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Fieldnotes by Kozmik_Ken

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Showing 1-20 of 61 fieldnotes. Most recent first | Next 20

Curbar Edge Ring Cairn

A robbed out round cairn on Curbar Edge, the stones in the foreground are the remains of a cist. The views from here are extensive, to Baslow Edge and the Eagle Stone to the south, and over Stoke Flat to Over Owler Tor, Mother Cap, Higger Tor, Stanage Edge, Banford Edge and Win Hill to the north.

There are numerous cairns in this area. Stoke Flat to the north has a stone circle and cairnfield, to the south is the Eagle Stone cemetery and Gardom’s Edge Neolithic enclosure and to the east is Big Moor, that includes the Barbrook circles and cairns, as well as Swine Sty field systems.

When this cairn was excavated (or more accurately destroyed) in 1913, by the Duke of Rutland, the cist was found to contain the remains of a cremation, a broken food vessel, a flint scraper and a broken bronze knife.

Burbage Rocks (Cup Marked Stone)

Now, I'm well aware that this area is well known as being used for military training during WW2. The area is littered with bullet holes and mortar scars, left behind by training assaults.

However, these marks have a very different look and feel to the obvious bullet holes. Much softer and more weathered out.

I know that anything resembling rock art in this area will be dismissed as the remains of either military activity or quarrying - but maybe, just maybe!

Pike Lowe (Cairn(s))

At the top of Pike Lowe on Midhope Moors is a walkler's cairn that sits on top of a Bronze Age burial cairn. This must once have been massive at one time considering that robbed material has been used to build a large, square sheepfold next to the cairn.

Not an easy place to reach, with longish walks from whichever direction you approach it from and quite often over rough/boggy ground without even a hint of a path.

Eagle Stone (Natural Rock Feature)

Access here is pretty easy. Park at Curbar Gap car park and take the main path across Baslow Edge (or wander along the edge itself if you wish and take in the views). The main path leads straight to it and you can see it coming a mile off.

Seven Stones of Hordron Edge (Stone Circle)

I'd been meaning to visit Hordron Edge Circle for years. I finally made it there yesterday. On my way to Baslow Edge, I had plenty of time to spare so decided that I was going to drop in on the spur of the moment. I went via the Cut Throat Bridge gate and path route. Not too bad a walk, the only steep bit being where the path turns up to reach the top of Jarvis Clough.

A lovely place it is too. Unfortunately, although the weather had looked promising when I set out, the cloud had thickened and was letting no light through at all except the flattest, most diffused light - rubbish for photography! Consequently, I don't have many images to post. Still, I know where it is now, so will be back for a sunset on a better evening.

Cock Crowing Stone (Natural Rock Feature)

The Cock Crowing Stone (not 'Growing' as some people have misread it) stands near the roadside, below West Nab on Meltham Moor. It's impossible to miss due to having it's name painted on in large white letters!

I've got no real further information regarding it's provenance, folklore or otherwise. I'd only heard of it before, as when I found it quite by accident, I thought, "ah, there it is!".

It's name would suggest some kind of sunrise significance. It wouldn't relate to any alignment on West Nab, so something else must be afoot.

If anyone has any further info, I'd love to see it. Maybe Mr Bennett can help on this one?

Mother Cap Stone (Natural Rock Feature)

I have developed a bit of a fascination with Mother Cap recently!

Considering the history of Hathersage Moor and it's conspicuous positioning, I thought that a bit of research may be called for. I came across a piece of information (probably StuBob's notes) that suggests that Mother Cap may have been used as a marker for much of the prehistoric activity in the surrounding hills and was possibly illuminated by fire at night.

This caught my imagination and I thought it may be fun to try to recreate how the massive outcrop may have looked by firelight (of course not wanting to set half of the moor on fire, I used a 5 million candle power torch). So on Tuesday night, I found myself trudging up the lower slopes of Over Owler Tor by the light of a brilliant full moon. Over Owler is an odd place at the best of times, a bit of a geologist's playground with rocks worn into all manner of strange shapes. But by moonlight it is amazing!

The exposures were about two and a half minutes at f8 to catch the colours in the sky, with short blasts from the torch to fill areas of the rock in. Some shots look as if the light is coming from within the rock. The moon is dropped in from a different exposure as the long exposures blew it out to a non-descript glare.

Beinn Ghobhlach Standing Stone (Standing Stone / Menhir)

Single standing stone on the lower slopes of Beinn Ghobhlach (The Horned/Forked Hill). An indistinct track leads from a wooden gate to the stone, which is only just visible from the single track road from Dundonnel to Badrallach. The stone seems to be set in a raised mound. The drive here is excellent with amazing views, steep rocky hillsides and every chance of seeing Buzzards at close quarters.

An Dun (Stone Fort / Dun)

A vitrified fort originating from the Iron Age, An Dun was probably re-modeled during the early centuries AD by the Vikings and later became the seat of local Mackenzie and Macleod chiefs. Little can now be seen above ground, but excavation has found sections of fire-fused stone walling.

Poolewe (Bullaun Stone)

Located at the back of the ruined church, just a few paces away from the Pictish carving, is a small stone in which is a basin. Local legend says that the basin never dries of water and can cure warts and ailments. The churchyard itself is interesting, with a circular boundary and a number of small standing and recumbent stones used as gravemarkers, as was the custom before inscribed gravestones.

Stainborough Castle (Hillfort)

Remains of an Iron Age Hillfort just south of Barnsley, this hilltop has seen an active history. It is thought to have been reused in Medieval times, followed by the building of a gothic folly by the Earl of Strafford circa 1730.

The site is now included in the Gardens of Wentworth Castle, a country house built in 1672 by Thomas Wentworth on the site of old Stainborough Hall.

Pots and Pans Stone (Natural Rock Feature)

A huge natural boulder with a simulacrum of a face with a hooked nose and protruding chin, when seen from a certain angle. The upper surface is covered in large natural cups (hence it's name). Nearby is a large War Memorial obelisk with commanding views towards Oldham.

Burnt Hill Plantation (Standing Stone / Menhir)

Happened across this little stone while trying to find a path from Dragon's Den near Wharncliffe Crags to the road. It's not marked on the OS map and I'm not sure if it has a prehistoric origin, but there are what appears to be two cup marks on it's face. Other ancient sites lie nearby with a settlement just up the way, and Walder's Low cairn almost within site.

Clatteringshaws (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork)

A reconstructed Iron Age Roundhouse, on the banks of Clatteringshaws Lock, in the Forest of Galloway. The Roundhouse lies on the path between the visitor centre and Bruce's Stone

Cairnholy (Chambered Cairn)

A wonderfully picturesque place with a very primeval appearance. Cairnholy 2 looks great perched atop it's hillock.

Torhousekie (Stone Circle)

A sweet little circle, with lovely rounded stones. As we were staying only a few minutes drive away, it was great to zip down on an evening and watch the sunset, with the place to ourselves. Loved this place!

Castlerigg (Stone Circle)

Brilliant circle, great scenery, too many people.

Head Stone (Natural Rock Feature)

The Head Stone is a natural rock outcrop that from some angles looks a little like a head on shoulders. A clear view can be had from the A57, west of Sheffield on the hillside above the road.

It can be reached by follwing the public footpath opposite the farmhouse, down over the bridge in the woods and up the steep hillside. The views to the west of the stone are lovely.

It would be reasonable to suspect that the route of the A57 is pretty old, and the Head Stone may have been an important marker on the route.

The Hordron Edge stone circle is about two n' a half miles to the west.

South Creake (Plateau Fort)

As juamei says, nothing much to be seen here. Slight traces of the ditches can still be just about made out, best viewed from the parking place a little way along the road, rather than the track.

Weasenham All Saints / Lyngs (Barrow / Cairn Cemetery)

A beautifully preserved Round Barrow can be seen from the road. It still retains much of it's height and has a clearly defined ditch around it's base.

More barrows exist is the woods, but as we were short of time, we didn't bother to check on accesibilty.
Showing 1-20 of 61 fieldnotes. Most recent first | Next 20
Name: Andy Hemingway

D.O.B: 17.04.66

Occupation: Graphic Artist

Website: http://www.ahgphotography.co.uk

I was born and raised in Huddersfield. I moved to Norwich in 1988 to go to Art School and haven't got it together to leave yet!! My interests are visiting and reading about ancient places, tribal art and society and trying my damnedest to keep as far from the Rat Race as possible! Ambient Rambling is where it's at!

Love music - psychedelic 70's rock, punk, roots n' dub and world/trancy sort of stuff in general!

Also do voluntary work for festivals and have been involved in the Norwich Free Festival in it's various guises for a number of years.

My special area of interest is Ilkley Moor. I don't get the opportunity to go back often these days, but I spent much time on the moors in the 1980's... often for days on end. The Twelve Apostles is an old friend of mine! Although I know the moors fairly well, each journey I make back there is still full of discovery. I always seem to find something I haven't seen before.

NB - Since I wrote this I have in fact gotten away from Norwich and now live in Barnsley.

My TMA Content: