Showing 1-20 of 656 fieldnotes. Most recent first | Next 20 
From the wonderful Tordarroch circle keep heading west on the minor road then take the road south west. Go past Loch a' Chlachain and the beautiful Loch Duntelchaig taking the track south westish after Midtown.
West Town, the farm, is at the end of the bumpy track, the chamber cairn being thru several gates on a track just to the north of the farm. Plenty of gates and plenty of chickens, ducks and other farm type things.
The cairn (possibly clava type) remains at over 20 meters in width and stands at almost 2 meters in height. Four stones remain standing whilst several kerbs remain in place. Sadly field clearence and a 'sink' have also been dumped here.
Still the cairn had fantastic views over Loch Duntelchaig and the surrounding mountains. Spring was becoming evident and the sun shone.
Visited 3/4/2013.
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Just up the road from the Mains Of Gask this standing stone, as HG and I discovered, takes quite a lengthy walk. Having asked directions at a nearby farm we were directed to forestry walks about a mile north of the famous cairn. From the car park it is a wonderful walk thru the woods heading in a south easterly direction. Follow the track until it becomes a path until it eventually becomes a natural 'meeting place'. Ancient clans met here, the stone acting like a type of pulpit or lectern. More recently the clans met here before the disaster at Culloden, which made me wonder how many brave clansmen made it back after the battle. The trees also give the place an atmosphere, making it feel very old but friendly and welcoming.
Funnily enough a short walk leads to the edge of the forest and view of the farm at which we asked directions, it was less than 500 yards away. Even more oddly we asked a chap, walking his dog, for directions to the stone. He replied, Callanish (I love walking but this was as daft an answer as I've ever heard) was the only circle he'd heard about and then said he'd lived in the area for over 30 years.
Visited 3/4/2013.
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This was the final site stop of the day, well the last stop was Parkhead, and what a wonderful stone. Situated on the south east outskirts of Kirriemuir. Leave the B957 taking the last minor road north before Kirriemuir, West Hill Road.
There is a handy car park and path which leads straight to the stone which stands at 2.7 meters tall with fantastic all round views.
With that it was time for Glasgow and the best place on earth.
Visited 12/02/2013.
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Battledykes must have been a huge cairn as the 40 meter mound suggests. Unfortunately not much else remains except scattered cairn material. The old Druid's temple has long gone and various urns have vanished into the mists of time. Still it's an impressive place, to my eyes, and has a wonderful setting.
From the village of Tannadice head west on the B957 taking the first minor road south at the Justinhaugh Bridge, which crosses the River South Esk. Take the second minor road west and go to Battledykes farm. Camps left by a touring Italian side are also in the area, strange as I was on my way to watch an Italian side later on. At the farm head south on the track, look north and the large cairn is in the middle of the field.
Visited 12/02/2013.
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Coming down from the top of Soutra (good karma about this place) I plodded down the hill southwards, jumped the fence and waded to the bottom of the valley. With all the recent bad weather this place is a severe bog but the 'wets' kept me dry. It was also snowing quite heavily, fortunately the wind did a great job and blew it up the valley. After crossing the bog, climb up the other side, jump the fence and the impressive standing stone is a short way in front looking east towards Forfar.
Easter Memus stands at almost 2 meters in height. It is dwarfed by the the pylons but on a cold dark day like today it adds to the atmosphere. With that it was back across the bog and a walk to Law of Windsor to reclaim the car.
Visited 12/02/2013.
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From the Law of Coull I headed north past Denrachie Farm and took the first track heading west towards Soutra House. I kept going until the track ended and jumped a gate starting to climb north. This is a fairly steep climb but not to long. However it is very exposed, the wind rose and the temperature plummeted. The site faces south near the top of Soutra Hill.
It is at least 20 meters wide, with a least 3 large kerbs still in the place. It looks like a lot of the original cairn has been supplemented by field clearence. But it is impressive and looks straight across the valley to the Memus standing stone.
So some fun and games on the way to a standing stone. By this time the weather was beginning to close in so I increased the speed.
Visited 12/02/2013.
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After leaving Noranside Standing Stone I knew I would be 'underwhelmed' by the Law of Coull. The once proud and very large large cairn has been left as manicured grass mound. Probably this site will be completely ploughed out very soon.
Still a faint reminder can be be seen with the now well rounded cairn still stretching close to 30 meters, but it has lost it's height, as well as most of stones and stands at about 1 meter tall. Unbelievably some cairn material can still be seen but it will soon be cleaned up.
Pity as the cairn has a fantastic location, looking north it was beginning to snow, look even more closely and you might even see Ogil Cairn. On a good day you might even see a loon fae Turra.
Visited 12/02/2013.
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From Vayne I went back to the minor and walked further west through the village of Noranside stopping at the bungalows at Courtford Bridge, this is a beautiful walk of about 2 miles thru non strenous countryside.
A jump over a gate and the strikingly shaped stone can be seen on top of the small hill south of Courtford. It stands at 1.85 meters tall looking down on to the Noran Water.
Visited 12/02/2013.
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From the wonderful cairn at the Law Of Windsor I headed back to the minor road and continued west for a further half mile. Stopping at the next minor road I turned south, jumped the gate into a boggy field. The Vayne Stone looks down into the A90 valley, look east the cairn at Windsor dominates the scenery. Today's forecast was supposed to be mild, and I wasn't surprised that it was wrong. It was hovering just below zero and threatening to snow.
Rumoured to be once part of a stone circle the Vayne Standing Stone stands at just below 1 meter in height. For those who like ruined castles the remnants of Vayne Castle are well and truly ruined.
Visited 12/02/2013.
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This is a magnificent cairn with magnificent all round views. It is over 20 meters wide and a fantastic and inspiring 5 meters in height. This is quite simply one of the best cairns I've visited as it had an atmosphere all of it's own. Maybe it was the wonderful trees, snow in the air, the greyish sky or hints of spring with snowdrops. I don't know I simply just loved this place the moment I saw it. Therefore a good place to leave the car to start the long walk and adventure properly.
From the Haer Cairn I headed back towards Brechin on the A90 taking the first minor road north to Careston. At Careston, a small hamlet, keep going until a mile after Hillhead of Careston farm, the cairn is a superbly situated site just to the south of the road.
Visited 12/02/2013.
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Heading south from Brechin on the A90 turn north at the Easter Marcus Cottages, near the Deils How's and stop at the track's end near a old fashioned warehouse.
The cairn is a short walk east thru, today at any rate, a bog. Fortunately the site is set on slightly higher and drier land. This cairn must have been huge at some point as Canmore says it was 40 meters wide at some point. It still has stones here and there and possibly a kerb or 2 still in place. Time hasn't been kind as the cairn has been quarried, mutilated and severely battered. Still it stands in parts over 1 meter in height, grass covered, but I fear for it's safety.
It's a tragedy considering the scenery that surrounds this place, and even tho it's close I didn't hear much of the traffic on the nearby busy A90.
Visited 12/02/2013.
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This standing stone is on the business centre side of the track, moving closer to the paper mill, standing beside a small farming building. Probably part of the stone row it stands at over 1 meter high and fits with Chris's and my own theories about the henge. So another part of the jigsaw was found thanks to an auld granny giving me row for not using my eyes properly.
Visited 7/02/2013.
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From the henge on the outskirts follow the road round until it ends at the barriers, to the left a business centre, straight on is the now sadly defunct paper mills. At the barrier head into the wood to the south and walk 500 yards or so.
It is pure fluke I found out about these as the grandmother of one of my pupils asked me if I'd looked properly in the woods at Broomend. Obviously I hadn't and was glad for the tip.
Several cists have been pulled together to sit beside a capstone, 2 meters by 1 meter possibly made into a seat to overlook the man made lake. Looking at old maps the area was covered in cists and long before standing stones stood in a row coming from the henge. Sadly most of these have gone but my tipster told me there was one more nearby. She was right.
Visited 7/02/2013.
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I don't have a clue who Barbara is or was but she does have a most impressive 'natural hillock' named after her. There are strong rumours of a cist here but more interestingly local rumour has mentioned that there is a stone cist in the woods across the road above the small quarries. Something to look for during more summery weather.
Leave Turriff, a place of very great importance, on the B9025 and take the first minor road heading north indicated Dunlugas. (This road follows the River Deveron and is a beautiful walk to Banff) Keep going until The Haughs farm and a minor road heading east, marked Tillyfar. The hillock is directly behind the barns.
Visited 24/01/2013.
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This must have been an impressive cairn 'back in the day' and it had superb views looking west and east to the Perthshire Highlands. Standing at least 30 meters wide, impressive trees encircle the site and it stands at 1 meter tall. Any kerbs left are covered in turf. A few bits of cairn material lift their heads above the grass.
Very easy to find this one, take the minor road just east of Greenloaning, on the A9, and immediately pull in to the path heading south. From here an easy walk until the path stops at a gate, look east and the circle of trees will be seen. Over the gate, jump the fence, job done.
Visited 18/1/2013.
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From the cairn at Beaufort I walked back the road I'd came going past the Bruiach taking the minor road south after the ring cairn. This road is a bit up and down but very scenic.
As late as 1886 something must have stood here but now all that is left is an impressive grassy mound with perhaps 1 or 2 kerbs in place. The big boulders I assume are field clearence. Despite the damage the cairn still stands 15 meters in width and stands at just over a meter high. There is something defiant about this place as it clings on, the surrounding scenery is fantastic and with darkness falling very atmospheric. Plus it was eerily silent, nothing moved, no wind just me and some stars high above.
With that it was back to the car at Kiltarlity, another long but fantastic day.
Visited 3/01/2013.
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From the Bruiach Rong Cairn head further west following the road as it gradually heads north. The cairn is to be found right next to the road on the east side after a fairly sharp corner.
It sits at almost 12 meters wide and is almost 2 meters high. Sadly the kerb is hidden by years of neglect, old trees and weeds.
This was going to be the last stop but I was informed by a passing local (this was a good day for info from locals) that there was a cairn near Boblainy. Night was approaching so the long legs moved into overdrive.
Visited 3/01/2013.
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Leaving Tomnacross churchyard I followed the minor road down into the village of Kiltarlity and then headed west. The cairn is to the south of the road, being just a jump over the fence.
Fortunately the hollowed out cairn was dry despite the recent flooding so no accidents here. Greywether appeared here in summer and the site was overgrown. Fortunately I appeared in winter and the lack of overgrowth reveals a splendid kerb. With an almost complete kerb and all the standing stones it is yet another impressive site/sight
Visited 3/01/2013.
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After finishing at Belladrum I walked back down onto the A833 headed south then took the first minor road west back into Kiltarlity but a funny thing happened on the way to the Bruiach. As I crossed onto the minor road I was met by an elderly gentleman walking his dog, He'd guessed I'd been up at the cairn and promptly said there was an ancient cairn in the local churchyard, Tomnacross.
As he described there is a thing that resembles a two tier cairn which has been used as a court and a gallows in the past. Canmore suggests it might be a motte. I haven't a clue but the grass covered structure is an impressive sight and is being obviously looked after. Another church and ancient, possibly, combined site. Now on to Bruiach.
It would be interesting to read other people's thoughts on this site. Whatever it's age the scenery is spectacular.
Visited 3/01/2013.
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On the A833 head south and stop at Kiltarlity, I parked at the restaurant near the road. Cross the road and head in a south easterly direction, the site is just over the crest of the hill.
There are tremendous all round views from, a truly beautiful location. 5 stones still stand with boulders and other field clearence for company. This was the start of the long walk, the other chamber cairn just north of here (same estate) was defeated by the onset of darkness and rain. But with all the other stuff I want to see I'll surely return. The village has also a decent pub :-)
Visited 3/01/2013.
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Showing 1-20 of 656 fieldnotes. Most recent first | Next 20 |
Still doing the music, following that team, drinking far to much and getting lost in the hills! (Some Simple Minds, Glasvegas, Athlete, Us3 on the headphones, good boots and sticks, away I go!) As well whistling Lostboy tunes soon to be whistling another bhoys tunes. Soon!
(The Delerium Trees)
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