A bit of a ‘manufactured’ view – this isn’t what we would have seen if things had gone according to plan and the clouds had stayed away. May ‘enhance’ the photo later.
Image credit: moey
moey
As a mother hill, Black Combe is almost tooooo perfect, heck, she even has arms. But, an enigmatic mother she is, dark and foreboding, I think it will not be long before I set eyes on her again
Think Greycroft, and you think Sellafield, (or Windscale, or whatever they want to call it to make people feel easier about it) but look to the sea. Greycroft overlooks the coast, that’s why it’s here.
Seperated from his two brothers, but dignified and shaded on a bright June Day. These boys have power.
With it’s weather worn runnels, this could be a Big Brother to the Duddo Five Stones. How many times had I driven past here on the A1 without noticing or bothering to turn off. Rewarded at last.
Showing the Devil’s arrows in a row. The highlighted patch in the trees shows the “captive” arrow on the other side of the road.
The stone in the middle points towards the horizon, and lurking there are a myriad of those white balls you find on the Yorkshire moors for radar or surveillance or whatever (Remember Toyah’s ep cover?) So I wanted something a little darker
moey
Joolio’s Yogic Flying excercise came to an abrupt stop when the Dilithium Crystals gave out over Ilkley moor
Another of the cup & ring marked rocks at Lordenshaws, fainter and less decorated, but still nice on a crisp winters day 2/03
The Hillfort from SSW. You can get a better idea of ditches and form from other directions, but, late in the afternoon (as ever) and this was the best way to catch the light 15/02/03
A ruined Cairn at Lordenshaws, views across to Rothbury in the rear
Many Apologies for the darkness of the photo, but I wanted to show the height of the stone and this was the best pic I had.
Moey Feb 2003CE
Haven’t been able to find out any history of this one yet. It stands, set in a rough stone base, so may well be of modern origin, although it may be re(z)erected.
A tall thin stone, over 10ft tall, it leans or points quite heavily. Views over towards The Cheviots to the West and Hepburn Woods to the East.
Of notable mention is a bit of modern architecture just oevr the hill – The Hurlstone Tower was built in 2000 by the local landowner and is a round 3 storey castle looking folly.
The huge Sandstone Outcrop, Cuddy’s cave at the bottom.
An update of my October 2001 pic. I went to have a look at the rock art after some very wet weather and bumped into the great Stan Beckinshall. He was up there doing research for and internet project Durham University are doing with him. I was extra lucky in that Stan had just finished cleaning the outcrop so I got an excellent view of what would have been overgrown the previous day.
Stan is the green clad leg on the very top left of the pic LOL
Moey
Now this is a restfull place. Look out over Machrie Bay, across Kilbrannan Sound towards the mainland. beautiful.
Do not underestimate the trip to the Giants Graves. walk along a track for about 1/2 a mile and then the ascent begins, and goes on, and on, and on. Through the woods, the hillside has steps all the way to the summit, but it is a real steep climb.
Expect to take some rest stops (and on the way back down travellers plaintively asking “is it much further?“) Once you reach the top of the steps, you might think you are there. Oh, no, continue along the hilltop, climbing still slightly, through the woods – watch out, we expected Orcs to come running at us at any moment.
When you reach the clearing, you will not be disappointed. What a great place! As others have said, the views must have been breathtaking – a burial for kings!
Only one thing spoilt our restful period at the top.... a phone call from work! don’t take your mobile.
On the approach to Machrie Moor from the A841 you will walk past this burial cairn, the historic Scotland plaque seems unsure of what it is....
“Is it a stone circle with a later burial cairn built inside it or is it simply a cairn with a permanent stone kerb?”
I think the latter, but you can correct me on that.
Whatever it is, it augments the approach to the amphitheatre of Machrie Moor – watch carefully as you approach, other standing stones will become evident on the way to the main sites.
In the Modern Antiquarian, Julian’s directions for getting to Lamlash are.....
“Lamlash, on the other hand reqires both an O.S. Map and determination”
Erm, isn’t that the road in the background, er, OK then, erm...next!
HOW TO GET THERE
From Berwick Upon Tweed Head towards the A1 (Southwards) Before you reach the A1, turn left towards the village of Scremerston. Immediately turn left again and follow the road round. At Borewell Farm (offering farm shop etc) take another left. cross the railway and continue along the road until it falls away into disrepair. park up below the “pill box” and walk through the nature reserve part of the dunes. you will come to a fence, climb it and follow the path down to the beach. It is pretty rough and steep going, but soon you will be on a sandy beach. Keep close to the dunes and look out for rocks that are submerged at high tide. These are the ones you need to examine.
Apologies if the grid reference is not 100% correct.
If you have any problems finding it – give me a shout!
Moey
ART IMITATES LIFE
This area was something that caught me by surprise. On the beach at Cocklawburn near Berwick-Upon-Tweed Lie some excellent rock formations that look similar to cup and ring marks.
I used to walk my dogs here a lot and had never noticed them beforee, but one day I was walking with my head down and say one of the ring formations. I couldn’t believe it – didn’t know if they were natural or man made.
I looked around and there were loads of them. Some qute large, but many were huddled together on rocky outcrops like so many limpets hanging on for dear life. Many are flat to the surface of the sand, but others are vertical on the rocks.
I formulated a theory about sandstone and volcanic rock fusing, but this doesn’t seem to be quite right.
Through the wonders of the community that is Head Heritage, I got talking to Fitzcoraldo about rock art, I sent him the pics and he showed them to the resident geologists on his oil rig. I hope Fitz doesn’t mind me reprinting his reply, but this is the current thinking on the formations.
“I have a name for your bizarre rock formation and can tell you that your half baked theory was only a quarter baked.
I’ve consulted the afternoon shift geologists and the consensus seems to be that they are a phenomena called MUD VOLCANOES, in fossil form of course.
Apparently you get mud volcanoes in areas like large river deltas, where you get a large amount of sediment deposited quickly, this mud is then overlain by slower deposited sands which compress the mud causing it to flow upwards inna volcano stylee. So there you go.”
This picture shows one area of the rock covered in examples. You wonder how long it will be before the sea erodes them completely
These natural rings are fantastic – well worth a beach walk for.
This pic shows a fault in the outcrop – was the circle ever unbroken, or has it always been that way?
With Dunnideer Hill in the Background, this has to be one of my favourite Aberdeenshire recumbents. The fact that it is so close to the centre of it all (according to Julian) but so overlooked makes it something special.
10yr old Laura models how Neolithic Man would have looked at Routing Linn Waterfall – make sure you see it if you visit the carved rocks.
Large overhanging rocks would have provided shelter.
facing the other way, Traprain Law is the major focus
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