Directions to Laggan Cairn (Barrhill): Take the dead-end Forest Road at Blair Farm off the A714 c. 0.5 mile SE of Barrhill. Follow this narrow lane for c. 1 mile to a ruined house on the left of the road at NX 25692 82407. Park up and follow an overgrown track NW for c. 600 yards to a corner at NX 25263 82699. Walk N towards a gate in a deer fence. Walk W through rough boggy ground for c. 150 yards to the deer fence. Follow the deer fence N through similar terrain for c. 300 yards to Laggan Cairn (Barrhill) at NX 25354 82970.
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Directions to Barnshangan Cairns: Take the W turn to Glenluce off the A75. Turn left for New Luce after 0.2 mile. Stay on this road for c. 5 miles to reach New Luce. Park on Main Street. Walk straight on at the top of Main Street for c. 300 yards to reach Barnshangan Farm track. Follow the farm track for c. 0.6 mile to a gate on the right at NX 18156 65377. Head S into the field for 75 yards then SE towards a gate into an adjacent field. Barnshangan W Cairn is c. 75 yards NE from here. Return to the farm track then walk c. 400 yards E to NX 18429 65423. Barnshangan E Cairn is c. 50 yards to the right, next to a dry stane dyke.
Laggan Cairn (Barrhill) viewed from N.
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
Laggan Cairn (Barrhill) viewed from E.
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
Laggan Cairn (Barrhill) viewed from S.
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
Laggan Cairn (Barrhill) viewed from W.
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
Central Hollow of Laggan Cairn (Barrhill) viewed from W.
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
Visited 25.10.23
Laggan Cairn (Barrhill) is located in a recently planted forest c. 1.3 miles ENE of Barrhill, a village in South Ayrshire. Laggan is a ruin on Forest Road off the A714. The sub-circular cairn is on a slope with a grassy perimeter running from NW to SE up to 1 yard high. The central hollow retains several stones surrounded by ferns. I estimated the diameter of the cairn to be 18 yards. This corresponds to the 16 yards quoted in Canmore 62530.
Balmalloch Cairn viewed from N.
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
Balmalloch Cairn viewed from E.
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
Balmalloch Cairn viewed from S.
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
Balmalloch Cairn viewed from W.
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
Hollow in S Arc of Balmalloch Cairn.
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
Hollow in W Arc of Balmalloch Cairn.
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
NW Chamber of Balmalloch Cairn viewed from S.
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
Split Capstone of NW Chamber of Balmalloch Cairn viewed from N.
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
Interior of NW Chamber of Balmalloch Cairn viewed from N.
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
SE Chamber of Balmalloch Cairn viewed from ENE.
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
Interior of SE Chamber of Balmalloch Cairn viewed from WSW.
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
Visited 25.10.23
Balmalloch Chambered Cairn is located in a pine forest clearing c. 2.5 miles NE of Barrhill, a village in South Ayrshire. The stony mound measures c. 20 yards in diameter and 2.5 yards high. Excavation pits are visible on the S and W arcs of the cairn. Two chambers have been exposed by the removal of stones: one in the SE quadrant, the other in the NW quadrant. The larger NW chamber is covered by a split capstone measuring c. 6 x 6 feet. There is no visible passage. The smaller SE chamber has a capstone measuring 4.5 x 3 feet. There may have been a passage ENE of the SE chamber.
Given its rural location, it is not surprising that Balmalloch Chambered Cairn has survived relatively well. There are details of the cairn on Canmore ID 62520.
Balmalloch Cairnfield is c. 200 yards SE of Balmalloch Chambered Cairn.
Balmalloch Cairnfield viewed from SE.
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
Visited 25.10.23
Balmalloch Cairnfield is located in a pine forest clearing c. 2.5 miles NE of Barrhill, a village in South Ayrshire. The extensive site is centred on NX 2648 8439. According to Canmore ID 62526 there were around 23 small cairns. The largest measured c. 6m in diameter and 0.8m high.
Unfortunately, Balmalloch Cairnfield has been furrowed and planted with pine trees. This has effectively destroyed the site. I couldn’t see any remaining mounds on my visit on 25.10.23. When the trees are harvested in due course there will be further damage to Balmalloch Cairnfield.
Balmalloch Chambered Cairn is c. 200 yards NW of Balmalloch Cairnfield.
Visited 25.10.23
Barnshangan W Cairn is located c. 700 yards W of Barnshangan Farm, c. 0.65 miles NE of New Luce in Dumfries and Galloway. Until recently, the small field in which it is located was used to enclose Beef Cattle. As a result the ground was churned to mud. The cattle have been moved and the field has grassed over. The low mound is almost invisible in the pasture. Viewed from W, there is a ridge c. 1 foot high. Otherwise the cairn has been reduced to ground level. A 1986 visit listed in Canmore ID 61370 estimated the diameter of Barnshangan W Cairn to be 20m but this is difficult to confirm in its current state. Field clearance stones, previously dumped on the cairn, have been removed (as noted in a comment in Canmore ID 61370). There are no visible stones on the grassy surface of the low mound.
Barnshangan W Cairn has a companion cairn, Barnshangan E Cairn, located c. 165 yards E. The E cairn is better preserved with scattered stones on its surface.
Mochrum Fell (Elrig) Street View on Google Maps.
Directions to Mochrum Fell (Elrig): Take the A747 Port William turn off the A75 at Glenluce. Stay on the A747 for c. 6.6 miles to an unsigned left turn onto the B7005 at NX 27136 49953. Travel on the B7005 for c. 2.2 miles to reach a minor road signed for Kirkcowan. Continue on the B7005 for c. 300 yards to a track opposite Culshabbin Schoolhouse at NX 30667 51023. There is room to park up here. Follow the track S for c. 0.5 mile. Turn right at NX 3104 5036 onto a vague path heading W through rough ground. Stay on this path heading uphill to the obvious summit of Mochrum Fell. The cairn is on the summit of Mochrum Fell. My route is viewable on Mochrum Fell (Elrig) Cairn.
Directions to Elrig Cairn: Take the Elrig turn off the A747 Portwilliam road. Follow the road for c. 1.3 miles to a junction with Elrig Farm road at the edge of the village. There is room to park at the junction. Walk c. 400 yards up the road to reach a gate on your left. Follow a winding path N through the field to a gate. Elrig Cairn is c. 100 yards WNW in the adjacent field.
Directions to Cairnhouse E Cairn: Take the A714 Wigtown road from the A75 roundabout at Newton Stewart. Stay on the road for c. 3.9 miles to an unsigned turn off to Cairnhouse Farm. Bear right onto the single track lane to Cairnhouse farm. Travel c. 500 yards down the farm lane to a lay-by at NX 4187 5828. Walk c. 175 yards S towards Cairnhouse Farm on the margin of the field. The mound is located to the rear of the farmhouse enclosed by a stone wall. My route is viewable on Cairnhouse E Cairn.
High Baltersan Cairn Street View on Google Maps.
Directions to High Baltersan Cairn: Take the Wigtown road off the A75 Newton Stewart roundabout. Stay on the road for c. 1.6 miles. Take a right turn down an unsigned single track road with passing places. After c. 0.7 miles turn left. Park up after c. 75 yards opposite a gate. High Baltersan Cairn is c. 160 yards ESE of the gate up a grassy slope, located c. 15 yards E of a natural rocky knoll. My route is viewable on High Baltersan Cairn.
Directions to Cairn Hill (Barraer): Take the narrow unsigned road starting at NX 3953 6427 on the A75, c. 1.2 miles W of the A75 roundabout at Newton Stewart. Follow the winding lane for c. 2 miles to reach a lay-by at NX 38464 61246. Follow a rocky track heading W into a field then head uphill to Cairn Hill (Barraer). My route is viewable on Cairn Hill (Barraer).
Directions to Cairn of Knockglass: Take the N turn off the A75 to Creetown. Park up in a lay-by on the left at NX 4707 5993 after 0.5 miles. Walk c. 450 yards N along the road to a path starting at NX 4684 6016. Follow the path through a wood for c. 0.4 mile to reach a junction. Turn right onto an uphill track heading NE. Follow this track for c. 0.5 miles to NX 4761 6114. Turn left following a track along the margin of a field for c. 400 yards to a ruined farm. Cairn of Knockglass is located c. 100 yards E in the field.
Directions to St Mirren’s Well: Take the Tak-ma-Doon road, signed for Carronbridge, off the A803 Stirling Road in Kilsyth. Follow this narrow road for c. 1.1 miles to park in a lay-by opposite a quarry. Walk c. 120 yards up the road to a gateway. There is a ford c. 5 yards from the gateway so wellies are advised. After crossing the ford head uphill towards a gate into the adjacent field. St Mirren’s Well is c. 150 yards W of the gate in a patch of rough grass.
Directions to Cairn Wood (Barskeoch): The route to Cairn Wood (Barskeoch) follows the old military road from Blackpark farm c. 1 mile W of Newton Stewart. There is space for a car to park at the junction with the A75. The final approach follows a track through fields to a cairn hidden in a wood. My route can be viewed on Cairn Wood (Barskeoch).
Directions to Craig Fell N Cairn: There is a small car park at NX 1412 6188. It is preferable to have a bike from this point to reduce your travel time. Follow the Southern Upland Way signs SE for c. 400 yards to reach a locked gate. Follow the rocky road for c. 0.7 mile to a junction at NX 1488 6067 . Turn right then follow the track for c. 1 mile to reach NX 1553 5955. Turn left then travel for c. 2.6 miles to NX 1720 6041. Craig Fell N Cairn is in a clearing c. 80 yards E of the track. Head E for 30 yards through scrubby trees to reach a stone wall. Climb over the wall. Head S between the forest and the wall looking for a vague path E after c. 30 yards. Follow it in a clearing with Craig Fell N Cairn in the centre.
St Mirren’s Well Water Tank viewed from NW.
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
St Mirren’s Well Water Tank viewed from SE.
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
Inscribed Stone in W Corner of St Mirren’s Well Water Tank.
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
Visited 06.10.23
St Mirren’s Well is located c. 1 mile N of Kilsyth, in North Lanarkshire. The natural spring has been enclosed in a water tank distributing the water to Colzium according to Canmore ID 45896. A stone slab with 1687 deeply inscribed on the top is exposed on the W corner of the water tank. There is a piped outflow SE of the tank leading down a series of stone steps to a small pool of water. This pool feeds a boggy area around it. This is the new location for St Mirren Well, c. 20 yards SE of the water tank.
Visited 20.09.23
I was suffering from Stone-Fatigue after a week in and around Carnac. I opted to drive for 3 hours to Cairn de Barnenez as a relaxing change. The monument was well sign-posted. The entry fee was a reasonable 6 euros. The epic scale of Cairn de Barnenez was intimidating at first. There are 11 parallel dolmens in the cairn running SE-NW, however all but one of the passages are closed to the public. It took me 45 minutes to fully capture the essence of the monument. Cairn de Barnenez is a recommended visit.
Visited 19.09.23
Like Jane, I struggle with the concept of rectangular “Stone Circles”. I am conditioned to expect rectangular structures to be modern and stone circles to be ancient. I had the same problem with Quadlatiere du Manio. I left Cromlech de Crucuno with more questions than answers.