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<< Our Photo Pages >> Cailleach na Mointeach Kerbed Cairn - Cairn in Scotland in Isle of Lewis

Submitted by Aluta on Thursday, 01 February 2007  Page Views: 18176

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Cailleach na Mointeach Kerbed Cairn Alternative Name: Old Woman of the Moors, Sleeping Beauty
Country: Scotland
NOTE: This site is 6.968 km away from the location you searched for.

County: Isle of Lewis Type: Cairn
Nearest Town: Stornoway  Nearest Village: Callanish
Map Ref: NB2724414555
Latitude: 58.036009N  Longitude: 6.622831W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
no data Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
no data Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
no data Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
5
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Cailleach na Mointeach Kerbed Cairn
Cailleach na Mointeach Kerbed Cairn submitted by Aluta : Cairn on one of the hills that make up the 'knees' of the Old Lady of the Mountains or Sleeping Goddess visible from the Stone Circle at Callanish. Found by Ian McHardy who says "'S1' is the main cairn which the company Headland Archaeology had called a "shepherds cairn with base" - a bizarre interpretation for a professional outfit to make, especially given the obvious kerb and absolutly usele... (Vote or comment on this photo)
Cairn in the Isle of Lewis. Archaeologist Ian McHardy has come forth with the discovery of this 5 metre diameter kerbed cairn as the time for the building of the proposed wind farm on the mountains approaches. Situated on one of the hills that form the 'knees' of the sleeping female form visible from the Callanish stone circle, the cairn could prove to be a determinant in the fate of the wind farm proposed for the hills that form the "Sleeping Goddess."

The wind farm would mar the view of the mountains as it has been seen from the stones since they were placed and some say it would defile what they see as a landscape especially sacred to the earth goddess. The current plans will mean seven turbines clearly visible in silhoutte upon the Cailleach and a further 46 dotted around her base."

Should the cairn prove to be ancient, it might be used to prove that the mountains were also sacred to the people who built the Callanish stone circle. Significantly, the prospective builder of the wind farm, Nicholas Oppenheim, has been quoted as saying, "If there is something, it would be fascinating and the scheme would be amended. But I'd like to hear more about what it is."

Ian McHardy adds "The wind farm project is not about to be built just yet- its is however in the critical final planning stages- all the more reason for anyone to help the cause by writing to:
Paul Smith, The Scottish Executive, Consents and Emergency Planning Unit, 2nd Floor, Meridian Court, 5 Cadogan Street, Glasgow G2 6AT, e-mail paul.smith@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Also have a look at the Moorland without turbines web site (www.mwtlewis.org.uk)."

There is more in the original article from the Scotsman.

Note: Campaign to Save the Sleeping Beauty and Callanish. Megalithic Portal exclusive: Photos from Ian McHardy of his cairn discovery at the 'Sleeping Beauty's knees that could affect the wind farm development. Update: site grid reference + address + web links for the anti-wind-turbines campaign
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Cailleach na Mointeach Kerbed Cairn
Cailleach na Mointeach Kerbed Cairn submitted by Aluta : Part of the kerbed cairn on one of the hills that make up the 'knees' of the Sleeping Goddess visible from the Callanish stone circle. If this is verified as an ancient site, it could affect the placement of the wind farm that would otherwise be visible on the sleeping female form that many admire from the stones at Callanish. At one extreme of the moon cycle, the moon rises from between her 'knee... (Vote or comment on this photo)

Cailleach na Mointeach Kerbed Cairn
Cailleach na Mointeach Kerbed Cairn submitted by Aluta : Old base of a second summit cairn on Cailleach na Mointeach, Lewis. Photo Credit: Ian McHardy (Vote or comment on this photo)

Do not use the above information on other web sites or publications without permission of the contributor.

Nearby Images from Geograph Britain and Ireland:
NB2714 : Cairn on Mor Mhonadh by Mike Dunn
by Mike Dunn
©2009(licence)
NB2714 : Cairn On The NNE Flank Of Mr Mhonadh by Rude Health
by Rude Health
©2014(licence)
NB2614 : Rock outcrop below Mor Mhonadh by Mike Dunn
by Mike Dunn
©2009(licence)
NB2713 : Mr Mhonadh by Rude Health
by Rude Health
©2014(licence)
NB2713 : Moorland to the East of Mor Mhonadh by Mike Dunn
by Mike Dunn
©2009(licence)

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 2.2km NNE 12° Loch Seaforth* Stone Circle (NB2782216637)
 4.7km NNE 16° Cnoc nan Clach (Hillock of Stone)* Cairn (NB2886718971)
 12.7km ENE 62° Torastay* Cairn (NB38881976)
 14.2km ENE 61° Dun Cromore* Stone Fort or Dun (NB4012320699)
 14.9km NNW 345° Callanish 18* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NB24402923)
 15.3km NNE 13° Achmore* Stone Circle (NB31742926)
 15.6km NNW 342° Callanish 9* Standing Stones (NB233297)
 15.8km NNW 342° Callanish 5* Stone Row / Alignment (NB23432990)
 16.0km NNW 347° Callanish 6* Standing Stones (NB24653034)
 16.1km NNW 342° Callanish 7* Ancient Mine, Quarry or other Industry (NB232302)
 16.4km NNW 341° Callanish 4* Stone Circle (NB2298830412)
 17.8km NNW 345° Callanish 17* Stone Circle (NB237320)
 18.1km NNW 341° Cnoc Fillibhir Mhor* Stone Row / Alignment (NB22683207)
 18.6km NNW 340° Loch Roag Timber Circle (NB222325)
 18.7km NNW 341° Callanish 2* Stone Circle (NB2221432614)
 18.7km NNW 342° Callanish 3* Stone Circle (NB2251532710)
 18.8km NNW 342° Callanish 14* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NB228329)
 19.3km NNW 340° Callanish 19* Stone Circle (NB218331)
 19.3km NNE 31° Druim Dubh* Stone Circle (NB382305)
 19.3km NNW 338° Callanish I* Stone Circle (NB2128633009)
 19.3km NNW 338° Callanish* Stone Circle (NB2129833013)
 19.5km NNW 343° Callanish 10* Stone Circle (NB22973362)
 20.1km NNW 339° Callanish 16* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NB213338)
 20.3km NNW 340° Callanish 13* Standing Stones (NB215341)
 20.9km NNW 341° Olcote Kerbed Cairn* Cairn (NB2179634733)
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"Cailleach na Mointeach Kerbed Cairn" | Login/Create an Account | 6 News and Comments
  
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£3million payout to Isle of Lewis community after halting windfarm by Andy B on Wednesday, 11 October 2017
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[I'm not sure if the is the same windfarm that threatened the view of Cailleach na Mointeach - I'm checking with http://www.mwtlewis.org.uk ]

July 2015: An island community is celebrating a £3million windfarm payout – without a single turbine being built.

A French company will pay up as part of a “golden au revoir” deal after scrapping its £200million proposal for the Eishken estate on Lewis.

Engie, previously trading as GDF-Suez, abandoned the project last October (2015), blaming uncertainty about the laying of a connecting subsea cable to the mainland for its decision.


The 39-turbine scheme has planning approval but delays with an £800million interconnecter stalled construction work on the windfarm which was due to get underway two years ago.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Prehistoric discovery may delay Lewis development by Andy B on Wednesday, 11 October 2017
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Canmore says:

Field Visit (2006): A c 5m diameter, c 1.0m high (at centre) circular cairn has been raised directly over the summit (370m OD) of a minor hill (unnamed) at the E end of the Pairc mountain ridge, sometimes known as Cailleach na Mointeach (Old Woman of the Moors), which links Sidhean an Airgid (387m OD), 'Guaineamol' (406m OD) and Mor Mhonadh (401m OD). The cairn has large kerb stones (up to 0.8m in length, generally around 0.6m, c 0.3- 0.4m in height/breadth) set around its edge, which retain many smaller stones in the middle, in a manner of construction and scale similar to Neolithic tombs in the area, such as the example within the Callanish Stones. No further details can clearly be made out.
A modern summit cairn (reported by Headland Archaeology in the Muaitheabhal Wind Power EIA) has been constructed upon this earlier feature,

More at
https://canmore.org.uk/site/293944/cailleach-na-mointeach
[ Reply to This ]

Campaign to Save the Sleeping Beauty and Callanish by coldrum on Thursday, 01 February 2007
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Five weeks after Friday 12th May 2006. Closing date for objections against the Muaitheabhal Windfarm plans, the Energy consents Unit of the Scottish Executive passed a decision to allow the 53 turbines to be installed.

In actual fact, construction work is not scheduled to commence until August of 2007, and a prerequisite for the windfarm and forty other schemes proposed for the Scottish Highlands from Beauly, ten miles W of Inverness, to Denny, 18 miles N. W of Glasgow.

17,000 objections have been made to this power line, close to three times as many as the total of objections to Muaitheabhal (pronounced 'Mhooval') windfarm.

A six weeks long Public Inquiry on the power line is due to occur in February and March. Up to now, some 120 letters, most with sets of c.20 supporting papers, have been sent by myself to individuals and public bodies of many kinds, focussing on how the windfarm would affect Callanish Standing Stones.

I've identified also that five lengthy sections of the loose stone tracks on the windfarm would have gradients averaging 1 in 8 to 1 in 9, and other sections would cross bogs with no foundation other than wet peat beneath the stones.

Along these tracks the turbine tower sections are to be transported, and a 500 tonnes mobile crane needed for raising the turbines is expected to move.

Objections to the plans may be written to Energy Consents Unit, The Scottish Executive, 2nd Floor, Meridian Court, 5 Cadogan St, Glasgow G2 6AT.

A. Hyde From Essex.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Megalithic Portal exclusive photos by SirLawrenceTheVain on Monday, 06 November 2006
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Whoever thought of the name for this cairn should be given a medal for their imagination. Just fascinating stuff.
This is the sort of thing that needs to be preserved as well as finding out its history.
Can't wait for my next trip to the UK and hopefully pay her a visit, hoping that she isn't wearing a windmill on her head.....
[ Reply to This ]

Megalithic Portal exclusive photos by Andy B on Thursday, 02 November 2006
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While other web sites just parrot the same news feeds, our team searches for the stories and locations behind the news. Thanks to Aluta for the research on this one.
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Prehistoric discovery may delay Lewis development by Andy B on Thursday, 02 November 2006
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This was the news item that started off our investigations:

A NEOLITHIC cairn discovered on Lewis could force a controversial wind-farm plan to be redrawn.

Leisure tycoon Nicholas Oppenheim plans to build a 53- turbine wind farm at his Eisgein Estate on the island, but the presence of the cairn could help prove the site was "sacred land" to the prehistoric people who built the famous Callanish standing stones about 12 miles away.

The site lies on a range of hills within the proposed development area known as Cailleach na Mointeach (the Old Woman of the Moors) because the skyline resembles the profile of a woman when viewed from Callanish.

Every 18 and a half years, the Moon rises from her knees - as if being "born" - and then sets at a point framed by the 4,000-year-old stones. Several of the 53 turbines planned by Mr Oppenheim's Beinn Mhor Power company would interrupt this skyline.

Ian McHardy, an archaeologist, said his discovery of the cairn near the Old Woman's knees meant the site should be protected. "There's a five-metre diameter cairn with a curve round the edge of it, which is of typical neolithic construction," he said.

Mr Oppenheim said: "If there is something, it would be fascinating and the scheme would be amended. But I'd like to hear more about what it is."

More: The Scotsman
http://heritage.scotsman.com/news.cfm?id=1123522006
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