markj99

Visited 26.07.24

Lagwine Cairn is located c. 0.5 mile N of Carsphairn in Dumfries and Galloway. According to Canmore ID 63880, the oval cairn originally measured 30.0m E-W by 25.0m N-S. There has been some stone robbing, probably for the construction of a sheepfold c. 50 yards NE of the cairn. However, a ridge of apparently undisturbed stones survives, measuring c. 50 feet E-W, 30 feet N-S and 4 feet high. Scattered stones are visible on the N and S Arcs. On the W Arc there is a low circular stone structure measuring c. 3 feet internally with a wall up to 3 feet thick and 1 foot high.

Visited 17.07.24

Duniewick Hillfort is constructed on Duniewick Crag, a large natural knoll on the NE slopes of Knockdolian, c. 2 miles NE of Ballantrae in South Ayrshire. Dunniewick Crag has near vertical rocky flanks on the S and E providing natural defence. There are steep grassy slopes on the N and W, supplemented by a ditch at the base of the crag. The ditch measures up to 10 feet wide and 4 feet deep. Access to the summit is via an angled rock slab on the W flank. The summit plain slopes gently S-N. It has extensive grass cover making observation difficult. There is an earth rampart round the perimeter with a gap in the W flank for the entrance. Canmore ID 61960 estimates that the rampart is “up to 5.6m in thickness and 0.9m in height”. Canmore further states that the enclosure measures c. 30m E-W and 25m N-S. The enclosure is flat and featureless.

Visited 14.07.24

Knockeen Cairn is located c. 2 miles ENE of Barr Village in South Ayrshire. It lies in rough pasture on the S edge of a strip of trees, screening it from the road. The round mound measures c. 66 feet in diameter and 5 feet high. There are no stones visible on the grassy surface except for a cluster of embedded small stones in the NW quadrant. There is a hollow in the centre of the cairn measuring c. 4 feet in diameter and 0.5 feet deep. It is probable that the centre of the cairn has been excavated. This is the only trace of disturbance on the mound. Canmore ID 71385 has further details of Knockeen Cairn.

Visited 14.07.24

There is an isolated cairn on the summit of Pinbreck Hill, located c. 5 miles E of Barr Village in South Ayrshire. The oval cairn measures c. 40 feet NW-SE and 35 feet NE-SW, reaching up to 3 feet high. It has been largely robbed of stones leaving a grassy surface studded with embedded small stones. The kerb of the cairn is delineated by intermittent embedded medium-sized stones. A modern cairn, measuring c. 1.5 feet high, has been constructed in the centre of the mound around a rusting iron fence post. Canmore ID 63060 has further details of Pinbreck Hill Cairn. There are extensive 360° views from the summit of Pinbreck Hill, compensation for a tussocky walk up a c. 30° slope.