markj99

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).

The Wells of the Rees are 0.75 miles NE of Laggangarn Stones within 100 yards of the Southern Upland Way. They lie in the grounds of the ruined churchyard of Kilgallioch, in an isolated pine forest in Dumfries and Galloway. Three dried up springs are capped by stone domes associated with offerings by pilgrims on their way to Whithorn.
According to Canmore ID 62493 (go to Links) the Wells of the Rees are named after nearby rees (sheep pens) said to have been built from the stones of Kilgallioch Church.

Visited 13.04.18

Watergate Stone is a recumbent stone which lies 1 mile WNW of Looe. It measures c. 6 feet long, tapering from c. 2.5 feet wide at the base to 1.5 feet wide at the top. There is a 30 degree angle on the base indicating a possible fracture plane. There are no other large stones close to Watergate Stone and no field clearance stones nearby. It would appear to be a broken Standing Stone or Boundary Marker.

I found Watergate Menhir by parking in West Looe Car Park then taking the footpath W into Kilminorth Woods. This path follows the line of the Giant’s Hedge. After c. 1 mile my GPS told me I had reached my target. Unfortunately I was still on the woodland path and no large stone was visible. I knew the stone was in a grass field so I turned L into the woods heading uphill. After c. 100 yards I reached a grass field. I did a visual search of the field, finding the recumbent six footer at SX 23454 54356 on the slope of a hill.

Ty’n-y-coed farm is on the path to Capel Garmon Chambered Cairn. Ty’n-y-coed Stone lies on a natural knoll c. 50 yards S of the farm. The massive erratic boulder measures c. 16 x 8 x 4 feet. Capel Garmon Chambered Cairn lies c. 150 yards S of Ty’n-y-coed Stone. It is possible that there was an ancient relationship between Ty’n-y-coed Stone and Capel Garmon Chambered Cairn similar to Shap Thunder Stone’s inclusion in Shap Avenue.

Visited 18.03.13

The OS Grid Reference given for Try Menhir on this page is wrong.
According to Historic England 1004626 (go to Links) the correct OS Grid Reference is SW4596434973. This corresponds to its position on OS Aerial Mapping.
If you search for SW460350 you will find Try Menhir.

Trewern Round is a walled iron age enclosure c. 500 yards ESE of Trewern Farm. The round measures c. 50 yards in diameter. Its boundary wall, up to 6 feet high, is well preserved with two entrances at the NW and SE. There are extended trackways from each entrance. When I visited (30.04.17) the interior of the enclosure was overgrown so it was not possible to discern any internal features.

Trewern Round is listed as Historic England 1004314 (go to Links).

Visited 21.03.13

Toldavas is a squat standing stone in a cultivated field 150 yards W of Toldavas Farm. It measures c. 4x4x2 feet, resembling an erratic boulder more than a menhir. It would have been difficult to move this massive rock so it may be in its original location. Toldavas Standing Stone is included in Google Maps.

Directions
Follow the A30 round Penzance continuing onto Drift. After another 0.75 miles take the B3283 Porthcurno/St Buryan L turn off. Travel c. 0.9 miles along this road to reach a crossroads. There is room to park on the L at Toldavas Farm Road. Walk c. 400 yards down the road. Toldavas Standing Stone is c. 30 yards into the field on the R. If the field is in crop you can walk down the field edge.

The Doon (Twynholm) is a ruined hillfort c 0.25 miles W of Twynholm. It lies within a circle of mature trees at the summit of Doon Hill. Canmore ID 64068 (go to Links) considers there to be an inner enclosure 24m across surrounded by an oval outer enclosure measuring up to a maximum of 65m on a N-S axis. The outer enclosure consists of a grassy rampart up to 2m high surrounded by a 9m ditch. No central features were observed.

Directions: Take the W road into Twynholm off the A75. Within 50 yards the 30 mph limit starts. Park at the gateway on the R within 30 yards. Walk along the edge of the field for c.100 yards to a gate into the adjacent field. Head W up the hill c. 200 yards to the obvious circle of large trees at the summit of Doon Hill.

Directions

Stroanfreggan Cairn is in the middle of nowhere so I have prepared a detailed account of how to get there from Dumfries & Newton Stewart.

Directions for Stroanfreggan Cairn: From S of Dumfries. Follow A75 through 3 roundabouts from edge of Dumfries. Turn R for Kilmarnock A76 on Glasgow Road Roundabout. (There is a McDonalds on the L at the first roundabout on the A76).
After about 16 miles reach Thornhill. Travel through Thornhill to N edge. Turn L for A702 Penpont/Moniaive. Stay on A702 for 8 miles to Moniaive. Stay straight through Moniaive. The A702 becomes the B729 a single track road with passing places. Stay on B729 for c. 10 miles until Stroanpatrick, a small hamlet. After passing a black tin hut on L park up at the first L about 400 yards further on. Walk down the Southern Upland Way for about 300 yards. Stroanfreggan Cairn lies c. 80 yards on your L in rough pasture.

Directions for Stroanfreggan Cairn: From Newton Stewart. Take A712 New Galloway on E edge of Newton Stewart. Drive around 18 miles on A712 to reach New Galloway via Clatteringshaws Reservoir. Turn L at the junction in New Galloway for A712 Crocketford. Cross over the Ken Bridge. Turn L for A713 Dalry/Ayr. About 4 miles later reach St John’s Town of Dalry. Take the R turn for A702 Moniaive up Main Street. After c. 500 yards take the second L turn at a crossroads in St John’s Town of Dalry. This is the B7000. Stay on this road past Kendoon Power Station for c. 6.2 miles to reach a junction with the A729. Turn R for A729 Moniaive, a single track road with passing places. After c. 2 miles you will see Stroanfreggan Mound on your R. Park at the junction with the Southern Upland Way. Walk down the Southern Upland Way for about 300 yards. Stroanfreggan Cairn lies c. 80 yards on your L in rough pasture.

Visited 14.04.12

Stroanfreggan Cairn is a greatly reduced round cairn in a rural location c. 5 miles E of Carsphairn. According to Canmore ID 64370 (go to Links) it originally measured c 75 feet on a N-S axis. The extensive stone robbing has exposed a cist in the E half of the cairn. Canmore states that the cist measured 3 ft 5 ins x 2 ft x 2 ft 3 ins internally, beneath a cover stone, 5 x 4 ft. The massive capstone is especially impressive. The centre of the cairn has been entirely reduced to ground level except for a c. 4x3 feet boulder. The perimeter has also been extensively reduced to a maximum height of 5 feet on the S arc. Canmore states there was an intermittent kerb of c. 2 feet high boulders now reduced to 3 remaining stones.

Directions: Take the B213 Ivybridge turn off the A38. If you exit from the E, turn R, cross over the A38 and take the first L on the roundabout signposted for Cornwood. If you exit from the W, take the first L on the roundabout signposted for Cornwood. Follow the Cornwood Road for c. I mile until you reach a mini roundabout. Take the L turn onto a narrow lane for Cornwood. Stay on this road for c. 2.5 miles until you reach the Cornwood Inn at a crossroads in Cornwood. Take the R turn for Torr/Harford onto a lane. After 0.25 miles stay straight on the lane. After another c. 0.5 miles stay straight. After another 0.25 miles turn L up an un-signposted lane and bear R after a sharp corner. Follow this narrow leafy lane for c. 0.25 mile then take the L fork. The road will end c. 0.4 mile later just after Watercombe Farm. Park as close as possible and follow the track for c. 0.5 mile past the water treatment buildings reaching the open moorland of Stalldown Moor. When you are 100 yards clear of the buildings strike N uphill towards Stalldown Stone Row relying on GPS or Map Reading to reach the Southern Terminal 0.5 mile N at SX 63218 62074.

There is a cluster of cairns in or near the Northern third of Stalldown Stone Row. Stalldown cairn circle (listed in TMA) is constructed a few yards to the E of the Stalldown Stone Row axis, a hiatus in the row of standing stones. Around 100 yards NNW in open moorland there is a small grass cairn measuring c. 30 feet across with a 4 feet earth bank. An intermittent perimeter of kerb stones c. 1.5 feet high define the edge of the cairn. There is a shallow hollow in the centre of the cairn suggestive of an excavation. It lies c. 30 yards E of Stalldown Stone Row.
A third cairn, Stalldown Stone Row Cairn NE lies c. 100 yards SE from here, on the E side of the stone row.
The concentration of several sites in a small radius suggests that it was the centre of ritual activities at Stalldown. The inclusion of Stalldown cairn circle into the stone row perhaps indicates that it was the focal point.
Historic England 1015806 (go to Links) has a full description of Stalldown Stone Row and its associated cairns.

The ruined cairn lies c. 250 yards S of the Southern terminus in Stalldown Stone Row. It has been reduced to a circle of rough uneven grassy lumps, measuring c. 10 yards across by 1 yard high. The dark green of the cairn contrasts with the light brown of the moorland.

Historic England 1012748 states that the centre of the cairn has a central hollow probably related to a past disturbance in search of a cist. It also speculates that the cairn may have been the original terminus of the stone row. The Stalldown area has been used for peat cutting in the past so some of the stones may have been removed or buried. In any case, the close proximity of the cairn to Stalldown Stone Row extends the area of the Stalldown Complex.

South Cairnweil Standing Stone is a triangular granite pillar reaching a rounded top at c. 7 feet. The basal cross-section of 3’3’’x2’4’’x8’’ is maintained until the last foot of the stone. According to Canmore ID 60446 (go to Links) the stone was removed sometime between 1911 and 1970. It was re-erected in its original position by the farmer in 1973.

Directions: Take the A77 Portpatrick out of Stranraer heading S. After 1.33 miles ignore the Portpatrick R turn staying straight on the A716 Drummore. After another c. 6.5 miles go past Sandhead, take the next R for Kirkmadrine Stones. After 0.4 mile turn R onto a minor road for Kirkmadrine Stones. After c. 0.45 miles you will see a small lay-by at NX 08654 48386 with a gate where South Cairnweil Standing Stone Path starts. The stone is about 180 yards S from this point beside the path.

Slewcairn NE is one of a pair of cairns situated c. 0.25 miles E of Slewcairn Long Cairn. It is a grassy cairn completely robbed of stones and hidden in the trees. It lies in a clearing c. 50 yards from the forest track. According to Canmore ID 65494 (go to Links) it measures c. 10 yards across by up to 1 yard high. There is a small mound on the apex, c. 2 feet high, covered in vegetation.
Slewcairn SW, its near neighbour, lies about 130 yards SW across the forest road in open ground.
I visited the Slewcairn complex on 12.05.12.

Slewcairn can be approached from the North, my choice of access. This involves 5 miles of forestry track which can be tackled by foot, bike or car.
By foot a 10 mile return plus up to 1 mile of deviation between 3 sites makes for a 11 mile walk.
By mountain bike the effort to travel 10 miles on a forest track is greatly reduced, my choice for my visit.
By car, preferably 4x4, 10 miles on a forestry track is reduced to 30 minutes travel at 20mph.
When you reach NX 92824 61374 (GPS navigation is essential) you are equidistant between Slewcairn SW & NE. Neither are easily spotted. Slewcairn NE is hidden in trees at NX 9284 6143. Slewcairn SW is on a rocky rig at NX 9276 6133. Slewcairn Long Cairn is 0.25 miles W along a forest ride starting at NX 92619 61592. Walk W on this narrow clearing for c. 300 yards to the end of the trees. Slewcairn Long Cairn is c. 130 yards S of this point lying in rough terrain at NX 9239 6142 The grid references for each cairn are as recorded in Canmore.
Take the A711 for Dalbeattie at Cargenbridge on the edge of Dumfries. Bear L onto a narrow lane in Beeswing 100 yards before the church. After about 3.75 miles on this road take the R turn for Solway Fishery. After c. 300 yards there is room to park on your R at NX 9370 6632. You can walk or cycle from here on continue on by car bearing SE at first for c. 5 miles along a forest track.

Slewcairn SW is one of a pair of cairns situated c. 0.25 miles E of Slewcairn Long Cairn. It is almost completely robbed of stones on a rig c. 60 yards SW of the forest track at NX 92824 61374. According to Canmore ID 65492 (go to Links) it measures 10 yards across and up to 1 yard high. It is heather covered with a small scattering of stones on top. A modern cairn c. 2 feet high has been built on top of the cairn.
Slewcairn NE, its near neighbour, lies about 130 yards NE hidden in the trees.
I visited the Slewcairn complex on 12.05.12.
Slewcairn can be approached from the North, my choice of access. This involves 5 miles of forestry track which can be tackled by foot, bike or car.
By foot a 10 mile return plus up to 1 mile of deviation between 3 sites makes for a 11 mile walk.
By mountain bike the effort to travel 10 miles on a forest track is greatly reduced, my choice for my visit.
By car, preferably 4x4, 10 miles on a forestry track is reduced to 30 minutes travel at 20mph.
When you reach NX 92824 61374 (GPS navigation is essential) you are equidistant between Slewcairn SW & NE. Neither are easily spotted. Slewcairn NE is hidden in trees at NX 9284 6143. Slewcairn SW is on a rocky rig at NX 9276 6133. Slewcairn Long Cairn is 0.25 miles W along a forest ride starting at NX 92619 61592. Walk W on this narrow clearing for c. 300 yards to the end of the trees. Slewcairn Long Cairn is c. 130 yards S of this point lying in rough terrain at NX 9239 6142 The grid references for each cairn are as recorded in Canmore.
Take the A711 for Dalbeattie at Cargenbridge on the edge of Dumfries. Bear L onto a narrow lane in Beeswing 100 yards before the church. After about 3.75 miles on this road take the R turn for Solway Fishery. After c. 300 yards there is room to park on your R at NX 9370 6632. You can walk or cycle from here on continue on by car bearing SE at first for c. 5 miles along a forest track.

On the Eastern edge of Dulnain Bridge, a village in Strathspey, there are some unusually shaped rocks known as Roches Moutonnees. The term describes rocks which have been shaped by the passage of a glacier. The characteristic shape is a smooth shallow slope in the direction of the glaciers advance with a steep edge in the lee of the glacier. About 18000 years ago Dulnain Bridge was covered by a vast ice sheet moving E and measuring up to 700m deep.

These rocks are small examples of the form which is found throughout the Cairngorm area. Ord Ban near Aviemore is a massive example, reaching up to 428 metres high.

Directions: There is a lay-by at NJ 0021 2497 on the E edge of Dulnain Bridge. A short path leads to the Roches Moutonnees.

Redhouse Standing Stones are c. 100 yards apart in adjacent fields. There is no line of sight between them and they are dissimilar types of stones. They lie at SW and NE on the compass.

Redhouse SW is a classic standing stone shape with a large cross-section tapering to a thin rounded top.

Redhouse NE is a broad thin earthfast slab. Bladup thought it was originally a capstone which has been erected upright. I would agree with this theory. It could be the only remaining stone of a ploughed out chambered cairn set upright as a rubbing stone.

Rangag West Standing Stone is erected c. 30 yards N of Rangag Farm on the A9, about 7.5 miles N of Latheron on the A9. The tall stone can easily be seen from the A9, 40 yards to the E.
The stone is a square pillar measuring c. 9.5 feet high with a 2.75 x 2.75 feet cross-section according to Canmore ID 8274 (go to Links). It has a c. 10 degree lean to the E. Some packing stones have been placed on the E base to support the heavy stone which is securely earthfast.
My visit was in 2012 however it is still visible on Google Maps Street View so I assume the leaning Rangag West Standing Stone is still standing.
Rangag East lies 0.5 mile E up the track which starts at Rangag Farm. It is listed under Canmore ID 8222 (go to Links) as Rhianacoil.

Directions: The stone is on the A9 7.5 miles N of Latheron beside Rangag Farm. There is room to park near the farm to take a closer look. To reach Rangag East follow the straight track at the N end of Rangag Farm for about 0.5 mile. Rangag East is within 10 yards of the track on the right c. 30 yards before a fork in the track. (I haven’t visited Rangag East. The directions were taken from OS mapping using Canmore’s Grid Reference.)

I visited Mulchaich Cairn in 2012 after a clean up in 2011 detailed in Canmore ID 12763 (see Links). A survey plan of the cairn is available on the site.

Mulchaich Cairn is constructed on top of a gently rising natural knoll, with fine views all round. The unusual feature of Mulchaich is the double kerbs. The inner kerb is on the crest of the mound and the outer kerb is on the slope.

The circular inner kerb has a c. 60 feet diameter and the oval outer kerb on the slopes of the mound has a maximum diameter of c. 150 feet in the NW-SE axis.

Mulchaich Cairn has been severely robbed. The interior of the cairn has only one upright stone, an earthset slab c. 3 feet high by 3 feet wide. There are several 6-8 feet slabs nearby suggesting there was a cist or passage in the cairn. The inner kerb is intermittent with some large earthset stones measuring 5-6 feet still in situ. The band between the kerbs is largely grassy, measuring from 30-45 feet across with some small earthset stones exposed. The outer kerb has large gaps with short stretches of 1-2 feet stones left to define the perimeter.

Like Hob, I was frustrated to find out about the cup marked stone after my visit.

Mossyard 6 is a Cup and Ring marked stone laid on a dyke in Mossyard Caravan Park. The stone is rectangular measuring c. 3 x 1 foot in cross-section, tapering from 9 to 1.5 inches thick. It is set on top of a stone dyke in front of a static caravan near the centre of Mossyard Caravan Park. I have posted a picture taken by the late Jan Brouwer which gives the exact location. It was still in situ in 18.02.17 when I visited the Mossyard sites.

There are four Cup and Ring Marks on the exposed top of the stone. There is a central line of 3 cups with a single ring measuring up to 4 inches across and a cup with two rings measuring c. 6 inches across on the NE corner of the stone. There is also an oval depression in the SW corner, measuring c. 3 inches across and 1 inch deep, which may be natural.

Mossyard on BRAC (go to Links) contains superior images of Mossyard 6 and other Mossyard Rock Art Sites.

Directions for Mossyard 6: Take the Mossyard road off the A75. After c. 0.5 mile turn sharp L at Mossyard Farm them sharp R to Mossyard Bay car park. Walk back along the road to Mossyard Caravan Park. Take the R fork into the park then follow the L fork for 130 yards. When the road bears R turn L onto a short row of static caravans. Mossyard 6 is on a wall on the N side of the second static caravan (see Images).

Mossyard 1 consists of two cup and ring marks on a 12 foot wedge of exposed rock on the coast at Ringdoo Point in Dumfries and Galloway. It lies 700 yards SW of Mossyard Caravan Park.
There are two distinct panels, 1a and 1b. Each panel has a line of natural depressions running down the centre.
Panel 1a is adjacent to a dry stane dyke. It has a single cup with 5 rings in the W quadrant. Canmore ID 63710 (go to Links) discusses the possibility of a carved double groove cartouche around the cup and ring carving. It is apparent in two images, Panel-1a 2004 taken by rockartuk, see Mossyard on BRAC (go to Links).
Panel 1b, which lies immediately NE of 1a, is badly eroded, a cup with 3 surrounding rings. It also is carved in the W quadrant of the panel.

Directions for Mossyard 1: Take the Mossyard road off the A75. After c. 0.5 mile turn sharp L at Mossyard Farm them sharp R to Mossyard Bay car park. Walk back along the road to Mossyard Caravan Park. Take the R fork into the park then the R fork SE parallel to a row of static caravans. After c. 120 yards a faint track heads SW across a field for c. 350 yards to reach a gateway. Turn L following the field perimeter for c. 130 yards, turn R, following the field edge for c. 160 yards. Follow the field perimeter R for another 100 yards looking out for the large glacial erratic ahead. If you hug the dry stane dyke you will find Mossyard 1 c. 20 yards N of the boulder.

In my experience Rock Art is the most frustrating of all the categories (except possibly Burnt Mounds). It is hard to find due to erosion, being covered by turf or a 6 figure grid reference accurate to 100 square metres. I walked past the Clarksburn Wood stone several times in dry weather only to see the cup and rings marking appear on a rainy day.

Rockartuk were Rock Stars in the Rock Art world. Gus van Veen and Jan Brouwer travelled the length and breadth of the United Kingdom unearthing hidden gems, cataloguing sites and taking exceptional pictures of Rock Art.

Sadly, Jan Brower passed away in 2011. The last post of Rockartuk on TMA was on 29th January 2011 . The free archive of photos had to be rescued due to Fotopic.net’s demise. They are now available on UKRA.net (go to Links).

Mossyard was investigated by Rockartuk and they found 6 separate sites in the location. I was only able to find Mossyard 1,3 and 6 on my visit in 2017 but 50% is a good result in the search for Rock Art.

I have just notice that the grid reference for this site is rather closer to Mossyard 1 than Mossyard 3. The officially recorded grid reference in Canmore ID 63739 (go to Links) is NX 5469 5204 for Mossyard 3.

Middleton Standing Stone is a granite standing stone erected in a field WNW of Barrapol, Isle of Tiree. It has a broad base c. 1.0m x 0.7m according to Canmore ID 21473 (go to Links) rising to a broad point at 1.6m. The stone is 200m NW of Clachan Dubh, a thatched roof house in Barrapol.

Directions: From Scarinish, the largest village in Tiree, take the B8065 coast road heading W for c. 5 miles until you reach a junction with the B8066. Turn right for Heylipol. After c. 130 yards bear sharp left avoiding the B8066 Cornaig. Continue on the B8065 through Heylipol for 1.25 miles until you reach a crossroads. Go straight on following the B8065. Continue through the sparse community of Barrapol for c. 1.1 miles until you reach a thatched cottage, Clachan Dubh, on the right. There is room to park at the croft buildings adjacent to the cottage. A farm track starts just W of the cottage. Follow parallel to the road for 70 yards then turn right following a farm track NW for 150 yards. Middleton Standing Stone is 20 yards W from this point.