Benlaight North Cairn is an oval green spot in brown moorland at NX 21190 61119. It measures c. 20 feet E-W and 15 feet N-S up to a height of c. 1 foot in the centre. Small earth-set stones protrude from the centre. It is probably a robbed out small cairn.
There is a cairn c. 25 yards W at NX 21170 61117 on a W facing slope. The shape is irregular and there are scattered small stones in the centre indicating that it could be a clearance cairn.
Canmore ID 62411 (go to Links) has an account of some low cairns and hut circles in this area.
markj99
Benlaight South Cairn is a robbed out cairn on a natural knoll in a pasture field c. 2 miles N of Glenluce. The circular footprint of the cairn measures c. 25 yards in diameter and c. 5 feet high. It has been converted into a clearance cairn with large stones concentrated on the N and W Arcs. There is a bed of small stones in the centre. There are also several wooden feed troughs dumped on the N Arc. Canmore ID 62412 (go to Links) has a detailed listing of Benlaight South Cairn.
Benlaight South Cairn is c. 500 yards W of Ballach-a-Heathry cairn, a large robbed out cairn which has been similarly mistreated. Benlaight North Cairn is a small robbed out cairn, a green spot in brown moorland c. 500 yards N.
Rutherford’s Well is a natural spring associated with Samuel Rutherford who was appointed Minister of Anwoth Old Kirk in 1627. It rises c. 100 yards E of Anwoth Old Kirk on the W margin of Bog Hall Wood. According to Canmore ID 63639 (go to Links) a 19th Century Well House with modern repairs and a turfed roof covers the spring. It reaches a height of c. 6 feet.
Lingdowey Burn E Cairn is a robbed-out cairn c. 0.3 miles SSW of Cairnerzean Farm SW Cairn. All stones have been removed leaving a grassy circular footprint in open moorland. It is “situated on top of a natural knoll” as described in Canmore ID 61552 (go to Links). The cairn has a diameter of c. 18 yards with a central platform c. 12 yards across and up to c. 1 foot in the centre. There is an intermittent earth bank up to c. 1 foot high in the W half of the cairn but the E half has an outer ring of reeds obscuring the perimeter. In the E Arc there is a gap in the reeds. There are several earthset possible kerb stones on the edge of the 12 yard platform on the SW, W and NW points of the circle. The platform has an irregular grassy surface with a concentration of grassed over stones c. 1 foot high in the centre. These stones may be the protruding cist stones noted in the 1985 visit by RCAHMS.
Lingdowey Burn E Cairn is c. 0.4 miles NE of Lingdowey Burn N Cairn over rough moorland.
I have made an alternative shorter route including a new cairn, Cairnerzean Fell E, which I propose to visit soon. Cairnerzean Cairns II is 3.3 miles long, starting at the Cairnerzean Farm Cairns. It is viewable at osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/11462554/Cairenzean-Cairns-II
Directions: Take the A77 S from Ayr to Cairnryan. Drive 2.5 miles S from the 30mph speed limit on the S of Cairnryan. There is an unsigned left turn into a single track road to New Luce in the middle of a long straight at NX 0859 6374. Travel on this narrow road for c. 7.5 miles to a parking place at NX 1503 6754. This large parking space is c. 0.25 miles S of Cairnernerzean Farm Track on the right.
Directions: Take the A77 S from Ayr to Cairnryan. Drive 2.5 miles S from the 30mph speed limit on the S of Cairnryan. There is an unsigned left turn into a single track road to New Luce in the middle of a long straight at NX 0859 6374. Travel on this narrow road for c. 3.5 miles to a parking place beside an old WWII bombing target at NX 1142 6753. Cairnerzean Fell lies c. 2.5 miles E of here. My walking route is viewable on osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/11356088/Cairnerzean-cairns
Good walking boots, a GPS device and good stamina are requirements for this 5 mile walk over pathless open moorland.
Visited 14.02.22
Giant’s Dike Hillfort consists of a ruined wall surrounding the upper slopes of Barstobrick Hill c. 1.75 miles N of Ringford in Dumfries and Galloway. According to Canmore ID 64189 (go to Links) there are remnants of the wall running from N to S on the hill, the E Flank relying on a steep craggy slope for natural defence. The internal area of the fort has no significant features beyond the modern addition of Nielson’s Monument on the summit of Barstobrick Hill.
Visited 08.02.22
Cairnerzean Farm SW Cairn is c. 350 yards E of Cairnerzean Farm. It lies c. 15 yards SW of Cairnerzean NE Cairn. The round cairn measures c. 10 yards across but the interior has been entirely robbed-out. There is an earth bank on the N half of the cairn up to c. 1.5 feet high. The S half of the cairn has been eroded reducing the earth bank to ground level. Canmore ID 61507 (go to Cairnerzean Farm NE) describes the features of the Cairnerzean Farm Cairns.
Visited 08.02.22
Cairnerzean Farm NE Cairn is c. 350 yards E of Cairnerzean Farm. It lies c. 15 yards NE of Cairnerzean SW Cairn. The round cairn measures c. 15 yards but the interior has been entirely robbed-out. There is an earth bank round the cairn up to c. 2 feet high with a gap in the N Arc. The only feature in the interior is an earthset stone measuring 1x1x1.5 feet in the E Arc. Canmore ID 61507 (go to Links) describes the features of the Cairnerzean Farm Cairns.
Visited 09.02.22
Lingdowey Burn S Cairn is c. 250 yards SE of Lingdowey Burn N Cairn. The round cairn measures c. 20 yards but has been extensively robbed especially in the N quarter. The other quarters are covered in a scatter of small to medium stones. The centre of the cairn has two unfortunate additions: a Modern Cairn and a small shelter constructed c. 3 yards W of the Modern Cairn. Canmore ID 61530 (go to Links) furnishes further details of Lingdowey Burn S Cairn.
Visited 09.02.22
Lingdowey Burn N Cairn is c. 0.5 miles E of Cairnerzean Fell Summit Cairn. It is a large round cairn with grassy areas in the S half exposed by substantial stone robbing. It measures c. 25 yards in diameter. The NE Arc of the cairn is relatively intact leading up to a c. 10 feet high summit. A full description is available in Canmore ID 61519 (go to Links).
Visited 09.02.22
Cairnerzean Fell S Cairn is a probable cairn according to Canmore ID 61469 (go to Links). It is the most Southern of a group of three cairns on Cairnerzean Fell. It consists of a circular grassy depression in open moorland measuring c. 20 yards across. There is a natural rock knoll in the centre casting some doubt on it being a ruined cairn. The circle has been entirely robbed out however there is a dry stane dyke nearby which could account for the loss.
Visited 09.02.22
Cairnerzean Fell Central Cairn is a ruined cairn located c. 250 yards S of Cairnerzean Fell N Cairn. It is the central cairn of a group of three cairns on Cairnerzean Fell. Only a narrow crescent of the NE Arc survives up to a height of c. 4 feet. The robbed-out interior of the cairn is a stone-free marshy circle. The original diameter of the cairn would have been c. 20 yards. Canmore ID 61497 (go to Links) has a full description of the cairn.
Visited 09.02.22
Cairnerzean Fell N Cairn is a round cairn located c. 400 yards SE of Cairnerzean Fell Summit Cairn. It is the most Northern of a group of three cairns on Cairnerzean Fell. The cairn is constructed on a low platform c. 20 yards in diameter. A perimeter of stones delineates the platform surrounding an intact mound of stones c. 12 yards across reaching a height of c. 5 feet. It is listed as Canmore ID 62486 (go to Links).
Visited 09.02.22
Cairnerzean Fell Summit Cairn is located on a knoll at the highest point of Cairnerzean Fell. It is a largely robbed out cairn measuring c. 20 yards across. The cairn has a low stony bank on the N Arc. This becomes a low kerb of loose stones for 180 degrees on the E and S Arcs. The W Arc is occupied by a ruined sheep ree built from cairn stones. The empty interior of the cairn has a grassy surface with a few scattered small stones concentrated in the centre where a modern cairn c. 4 feet high has been constructed. Further information is included in Canmore ID 61458 (go to Links).
Visited 13.11.21
There is a natural spring bubbling up on the shore of Front Bay, S of Monreith in Dumfries and Galloway. It could be the source of the legendary St Medana’s Well.
According to Canmore ID 62764 (go to Links) Medana, a beautiful Irish lady, plucked out her eyes to spurn an unwelcome suitor. The saints took pity on her, causing a spring to appear, the water having the property of restoring her sight. Canmore gives the OS Grid Reference for St Medana’s Well as NX 3642 4006, c. 30 yards W of the natural spring.
Visited 30.04.10
Nether Largie Standing Stone is located c. 150 yards NNW of the Great X of Kilmartin. The c. 5 ft tall stone had a c. 30 degree lean to the SE when I visited but it was reset to a vertical position in 2015. Canmore ID 39487 (go to Links) has pictures of the erect stone taken in 2019 in My Canmore contributions.
Visited 03.09.21
Despite being on the fashionable NC500 route the footfall on Badnabay Chambered Cairn is unlikely to increase dramatically. It is c. 70 yards SW of the A894, obsured by long grass. The visible remains of Badnabay Chambered Cairn consist of 4 grey standing stones measuring c. 3 ft delineating the N and W Arcs of the chamber. Several other stones just break through the turf or are hidden in heather. Canmore ID 4684 (go to Links) states that the “main compartment is oval, 10 ft 4 ins by 8 ft 9 ins, and built of taller stones, the largest 3 ft 8 ins high.”
Visited 03.09.21
Ach A’ Chorrain S Cairn lies c. 230 yards E of the A838 on a heathery slope c. 1 mile S of the Kyle of Durness. According to Canmore ID 4827 (go to Links) Ach A’ Chorrain S Cairn measures “about 15.0m in diameter and 1.7m high, largely of bare rubble stones.” There is a cavity in the E Arc with a possible displaced capstone.
Ach A’ Chorrain Chambered Cairn is c. 0.5 miles NNE around 0.25 miles E of the A838.
Visited 04.09.21
Cnoc Freiceadain N Cairn lies c. 0.33 miles N of the more famous Cnoc Freiceadain Long Cairn. It is a grass-covered cairn measuring c. 35 ft in diameter and 3 ft high according to Canmore ID 7899 (go to Links).
The hollow centre of the cairn has a possible exposed capstone measuring c. 2.5x1.5 ft.
Visited 06.09.21
Watten Standing Stone is in a field on the E edge of Watten on the N side of the A882 between Thurso and Wick. It is an irregular pointed stone measuring c. 1.7 x 0.9 x0.7 m according to Canmore ID 8789.
Canmore also states that c. 50 years prior to 1871 there were an additional two standing stones close to the survivor. I found a semi-buried recumbent stone c. 6 feet NW of the standing stone.
Visited 06.09.21
Rangag West Standing Stone is still maintaining its E lean as noted in passing by from Thurso.
Directions: From the A75 at Dumfries take the A76 Kilmarnock road off the Cuckoo Bridge Roundabout. Stay on the A76 for c. 2 miles. Take the L turn onto the B729 Dunscore/Moniaive opposite Holywood Village. After c. 0.25 miles there is a lay-by on the L side. There is an information panel on a rock. The Twelve Apostles of Hollywood are accessed via a gate at the end of the lay-by.
Visited 06.09.21
I revisited The Twelve Apostles of Hollywood to experience how impressive the scale of the stone circle was. However I was left with a sense of disappointment at how this monument, “the largest stone circle in Scotland” has been neglected. There is no sign off the A76 indicating The Twelve Apostles of Hollywood’s existence despite it being only a quarter of a mile off the road. There is a rock with an information panel on the lay-by at the corner of the B729 but it is far from prominent. It seems to me that only locals and Antiquarians are going to visit this important site. Why is there no Brown Sign on the A76 for the Twelve Apostles?
I read CARL’s Fieldnotes with interest noting that it has been 8 years since any significant contribution on this site. As to his comment on walking counter-clockwise round stone circles there is an alternative Scottish word Widdershins which denotes travelling counter-clockwise as an unlucky or uncanonical direction. Personally, being inexplicably superstitious, I have always chosen to walk clockwise or Sunwise round stone circles and cairns.
I agree with CARL that The Twelve Apostles of Hollywood deserve more visitors but without any signage I wonder how the General Public will find it.
I revisited Drumtroddan yesterday (23.07.21) for the first time in 10 years. Although 2 out of 3 stones are recumbent it still has a presence. There is no sign to the stones, just a blank green post at the foot of a farm track. It’s in the middle of nowhere (actually c. 2 miles ENE of Port William) so I have posted a link to Google Maps. Maybe I will be the first person on TMA to post a what3words address so head for Aced.Riskiest.Ledge to find the Drumtroddan Standing Stone.
Drannandow W Cairn is an extensively robbed round cairn situated c. 900m W of Drannandow Chambered Cairn and 300m N of Drumfern Cairn. According to Canmore ID 63018 (go to Links) it measures c. 34ft in diameter by 4ft high. The N half is turf-covered with a smattering of small stones. The S half has a layer of medium to large stones with a deep excavation in the SE Arc.
Visited 15.07.21
In the grounds of Chapel Finian the well lies c. 10 yards NW of the entrance immediately adjacent to the wall. There is shallow water in the well, possibly recently collected rainwater. There is a channel running NE-SW under the boundary wall. A 2ft square slab is visible in the NW edge of the rectangular stone lined structure.
It is listed as Canmore ID 62103 (go to Links).
Visited 15.07.21
On a visit to Longcastle today (15.07.21) I located two large stones incorporated into the dry stane dyke c. 10 yards SSE of the standing stone. The W stone is a roughly triangular stone flush to the dyke measuring c. 3ft high by 3.5 ft broad at the base tapering to a rounded top c. 3 ins broad. The E stone protrudes c. 1.5ft at 90 degrees to the wall measuring c. 40ins high by c. 1ft broad. The significance of these stones is discussed in Canmore ID 62686 (go to Links).
Visited 14.07.21
Cuff Hill Cairn is difficult to find. The narrow lanes off the B777 E of Beith are un-signposted leading to Cuff Hill Reservoir. Head for KA15 2JW on the SatNav to reach Cuffhill Reservoir. There is space to park between Cuffhill and Kirkleegreen Reservoirs. Walk back to Cuffhill Reservoir to reach a path which winds along the W bank of the reservoir. This runs parallel to a deer fence. Close to the end of the reservoir there is a hollow below the fence big enough to wriggle under. Head N along the fence then c. 200 yards NNE through woodland to reach Cuff Hill Cairn at NS 3859 5509. The grid reference is taken from Canmore ID 42121 (go to Links), which has an extensive description of Cuff Hill Cairn.
Lochrennie Hole Stone is a broken standing stone c. 400 yards N of the A702 between St John’s Town of Dalry and Moniaive in Dumfries and Galloway. It is erected on a hilltop c. 120 yards S of a farm track running parallel to the A702 from Lochrennie Farm.
According to Canmore ID 64766 (go to Links) it measures c. 2.5 ft wide by 3ft tall. The breadth of the slab tapers from c. 9 ins at the base to 4 ins at the top. The hole is c. 9 ins from the top with a c. 4.5 ins diameter. Approximately half of the circumference of the hole has been lost due to the top of Lochrennie Hole Stone having fractured. “The upper part of the stone was broken through the perforation about 1840 and is in the possession of the Rev Mr Corrie, U F Minister, Glencairn. The stone is reputed to have been used in connection with “handfasting”.” (Canmore ID 64766).
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 mile until you reach the sign for the Southern Upland Way (SUW) pointing up into the moorland. There is room to park here. Follow the path to reach a latched gate. After c. 200 yards uphill parallel to the wood you will reach a SUW post beside the wood. (There is a stone 70 yards up from this post c. 10 yards E of the wood edge with a large deep cup (6x4x4.5 inches) and a smooth grooved depression (c. 8x4x1 inches) at NX 19403 64651).
Continue along the SUW for c. 0.5 mile to reach a gateway in a dry stane dyke at NX 19683 64213. There is a wooden sign in the SE lee of the dry stane dyke pointing up to Caves of Kilhern 200m. To reach Kilhern SE continue along the SUW for c. 650 yards to the edge of Kilhern ruined farm. Turn L just before the entrance to the farm following the line of the enclosure uphill N for c. 100 yards. A farm track heading NE starts here. Follow it for c. 120 yards to reach Kilhern SE Long Cairn.
Kilhern SE lies c. 250 yards NE of Kilhern Farm Ruin on the Southern Upland Way (SUW). According to Canmore ID 138720 (go to Links) it is an extensively robbed long cairn with remains of a superimposed round cairn on the NE of the cairn. Kilhern SE long cairn measures c. 20 yards on the long NE-SW Axis. The stony NE end is c. 10 yards wide and the robbed-out grassy SW end is c. 5 yards wide giving the cairn an asymmetrical oval shape. The stones on the NE end are small to medium sized, irregularly shaped with no discernible structures. They are encrusted with a patina of white lichen giving the cairn an ancient aspect.
Caves of Kilhern Long Cairn is located c. 700 yards NW of Kilhern SE. This more famous cairn is signposted off the SUW. It is c. 250 yards SW along a drystane dyke from a gateway at NX 19684 64215 on the path. The wooden sign is in the SE lee of the wall after you have walked through the gateway so it is easily missed.
The Kilhern cairns share the same NE-SW orientation, however, Caves of Kilhern has three impressive chambers preserved whereas Kilhern SE has no visible structural remains.
Visited 06.06.21
The access to Brownhill Burn Cairn has dramatically altered since my last visit. There is now a new road to within c. 50 yards of Brownhill Burn Cairn. The trees round Brownhill Burn Cairn have been felled leaving it in rough ground with stumps and ditches. There has been an unwelcome addition to the cairn, a Spruce sapling growing near an excavation in the SE Arc of the cairn.
Directions: There is a minor turn off the A713 halfway between Dalmellington and Carsphairn at NX 51747 99760. It leads past Lamford Farm to a dead end in forestry beside the Water of Deugh. After c. 1 mile you will pass Lamford Burn cairn on the L. After another c. 0.5 miles take the L fork. After c. 1.5 miles there is a newly constructed road signed for Water of Deugh Circular on the L. After c. 0.2 miles there is a large lay-by on the R. Walk up the road c. 120 yards, looking R to see Brownhill Burn Cairn with a Spruce sapling growing in the middle of the cairn c. 50 yards W of the road.
Brownhill Burn Cairn lies in forestry c. 7 miles N of Carsphairn, close to the South Ayrshire border. The cairn, measuring c. 10 yards across by 1 yard high, has been extensively robbed. A carpet of green moss lends the cairn a patina of antiquity. There is a modern shepherd’s cairn on the E side, the highest point of Brownhill Burn Cairn.
Canmore ID 43497 (go to Links) has a full description of Brownhill Burn Cairn.
King’s Cairn, a larger chambered cairn is only 400 yards NE of Brownhill Burn Cairn, hidden in a forest clearing.
Visited 24/05/21
Castlecreavie Settlement is situated on the road to Castlecreavie Farm between Kirkcudbright and Dundrennan. There is room to park at NX 72424 49258, c. 500 yards up the narrow road to Castlecreavie Farm. There is a style leading up to Castlecreavie Settlement. The natural hillock has an enclosure measuring c. 75 yards NE-SW and 40 yards NW-SE. There are remains of a c. 4 feet rampart on the SW and NE of the enclosure. There are steep slopes all round except for the SW which slopes away at a shallow angle. There is a prominent terrace from c. 12 to 15 feet wide round the settlement, except on the SW side.
Canmore ID 64427 (go to Links) has a fuller description of Castlecreavie Settlement.
Clachaneasy Bridge Cairn is a small cairn hidden in dense forestry c. 350 yards N of Clachaneasy Bridge. The cairn is built upon a small knoll, measuring c. 15 ft across and 3 feet high. The cairn is covered in briars, ferns and grass with no stones visible on the irregular surface. However, when walking on the cairn stones below the grass are evident. On the summit of Clachaneasy Bridge Cairn there is a row of four large moss-covered stones.
Directions: At the N end of Victoria Street in Newton Stewart head straight onto the A714 Girvan Road. Stay on this road for c. 7.3 miles to reach Clachaneasy, a tiny hamlet. Take the R turn for RSPB Wood of Cree Reserve c. 200 yards later. Cross over Clachaneasy Bridge, park on the R in a lay-by c. 25 yards beyond the bridge. Walk c. 250 yards up the road to a crossroads. Take the L turn up a forestry road for c. 200 yards to NX 35695 75452. From this point turn L into the forest. Head SW for c. 150 yards through difficult terrain of trees, ditches and briars to a small knoll at NX 3564 7542. Clachaneasy Bridge Cairn is built on this knoll.
Canmore ID 62998 (go to Links) gives further details of Clachaneasy Bridge Cairn.
GPS navigation is vital in finding this hidden cairn as well as good outdoor footwear to walk in the dense forest.
The Coffin Stone (Glenluce) is a natural coffin-shaped stone c. 1 mile ENE of Glenluce on the N side of a disused section of the A75. The stone lies c. 30 yards N of the old road on the edge of a marshy area. The N-S Axis of the Coffin Stone (Glenluce) is c. 6 ft 6 in long and the E-W Axis is 2 ft wide at the top tapering to 1 ft wide at the base. Viewed from W and S the stone has a close resemblance to a coffin.
Coffin Stone: A large coffin-shaped stone, lying flat. It is not supposed to cover any grave, nor does it appear to have been artificially shaped.
Name Book 1849 (Canmore ID 62188) (go to Links).
Directions: Take the E exit to Glenluce off the A75. After c. 250 yards take the unsigned R turn dead-end road. After c. 0.5 mile continue straight on for 50 yards to a gate for a private road. Park up and follow the disused A75 for c. 360 yards to reach a gate on the L at NX 21777 58192. Cross a small stream on a bridge within 10 yards of the gate, turn R parallel to the stream for c. 70 yards to reach the Coffin Stone (Glenluce).
Camel Rock is a rock stack on the cliffs at Rinsey Head in Cornwall. As you climb up the South West Coast Path (SWCP) towards Trewavas Head from Rinsey a rock stack on SE edge of the cliffs assumes the profile of a camel. Camel Rock can also be viewed from an approach from the E on the SWCP but the illusion is less convincing.
The rock stack is also known as The Bishop locally.
Directions: There is a SWCP Car Park in Rinsey. Follow the SWCP path past Wheal Prosper Mine heading SE alongside the coast. After c. 0.5 mile on the path you will reach Trewavas Cliff, a Chambered Cairn already listed in TMA. Continue E up the SWCP for c. 100 yards. Camel Rock will come into view on the edge of the coast.
“This granite boulder on Moss Raploch marks the scene of Robert the Bruce’s first victory over the English after his return to the Scottish mainland in 1307.” Canmore ID 63776 (go to Links).
Bruce’s Stone (Clatteringshaws) is an irregular shaped rock c. 6 feet high marking the site of the battle of Moss Raploch.
There is a dedicated path from Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre to Bruce’s Stone (Clatteringshaws). It is only a 5 minute walk along the banks of Clatteringshaws reservoir to the stone. There is an information board adjacent to the site.
There is a second Bruce’s Stone c. 8 miles W on the banks of Loch Trool. It is a monument to Bruce’s victory at Glen Trool in 1307.
Braidenoch Cross Slabs can be found c. 150 yards S of the path running from Carsphairn to Polmaddie. At present the two stones with crude cross carvings lie horizontal in rough grass on a S slope of Braidenoch Hill. However, it is reasonable to assume they were once vertical markers close to the old bridle path. The ancient path was known as the packman’s road according to Canmore ID 63877 (go to Links).
Canmore dates the carvings to the eighth or ninth century. It states that the larger stone measures c. 3 ft 3 in long, 17 in wide and 7 in thick. There is a fracture across the stone c. 9 in from the top at the neck of the cross. The smaller stone dimensions are given as 2 ft 2 in long, 9 in wide and 6.5 in thick. This stone is intact.
Directions: There is room to park at Carnavel Farm junction on the W side of Carsphain just before you cross the bridge. Follow the path to Polmaddy uphill for 1.5 miles until you observe Bardennoch hill trig point on your L. Continue on this path until you reach NX 56981 90728. Head NE across a dry stane dyke for c. 150 yards to locate your target.
Braidenoch Cross Slabs are difficult to find without GPS. The bearing from the summit of Braidenoch Hill to the Braidenoch Cross Slabs is c. 285 degrees (SSW) for c. 200 yards.
Round Dounan is a small fort in the grounds of Dunragit House. It is situated on a natural mound at the top of a slope c. 75 yards E of the road leading to Dunragit House. The mound is protected on the W by the wooded slope with a surrounding terrace on the N, E & S sides. There are two deep gouges on the N end of the knoll. The mound is c. 15 feet high with a flat grassy summit plateau cleared of vegetation. There are no features on the plateau save some tree stumps. The NW-SE Axis measures c. 35 yards and the NE-SW Axis measures c. 25 yards giving the mound an oval shape.
Canmore ID 61250 (go to Links) has further details of Round Dounan.
There is a dry stane dyke c. 30 yards S of Bagbie Cairn. A short standing stone c. 2.5 feet high and 2.5 feet wide has been incorporated into the wall.
Canmore ID 281565 (go to Links) notes that the stone is “on a direct sight-line between Bagbie standing stone and the two upright stones on the ESE edge on Baggie cairn.” (J Pickin 2005).
Shennanton SE Cairn is located on the edge of a copse of trees at the A75/B735 junction. The cairn has been fenced off in the corner of a field. It has been extensively robbed of stone consisting of a raised platform up to 3 feet high. It is covered in vegetation including briars and a mature tree sprouting in the E quadrant. There is an area of moss covered stones in the NE quadrant which could be original stones. A large c. 5 feet long moss-covered stone lies S of the tree, possibly a displaced kerb stone. The size and shape of Shennanton SE Cairn is difficult to ascertain due to the ground cover however I estimated it to be an oval cairn with a c. 30 yards diameter.
Shennanton Cairn SE is listed as Canmore ID 62971 (go to Links).
Shennanton NW Cairn lies c. 500 yards NW of Shennanton SE Cairn in unimproved pasture N of the A75 Shennanton straight.
Shennanton NW Cairn is a grass-covered round cairn c. 60 feet across and 3 feet high. There are no loose stones on the cairn but embedded stones are protruding through the turf in the interior and on the kerb of the cairn. It is listed as Canmore ID 62960 (go to Links).
Shennanton SE Cairn lies c. 500 yards SE of Shennanton NW Cairn on the edge of a copse of trees at the A75/B735 junction.
Barhoise Cairn lies in farmland adjacent to the B735 c. 1 mile NNE of Kirkcowan. The grassy cairn has an oval footprint c. 30 yards across and 4 feet high. The interior has been hollowed out by stone robbing. Only a deposit of clearance stones remain in the N quadrant. An intermittent earth bank with some small embedded stones defines the perimeter of Barhoise Cairn.
A report from 1976 in Canmore ID 62982 (go to Links) opined that despite the stone robbing “the burial is probably intact.” In its current robbed-out state, I would say that it is unlikely any burial remains interred in Barhoise Cairn.
Directions: Take the B735 Kirkcowan turn off the A75. After c. 500 yards you will pass a gateway opposite the Barhoise Cairn. Continue for c. 100 yards to a wide gateway on the R where it is possible to park. Walk back to the gateway. The cairn is c. 75 yards W from here.
Directions to Ashlar Chair
Ashlar Chair is on a path heading S between Ilkley Moor and Bingley moor. There is a triangular intersection of paths at SE1236946361 c. 100 yards S of Ilkley Crags. Take the path heading S for Twelve Apostles Stone Circle. After c. 0.8 mile there is a path heading W at SE1251345130. ( You are only 150 yards short of Twelve Apostles Stone Circle at this point so a short detour to the circle would be sensible.) Take the W path for c. 400 yards to reach a junction at SE122094521. Take the L turn heading S for c. 450 yards to reach a dry stane dyke. Ashlar Chair is within 20 yards L of the path adjacent to the N side of the wall.
Directions:
Take the New Luce turn off the A75 at the E end of Castle Kennedy village. After around 2.4 miles there is a small lay-by on the R with a Southern Upland Way sign. Continue past this spot for c. 0.3 miles to reach a large open parking space for a forestry road with a No Unauthorised Vehicle Access sign at NX14126188. Walk NE up the road for c. 150 yards to reach a gateway into a field on the L. Hug the wall in the field for around 70 yards to reach the edge of the 1 foot high cairn platform on your L side. It is defined by a shallow irregular grassy platform with a elevated edge. The cairn footprint is a circle around 25 yards in diameter. The rough moorland grass starts within yards of the NE arc of the circle.
Visited 26.05.12
I have forgotten the details of my route to Windy Edge however I do have the echo of it being a long slog over rough terrain.
According to Canmore ID 67908 (go to Links) the stone “belonged to a stone circle with a diameter of about 135 ft, six stones of which remained at the end of the 18th century.”
The area is now forested and only two stones remain, a c. 4.5 foot stone leaning at 45 degrees and a prone c. 6 feet stone which lies c. 45 yards E of the leaning stone according to Canmore ID 67908.
On my visit I was not yet a devotee of Canmore (or RCAHMS) so I didn’t look for the second prone stone in the vicinity.
Visited 01.11.20
Glenterrow White Cairn was once a landmark on the Castle Kennedy to New Luce road. However, according to Canmore ID 61690 (go to Links), “it was demolished about 1816.” There is a raised platform of rough uneven ground measuring c. 25 yards in diameter and 1 foot in height within 10 yards N of the roadside. The grassy circle is in a verdant strip of pasture with contrasting brown moorland to the NE.
Visited 05.11.11
West Cairngaan Stone is a massive undressed stone lying prone c. 200 yards N of the West Tarbet coast near the Mull of Galloway. It’s a granite pillar, measuring c. 5.5 feet long by 2 feet square at its base. It lies adjacent to a pile of large field clearance stones.
Canmore 61059 (go to Links) reported that the stone was embedded in the ground at 30 degrees however it now lies flat on the field. There was also the suggestion of c. 20 similar stones in a nearby modern wall in 1953 but no evidence of this exists at time of visit. West Cairngaan is included in a RCAHMS Marginal Land Survey (1950-62).