In 'A Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson' James Boswell writes about a visit to this circle in 1773:
(Wednesday, 25th August)
"We set out about nine. Dr Johnson was curious to see one of those structures which northern antiquarians call a Druid's temple. I had a recollection of one at Strichen; which I had seen fifteen years ago; so we went four miles out of our road, after passing Old Deer, and went thither. Mr Fraser, the proprietor, was at home, and shewed it to us. But I had augmented it in my mind; for all that remains is two stones set up on end, with a long one laid upon them, as was usual, and one stone at a little distance from them. That stone was the capital one of the circle which surrounded what now remains."
(They had left Slains Castle that morning and at night arrived at Banff.)
Rather curious that Boswell says "two stones set up on end, with a long one LAID UPON THEM, as was usual" ..??
(Sorry, haven't researched these circles to know if they were intended to be like this, and 'recumbents' have since fallen to the ground between the uprights.)
Something is not right. This message is just to keep things from messing up down the road