounded by a rock wall in the E. There is a stone structure in the S end of the knoll, said to be a sheep ree by Canmore 61644 (go to Links). The upper N Enclosure is separated from the lower by a tumbledown low wall on a slope. The N Enclosure has a subcircular flat interior c. 24 feet in diameter surrounded by a low circle of scattered stones c. 12-15 feet wide. A modern cairn has been constructed on the summit of the knoll c. 5 yards N of the N Enclosure.
Littlepark Cairn, another site worth investigating, is located c. 300 yards N of Cruise Back Fell Fort.

Visited 27.11.22

Littlepark Cairn is a round cairn located in pasture c. 500 yards E of Cruise Farm, c. 1.3 miles S of New Luce. The cairn, which measures c. 75 feet in diameter and 3 feet high, has field clearance stones dumped randomly over the grassy surface. The summit of the cairn is in the N Arc at c. 5 feet due to a pile of large field clearance stones. According to Canmore ID 61677 (go to Links) Littlepark cairn originally measured c. 50 feet in diameter before dumped field clearance stones increased its area.
Cruise Back Fell Fort, another site worth investigating, is located c. 300 yards S of Littlepark Cairn.

I found St Katherine’s Well on my visit today (28.11.22). It was obscured by thick vegetation. The well is located on the E edge of the New Luce road c. 55 yards SSE of Glenluce Abbey car park at NX 18589 58751. It measures c. 2 yards long, 1 yard wide and 1 foot deep with an exposed stone dome. The well extends c. 2.5 feet under the dome. Canmore ID 61153 (go to Links) has further details of St Katherine’s Well (Glenluce Abbey).

Visited 16.11.22

Mains of Larg NW Cairn is located c. 0.5 miles WNW of New Luce in rough pasture. The round cairn measures c. 60 feet in diameter and 5 feet high. There is a medium sized embedded stone on the SE Perimeter, possibly a Kerb Stone. Large spreads of Field Clearance stones have been dumped on the SE & NW Quadrants. The summit of the cairn is c. 5 feet high on the E Arc.
Canmore ID 61600 (go to Links) has details of Mains of Larg NW Cairn. There is a twin cairn, Mains of Larg NE, located c. 65 yards NE and a smaller cairn, Gowk Nest Wood Cairn located c. 300 yards N.

Visited 16.11.22

Mains of Larg NE Cairn is located c. 0.5 miles WNW of New Luce in rough pasture. The round cairn measures c. 60 feet in diameter and 5 feet high. There are no original stones visible on the grass surface of the cairn, but Field Clearance stone have been dumped on the SE half. There is also a large sub-rectangular boulder measuring c. 2.5 x 4 x 1.5 feet on the W Quadrant. The NW half is populated by gorse bushes. The central summit of the cairn is c. 5 feet high.
Canmore ID 61661 (go to Links) has details of Mains of Larg NE Cairn. There is a twin cairn, Mains of Larg NW, located c. 65 yards SW and a smaller cairn, Gowk Nest Wood Cairn located c. 300 yards N.

Visited 16.11.22

Gowk Nest Wood Cairn is located c. 50 yards W of Gowk Nest Wood, c. 0.8 miles NW of New Luce. The round grass mound measures c. 40 feet in diameter and 2 feet high. It has been entirely robbed of stones except for two small stones embedded in the W Quadrant. The interior of the cairn has an irregular grassy surface. There is a shallow hollow in the centre of the cairn. Gowk Nest Wood Cairn is located c. 300 yards N of Mains of Larg NE & NW Cairns. It is listed as a probable cairn on Canmore ID 61375 (go to Links).

Visited 15.11.22

Barnshanan E Cairn is a large stony mound c. 0.8 miles NE of New Luce in Dumfries and Galloway. It is located adjacent to a dry stane dyke (probably constructed from cairn stones) in a field c. 50 yards S of Barnshangan Farm track. The round cairn measures c. 75 feet in diameter and 7 feet high. There are several embedded stones on the NE, SW and NW Arcs of the perimeter which may be Kerb Stones. Field Clearance stones have been deposited on the E and S Arcs. The N half of Barnshanan E Cairn has been extensively stone robbed. The S half, which reaches a height of 7 feet, has a scatter of small stones on its surface.

Canmore ID 61381 (go to Links) has further details of Barnshanan E Cairn. It has a companion cairn, Barnshangan W Cairn, located c. 165 yards W. The W cairn has been reduced to ground level in a grassy field.

Visited 15.11.22

Barlure Cairn is located c. 180 yards N of Barlure Farm, c. 1.5 miles N of New Luce. The grassy cairn measures c. 45 feet in diameter and 4 feet high. The perimeter has some potential Kerb Stones, especially on the SE Arc. The interior of the cairn is free from stones except for a small cluster on the W Quadrant. The E Half of Barlure Cairn is 4 feet high, c. 1 foot higher than the W Half. Canmore ID 61319 (go to Links) has further details of Barlure Cairn.

Visited 20.11.22

Cruise E Cairn is located on the N end of an elongated natural knoll c. 0.80 miles SSE of New Luce in Dumfries and Galloway. It measures c. 54 feet in diameter and 5 feet high. There is a scatter of stones c. 2 yards wide on the edge of the S Arc and a similarly sized pile on the E Quadrant. The surface of Cruise E Cairn is studded with small stones. There are two small cavities in the centre of the cairn: a cavity measuring c. 1.5 feet x 1 foot located c. 1 yard E of the centre and a cavity measuring c. 3 feet x 1 foot located c. 3 yards W of the centre. The E cavity could be a small, lined cist infilled by loose stones.
Canmore ID 61565 (go to Links) lists Cruise E Cairn as Cruise, Smithy Hill. (There are too many Smithy Hill’s in Dumfries and Galloway for its inclusion to be useful). There is a low-lying companion cairn, Cruise W Cairn, located c. 140 yards WSW amid marshy land.

Visited 20.11.22

Cruise W Cairn is a robbed-out grassy mound located c. 0.8 miles SSE of New Luce in Dumfries and Galloway. The cairn measures c. 45 feet in diameter and 2 feet high. There are two possible Kerb Stones, one on the SW Arc and the other on the E Arc. The interior of the mound is flat and featureless save for a cluster of small stones embedded in the S Quadrant.
Cruise W Cairn is unremarkable, but it has a close companion, Cruise E Cairn, perched on an elongated natural knoll c. 140 yards ENE. Canmore ID 61687 (go to Links) states that Cruise W Cairn was a stony mound in 1986, however, no stones are now visible.

Visited 09.11.22

Balchriston Dun is built on a natural knoll in Rancleugh Wood c. 2 miles WNW of Maybole in South Ayrshire. The knoll is wedged between 2 burns on the N, S and W, with a natural gully on the E flank. The dun is defended by steep slopes on the S & W flanks. The N and E flanks are less severe, measuring up to c. 20 feet high. The summit of Balchriston Dun is a hollow enclosure measuring c. 12 yards in diameter with a surrounding bank up to c. 4 feet high. The W Arc of the bank has exposed stones on the surface. There are remains of a stone structure on the N Arc. Canmore ID 40957 (go to Links) speculates that this may have been a gatehouse guarding an entrance. A ring of scrubby trees has occupied the summit.

Visited 08.11.22

Diddles Hill Cairn is located c. 250 yards SE of the New Luce road at Penwhirn Reservoir. The cairn measures c. 10 yards in diameter and 1 foot high. There are several possible kerb stones on the S Arc, the largest measuring c. 2.5 feet high. The surface of the cairn is obscured by moor grass except for a small central mound. The mound measures c. 10 feet in diameter and 1 foot high, with a central irregular boulder measuring c. 1.5 feet high and wide. Small stones are scattered on the surface of the central mound. Canmore ID 61506 (go to Links) has further details of Diddles Hill Cairn.

Visited 06.11.22

Balker Moor S Cairn is located on an isolated moor c. 4 miles NE of Stranraer. According to Canmore ID 61699 (go to Links), this sub-circular cairn measures c. 20 yards in diameter and 2 feet high. The irregular surface of the cairn is occupied by reeds and moor grass with only one visible stony mound, measuring c. 10 feet in diameter by 2 feet high. Another proposed cairn, located c. 110 yards NNW, is listed as Canmore ID 61730. I was unable to locate any trace of the N cairn in the rough moorland.
Directions: Take the A77 Ayr road E out of Stranraer. After c. 2 miles continue past the A751 Dumfries junction for c. 0.3 mile. Take the right turn onto an unsigned single track road. Stay on this road for c. 2.5 miles, past Craigcaffie Farm, then park up in a lay-by on the right at NX 1013 6501. Walk ESE across the moor parallel to the forest margin for c. 700 yards to NX 1072 6477, avoiding the boggiest ground. Walk c. 250 yards S from here to Balker Moor N Cairn at NX 10724 64545. Balker Moor S Cairn is located at NX 10767 64445, c. 110 yards SSE of the N cairn. My route can be seen on Balker Moor Cairns. Wellies and GPS navigation are essential.
The half mile trek to this cairn was waterlogged but I was compensated for my efforts by being 150 yards from a red deer stag and hinds (slightly nerve-wracking) and finding a hidden cairn in moorland. It isn’t the biggest cairn ever, but the overall experience was ultimately worthwhile.

Visited 28.10.22

I have added this update because the trees round Teroy Fort have been felled since Spencer’s fieldnotes. I followed his route up to the edge of the forest, then walked along a field margin to reach Teroy Fort. My route can be seen on Teroy Fort (go to Links).

Visited 25.10.22

Finnarts Hill Enclosure is a round earthwork on the summit of Finnarts Hill, c. 4 miles N of Cairnryan. The grassy enclosure, which measures c. 20 yards in diameter and 1 yard high, has a low outer bank and ditch on the perimeter. Canmore ID 60911 (go to Links) states that there is a causeway breaking the N Arc of the ditch. The ditches on the E & W Arcs have been delineated by reeds. The SW Quadrant of Finnarts Hill Enclosure has been covered in reeds also. There is an irregular hollow in the centre of the enclosure. There are extensive coastal views of Loch Ryan to the S and W, perhaps explaining the location of the enclosure. Additionally, there is a companion cairn c. 250 yards SW down the heather clad slope of Finnarts Hill.

Visited 25.20.22

Finnarts Hill Cairn is on the W slope of Finnarts Hill, c. 4 miles N of Cairnryan. This grassy round cairn measures c. 15 yards in diameter and 2 feet high. It has been almost entirely stone-robbed with the exception of a small pile of stones on the N Arc and two stones in the central hollow. The central stones are remnants of a cist within which a food vessel was found according to Canmore ID 60912 (go to Links). The large capstone, which measures c. 6 feet long by 21 inches in square section, is orientated NE-SW. There is an enclosure c. 250 yards NE towards the summit of Finnarts Hill.

Visited 26.10.22

Culquhasen Cairn is located c. 3 miles SE of Glenluce in Dumfries and Galloway. The round cairn measures c. 60 feet in diameter and 6 feet high. There are traces of medium-sized Kerb stones on the E & S Arcs. On the S Arc there is a spacing of c. 3 yards between stones. Clearance stones have been dumped on the edge of the cairn, especially on the E and SW Arcs. The grassy surface of the cairn is studded with stones. The summit of the cairn has been populated by gorse bushes, obscuring the summit. Canmore ID 62245 (go to Links) has details of Culquhasen Cairn.