markj99

Visited 24.10.22

Howmoor Dun is built on a natural mound c. 2 miles NW of Maybole. The dun has an oval summit plateau measuring c. 30 yards E-W & 25 yards N-S. It rises c. 20 feet above the surrounding land. It is covered in rough grass over an uneven surface. There is an intermittent earth rampart c. 2 feet high round the perimeter of the plateau. The only substantial stone on the summit is in a trench on the SW Arc of the plateau. Canmore ID 40952 attributes this to stone-robbing. In the centre of the dun there is a circular hollow c. 20 feet in diameter and 1.5 feet deep. The dun is well protected with steep flanks on all sides. On the W flank there is an additional ditch and rampart defensive system.

Directions to Killantringan Bay Dun: Take the B738 Leswalt right turn off the A77 c. 0.1 miles before Portpatrick. Stay on the road for c. 2.5 miles to reach Knock Farm ruin. Take the 2nd left turn as the 1st left turn is rutted. There is room to park up. The farm track is too rough to drive down. Follow my route on Killantringan Bay Dun N (go to Links).

Visited 16.10.22 & 20.10.22

Killantringan Bay Dun is constructed on a rocky outcrop at the foot of an escarpment in Killantringan Bay. The outcrop is c. 33 feet high, sloping gently from E to W. The dun is well protected by the steep slopes on the N, E & S flanks of the outcrop. The W flank is the easiest access point with stone outworks of a possible entrance in the NW corner. Traces of a wall can be seen on the W flank. Gorse bushes have occupied the slope, blocking access to the dun. There is a steep climb on the SE corner which I was able to ascend. The summit of the outcrop at the E end reaches a height of c. 33 yards above sea level. The dun is on the W slope measuring c. 30 yards E-W and 12 yards N-S. There are no stones visible in the enclosure which has a thick covering of gorse bushes. Canmore ID 60326 (go to Links) has further details of Killantringan Bay Dun.

Visited 16.10.22

North Cairn (Cairn Hill) is a large, ruined cairn on the summit of Cairn Hill c. 5 miles NNW of Leswalt. The cairn has been divided by a stone wall running N-S, leaving c. one third of the cairn W of the wall. There is a line of large stones on the N Arc which may have been Kerb Stones and an earth fast stone on the W Arc measuring c. 1.5 feet high by 3 feet wide. The cairn measures c. 30 yards in diameter and 5 feet high. Although most of the stones have been removed there are scattered stones in the E half of the cairn. Further information about North Cairn (Cairn Hill) is available on Canmore ID 60426 (go to Links).

Visited 16.10.22

Galla Hill mound is a low earthwork c. 2 miles W of Stranraer. The round mound measures c. 12 yards in diameter and 1 yard high. The grassy surface, obscured by gorse bushes, has no visible stones. Canmore ID 60554 (go to Links) suggests that this may be a barrow with concentric ditches visible on aerial photography.

Visited 13.10.22

Craigenlee Fell E Cairn is located c. 3 miles SW of Stranraer. It is a grassy round cairn measuring c. 25 yards in diameter and 1 yard high. The cairn has been almost entirely robbed of stones, leaving only several possible earthfast Kerb stones in situ. The surface of the cairn is undulating, perhaps the result of past excavations. A full description of Craigenlee Fell E Cairn is available in Canmore ID 60563 (go to Links). Craigenlee Fell W Cairn is located c. 400 yards WSW of Craigenlee Fell E Cairn.

Visited 13/10/22

Craigenlee Fell W Cairn is on the summit of Craigenlee Fell c. 3 miles SW of Stranraer. It is a grassy round cairn measuring c. 12 yards in diameter and 1 yard high. The cairn has been almost entirely robbed of stones, leaving only several possible earthfast Kerb stones in situ. There is an excellent 360° panoramic view from Craigenlee Fell Summit. Further details of Craigenlee Fell W Cairn are available in Canmore ID 60562 (go to Links). Craigenlee Fell E Cairn is located c. 400 yards ENE on Craigenlee Fell.

Visited 11.10.22

Craigencroy Cairn is a round cairn located c. 2 miles SW of Sandhead, a village in Dumfries and Galloway. It has been bisected by a field boundary on the NW-SE Axis. The NE half of the cairn has been ploughed out to ground level, leaving the SW half measuring c. 6 feet high, 16 yards long and 8 yards wide. The cairn, covered by gorse bushes, has been incorporated into the field boundary. A full description of Craigencroy Cairn is available in Canmore ID 60474 (go to Links).

Visited 08.10.22

Cairn Fell Cairn is located on the summit of Cairn Fell c. 1.5 miles WSW of Kirkmaiden, a small village in Dumfries and Galloway. This round cairn measures c. 2 feet high and 45 feet in diameter. There is a discontinuous kerb of stones up to 2 feet high within the grassy footprint of the cairn. Cairn Fell Cairn has been extensively robbed in the centre, leaving a hollow c. 1 foot deep. A modern Summit Cairn c. 4 feet high has been erected c. 6 feet W of the perimeter of Cairn Fell Cairn. Cairn Fell is listed on Canmore ID 61002 as Cairn More.

Visited 24.07.22

Cairnwhapple Stone is a large granite erratic located in Tairlaw Plantation, South Ayshire. It is currently hidden from public view c. 400 yards W of Loch Bradan Dam. The irregular sub-circular boulder measures c. 4 yards high by 10 yards in diameter. It is recorded in Ayrshire OS Name Books, 1855-1857 (go to Links): “A conspicuous stone, nearly round, about twelve feet in height and thirty in diameter – situated on Linn Shalloch hill. There are no incidents connected with it.” Cairnwhapple Stone is shown on current OS Mapping.

Visited 29.09.22

Stellhead S Cairn is a round cairn c. 7.5 miles NNE of St Johnn’s Town of Dalry. It measures c. 12 yards in diameter and 2 feet high. There is a 3 feet high Modern Cairn on the S Arc of the cairn. I found 2 possible displaced Kerb stones outside the E and S Arcs respectively. Medium & small stones are scattered on the surface of Stellhead S Cairn with the exception of the W quadrant which is covered in reeds. Stellhead N Cairn is c. 130 yards N of this cairn. Stellhead Cairns are listed as Canmore ID 64330 (go to Links).

Visited 29.09.22

Stellhead N Cairn is a round grassy cairn c. 7.5 miles NNE of St Johnn’s Town of Dalry. It measures c. 10 yards in diameter and 4 feet high. There are no visible kerb stones on the perimeter. Stellhead N Cairn has been robbed out with the exception of a scattering of small stones in the W Quadrant. Stellhead S Cairn is c. 130 yards S of this cairn. Stellhead Cairns are listed as Canmore ID 64330 (go to Links).

Visited 28.09.22

Round Craigs Cairn is located on a natural knoll c. 50 yards SE of an elongated crag on Round Craigs Summit. The round cairn measures c. 10 yards in diameter and 1 yard high. The perimeter has an intermittent outer kerb of stones less than 1 foot high. Within the cairn there is a discontinuous inner kerb of small earth-fast stones measuring c. 10 feet in diameter and up to 0.5 feet high. The centre of the cairn is a shallow hollow which has been robbed of loose stones.
Round Craigs Cairn is listed as Canmore ID 64354 (go to Links).

Visited 28.09.22

Mackilston N Cairn is a robbed-out grassy round cairn in pastureland c. 4 miles N of St John’s Town of Dalry. It measures c. 12 yards in diameter and up to 1 foot high. Mackilston S Cairn, a higher mound lies c. 50 yards S. Both cairns are described in Canmore ID 64275 (go to Links).

Visited 28.09.22

Mackilston S Cairn is a robbed-out grassy round cairn in pastureland c. 4 miles N of St John’s Town of Dalry. It measures c. 14 yards in diameter and 4 feet high. Mackilston N Cairn, a much-reduced grassy mound lies c. 50 yards N. Both cairns are described in Canmore ID 64275 (go to Links).

Visited 02.10.22

There was a hillfort on the summit of Cairn Pat, a natural defensive stronghold rising to 182m above Sea Level. The hillfort has steep sides on the N, E & W flanks affording natural protection. There are intermittent traces of a double rampart defence round the perimeter of the hill giving further security to the occupiers. On the gentler slopes of the S flank there are traces of secondary and tertiary ramparts. The oval enclosure measures c. 130 yards N-S & 110 yards E-W. Cairn Pat hill is now dominated by a tall antenna and radio station building, erected on the centre of the enclosure. A track from the S cuts through the SE Arc of the ramparts leading to Cairn Pat Radio Station. An OS Trig Point c. 20 yards N of the antenna is the only other feature within the enclosure. Canmore ID 60559 (go to Links) provides a fuller description of Cairn Pat Hillfort.

Visited 11.09.22

Treswallock Downs N Cairn (SX11837838) is a grassy mound bisected by the path to Alex Tor. It is almost entirely robbed of stones leaving a round footprint of irregular grassy mounds measuring up to c. 12 yards in diameter & 2.5 feet high. Treswallock Downs N Cairn is listed as Cornwall & Scilly HER Number: 1970.40 (go to Links).

Visited 11.09.22

Treswallock Downs Central Ring Cairn (SX11717816) is constructed on a round platform measuring c. 22 yards in diameter & 1 foot high. It has an Outer Kerb, best preserved in the S Arc, measuring c. 17 yards in diameter and 1 foot high. There is an intermittent Inner Kerb of Standing Stones up to c. 2 feet high 2 yards within the Outer Kerb. A continuous Arc of the Inner Kerb can be traced in the E Arc of Treswallock Downs Central Ring Cairn. Large stones lie scattered in the centre of the cairn, probably as a result of stone robbing. Cornwall & Scilly HER Number: 1970.30 (go to Links) give a full description of Treswallock Downs Central Ring Cairn.

Visited 11.09.22

Alex Tor Ring Cairn is the highest cairn of the Treswallock Downs Cairn Cemetery. It is located c. 25 yards NW of Alex Tor Summit. The cairn measures c. 15 yards in diameter surrounded by a stone slab kerb up to a maximum of 5 feet high in the NE Arc. There is a gap in the NW Kerb possibly made by the vandals who excavated the centre of the cairn leaving an interior of irregular mounds and hollows.
Alex Tor Ring Cairn has a 360° panoramic view of Treswallock Downs. It is listed as Cornwall & Scilly HER No. 1970.50 (go to Links).

Visited 11.09.22

Cornwall & Scilly HER Number: 1970 (go to Links) describes a group of 7 Bronze Age Cairns on Treswallock Downs. They vary from impressive Kerb Cairns to mutilated mounds. I was only able to locate 4 cairns: Alex Tor Ring Cairn (listed separately on TMA), Treswallock N Cairn, Treswallock Central Ring Cairn and Treswallock S Cairn. Treswallock S Cairn is located at SX 1160 7782 as recorded by thesweetcheat.

Visited 09.09.22

Trehudreth Downs NW Menhir is a wide slab measuring c. 62 inches high and 51 inches wide, leaning c. 20° SE. There is a second stone set at right angles to the menhir. It is a triangular standing stone measuring c. 2 ft high. The site resembles the remains of a cist but there is no evidence of a surrounding cairn. Cornwall & Scilly HER list this monument as HER Number: 1669 (go to Links) providing a fuller description of Trehudreth Downs NW Menhir.

Visited 09.09.22

Trehudreth Downs Stone Setting / Row is c. 40 yards E of Trehudreth Downs W Cairn. A gorse bush has grown c. 5 feet NW of the standing stone obscuring it from most N & W approaches. The W standing stone leans c. 25° E reaching a height of 62 inches. The 2 recumbent stones lying E form the Arc of a Circle. Cornwall and Scilly HER Number: 3618 (go to Links) has further details of Trehudreth Downs Stone Setting.

Visited 09.09.22

According to Cornwall & Scilly HER Number: 1634 (go to Links) there are 3 cairns in Greenbarrow Downs Bronze Age Cairn Cemetery. Cornwall & Scilly HER Number: 1634.20 corresponds to Greenbarrow, a round barrow c. 150 yards SW listed separately in TMA. Cornwall & Scilly HER Number: 1634.30 describes a recently scheduled speculative stone mound located c. 35 yards NW of Greenbarrow. A grid search at SX 1303 7302 failed to find it amongst rough moorland tussocks. The remaining cairn, listed as Cornwall & Scilly HER Number: 1634.10 describes a round barrow at SX 1303 7302. Greenbarrow Downs NE is a grassy round barrow measuring c. 17 yards in diameter and 1.5 feet high with a central mound measuring c. 10 yards in diameter and 2 feet high. There is an Excavated Hollow in the centre of the cairn filled with reeds.

Visited 09.09.22

Greenbarrow was an obvious target on the SW horizon viewed from Greenbarrow NE Cairn. This impressive grass-covered barrow measures c. 25 yards in diameter with a central mound measuring c. 4 feet high. There is an earthfast Kerb Stone in the W Arc. There is also a large stone on the N Arc of the platform, possibly a displaced Kerb Stone. A ditch is visible between the Central Mound and the raised platform on the N Arc. The hollow centre of the barrow has irregular excavation pits.

Greenbarrow is listed as Cornwall & Scilly HER Number: 1634.20 (go to Links), part of a Bronze Age cairn cemetery. The NGR is recorded as SX 1298 7294.

Visited 09.09.22

I spent a pleasant afternoon surveying cairns, stone rows and standing stones on Greenbarrow & Trehudreth Downs. I found Trehudreth Downs W Cairn, a round grassy mound with an irregular surface measuring c. 20 yards in diameter and 3 feet high. There is the footprint of a stone structure measuring c. 5x4 yards in the E Arc of the cairn. It is located at SX 12475 72749.

Visited 09.09.22

I spent a pleasant afternoon surveying cairns, stone rows and standing stones on Greenbarrow & Trehudreth Downs. I found Trehudreth Downs E Cairn, a round grassy mound with an irregular surface measuring c. 7 yards in diameter and 2 feet high. It is one of 6 sites listed on Historic England List Entry Number: 1005458 (go to Links). It is located at SX 12676 72864.

Visited 09.09.22

I spent a pleasant afternoon wandering Trehudreth Downs. I was successfully searching for cairns but also stumbled on this short stone row running WSW-ENE. The stones were low lying and difficult to locate in rough moorland. Upon consulting my GPS I noted that this was the W end of a long stone row. At the time I couldn’t locate its remaining portion. The Stone Rows of Great Britain includes Trehudreth Down (go to Links). Stone 19 (SX 12464 72955) and Stone 13 (SX 12499 72967) gives the full range of the stones I found.

Visited 10.09.22

Two Stone Circles for the price of one! Trippet Stones & Stripple Stones are a classic double. Hawk’s Tor is a bonus. Stripple Stones were restored in 2015 by The Heritage Trust. A modern wall bisecting the henge was removed, the henge was restored and fallen stones re-erected. The current monument has 11 standing stones & 4 recumbent stones in the stone circle and 2 central recumbent stones orientated towards 338°. The large recumbent central stone measures c. 12 ft by 33 inches. The smaller parallel recumbent central stone measures c. 40 inches by 12 inches.
Pictures of all 17 stones in Stripple Stones are available in Historic England List Entry Number: 1006693 (go to Links).
Directions: Take the St Breward/Temple turn off the A30. Follow the St Breward road for c. 0.8 mile to the 1st crossroad. Turn left and park up on the grass verge after c. 0.2 miles. Walk c. 170 yards NNW to Trippet Stones. Walk NE for 0.3 miles to the corner of the common. Follow the track NE for c. 0.35 miles. Walk SE for c. 0.2 miles to the summit of Hawk’s Tor. The Stripple Stones are located 0.25 miles SE of the summit. My route to Stripple Stones is on OS Maps (go to Links).

Visited 12.09.22

Seven Lords’ Lands Cairn was an unexpected bonus on a visit to Hound Tor Medieval Village in Dartmoor National Park. It is located c. 80 yards NE of the B3387, adjacent to a stone wall. This round cairn has a diameter of c. 12 yards and reaches up to 2 feet high. There is an intermittent kerb of upright stones measuring up to 2.5 feet in the W Arc. A gap in the SW Arc of the kerb provides an entrance into the interior of the cairn. The irregular grassy surface of the interior has been robbed of stones. There is an excavated hollow offset c. 5 feet W of the centre of the cairn. The grassy hollow is c. 2.5 feet across & 1 foot deep with a small embedded central stone.
Seven Lords’ Lands Cairn is listed on Historic England (go to Links).

Visited 09.09.22
On the way to the Trippet stones I took the opportunity to revisit Manor Common Barrows. I had located the N Barrow but failed to find the S Barrow in 2019. This time, I revisited the N Barrow quite easily then used my GPS to home in on the location of the S Barrow. I saw a low tumulus c. 2 feet high covered in burnt gorse bushes. Maybe the cairn was hidden by gorse on my last visit. The cairn measured c. 12 yards E-W but the S Arc was obscured by gorse.

Manor Common Cairns are not listed on Historic England, but they are marked on OS Mapping. However, by using a new Search Engine, Heritage Gateway, I discovered a Bronze Age Barrow Cemetery listed on Cornwall & Scilly HER Number: 1642 (go to Links). There are three barrows in the listing. Manor Common N Cairn corresponds to Cornwall & Scilly HER Number: 1642.10. Manor Common S Cairn corresponds to Cornwall & Scilly HER Number: 1642.20. Cornwall & Scilly HER Number: 1642.30 refers to a putative small cairn located in between the N & S cairns. I didn’t search for it because I found this information subsequent to my visit.

Visited 25.08.22

For some perverse reason I felt compelled to revisit Long Tom (Cairnryan) Standing Stone. My original route from Cairnryan was blocked by a no unauthorised entry sign, presumably for a Wind Farm Construction Site. Back to the drawing board or in this case OS Maps. Glen App Wind Farm is now operational and accessible on foot (or bike). I plotted a route through the wind farm leading to Turbine B10. From there I could see a route to Long Tom (Cairnryan) via forest rides and firebreaks. The conditions underfoot were rough and boggy with care required on some sections to avoid sinking, however I persisted to reach my goal. A standing stone in perfect isolation! A just reward for a difficult expedition. All too soon I had to retrace my sodden footsteps to Turbine B10 and dry roads.

My route to Long Tom (Cairnryan) is viewable on the following link: explore.osmaps.com/route/13702299/long-tom-milldown?lat=55.018030&lon=-5.023700&zoom=12.6373&overlays=&style=Leisure&type=2d
Parking is available at NX 07423 74657, W of the A77 opposite Glenapp Church, just N of Glenapp Schoolhouse. Walk S along the A77 for c. 200 yards to reach the Glen App Track, the start of the route.

Visited 09.04.18

Withey Brook Round Cairn lies on the slopes of Withey Brook Valley on the edge of Langstone Downs. It is located in a Bronze age field system incorporating a hut circle settlement.

Withey Brook Cairn is a round cairn, 40 feet in diameter by 5 feet high, covered in grass with large exposed stones on the surface. The cairn is largely undisturbed except for a hollow 5 feet across by 1.5 feet deep on the summit of the cairn.

Historic England 1010308 (go to Links) notes its unusual setting on a lower slope however it is situated on a crest top in an occupied Bronze Age area denoting its context in the ancient environment.

Directions: From the E edge of Minions turn into the Car Park then sharp R into a narrow country lane. Follow this for 1.33 miles until you reach the dead end L turn for Sharptor. The lane leads through Sharptor where the public road ends after 0.5 miles. There is room to park at SX 2579 7304 between Sharptor and Wardbrook Farm. Follow the dismantled railway track past Wardbrook Farm for 0.75 miles. Withey Brook Cairn lies within 50 yards on the L of the track, an obvious prominence in the landscape.

I visited the Langstane o’ Craigearn on 19.09.19, approaching from N. Access to the stone is restricted. It appears to be enclosed in a private garden.

Directions: At the S edge of New Luce, beside the church, take the un-signposted turn up the hill. Stay on this narrow lane for c. 1.1 miles until you reach the sign for the Southern Upland Way (SUW) at NX19106500. There is room to park here. Follow the SUW path for c. 0.5 miles to reach a SUW Post halfway up Knockcraven Wood at NX1937564690. Continue uphill for c. 65 yards to reach Knockcraven Wood Carved Stone, c. 7 yards on the left of the path.

Knockcraven Wood Cup Carved Stone lies on the edge of Knockcraven Wood, c. 1.25 miles E of New Luce. The Southern Upland Way (SUW) follows the W edge of Knockcraven Wood. The carved stone is located between the SUW and the edge of the wood c. 50 yards from the SW corner of Knockcraven Wood. It is c. 7 yards W of the wood edge and c. 7 yards E of the SUW.
There are two carvings on Knockcraven Wood Cup Carved Stone, an irregular earthset stone measuring c. 4 by 3 feet, with a rounded top c. 1 foot high. There is a deep oval cup carving on the W edge of the stone measuring c. 6 inches on the N-S Axis and 4 inches on the E-W Axis. It is c. 4 inches deep with smooth walls suggesting some kind of grinding activity. On the E edge of the rock there is a long shallow groove measuring c. 8 by 3 inches and up to 1.5 inches deep in the centre. This groove is smoother than the surrounding rock, perhaps due to a repetitive scraping action.
Knockcraven Wood Cup Carved Stone could be associated with domestic activity of the occupants of the adjacent Dranigower Hut Circles.

Visited 26.07.22

My first experience of Hardcroft Cairn was in fading light so I decided to revisit on a bright Summer day. The high ferns made progress difficult, however I enjoyed a more leisurely investigation of Hardcroft Cairn. There are prominent thorn bushes on the E & W Arcs of the cairn and ferns obscure the E Arc. A raised earth bank up to 4 feet high delineates the kerb of a circular cairn measuring c. 50 feet in diameter with a hollow centre.

Directions: At the S edge of New Luce, beside the church, take the un-signposted turn up the hill. Stay on this narrow lane for c. 1.1 miles until you reach the sign for the Southern Upland Way (SUW) at NX19106500. There is room to park here. Follow the SUW path for c. 0.5 miles to reach a SUW Post halfway up Knockcraven Wood at NX1937564690. Leave the path, walk W for c. 0.33 miles over pathless moorland heading for NX 1899 6433. There are no landmarks so GPS navigation is essential to find this cairn.

Visited 02.06.13

The Giant’s Foot is large recumbent stone on the W edge of Shap. It is considered by Historic England (go to Links) to be be a remnant of Shap Stone Alignment. It is an irregular flat stone measuring c. 9 feet long, 7 feet wide and 4 feet high.
Directions: A path leading W starts off Shap Main Street between the tennis court and Croft Avenue. After c. 50 yards the path continues SW across a field for c. 120 yards to a junction of dry stane dykes. The path turns SE along a dry stane dyke for c. 50 yards to reach the substantial recumbent Giant’s Foot stone.

Without local knowledge finding the Fyfield Down Polisher Stone could be tricky. I have visited it in 2011 via Mother’s Jam but I would like to suggest an alternative “foolproof” route to Fyfield Down Polisher Stone.
Park up in Avebury. Walk E out of Avebury on the Wessex Ridgeway. After 1.5 mile you reach a crossroads with The Ridgeway. Continue E along Wessex Ridgeway for c. 450 yards to reach Overton Down Gallops. Follow the Gallops uphill NNW for c. 0.33 miles to the N end at SU12727144. Head NE downhill for c. 120 yards to a solitary thorn tree. Walk c. 20 yards E downhill to a Pyramid shaped rock. Fyfield Down Polisher Stone lies on the edge of a gorse bush c. 10 yards ESE of the Pyramid Rock.

There is a large flat slab with a large rock basin on its upper surface c. 50 yards E of Fyfield Down Polisher Stone. I wonder if the Rock Basin was made by the same people who made the Polisher Stone?

Fernworthy SE is a ruined cairn c. 30 yards SE of Fernworthy Stone Circle. The cairn is listed as Monument Number 443898 on Historic England Research Records (go to Links). It is said to denoted the N end of a ruined stone row which has been obscured by afforestation. The cairn measures c. 20 feet across by 1.5 high with putative remains of a cist in the centre. This consists of two earthset stones set at right angles to each other, c. 9 inches high.

Visited 10.07.22

Kildoon Fort is located on the E end of a E-W ridge c. 1.5 miles S of Maybole. The oval enclosure, measuring c. 60 yards E-W by 30 yards N-S, is protected by natural steep slopes on the N,E & S flanks and a triple ditch & rampart system in the W flank. A monument to Charles Fergusson, Baronet of Kilkerran has been erected in the E end of Kildoon Fort enclosure. The entrance to the enclosure is in the SW corner of the inner rampart. The enclosure slopes from W-E and S-N with an undulating grassy surface. There are no features in the enclosure except for a pointed dressed recumbent stone measuring c. 4 ft long by 1.5 ft wide on the S inner rampart.

Directions: Take the Kilkerran / Dailly road opposite the Police Station in the SW of Maybole. Follow this road out of Maybole for c. 0.7 miles past the 60 mph sign. Take the next right, an unsigned lane. Follow this road for c. 0.8 mile to reach a farm track signed for Kildoon Hill at NS 2989 0803. There is room for one car to park here, c. 50 yards N of Drummullan Farm road. Walk E up the track for c. 0.55 miles, reaching a gateway. From here head W for c. 0.25 miles along an ill defined ridge with Kildoon Hill at the E end.

Visited 19.03.13

I found this large recumbent stone E of Castallack Standing Stone in an adjacent field. The shape and size of the stone would be more suitable for a capstone than a standing stone to my eye. It is possibly the only remnant of a cairn which couldn’t be removed due to its bulk.

Visited 11.05.22

Cunningham Standing Stone lies prone on an E-W Axis within 10 yards of a gateway on Cunninghame Farm road. It is an oval boulder c. 40 inches in diameter and c. 50 inches long with a rounded point on the W. The ground round the stone has been eroded by cattle leaving the stone on a grassy island. Canmore ID 62845 (go to Links) observed that it bears a similarity to the stones in the Torhousekie Stone Circle which is c. 500 yards NNW from the stone.

Visited 08.05.22

Fauldinchie E Burnt Mound is c. 100 yards N of the Fauldinchie Farm Track c. 50 yards after the junction with the Southern Upland Way. The mound is 110 m E of Fauldinchie W Burnt Mound according to Canmore ID 61587 (go to Links). It measures c. 15 feet across by 2 feet high on the edge of marshy ground.

Directions: At the S edge of New Luce, beside the church, take the un-signposted turn up the hill. Stay on this narrow lane for c. 1.1 miles until you reach the sign for the Southern Upland Way (SUW) at NX19106500. There is room to park here. Follow the SUW path for c. 200 yards to reach a stream. Follow the W bank of the stream heading N for c. 70 yards over rough boggy terrain to find Fauldinchie W Burnt Mound. Head E for c. 120 yards to an ill-defined mound N of boggy marshland.

Visited 05.05.22

Fauldinchie W Burnt Mound is on the edge of marshy ground c. 70 yards of the Southern Upland Way path c. 200 yards E of its junction with the public road. The round mound is c. 12 yards in diameter and 1 yard high with a hollow in the SSE slope. Canmore ID 61585 (go to Links) states there is a raised crescent on the NE Arc of the mound.

Directions: At the S edge of New Luce, beside the church, take the un-signposted turn up the hill. Stay on this narrow lane for c. 1.1 miles until you reach the sign for the Southern Upland Way (SUW) at NX19106500. There is room to park here. Follow the SUW path for c. 200 yards to reach a stream. Follow the W bank of the stream heading N for c. 70 yards over rough boggy terrain to find Fauldinchie W Burnt Mound.

Visited 07.05.22

Blair Hill (The Thieves) Standing Stones are erected in moorland c. 600 yards NW of Nappers Cottage on Drannandow Moor. According to Canmore ID 63579 (go to Links) the stones could be the remains of a stone circle. However, there is only one substantial stone in the immediate vicinity of the stones. A half-buried stone slab on its narrow edge, orientated on a NNW-SSE Axis lies between the stones. It’s narrow edge tapers from c. 4 to 3 inches wide. Using my walking stick as a probe, it extends underground from the top and bottom of the visible portion to at least 5 feet long. The impressive stones lie on the SE Arc of a round turf enclosure said by Canmore to be modern.

Visited 11.03.17

This stone is listed as Canmore ID 63668 (go to Links).
It is a moss covered stone with a large worn ring mark and several cup marks visible in its current state. Canmore lists more ring marks but I didn’t remove the moss to look for them.
Access to the site is by climbing up the slope of Cairnharrow for about 0.5 mile across rough ground or by a longer detour from Cambret Hill.

Visited 27.04.21

Cambret Moor Cairn is a round cairn measuring c. 7.5m in diameter and 0.5m in height according to Canmore ID 90631 (go to Links). It has been almost entirely robbed out, leaving a footprint of moor grass which is almost invisible in the rough moorland. There is a large stone on the perimeter of the E Arc, possibly a kerb stone and a rough circular hollow c. 2m across in the centre of the cairn. A small stone setting remains on the NW Arc of the hollow opposite an exposed cist stone in the S Arc of the hollow.

Visited 27.04.22

There is a robbed out cairn on the summit of Cairnharrow. It is roughly circular, measuring c. 12m in diameter and 1.3m in height according to Canmore ID 90588 (go to Links). There is a modern stone cairn in the centre of Cairnharrow Cairn, presumably constructed from stones removed from the surface of the cairn. The dry stane dyke S of the cairn could also account for the destruction of the cairn. The resulting turf footprint is covered by rough grass with a circular depression in the N Arc.

Visited 21.04.22

West Cairngaan Stone has been given a spring clean since my last visit in 2011. All of the field clearance stones have been removed leaving West Cairngaan Stone high and dry on a E-W rocky earth plinth. It is visible from the West Tarbet Path which starts at West Cairngaan Farm. Follow the path E then turn S to reach a gate at NX 13093 31346. West Cairngaan Stone is located in an arable field c. 200 yards E of the gateway.

Visited 11.04.22

Stroanfreggan Craig Hillfort was an Iron Age fort on a ridge rising from the B729 c. 0.5 mile WNW of Stroanfreggan hamlet. The ruined hillfort enclosed c. 0.5 Acre on a lower summit of Stroanfreggan Craig. There is an extensive spread of stones on the N and W flanks, remains of a double wall enclosure according to Canmore ID 64376 (go to Links). The S flank is protected by a steep slope with a possible entrance to the fort up a natural gully. There is also a possible entrance on the E flank via a SE path. The rocky interior is featureless except for a linear scatter of stones in the N quadrant and a modern cairn marker in the centre of the enclosure.