Anywhere else in Britain this site would be surrounded in fanfare and hordes of people, but its closeness to the main site mean many people do not come here at all. This is a shame, as it has its own features, each stone has unique patterns within the quartz, and although many standing stones were worked & shaped there is nothing so striking as the triangular stone shown here. The main site of Callanish is visible on the horizon, and to the rear a path leads you to yet another impressive circle, Cnoc Fillibhear Bheag.
Visited July 2001
|
I came away liking these stones, despite the frustration of another site thrown down by backward christians.
Built into the South Kirkyard wall are the last remains of the recumbent stone circle which once occupied this site. Thought to be the flankers (where's the usually bigger recumbent? Buried?), only one is now clearly visible, as the other was further obscured by a wall re-alignment in the past.
Entering through the gates, and walking to your right, look for the large Stephen family monument against the wall. Just poking out of the soil is a thin fillet of stone. Hop down over the wall, and the full length of the stone is revealed. Climb back up, and walk a few feet to where the wall doglegs, and you can make out the top of the second stone.
Driving up to the site from the Fintray road, we noticed two large stones in front of a house which look distinctly megalithic. They could be recent additions, but given that they cannot be seen from the house, or its garden, why? They are not mentioned by RCHAMS, but perhaps they drove in a different way ;-) I wonder if they were part of the circle, and were discarded, re-found and re-erected? If anyone knows, I would love to find out. They can be seen from the Kirkyard, looking over the E wall through the poly tunnel frames.
Visit! These stones deserve to be seen by those who still appreciate them.
Access: Easy, From the Fintray to Blackburn road, take the signposted turn uphill for Kirkton. At the fork, bear right and note the 2 stones in front of the house. Park outside the church, which is no longer in use, and enter the Kirkyard.
|
Intriguing site this one. 3 stones in a field, two very flat, one more rounded, set in a very large triangle. RCHAMS list it as Springhill Standing Stone, yet call it the remains of a circle, and schedule only a single stone and a wider area where a second may be. What about the other two? Farmer standing his field clearance on end? I'd like to know.
Worth a visit, the stones are excellent, and the views are, as ever, superb.
Access: On a minor road south of Kirkton of Skene. Visible from the road, which is just wide enough and just quiet enough to park carefully on. Opposite a gate, and 200m across a field. Visit in Autumnn/Winter to avoid growing crops.
|
Quite straight forward to find, especially if you have an OS map (a neccessity in this part of the world, as there's so many sites to find. Can someone buy me a whole set pretty please?)
The forest track you need is directly opposite the entrance to Glassel House. Big gates, very much of the 'get orf my land' type I chickened out and parked 100m up the road by the log piles (Sunday, no trucks about). If you look on the OS map, you will see the circle clearly marked parallel to the track, and there is a contour line that passes through the track to the circle. Simply walk down the track until it starts to dip down, turn left through the trees for 100m and you're there. The site sits on the edge of a steep slope, so once you hit that, you know you're near. I've also added a photo showing an old field wall & gate on the forestry track. Stop about 10 m short of them and you can turn left here and walk through.
The site? Nice, very compact and very different. A peaceful setting and a pleasant feel make this an essential site. As Greywether says, don't classify it, just enjoy it.
|
The nicest and in this weather, one of the most apt names for a circle. The still strong September sunshine drifted around these warm pink stones and it really could have been any century, any millennia.
Largely whole (and wholly large!) you can imagine this to be an important site at the time of its construction, with the massively cup-marked recumbent adding weight to this. The recumbent has fallen and such a large piece as broken off, it almost looks as if it hit the ground with a crash. Strangely though, and like Tyrebagger this only seems to improve the site.
Access easy and as described, and a big thanks to the farmer for making it so. They don't have to, and they certainly don't always.
|
My 4th visit and I can't believe I never noticed the graffitti on the recumbent! (Seems I'm not alone)
I can't make out much, looks like 1864, some initials and....? Its right on the top, near the right flanker (from inside the circle). Anyone who can decipher it better, let me know.
Also in the woods near the northern Balblair stone I found a suspiciously long stone lying in the grass, just to the south of the menhir. Could be a gatepost, and after a day in the field you do start to see megaliths everywhere, but it raised my suspicions.
I do like this site, and I guess we should be grateful that it still remains-especially after visiting Kinellar Kirkyard earlier in the day.
|
What a gorgeous circle.
And what a change in a county of countless recumbent circles. Don't get me wrong, I love the RSC's but this was like rinsing out the mind before going back to them. Everythings just that little bit different - the raised mound is so much more noticeable, mainly I suppose because the circle is not hemmed in by a fence like so many others. You can really feel this circles place in the landscape-it seems like the centre of it.
Beautiful stones too, with quartz and lichen just dripping from them. The tallest has been split by the elements providing you with a launch ramp to the sky (as my 4 year olds told me).
Kudos to all those involved in the restoration (Which you wouldn't know about just being in the circle) and to the farmers for looking after it. These circles were built by the farmers for the land, and they seem to appreciate the care by their descendants-if only it were true everywhere.
Access: I'm with Greywether. Park at the monument car park and walk-its how the builders would have done it. Besides, I would not want to see my tyres after driving down the last 300 yards of rough stone track - tyre-bagging time ;-)
|
Why is no-one coming here? If its because its restored don't worry-its as good as Loanhead & East Aqhorthies, and at least it was carried out by Aubrey Burl, a man who knows.
Strichen is a complete restoration - aside from damage in the distant past, it was destroyed and hurled in the nearby quarry in the 1960's. Due to local outcry and the efforts of Dr Burl & Co. the site was excavated and restored as near as dammit in 1981/2.
And a good job they've done. A classic RSC on a hill with the wide open views all around. The recumbent has a deep hole drilled into it, reminiscent of those made prior to dynamiting, but who knows who, why or when? One of the circle stones has fallen recently by the looks of the ground. It may have been pushed, but to be honest the socket doesn't look deep enough or the packing stones sufficient.
Access: Now improved. From the main road into Strichen, head for the community park, near the old railway track. A new sign of the Aberdeenshire Councils 'Stone Circle Trail' style points the way down Brewery Road. About a mile further on, another one points you left into a small parking place adjacent to the old railway. Park here, and follow the signs down, under the railway bridge, and up a good all weather track to the circle. About 10 minutes walk. You can still access via the country park, which is also a nice place to spend an hour or two.
Come visit, theres no excuse!
|
I was quite taken by Berrybrae. Although somewhat ruinous, I find these circles often have more 'feel' than their restored cousins-not that I'm averse to restoration.
The remaining flanker to this site is absolutely huge-almost as big as the recumbent. The other flanker has shattered, and the pieces are still in situ-it would still appear to have been smaller than the other flanker, although maybe as high. Two other circle stones are still standing, along with the stumps of at least two more. Some judicious chainsaw work is also required-it would open up the views no end, but also two very large trees are threatening the recumbent either by their roots, or from being blown down - and the wind does blow in this part of the world!
Access is as described, and easy as long as the field isn't in crop or heaving with cows. Its less than 100 yards into the field so there's no excuse for not visiting. Perhaps we can tread down the nettles together?
|
This is a gorgeous RSC and should be added to the list of 'essential' Aberdeenshire circles (Granted that list is getting rather long now).
This piece of Forestry Commission woodland has now had some waymarked trails installed, which makes it a pleasant place to spend a couple of hours, especially with small children.
The circle can be found on the red/green trails. If time is pressing, from the carpark take the left hand uphill trail & follow the red/green markers. Its uphill all the way, but you should be at the circle in about 15 mins. From this direction its on the left of the trail, adjacent to 2 of the story posts and the only bench on the walk. Follow the path through the bracken & planting for about 400 yards and you're there.
The circle sits on a fairly level shelf, and most of the planting has been cut down giving wide views over the recumbent. Once you return to the main trail, follow it a little way further to the left and you'll also find a ruinous chambered cairn.
You'll find this & other walks in a FC leaflet available from the Tourist office or you can try http://www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland
BTW this circle does not show up on my OS Explorer map, but it can be found on the Landranger. Clune Wood is clearly marked south of Kirkton of Durris though.
|
Not the most spectacular of sites, but a welcoming one nonetheless.
Spent a pleasant lunch hour here, and although ruined, enough remains to give you a sense of what was. As ever, its all about the view.
Plenty of fallen stone in the long grass & hedge to keep you guessing, and what appears to be an outlier to the NW in the direction of the farm house. Although with my eyesight, and the crappy camera I was using from work, it may be a a tree stump or gatepost!
Easy parking, just off some quiet (although fast) lanes, and in most maps.
|
Running out of superlatives for Aberdeenshire, this place beats the lot. 20 minutes from Inverurie, half an hour from the show site of Loanhead & East Aquhorthies, this is the one circle you have to visit.
I don't think it was a recumbent, although that may have gone, there are 7 upright stones and an outlier, plus many fallen. Additionally, the centre is filled with cairns and rubble, and the circle has been embanked many years ago. The whole place is just wild and ragged and absolutely full on. The tallest of the stones is over 7 feet, and to my eyes the top looks just like Mither Tap, which as ever you can see in the distance.
Set on top of a hill with massive views all around, its at the top of my Aberdeenshire list without a doubt.
|
A gorgeous recumbent a few miles from Loanhead of Daviot, which I couldn't get closer to bcause of growing crops.
This circle has perhaps the most spectacular view of Mither Tap of any site in the region, and the views are truly breathtaking.
There is an old Minstry of Works sign in the hedge giving some basic information (access - ask at Bourtie Farm), and it concludes with a fairly stern statement to the effect that there are 2 restored sites at Loanhead and East Aquhorthies to go and look at, so don't bother with this one!
I don't agree...
|
Looking at the OS map for this area, I noticed a rash of standing stones (8) which need further investigation.
Unfortunately the crops were up, which meant that many couldn't be seen or got at, but this was a real surprise. The circle is gone, but its one of the finest recumbent and flanker sets I'd seen. Propped against the back is a large red stone which may have been part of the circle.
Definitely worth a visit after harvest to see if you can plot out where the circle was.
|
Like Balgarthno in Dundee, this was another multi-map find, whilst looking for the hospital.
Three fine stones, bisected by 2 roads and a fence/hedge, it does make me wonder what else was here. The two in the hedge especially are large and purposeful.
Like so many sites at this time of year, further investigation is foiled by growing crops. I shall return....
|
Looking up a multi-map to find my Dundee Travelodge (just give me the keys bitch!) I saw the words 'Stone Circle' just 1/2 a mile away-too good a chance to miss!
As you can see the circle is fallen, except for one stone, and its now overgrown on the edge of a playing field. However at least 8 other stones are present, forming a slightly flattened circle.
The standing stone was grafittied and there were plenty of broken bottles around, so in truth the long grass is probably protecting the remaining stones.
If you happen to be going round the Dundee bypass, the circle is on the right of the road off the roundabout just after the Travelodge (turn left) or coming the otherway the Travelinn (Turn right). Worth a quick look for sure.
|
In a bit of a sad state this one, it appears to have suffered from cairn building, filed clearance, and an overgrowth of vegetation.
It's difficult to tell whats going on, and would definitely benefit from some judicious strimming! You can find a gate at the western edge of the field, and as long as its livestock free, you can wander in quite easily.
|
|
Just around the corner from Nine Stanes (1/2 mile) this circle is a little decrepit but still well worth it. In keeping with sites in this area, the view is everything, and looking to the NE you may be able to make out Esslie the Lesser.
|
Well this was a change after a solid morning of RSC's, and very welcome too. You don't get too many Henges in this part of the world, and this is a mighty one.
Although the stones are not in their original positions (and one isn't original at all!), the triangle they form is certainly evocative, especialy in such a well defined, fairly deep henge.
I drove up not expecting too much, and drove away feeling blown away. Another great site in this part of Scotland, but as Merrick says, you have to fear for its future.
|
|
I can only agree with the previous posts, a magnificent site which shouldn't be missed. The walk is only about 15 minutes, and the view compensates for all.
|
|
|
Log in |
Register
Previous 20 | Showing 21-40 of 65 fieldnotes. Most recent first | Next 20 
Top of page