Being slightly nervous around dogs, I was a little perturbed when a collie silently sidled up to me, staring intently. It then dropped a golf ball next to me, moved back a few feet and then looked pointedly at the ball and then me.
The fact that 'fetch' was the highlight of the visit sums up Cullerlie. Its nice, but seems to have no soul. Come anyway, and perhaps we can re-energise the place, and it is a nice place to just sit and listen to the wind in the trees (and the panting of an exhausted collie dog).
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Strangely, I've never felt much affinity with Loanhead, and I couldn't say why. However, this time I walked through the woods with the rain dripping through, and stood in the centre of the circle. I could still hear the rain beating on the trees, but not a single drop fell inside the circle.
Shows what I know....
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I love this circle-a definite air of power still remains, and I found it harder to leave than I usually do. I was struck by an overwhelming urge to lay down in the circle, and when I did attempt to leave, it was like wading through treacle - an effect which ceased as soon as I got outside the stones.
An unusual experience for me, yet not unpleasant.
A powerful place.
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This site is gorgeous, and one where the new forestry adds atmosphere, rather than detracting.
A must visit, even amongst the jewels in this part of Scotland-If you've come to see Loanhead and East Aquhorthies you can definitely see this, and you have the bonus of the 2 Esslie circles just around the corner.
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Visited July 02
A lovely day which unfortunately brought out the tourists, lounging all over the stones like they were placed there for sunbathing.
Walked to Gib Hill to find Mr & Mrs Barbour-Jacket (Retd.) terroritorialy camped on top-would they like someone
pic-nicing on their hopefully soon to be occupied graves?
A site to visit in winter, preferably during a howling gale!
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I found this in the grounds of the Murray Royal Hospital in Perth.
No-one knows its history, but it has a look of age about it, and its been there as long as anyone can remember.
You can find it at the low end of the Hospital, in front of the 'new' wards.
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Back again. I'd flown to Aberdeen for work for the day, finished early and there was only one place to go. I've never been so smartly dressed when marching halfway up a hill.
The visionarys at Historic Scotland have now renamed this site 'Standingstones Stone Circle' probably on the account of the nearby wood being called Standingstones Wood. So named, I would have said for the pair of standing stones in it on the other side of the hill....oh well.
I spent an hour up here as it got dark, and all though the noise was incessant, tractors, aircraft and those bloody helicopters it doesn't matter. Walk slowly around the stones, and look at each one-think of the thousands of years they've stood, and the sights they've seen. The 'modern' world is only transient, and in a place like this irrelevant.
Get up here as soon as you can-you won't regret it.
PS The airport has a wide range of standing stones on islands and petrol stations etc-anybody know if they have any history, or are they merely megalithic Ground Force jobbies?
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Wow, this place is huge!
First visit yesterday, with only 20 mins daylight left, and we'll definitely return. Theres loads to take in, and you could definitely spend a day here.
The stones are very green (lichen), and although fallen, most stones are still in place, which really helps to visualise the site as it was.
One of Englands top sites, and as it says below-nobody comes!
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19/1/02
Avebury again. Took our 7 week old twin boys for the first time outside of mums belly. Suitably disinterested! (They'd better get used to being dragged round these sites in all weathers!)
Maybe its the weather, but Avebury can seem quite sad at times-the destruction, and the intrusion of the village/public bogs/chapel etc.
Roll on the summer....
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Second time we've visited, and if anything the rain was even heavier. A fantastic megalith which the christian dickheads have done their best to conceal and subdue - no chance. It's another site where you wonder what else was there-the small stone in the corner, aligned on the road, the circular aspect to parts of the churchyard-who knows? (Send for Time Team, I don't think).
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Another site afflicted by modern intrusions, yet still rising above them so that you don't really notice. The scale of this site is immense, its easy to see why a fourth monolith nay have been present, indeed you wonder what else may have been there.
A spectacular site which should not be missed.
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Also known as Callanish VIII, Gerald Ponting (Margaret Curtis' first husband) names this site as Cleitir (Cletcher).
As you can see from the photos, this is a fantastic setting, and has such a 'pull' that I found it very hard to leave.
When you get to Lewis ensure that you get a copy of 'The Stones around Callanish' By Gerald & Margaret Ponting (Curtis). It's got all the detail you need on the so-called minor sites. If you look across the strait from the site you should see a lone standing stone to the left of the road-this was moved during road construction and was re-erected my Margaret and Ron Curtis, as was one of the menhir at the main site. Ron has actually left his initials near its base!
An essential visit.
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This six stone ring can be found in the gardens of a plant nursery alongside the A9.
The circle is in a good condition, with the largest stone to the SW a full 6 foot high and over 7 foot wide. Obviously sited on a the foot of a hillside along a major trackway, the circle retains an air of tranquility despite the rumblings of the A9 only a few dozen yards away. Easily accessed, and in fine condition, there is no excuse for not visiting this site!
To visit Tigh na Ruaich, turn off the A9 for Ballinluig some 3 miles south of Pitlochry. Drive past the filling station and down the old A9 ignoring the dead-end signs. At the very end, you will find Tynereich nursery. Ask permission, the owner is very friendly, as is Megan the golden spaniel. The plants are pretty good too, and a couple are now growing outside our front window!
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Never having seen an RSC until Midmar Kirk I was really taken with them. East Aquorthies, Loanhead etc, we visted the others and were very impressed. Until this place.
Wow.
Think of the first time you saw Avebury, the shiver down your spine, the feelings.... This place is just fantastic. The setting is awesome, the modern intrusions terrible, but they don't really matter. This site has a power which is hard to describe, but it's true: the airport, the industrial estate, the mast - they all just fff fade away..
You HAVE to get to this site - you will not be disappointed.
Basic directions: Come off of the A96 at the western side of the airport, and drive through the industrial estate. Keep your eye out for a Shell filling station on your right, as there are 2 standing stones outside it; the larger appears to be pointing at Tyrebagger. As you go through the traffic lights, and enter the national speed limit zone, there is a service road on your left, take it. Immediately in front of you is the farm track - you can either park here or drive up. As you look up the hill, there are two masts, Tyrebagger is next to the left hand, darker mast (This mast has now been removed-only one remains on the hill - 2006). Follow the farm track up, and take the first left around the quarry. As you come to the green, with all the farm cottages, take the only left by the substation - follow your nose, and watch out for Heilan attack coos!!
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This is an intriuging little site on the outskirts of Pitlochry village. Not mentioned by JC , it can be found on an OS map.
It appears to be a classic four poster, which has been 'improved' by the addition of some smaller stones (to a total of about 7) in order to complete the arc.
It can be found on the A924 heading north out of Pitlochry in the garden of Faskally Cottages. I wasn't able to gain access to the garden as no-one was at home and time was limited. The circle can be seen through the trees from the road.
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This site is a beautiful four-poster high above Pitlochry on forestry commision land. The whole area is planted with managed and processed confierous growth, but a large clearing has been left around the circle itself. Although only two stones retain their original size, the evidence of the others can be seen, and each stone is beautiful in itself with large seams of quartz running through it.
Although the original setting was obviously all about the view, the clearing now around the circle adds an air of magic and Rite. This is still a Powerful Place, as evidenced by the worn path, and evidence of recent fires. My favourite four-poster.
Clachan an Diridh can be found by following the 'Clunie' trail from Pitlochry dam, and taking the signposted turning for Strathtay. It's approximately 1.5 hours from Pitlochry, and is fairly steeply uphill. Walking boots are a must, and if you intend to follow the trail all the way back, a compass, map and proper clothing are strongly recommended. In all the trail took us about 5 hours. - Well worth it though.
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Don't worry about the manicured nature of the site, everything about this circle still feels right (on), and despite their best efforts, everything in the curchyard is secondary to this fine RSC.
The outlier in the wood to the north, is a magnificent 8ft scarlet phallus, of such proudness it's enough to make your eyes water!
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Amen to all of the above. Don't worry about the reconstructed nature of this site, it's too special for such things to detract from it. Event the dry stone wall gives a feeling of hengeness from inside. We had the circle to ourselves, although someone had visited recently, as a diferent flower had been left at each stone. It added to the feeling of a well loved circle in a beautiful location.
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Don't worry about the reconstruction or the horrific communications mast, this site is well worth the visit. The view is fantastic (well about 340 degrees anyway) and only Arbor Low is windier. The site is in the care of Historic Scotland, but the custodian on the day of our visit, Harry, was brilliant. He knows all thats going about the place, and and his 15 minute chat is well worth listening to. The archaeoligical view of the sites history has changed since the publication of TMA, but apparently Harry has written to Julian, who may visit while in Scotland (He's got a copy of TMA on his shelf, and thought Julian was an eminent archeaologist until his son put him right!)
Anyway, get yourself up to Cairnpapple, you won't regret it.
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Although only four stones remain, (it's more of a stone square!), this site is well worth a visit. The stones are all over 5 feet tall, and as ever have a great setting. Obviously focused on Robin Hoods Stride, the 360 view is still pretty cool, and if you have a look round the surrounding fields, you can find a couple of stones, which look suspiciously like part of the original circle. Well worth the walk up from Youlgreave, as part of a 14 mile hike which included the Nine Ladies, on foot is definitely the best way to view these circles. You get some idea of how the ancients would have approached these stones, and the wonder they inspire.
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