markj99

Visited 03.12.22

Airyhemming W Cairn is an extensively robbed oval cairn c, 2 miles NE of Dunragit, measuring c. 23 feet in diameter according to Canmore ID 61162 (go to Links). The original cairn has been extended to the SE by deposited field clearance stones, resulting in a sub-rectangular long cairn measuring c. 90 feet long by 36 feet wide. There is a significant deposit of small stones on the NW flank of the cairn. The centre of the cairn is largely clear of stones but the SE end is covered in clearance stones. The largest boulder in the SE half measures c. 6 x 5 x 3 feet. There is a companion cairn, Airyhemming E Cairn, c. 250 yards E of Airyhemming W Cairn.

Visited 27.11.22

Cruise Back Fell Fort is located c. 0.5 miles SE of Cruise Farm, c. 1.3 miles S of New Luce. The fort is situated on an elongated natural knoll on the summit of Cruise Back Fell. The fort is protected by steep slopes on the N and E Flanks. The S flank is less steep but was protected by a stone wall. The entrance to the fort is located in a gap on the W flank which leads into the S Enclosure. The flat interior of the enclosure measures c. 36 feet N-S and 24 feet E-W, bounded by a rock wall in the E. There is a stone structure in the S end of the knoll, said to be a sheep ree by Canmore 61644 (go to Links). The upper N Enclosure is separated from the lower by a tumbledown low wall on a slope. The N Enclosure has a subcircular flat interior c. 24 feet in diameter surrounded by a low circle of scattered stones c. 12-15 feet wide. A modern cairn has been constructed on the summit of the knoll c. 5 yards N of the N Enclosure.
Littlepark Cairn, another site worth investigating, is located c. 300 yards N of Cruise Back Fell Fort.

Visited 27.11.22

Littlepark Cairn is a round cairn located in pasture c. 500 yards E of Cruise Farm, c. 1.3 miles S of New Luce. The cairn, which measures c. 75 feet in diameter and 3 feet high, has field clearance stones dumped randomly over the grassy surface. The summit of the cairn is in the N Arc at c. 5 feet due to a pile of large field clearance stones. According to Canmore ID 61677 (go to Links) Littlepark cairn originally measured c. 50 feet in diameter before dumped field clearance stones increased its area.
Cruise Back Fell Fort, another site worth investigating, is located c. 300 yards S of Littlepark Cairn.

I found St Katherine’s Well on my visit today (28.11.22). It was obscured by thick vegetation. The well is located on the E edge of the New Luce road c. 55 yards SSE of Glenluce Abbey car park at NX 18589 58751. It measures c. 2 yards long, 1 yard wide and 1 foot deep with an exposed stone dome. The well extends c. 2.5 feet under the dome. Canmore ID 61153 (go to Links) has further details of St Katherine’s Well (Glenluce Abbey).