Latest Fieldnotes

There was a large car park on the NE end of Elrig Loch. It has now been closed off by a line of large boulders, however it is possible to park beside them. Elrig Loch Crannog lies under water c. 100 yards NNE of the NE end of the loch. A pile of stones c. 1 foot high and 6 feet wide projects above the water.

According to Canmore, the crannog was surveyed in 2004 : “The crannog consists of a large stone mound, 26.5m in diameter and 1.77m from base to top.” M G Cavers 2004. Further details of the survey are available in Canmore ID 62709.

Visited 28.10.18

There are 2 probable crannogs in the SE corner of Carlingwark Loch, on the S edge of Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway. According to Canmore ID 64674 “Two artificial islands were found when the loch was drained in 1765. At the same time two dugout canoes, a dam, to maintain the level of the water in the loch, and a planking floor were found.” OSA 1794 (T Halliday). A later report states that “there were four fortified islands, two of them artificially constructed of oak piles.” (J Stuart 1875).

Fir Island, a natural island in the SE corner of Carlingwark Loch, is likely to be one of the fortified islands. Ash Island, an artificial island c. 55 yards N of Fir Island, is another likely candidate. A crannog was constructed on the island, probably connected to Fir Island by a causeway. Ash Island is subrectangular, measuring c. 20 yards E-W and 10 yards transversely, with a central clump of mature trees. An unnamed subcircular artifical island, occupied by a mature tree, lies c. 45 yards WNW of Ash Island. It measures c. 10 yards in diameter and may have been connected to Ash Island by a causeway. It could have been one of the man-made fortified islands on Carlingwark Loch.

Visited 20.09.19

It is difficult to access Candle Hill Stone Circle: It is protected by an enclosure and vigorous shrubs. It is best to enter the enclosure on the SE corner adjacent to the remains of the circle. The circle is located c. 30 yards ESE of the centre of the knoll. The most obvious feature is the Candle Stone, a standing stone c. 15 feet W of a thorn tree. A grassy cairn is situated c. 6 feet S in the centre of the circle. Walk S round the cairn to reach the fallen recumbent stone and flankers on the S Arc of the circle. It is possible to find the fallen N,ENE,W and NW stones by walking round the perimeter of the circle, starting from the NNE Standing Stone. The N,ENE,W stones are largely buried in the turf with only a small area visible from above. The NW stone is hidden in gorse on the NW Arc.

A very pleasant early morning visit to the rock art at Knock 4, close to Monreith, for sunrise, with the sound of roe deer barking in the woods next to the rock art panel.

I tried to find the panels known as Knock 2 and Knock 3, but with no success. I remember the farmer clearing the field with a digger several years ago, so fear they may have either been buried or removed completely. I’ll have another look again soon.

Visited 21.03.12

Cantraybruich Cairn is a confusing jumble of stones in the E corner of a field near Culloden Moor. I saw a short stone row featuring ill-matched stones but couldn’t visualise a cairn.
I wish I had read Canmore ID 14151 before my visit. On reviewing my photos I thought that I identified a pile of stones on the E Arc of the Cantraybruich Cairn. I think I will revisit if i’m in the area.

Directions to Cantraybruich: Head for Inverness on the A9 then take the Culloden B9006 turn off. Follow the signs to Culloden Visitor Centre. Continue E along the B9006 for c. 1.8 miles to a gateway on the right at NH 77527 46069 (///chilling.decoding.surfed), c. 0. 4 miles E of Culloden Moor Caravan Site. A short track leads E into a field. Follow the margin of the field SE for c. 220 yards to the E corner. The remains of the cairn are located c. 50 feet W in the grassy margin of the field. My walking route is viewable on Cantraybruich Cairn.

Directions to Capenoch Loch Long Cairn

The path starts in a gateway opposite Barr Farm on the A702 between Moniaive and Penpont. The farmer has prohibited parking in this gateway. Due to this restriction an extension of 0.33 miles N to the nearest lay-by at NX 82877 92845 is necessary. A forest track heading NE starts opposite Barr Farm. Follow the track for c. 0.35 miles to reach a junction. Turn right then bear right after c. 80 yards. Follow the track SE for c. 0.3 mile to NX 8375 9244. Head N up a narrow forest ride for c. 100 yards. Capenoch Loch Long Cairn is c. 80 yards NE in the centre of a large clearing. My route can be viewed on Capenoch Loch Long Cairn.

Visited 07.04.12

Capenoch Loch Long Cairn is located in a large forest clearing c. 250 yards SE of Capenoch Loch, c. 1.5 miles SSW of Penpont, a village in Dumfries and Galloway. The stony mound measures c. 36 yards on the NE-SW long axis. The transverse axis tapers from c. 17 yards at the SW end to 9 yards at the NE end. The NE half has been stone robbed to ground level but the SW half is relatively intact reaching up to 9 feet high. There are two excavated hollows along the NE-SW axis in the SW half but no chambers are visible on the cairn.

Furter detail of Capenoch Loch Long Cairn are available in Canmore ID 65334.

Visited early April on a windy, overcast morning . Easy to find as signposted from Ashbourne to Buxton Road and parking up a farm track. Honesty box or pay the man a pound for adults, children free. A nice stroll up a stony track to the henge. A wonderful place that holds its magic. There are two entrances through the bank in roughly SE and NW alignment, ditch crossings and a ring of fallen stones with some larger ones in the middle, one of which attracts offering which it was nice to see were largely biodegradable.
It is interpreted as a stone circle surrounding a central arrangement but I’m going to suggest, based on seeing many ruins similar, that it was a dolem surrounded by kerbstones and covered by a mound inside the henge. The site is close to several barrows, mostly removed and rifled by “The Barrow Knight” a local Victorian amateur who dug a lot of barrows. While digging the one in the next field (see separate entry) he discovered a Neolithic burial and when his tunnel collapsed a Bronze Age cist with grave goods including a Jet necklace was revealed. This is interesting because the early burial mound predates the henge and a long time later it was reused and a new barrow constructed on top, similar to Waylands Smithy for example, so these monuments evolved over time as each wave of settlers stamped their presence on this obviously important place. A beautiful, peaceful place where I had only buzzards for company. I recommend a visit and will be back on a future, better planned tour of this area.

Visited early April on a windy, overcast morning . Easy to find as signposted from Ashbourne to Buxton Road and parking up a farm track. Honesty box or pay the man a pound for adults, children free. A nice stroll up a stony track to the henge. A wonderful place that holds its magic. There are two entrances through the bank in roughly SE and NW alignment, ditch crossings and a ring of fallen stones with some larger ones in the middle, one of which attracts offering which it was nice to see were largely biodegradable.
It is interpreted as a stone circle surrounding a central arrangement but I’m going to suggest, based on seeing many ruins similar, that it was a dolem surrounded by kerbstones and covered by a mound inside the henge. The site is close to several barrows, mostly removed and rifled by “The Barrow Knight” a local Victorian amateur who dug a lot of barrows. While digging the one in the next field (see separate entry) he discovered a Neolithic burial and when his tunnel collapsed a Bronze Age cist with grave goods including a Jet necklace was revealed. This is interesting because the early burial mound predates the henge and a long time later it was reused and a new barrow constructed on top, similar to Waylands Smithy for example, so these monuments evolved over time as each wave of settlers stamped their presence on this obviously important place. A beautiful, peaceful place where I had only buzzards for company. I recommend a visit and will be back on a future, better planned tour of this area.

Directions to Cairnholy 06


Take the signed Cairn Holy Chambered Cairn turn off the A75 at NX 51646 53037 (///bound.hotel.scrubbing) between Creetown and Gatehouse. Go past the first left turn, instead take the 2nd left for Cairn Holy Chambered Cairn then bear left at the Y junction after c. 100 yards. Continue up the lane to the carpark at Cairnholy. Walk W along the farm track for c. 150 yards to reach a gateway on the right. There is an interesting recumbent stone c. 20 feet W of the gate. Head to a gate in a stone wall c. 80 yards NNE. Follow the path NNE from the gateway for c. 130 yards then walk W for c. 50 yards to a grassy mound in the field. This is listed as Cairnholy Cairn on TMA. Walk NNW for c. 50 yards to a gate in a stone wall. Head NNE for a pair of small clearance cairns c. 100 yards from the gateway. Cairnholy 03 is a large stone on the W edge of a clearance cairn at NX 52000 54282 (///larger.fairway.subplot) c. 35 yards N of here.
It is possible to extend your walk to visit Cairnholy 6 & 7. Cairnholy 6 is located c. 140 yards ENE of Cairnholy Sheepfold in a drainage ditch running parallel to a stone wall. Cairnholy Sheepfold is located at NX 51721 54902 (///critic.jetted.nutty) in the NW corner of a grass field containing a large clearance cairn. Cairnholy 6 is located at NX 51871 54968 (///maker.blunt.downfield).
Cairnholy 7 is located in a grass field containing a large clearance cairn and Cairnholy Sheepfold in the NW corner. Cairnholy 7 is carved on a narrow rock ridge aligned ENE-SSW, c. 75 yards SSE of the sheepfold and c. 30 feet ENE of the stone wall. Cairnholy 7 is located at NX 51758 54840 (///gossiped.cook.valued). My route is viewable as Cairnholy 3,6 & 7.

Directions to Cairnholy 07


Take the signed Cairn Holy Chambered Cairn turn off the A75 at NX 51646 53037 (///bound.hotel.scrubbing) between Creetown and Gatehouse. Go past the first left turn, instead take the 2nd left for Cairn Holy Chambered Cairn then bear left at the Y junction after c. 100 yards. Continue up the lane to the carpark at Cairnholy. Walk W along the farm track for c. 150 yards to reach a gateway on the right. There is an interesting recumbent stone c. 20 feet W of the gate. Head to a gate in a stone wall c. 80 yards NNE. Follow the path NNE from the gateway for c. 130 yards then walk W for c. 50 yards to a grassy mound in the field. This is listed as Cairnholy Cairn on TMA. Walk NNW for c. 50 yards to a gate in a stone wall. Head NNE for a pair of small clearance cairns c. 100 yards from the gateway. Cairnholy 03 is a large stone on the W edge of a clearance cairn at NX 52000 54282 (///larger.fairway.subplot) c. 35 yards N of here.
It is possible to extend your walk to visit Cairnholy 6 & 7. Cairnholy 6 is located c. 140 yards ENE of Cairnholy Sheepfold in a drainage ditch running parallel to a stone wall. Cairnholy Sheepfold is located at NX 51721 54902 (///critic.jetted.nutty) in the NW corner of a grass field containing a large clearance cairn. Cairnholy 6 is located at NX 51871 54968 (///maker.blunt.downfield).
Cairnholy 7 is located in a grass field containing a large clearance cairn and Cairnholy Sheepfold in the NW corner. Cairnholy 7 is carved on a narrow rock ridge aligned ENE-SSW, c. 75 yards SSE of the sheepfold and c. 30 feet ENE of the stone wall. Cairnholy 7 is located at NX 51758 54840 (///gossiped.cook.valued). My route is viewable as Cairnholy 3,6 & 7.

Visited during early April. Drive from Penzance towards the Lands End air field ( signposted) and don’t miss the entrance to the large car park just before you get to the airport. An easy walk up a track you could drive up if allowed or several winding paths through the heather and gorse. Keep going up and when you can’t get any further up you are atop the first and last hill in England. At the summit there is a rare type of multi burial barrow found only here and Scilley Isles in the UK. I don’t know about the rest of the world. It’s like several small quoits arranged together and piled with smaller rocks. One is very visible immediately but the thing was demolished by treasure seekers, amateur archaeologists and later again by the military to used for aircraft spotting in WW2. Other large rocks that look to be cap stones can be made out.
It would have been visible far out to sea and mariners would have used it to navigate by since the time it was built. There is a modern metal beacon next to it which is lit every midsummer by the fishermen of St Just (according to the sign).
Down the slope a few yards is another definite barrow which has a separate entry on here. It is a lovely place to sit and chill, gaze out to sea or inland, buzzards ride the thermals and ravens play in the wind.
Later in the year when the heather and gorse are in flower it is a haven for butterflies and is stunningly beautiful . There are various other rocks and archeology on the hill. It does get very touristy in season and is a local dog walking area so if you want solitude early mornings or later evenings are better.
If you intend spending a while to have a good look about, you may want a coat with you because it’s very windy or to sit on. Water is always useful but you can see the car from the top so even if it kicked up a storm out of nowhere you can be back in 5 minutes. I advice sturdy footwear and long pants if you intend getting into the gorse and heather.

Directions to Cairnholy 03


Take the signed Cairn Holy Chambered Cairn turn off the A75 at NX 51646 53037 (///bound.hotel.scrubbing) between Creetown and Gatehouse. Go past the first left turn, instead take the 2nd left for Cairn Holy Chambered Cairn then bear left at the Y junction after c. 100 yards. Continue up the lane to the carpark at Cairnholy. Walk W along the farm track for c. 150 yards to reach a gateway on the right. There is an interesting recumbent stone c. 20 feet W of the gate. Head to a gate in a stone wall c. 80 yards NNE. Follow the path NNE from the gateway for c. 130 yards then walk W for c. 50 yards to a grassy mound in the field. This is listed as Cairnholy Cairn on TMA. Walk NNW for c. 50 yards to a gate in a stone wall. Head NNE for a pair of small clearance cairns c. 100 yards from the gateway. Cairnholy 03 is a large stone on the W edge of a clearance cairn at NX 52000 54282 (///larger.fairway.subplot) c. 35 yards N of here.
It is possible to extend your walk to visit Cairnholy 6 & 7. Cairnholy 6 is located c. 140 yards ENE of Cairnholy Sheepfold in a drainage ditch running parallel to a stone wall. Cairnholy Sheepfold is located at NX 51721 54902 (///critic.jetted.nutty) in the NW corner of a grass field containing a large clearance cairn. Cairnholy 6 is located at NX 51871 54968 (///maker.blunt.downfield).
Cairnholy 7 is located in a grass field containing a large clearance cairn and Cairnholy Sheepfold in the NW corner. Cairnholy 7 is carved on a narrow rock ridge aligned ENE-SSW, c. 75 yards SSE of the sheepfold and c. 30 feet ENE of the stone wall. Cairnholy 7 is located at NX 51758 54840 (///gossiped.cook.valued). My route is viewable as Cairnholy 3,6 & 7.

excavations.ie/report/2011/Dublin/0022279/

It’s not that far a walk from the car park to Bryn Celli Ddu. But far enough that my mind was full of thoughts of what it might be like. You can’t particularly see the tomb until you pop out of the hedges right at the end. So my expectations were high. But I felt weirdly underwhelmed by this place. I suppose I have got a problem with distinguishing reality and imagination. But what more do you want Rhiannon, it’s got everything you’d think you’d like? Perhaps it was so different from your average stone-in-a-field or collapsing dolmen that it felt wrong to me. Too messed with. Too neat.

When I went inside I was really appalled at the amount of tat (sorry, respectful offerings) inside. I wanted to sweep it all into a bin bag and take it away. I probably would have done but there were other visitors and I was vaguely aware they might think I was being disrespectful. Particularly egregious were the hand prints and crosses painted on the stones. Conceivably, the builders of the tomb might have liked your sea shell or even that hideous leather owl. But a cross?? Painted on?? Just stop imposing your 21st century beliefs on someone from 5000 years ago.

Yes I felt quite irritated by now, at myself for not “feeling the vibes” and feeling a bit flat, and also at the graffiti.

Then I noticed the gorsedd. I really liked the gorsedd. It felt like the important bit. I should have found a way to get to it. But it was starting to rain and I felt Mr Rh had been imposed upon enough. If I came back I’d go over there straight away.

The latest imposition at Trefignath is the building of the Holyhead Hydrogen Hub. A worthy effort I’m sure, using renewable energy to produce hydrogen via electrolysis. But I hope it doesn’t obscure the mountain beyond too much. The business park at Parc Cybi is still mostly empty fields otherwise. You’d like to think the stones will still be there when everything else has long since fallen down. They’ve managed to make it so far.

It’s probably heresy but I think I liked the bedrock parts of the tomb better than the tomb itself. But maybe that’s what the creators liked too and that’s why they stuck it here.

There isn’t anywhere particular to park a car but the wideness of the verge of the big new road gives you plenty of options. I liked that they’d designated the stretch of the original lane into a cycle path / for pedestrians.

Glasserton Mains rock art panel takes a little bit of finding, as it is one rocky outcrop among many, in a landscape covered in gorse, but it offers wonderful coastal views to the Fell of Carleton.

In the intervening years since Brian’s visit here in 2006, the gorse and grass has encroached upon the outcrop quite a lot, to the point it has covered up a fair bit of the rock art. Maybe not a bad thing, as it will offer it some protection. Still very much worth hunting out though.

10/4/25 – Well… what can I say? This was truly a life changing experience. I had been meaning to visit this stone for months and I nearly fell to my knees at the sight of it. The way to it from Millport is fairly easy don’t get me wrong, but for me it was a struggle, but then again most things are. Me and a couple of friends were biking from White Bay to the stone. The journey is around 10 minutes by bike, but I still managed to fall into barbed wire – also my recently broken toe didn’t help the uphill battle (going on both physically and mentally) that was the road to Gouklan Woods.

I want to thank everyone here for introducing this beautiful piece of history to me. I came out of this journey a changed woman and learned what it means to persevere.

Also, the descriptive thing was broken off when we got there which we didn’t appreciate.

Visited 05.04.25

Cairnholy 12 Carved Panel is located c. 5 feet SE of Cairnholy 4 Carved Panel on a rocky knoll c. 0.5 miles NNW of Cairnholy Farm in Dumfries and Galloway. Cairnholy 12 is a flat subrectangular rock panel measuring 10 feet E-W and 4 feet N-S. The most prominent motif is a double cup and ring carving on the W end. The large cup is c. 2.5 inches in diameter and 0.5 inches deep, the small cup c. 1 inch in diameter and 0.25 inches deep. The outside diameter of the rings is c. 6 inches. There are also multiple carved cups on the panel. The dimensions of the carved cups vary from 1- 2 inches in diameter and 0.25-0.5 inches deep. Further details of Cairnholy 12 are available in Canmore ID 368422.

There are 5 carved panels on the knoll: Cairnholy 4,11,12,13&14.

Visited 05.04.25

Cairnholy 14 Carved Panel is located c. 15 feet E of Cairnholy 4 Carved Panel on a rocky knoll c. 0.5 miles NNW of Cairnholy Farm in Dumfries and Galloway. Cairnholy 14 is a flat panel, shaped like South America, on the N edge of the ridge. There is a line of natural hollows running E-W on the S side of the panel. There are 2 carved cup markings in the centre of this alignment. The carved cups are c. 1.5 inches in diameter and 0.25 inches deep, adjacent to 2 deep natural hollows. Further details of Cairnholy 11 are available in Canmore ID 368424.

There are 5 carved panels on the knoll: Cairnholy 4,11,12,13&14.

Visited 05.04.25

Cairnholy 11 Carved Panel is located c. 6 feet SW of Cairnholy 4 Carved Panel on a rocky knoll c. 0.5 miles NNW of Cairnholy Farm in Dumfries and Galloway. It consists of 8 equally spaced cup carvings arranged in 2 parallel lines. The carved cups are c. 1-1.5 inches in diameter and 0.25-0.5 inches deep. The lines are orientated ENE-WSW, measuring c. 9 inches long and 3 inches apart. Further details of Cairnholy 11 are available in Canmore ID 368421.

There are 5 carved panels on the knoll: Cairnholy 4,11,12,13&14.

Visited 07.04.25

Cairnholy 6 Carved Panel is located c. 0.6 miles N of Cairnholy Farm in a drainage ditch running WSW-ESE, parallel to a stone wall. The flat stone in the bottom of the ditch has two wide striations probably caused by drainage equipment. The carvings are on the N side of the panel. They consist of a W Cup Carving , a Central Cup Carving c. 1 feet E and an irregular E Cup Carving. The W Cup Carving has peck markings on the surface and measures c. 3.5 inches in diameter and 0.25 inches deep. The Central Cup Carving is conical, measuring c. 1.5 inches in diameter and 1 inch deep. The E Cup Carving appears to be unfinished, an oval hollow measuring c. 4.5 inches long.

Canmore ID 63737 has further details of Cairnholy 6 Carved Panel.

Visited 05.04.25

Cairnholy 04 Carved Panel is located c. 0.5 miles NNW of Cairnholy Farm on a rocky knoll in a grassy field. It is c. 25 feet ENE of a stone wall bordering the field. Cairnholy 04 Carved Panel has two carvings: A cup & ring carving with several small satellite cup carvings on the N perimeter and a cup carving on the W end. The N Cup & Ring Carving has a central cup c. 2.5 inches in diameter and 0.5 inches deep with a complete inner ring and a partial outer ring up to a radius of 4 inches. The S Cup Carving is c. 2 inches in diameter and 0.25 inches deep. Canmore ID 63726 lists the location of Cairnholy as NX 51551 54637.

There are 5 carved panels on the knoll: Cairnholy 4,11,12,13&14.

Visited 07.04.25

Cairnholy 07 Cup Carved Panel is c. 0.5 mile N of Cairnholy 01 in Dumfries and Galloway. It is located on a narrow stone ridge on the summit of a grassy knoll c. 75 yards SSE of Cairnholy Sheepfold which is built in the NW corner of a grass field. The carved panel is c. 20 yards NE of a dry stane dyke.

The carved panel has 16 cup carvings arranged in two parallel lines measuring c. 18 inches on a ENE- WSW Axis. The equally spaced cups measure up to 1.5 inches in diameter with depths varying from 0.25 to 0.5 inches.

Canmore ID 368427 has further details of Cairnholy 07.

Visited 04.04.25

Balneil Cairn is located in rough pasture c. 0.3 mile NE of Balniel Farm, near New Luce in Dumfries and Galloway. The round grassy cairn has significant deposits of field clearance stones on the E and SW Arcs. Balneil Cairn has a diameter of c. 66 feet and a height of 4 feet.

Further information on Balneil Cairn is available on Canmore ID 61662.