markj99

Visited 28.05.19

I approached the Essa Stones by car from the W. This cuts out the 0.8 mile walk up from Polruan Quay. There is a gateway N of the Lantic Way c. 90 yards W of a minor junction with a lane to Lanteglos Church. Essa Standing Stone 1 is c. 100 yards W of the gateway on the margin of the field at SX 13727 50987. The erect stone slab is orientated E-W and bears signs of weathering. The base round the stone has been eroded to a dusty circle. Essa Standing Stone 2 is located at SX 13762 51085, c. 110 yards NNE down the grassy slope. This slab is irregular and pointed, much less convincing as an ancient monument to my eyes. The standing stones are not visible from the Lantic Way due to the high hedge.

I flew into Tiree from Glasgow via Loganair: there was only a curtain separating the 6 passengers from the pilots. I picked up a hire car from the airport and spent a pleasant week touring this peaceful island. I would definitely recommend enthusiastic TMA’s to follow in my footsteps.

Directions to Tiree Ringing Stone: Take the B8068 N out of Scarinish. After c. 0.7 mile turn right onto the B6089 Caoles road. Follow it for c. 1.4 miles, then turn left for Vaul. Stay on this single track road with passing places for c. 1.2 miles until you reach a grassy car park at the end of the public road at NM 04549 49069. Walk NW along a grass track towards the sea for c. 175 yards. Turn right for c. 130 yards towards a ruined croft. Dun Beag Vaul is c. 70 yards NE of the croft on the edge of the coast. Walk c. 200 yards SW to rejoin the path. Follow the winding path W for c. 175 yards to Dun Mor (Vaul). Continue along the coastal path heading SW then W for c. 1.1 miles to reach a sandy bay at NM 0271 4864. The Ringing Stone is a large grey boulder c. 75 yards NNW in a rocky strip beyond the sand. The stone is unmistakable: it has multiple large cup marks, 53 in total according to the nearby info board. It is located at NM 02679 48689. My walking route is viewable on Clach a’ Choire (The Ringing Stone), Tiree.

I flew into Tiree from Glasgow via Loganair: there was only a curtain separating the 6 passengers from the pilots. I picked up a hire car from the airport and spent a pleasant week touring this peaceful island. I would definitely recommend enthusiastic TMA’s to follow in my footsteps.

Directions to Dun Mor Vaul: Take the B8068 N out of Scarinish. After c. 0.7 mile turn right onto the B6089 Caoles road. Follow it for c. 1.4 miles, then turn left for Vaul. Stay on this single track road with passing places for c. 1.2 miles until you reach a grassy car park at the end of the public road at NM 04549 49069. Walk NW along a grass track towards the sea for c. 175 yards. Turn right for c. 130 yards towards a ruined croft. Dun Beag Vaul is c. 70 yards NE of the croft on the edge of the coast. Walk c. 200 yards SW to rejoin the path. Follow the winding path W for c. 175 yards to Dun Mor (Vaul). Continue along the coastal path heading SW then W for c. 1.1 miles to reach a sandy bay at NM 0271 4864. The Ringing Stone is a large grey boulder c. 75 yards NNW in a rocky strip beyond the sand. The stone is unmistakable: it has multiple large cup marks, 53 in total according to the nearby info board. It is located at NM 02679 48689. My walking route is viewable on Clach a’ Choire (The Ringing Stone), Tiree.

I flew into Tiree from Glasgow via Loganair: there was only a curtain separating the 6 passengers from the pilots. I picked up a hire car from the airport and spent a pleasant week touring this peaceful island. I would definitely recommend enthusiastic TMA’s to follow in my footsteps.

Directions to Dun Beag (Vaul): Take the B8068 N out of Scarinish. After c. 0.7 mile turn right onto the B6089 Caoles road. Follow it for c. 1.4 miles, then turn left for Vaul. Stay on this single track road with passing places for c. 1.2 miles until you reach a grassy car park at the end of the public road at NM 04549 49069. Walk NW along a grass track towards the sea for c. 175 yards. Turn right for c. 130 yards towards a ruined croft. Dun Beag Vaul is c. 70 yards NE of the croft on the edge of the coast. Walk c. 200 yards SW to rejoin the path. Follow the winding path W for c. 175 yards to Dun Mor (Vaul). Continue along the coastal path heading SW then W for c. 1.1 miles to reach a sandy bay at NM 0271 4864. The Ringing Stone is a large grey boulder c. 75 yards NNW in a rocky strip beyond the sand. The stone is unmistakable: it has multiple large cup marks, 53 in total according to the nearby info board. It is located at NM 02679 48689. My walking route is viewable on Clach a’ Choire (The Ringing Stone), Tiree.

Visited 28.04.10

Directions to Dun Edinbane Broch: Take the Upper Edinbane turn off the A850. Follow the narrow road S through Upper Edinbane for c. 0.9 miles. It is possible to park up in a large lay-by at NG 3510 5063 at the end of the public road in Upper Edinbane. Walk N back along the narrow road for c. 100 yards to a green shed on the right. Enter the field on the right then head N to the field margin. Follow the field margin NE for c. 300 yards then head NW for c. 50 yards to a green mound containing the ruined Dun Edinbane Broch. My walking route is viewable on Dun Edinbane Broch.

Visited 19.07.21

This route visits 7 ancient monuments on the Moor of Drannandow. They are situated within a square kilometre so it is possible to visit them all on a long summer’s day walking c. 6 miles in total.

Take the A714 Newton Stewart turn off the A75 roundabout at Newton Stewart. Follow the A714 onto Victoria Street. After c. 0.8 miles turn right over the Cree Bridge. Turn left for Wood of Cree c. 50 yards after the end of the bridge. Follow the road into Minigaff for c. 0.5 mile then turn left for Wood of Cree. Follow the National Cycle Route 7, a narrow winding lane for c. 2.7 miles to reach Barclye Trails Car Park on the right. Park up safely then walk c. 350 yards N to the right turn for Drannandow Farm. Follow the farm track through Drannandow Farm. Bear left along a farm track at a Y junction c. 50 yards N of the farm. NB I have encountered Beef Cattle occupying this track on several occasions. It may be prudent to avoid these potentially dangerous animals, especially if calves are present. If the track is clear continue N then NE for 0.8 mile to a Y Junction. Take the right fork heading E. GPS Navigation is necessary to locate these relatively obscure monuments with the exception of Drannandow N Cairn which is close to Nappers Cottage. The following sites can be visited: Drumfern N Cairn, Drumfern Stone Circle, Drumfern S Cairn, Drannandow S Cairn, Rorie Gill’s Cairn, Drannandow N Cairn & The Thieves Standing Stones. Part of this route is over rough moorland so good footwear is recommended. My walking route is viewable on Drannandow Cairns.

Directions to Devil’s Bowling Green: You can park up at NX 4140 8028 close to the end of public vehicle access to Glen Trool. Walk NE along the road for c. 350 yards to reach the path to Bruce’s Stone. Avoid the Benyellary Path, continue down the private road, cross a bridge and bear left onto the Loch Valley path at NX 4198 8050. The path is defined but boggy in places, continuing upwards towards Loch Valley, then Loch Neldricken. Turn right round the bank of Loch Neldricken to reach a path heading N. Follow this path for c. 300 yards then head E towards the N slope of Craignaw. This is a pathless ascent for c. 1000 yards with a height gain of 200 yards. When you reach the ridge of Craignaw you should see a large flat rockbed at NX 45723 83683 with a variety of stones deposited on its surface. This is the Devil’s Bowling Green. My walking route is viewable on Devil’s Bowling Green (Craignaw).The route is strenuous totalling c. 500 yards of climbing on the way up in c. 4.4 miles. Walking Boots and GPS or Compass Navigation are compulsory. Extra clothing, food and water are strongly recommended.

Visited 03.06.15

When I drove past the Cock Crowing Stone my curiosity was raised by the bold graffito on the stone. Obviously, I took some pictures and resolved to investigate the unusual stone on Google. The search was not particularly productive as to the naming of the stone. Huddersfield Exposed suggested that “the stone might rotate at the sound of a cock crowing on a specific day of the year, or it might be standing on top of a treasure hoard”. An alternative explanation was that it was a frequent perch for a cock grouse crowing in the morning.

I checked out the photos on Geograph and found that the quoted OSGR for the stone is not accurate: It is located at SE 08202 09036 (or 53.57784, -1.87758 on Google Maps).

Directions to Cnoc Nan Dursainean Cairn: Park up at the Free Church of Scotland Car Park in Garrabost. Walk SE up the single track road for c. 200 yards until it reaches a dead end at a derelict building. Continue SE on a moorland path for c. 450 yards to reach a white footbridge on the left. Cross the footbridge then walk c. 20 yards SW to a triangular standing stone called Clach Glas on a grassy mound. Retrace your steps back to the path then head SW along a vague path winding through the heather for c. 600 yards to reach Cnoc Nan Dursainean, a green patch in brown moorland. There is an arc of several stones in the SW of the cairn probably containing a ruined chamber and a single standing stone in the NE. Walk NW along a rough moorland path towards Garrabost. After c. 450 yards you will reach the outskirts of the village. Head N over a burn towards an open field. Walk N across the field towards the A866. Walk c. 300 yards ENE along the A866 to reach the Free Church of Scotland Car Park. My route is viewable on Garrabost Standing Stone & Chambered Cairn. Walking Boots and GPS Navigation are recommended for this circular route.

Directions to Cnocan Nan Cobhar from Broadford: Take the B8083 Elgol turn in Broadford. Stay on the B8083 for c. 11 miles. Turn left for Old Kilmarie Graveyard. After 0.5 mile on the single track park up at Old Kilmarie Graveyard. Walk c. 280 yards NW back to Kilmarie House. There is a gate on the right just above Kilmarie House. This leads to a path beside a river. Follow the path NW for c. 50 yards to a footbridge. Cross the bridge then walk SE for c. 50 yards to reach Cnocan nan Gobhar Cairn. My route is viewable on Cnocan nan Gobhar Cairn (Kilmarie).