Can you spot an ancient sites enthusiast by their clothing?
Submitted by Runemage on Saturday, 09 September 2017 Page Views: 3661
Fun
I suppose an awful lot does depend on what type of site you’re visiting as to what your clothing requirements are - our featured sites cover everything from a short few steps out of the car to tricky mountain terrain.
For many of the very easily accessible sites (Access = 5 in our site ratings: ), for example Skara Brae, the most
outdoorsy items you’d need are shoes and a waterproof coat with hood, because the surfaces underfoot are mostly hard paving with the odd bit of well-kept grass. Access and moving around there are very easy and with managed sites like these there’s often a good car park and a visitor centre as well, so clothing doesn’t play a large part in planning a visit.
Sites like Long Meg or Duloe that require a short walk from the nearest place you can leave the car require a little more thought. These are often in an agricultural setting and as we all know, cows delight in relieving an itch on some stones, they can churn the ground of the site and turn its approach into a mudbath in wet weather. Sheep can also cause a problem on wet ground. Stout footwear is essential, even on fine days. Some people prefer wellies, some like the more expensive brands that give good traction underfoot and some prefer waterproof walking boots, it’s all a matter of personal taste and comfort.
Some sites involve a longer walk, often on uneven ground (Access = 1 in our site ratings), so good quality comfortable stout boots are essential. Outer layers are a personal preference - when visiting sites in these locations, you need to be prepared for everything the terrain and weather can throw at you. Underfoot can range from stony to boggy to loose scree and every surface in between. The vegetation can look fairly benevolent but when you get up close you will find many plants are pretty spiky, gorse and nettles are my particular bête noir, so again leg-wear that will protect you is a must.
As always, being dry and comfortable whilst you are out and about is of prime importance. There’s a huge range of outdoor clothing available, to suit all tastes, all terrains, all climatic variations and price ranges.
Sites are accessed by a long low passage which on a dry day can be abrasive on the hands and knees, and on a wet one can be like a mudslide. The same goes for souterrains, sometimes you’ve no idea what you’re going to encounter until you’re there. Mind you, that’s half the fun! Don’t forget a good torch for exploring of course, and be careful.So, back to my original question, would you be able to spot a fellow stones enthusiast at an ancient site just by looking at their outdoor clothing? Probably not. If you think someone you encounter at a site may have more than a very fleeting interest in it, you could see if they know of the Megalithic Portal. If you really want to make some contacts, ask Andy B for some cards with our logo on to hand out and he will be happy to send you some for free.
You're also very welcome to submit a photo of yourself to our contributors gallery, where a wide variety of suitable clothing is on show. This article was kindly supported by Add Nature.
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