Paines Bridge, Wallington A

Date Added: 4th Aug 2014
Site Type: Rock Art Country: England (Northumberland)
Visited: Yes on 29th Jul 2014. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: “Just for some fun, how about going to Wallington to try and spot the three rock art portable stones that Stan Beckensall says are near the bridge?” my husband said. “The web site says they are set into concrete, so they should be easy to find.” It was a beautiful sunny afternoon, so I said “why not”. Wallington isn’t far from our house, and we managed to park at the small lay-by off the B6342, just 20 metres south east of Paine’s Bridge, where the road turns sharp left hand to go over the River Wansbeck.

Immediately across the road from the lay-by was the gate and footpath leading down to the river and the bridge, then carries on further eastwards to the stepping stones which form part of the walks around the Wallington Estate. Following the path under the bridge, there is a stile (with a doggy gate) at the far side. Climbing over this, we turned immediately round to the bridge parapet and walked onto the bridge pier. The river was only a trickle after all the dry weather we’ve been having, and Wallington A was easily identifiable at the far end of the bridge pier.

The bridge being so narrow, I then took my life in my hands (particularly when a large lorry with large wing mirrors went by) and leaned over the western side of the bridge to look down at Wallington A from a different angle.

We struggled to identify the other two stones mentioned in the Beckensall Archive, and I wished we’d brought photographs. After hunting for some time, and exploring the parapets at the northern side of the river and beyond, we were at a loss. There being no service on my mobile to access the Portal, we drove to the cafe in Belsay, and over tea and cake looked again at the images on both the Portal and the Northumberland Rock Art web site, before setting off again back to the bridge.

This time, it was easy to spot Wallington B – we knew it was 80 cm east of Wallington C. The light had also changed, as it was early evening, and we wondered how we could have missed the markings the first time.

Wallington C, 95 cm east of Wallington B, was trickier, and I photographed several more of the stones, and we ended up comparing them to the Beckensall archive images once we’d arrived back home. If I hadn’t had these images to compare, and the photo with the stones marked by SolarMegalith, I never would have known this was a piece of rock art.

I would have loved to have seen these portable rocks in their original locations. If the river is high, and covers the bridge piers, it will be impossible to see these pieces of rock art.

[As an aside: We found it amusing that there are large signs either side of the bridge saying to “sound your horn” (before crossing); hence the peace of the countryside was endlessly shattered by the cars having to cross Paine’s bridge in single file. My husband commented that we were lucky not to have seen two cars meet in the middle!]

Dod Law Main Rock A

Date Added: 28th Jul 2014
Site Type: Rock Art Country: England (Northumberland)
Visited: Yes on 27th Jul 2014. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: Access to Dod Law Main Rock is exactly as DrewAndrews describes. It is a relatively easy walk up hill, following the path up hill, southwards, through Wooler Golf Course (one of the golfers told us it was alright to leave our car parked in their car park).
Immediately opposite the fenced boundary of the upper end of the golf course, there is Newcastle University Rock Art poster, indicating where the main rock is, although as DrewAndrews says, it is out of scale. We missed the rock on the way up, being hidden by bracken, and ended up walking up to the Trig Point. Had it not been raining so hard, the views from the settlements and enclosures above Shepherd's House would have been spectacular; indeed, when the rain stopped about 20 minutes later, and the sun came out, the almost 360 degree views (complete with rainbow) were wonderful.
We spotted the main rock on the way back down the path (it's actually only about 4 metres east of the footpath, which turns left up to the trig point, just above the top end of the Golf Course), and were rewarded by these wonderful rock art motifs.
Someone had been there not long before us, and literally ripped and torn the turf and moss away from the rock surface, to be able to view the whole of the motifs.
The rain made the markings stand out beautifully.
By the time we'd taken photographs, we realised how wet we were, having been caught in heavy rain for some time, and made our way back to the car.
My next trip to this area will be to see the remains of the stone circle, but I think we'll plan a longer circular walk, parking near Weetwood Hall, to take in more cup and ring marked rocks shown on the Ordnance Survey Map, with the furthest point being The Ringses Hill Fort.

Simonburn

Date Added: 21st Jul 2014
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: England (Northumberland)
Visited: Yes on 20th Jul 2014. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 2

Log Text: We know this stone circle as either: Davy's Lee Stone Circle, King's Crag Stone Circle or Haughton Common Stone Circle, rather than Simonburn Stone Circle, although the Grid Reference is the same.
Having spotted a group of features that looked interesting: Davy's Lee Settlement, Davy's Lee Stone Circle and various tumuli, we decided to take advantage of the sunshine and walk to this area.
The previous weekend, we'd visited Standingstone Rigg, near Great Lonbrough Farm. If we had continued south along the footpath for a couple of kilometres from Standingstone Rigg, we would have reached Davy’s Lee from the north. Instead, we took the opposite approach, from the south, from the old military road (B6318).
My husband parked the car by the Old Repeater Station (parking on the Old Military Road being sparse and difficult, with soft verges, lay-by's virtually non-existent and fast-flying cars driving up and down) having dropped me off at the farmhouse 100 yards west from this road junction, on the opposite side of the road, by the footpath up to Sewingshields and Sewingshields Crags. We’ve done this walk before, to see the Roman fishing loughs, but with this walk, we needed to follow the path nortwards past the farmhouses, round the back of Sewingshields Crags to the bottom of the hill, then turn off a track to the left hand side (approx. Grid reference: NY 80653 70820). The track disappears for a while, so we headed left up a bank with what looked like quarried stone at the top, running in a double row running approximately east to west (approx. Grid ref: NY 80393 70793), plus what looked like a low lying stone circle with a blue ‘x’ in the middle of it. We wondered whether or not this was just the results of quarrying, but then spotted blue crosses sprayed onto the grass and a blue painted peg in the middle of what I thought might be the low lying stone circle.

Just after this, I got sight of a huge bull about 100 yards away; walking further along, we realised there was no fence between the marked field boundaries, and I suddenly got worried the bull was going to charge as we were walking between him and 'his ladies'. We were at the edge of a boggy area, and had just started picking a way through. At this point, the farmer appeared on his quad bike to look at his ‘beasts’, and he stopped to talk to us. I said we were heading up to the Stone Circle and asked if this was OK. He told me the bull was alright, and confirmed that the archaeologists had indeed just been up to do a survey of the rocks/stones we’d just seen. He asked us if we knew where the stone circle was, and pointed out the direction of the tree in the distance to head for; we’d then see the stones poking up out of the grass.

He then said he’d give us a lift part of the way, and we hopped on the side of the quad bike, and went about quarter of a mile. Neat! A very powerful machine – not sure I’d make a good motorcycle pillion rider, though. He dropped us off at the top of a ridge of rocks, and we made our way over, stumbling into what looked like an open cairn. I took some photographs, and we headed down the slope to another wide area of boggy ground with a small stream bubbling along the bottom. I wouldn’t have liked to have done this walk after a period of wet weather – wellies would have been required – me being me, I still managed to get wet feet!

We stumbled first upon the Davy’s Lee settlement – perched on the end of King’s Crags, which dropped steeply into the valley below. What a view. Wandering eastwards, we came upon two small standing stones (or one with a forked top, buried in the grass), then the stone circle poked it’s head up to the right hand side of the track, towards Folly Lake.

There were some clear cup marks on two of the stones within the circle. The grass and marsh grass was so tall, it hid most of the stones, and it was quite difficult to photograph, but the circle was clearly there – about 9 metres in diameter. I thought at one point that there might be an outer circle, but the grass was too overgrown to really tell (a winter visit will be needed!).

The main stone in the circle was a funny ‘chair’ shape with cups in the top. Someone had been there recently and left a tea-light in one of the cups.

The views south and east to Sewingshields Crags was magnificent; looking south-west towards Greenlee Lough, we could see a large erratic rock, Gwenhyfar's Chair, standing proud of Queen’s Crags. This stone is connected with Arthurian legends, although I’ve yet to explore this. We decided it was too far away to walk to this today, so headed back to the footpath. I could hear voices, and Andrew identified they were from climbers on the crags immediately opposite Gwenhyfar’s Chair.

Leaving the stone circle, we headed off eastwards, but lost the footpath. Some of the land here is not access land, although the boundary isn’t de-lineated. Heading down the slope, we came across a large, apparently shaped rock, just lying on the ground at grid reference: NY 80670 71319, so I've recorded my visit and submitted images to the separate page on the Portal (Davy's Lee Rock Art). I would put this rock on a par with the rocks in the fields at West Agra Farm.

Davy's Lee 1

Date Added: 21st Jul 2014
Site Type: Rock Art Country: England (Northumberland)
Visited: Yes on 20th Jul 2014. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 2

Log Text: Having visited Davy's Lee Settlement and Davy's Lee Stone Circle, rather than walk directly southwards across the boggy ground and the stream, we headed eastwards back to the main footpath between Halleypike Lough/Folly Lake. We lost the footpath, but continued as best we could, trying to keep on the access land (there was no delineation between access land and non-access land) and stumbled across this stone lying in the grass.
It definitely looked as if it had been shaped, so we stopped to look some more, and as our eyes adjusted, clusters of cup marks appeared. We weren't sure if the grooves had been deliberately made, or if they had been carved in antiquity (rival sites say they are natural grooves which determine the position of the cup marks).
We thought this stone rivalled the stones in the group of rocks in West Agra Farm Fields (although not the West Agra Plantation).
Not being aware this stone existed before our visit, this came as a real treat, especially with the lovely landscape around - it was a very special afternoon for us, in glorious sunshine.

Davy's Lee Enclosure

Date Added: 21st Jul 2014
Site Type: Misc. Earthwork Country: England (Northumberland)
Visited: Yes on 20th Jul 2014. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 2

Log Text: Continuing south on the footpaths from Standingstone Rigg at Great Lonbrough would have brought us to Davy's Lee Settlement and Davy's Lee Stone Circle and tumuli, but on this walk we elected to park at the Old Repeater Station, just off the B6318 (old military road), and follow the footpath to Sewingshields Crags, on the opposite side of the road.
We've done this walk before, but only to see the Roman Loughs (fishing ponds) in 2011, and couldn't do this bit of the walk due to the boggy ground. Note: I wouldn't like to follow this footpath after a period of wet weather - too wet, wellies would be needed!
We followed the footpath through Hadrian's Wall Vallum, up the hill past Sewingshields Farm, then turned round the back to the northern side of Sewingsheilds Crags. At the bottom of the hill, just past the cattle grid, there is a track that leads off to the left hand side which leads to both Davy's Lee Settlement and Davy's Lee Stone Circle.
At the top of the first ridge we came to, there were what appeared to be a row of standing stones, and possibly another small stone circle, but my inexperienced eyes thought I might be confusing these with quarried rocks left lying on the ground. However, we came across some blue posts hammered into the ground and some blue spray-painted crosses; the farmer we met shortly afterwards confirmed that archaeologists had been to do an initial survey of this area.
The footpath disappears for a while, but can be picked up at the western end of this first ridge. After walking up and down another ridge (with another rocky outcrop with a possible empty cairn at the top), it was necessary to cross another boggy piece of land, with a small, bubbling stream at the bottom, then it was an easy walk up to the settlement.
The entrance and the outer banks of the settlement are easily identifiable, and is in a fantastic landscape.
Davy's Lee Stone Circle is about 50 yards to the east of the entrance to the settlement, with other tumuli further to the east.

Standingstone Rigg

Date Added: 18th Jul 2014
Site Type: Stone Row / Alignment Country: England (Northumberland)
Visited: Yes on 13th Jul 2014. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 2

Log Text: Having first visited Goatstones Four Poster stone circle on 30th June, the farmer from Great Lonbrough Farm further up the track (whom we met on the track as he was coming down from the farm in his Landrover) had mentioned some other standing stones, but was mysterious about the location – we thought it was because they were on his land. I was intrigued.

The quickest route up to Standingstone Rigg is from Ward Lane, using the Bridleway at NY 81632 75077, but the verges had very deep furrows so no parking here, and also the crop had just been harvested, so there was grassy stubble which would have made walking up the hill a little heavy. We decided to turn back to the Manor House, opposite Ravensheugh Crags and use the small layby next to the footpath which led past Goatstones Four Poster stone circle. This meant a slightly longer, but easier, walk past Goatstones and up past Great Lonbrough Farm – a walk of around 7km in all, but easy on a gated farm track. You would have needed a four-wheel drive or a quad bike to drive up this lane, but the walk was across very pleasant countryside, with views of the Cheviots in the far distance, and when we got past the farmhouse, to Hadrian’s Wall country and beyond.

We first came across what looked like a large barrow at the first sheepfold past the farmhouse, about 1km from the farmhouse, at grid reference NY 81783 73355, having had to cross some very boggy ground to reach the tumbled stones. We walked up the ‘barrow’ and turned left, seeing other stones lying the other side of Standingstone Rigg (Ridge), on Harvest Green. This also looked like another barrow, with very definite shaped stones lying around, although these were largely covered by turf and marsh grass.

I confess we struggled to find the stone row, and I was disappointed. We tried to orientate ourselves with a map I’d found on my phone from the Tynedale Archaeology Group, who had carried out a volunteer survey on the site in 2013. We spotted what looked like two gate posts on top of the ridge, so Andrew ploughed his way through the boggy dip and came running back: “Those are the stones, and there a long row, they just go on and on”. There were absolutely beautiful views over towards Hadrian’s Wall, with Halleypike Lough shining in the distance, so we sat back and had a snack and a drink in the sunshine and the warm wind before exploring further.

Once we’d navigated the marshy bits and climbed halfway back up Standingstone Rigg hill, the first stones became apparent. There was a very clear double row of stones climbing up to the ridge, just poking their tops above the turf. Once we’d walked up to the top, the stones just carried on going, down the scarp and turning right round what looks like it might have been a spring or a pond, and back towards what the first ‘barrow’. They looked at first glance to be a single row leading back down the hill.

We probably walked this monument backwards – working from the Harvest Green up to Standingstone Rigg, back towards Great Lonbrough Farm. I felt very much like I’d been on a journey – from death at the first barrow (if it was indeed), up to the ridge, to see over the amazing countryside for miles and miles to look over the Moors and what became Hadrian’s Wall country.

The first double stones we first saw were only about 1 metre apart, so if it was meant to be walked as an avenue, it would have to be done in single file.

On the way back, we stopped at the first ‘barrow’ and looked at the rocks more closely. Some had very definite cup marks in them, and I’ve recorded them in the photographs submitted to the Portal.

The Tynedale Archaeology website states that the stone row has a north-north-east to south-south-west double alignment, which runs for 134 metres north-south up over the scarp of Standingstone Rigg. They also record a cairn on the top of the ridge, which we also saw, but which I didn’t photograph.

On the way back, I managed to turn my ankle by falling between two stones hidden in the grass, and had to hobble 3km back to the car. But I am still amazed by this little known spot, and feel privileged to have been there.

West Agra

Date Added: 15th Jul 2014
Site Type: Rock Art Country: England (Yorkshire (North))
Visited: Yes on 11th Jul 2014. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: Google maps showed it was only just over 10 miles between Thornborough Henges, which we had just visited, and West Agra. Stopping off in Masham for a cup of tea, we need to take a minor road passing through the small villages of Fearby and Healey. We took a wrong turn which lead us down over the River Burn and to a reservoir, so we had to turn back and take the higher road past High Barn and Gollinglith Foot. Just after the road had done a sharp right/left about 1km past Gollinglith Foot, the entrance track to West Agra Farm appeared on the right hand side; there is room for 2 or 3 cars to park at the bottom. We then walked along the road for about half a kilometre to where the footpath heads off right up the hill (note coming back there is another footpath which is not marked on the map but passes about 100 yards in front of the farmhouse and leads back to the road). The footpath appears steep, but it’s on a soft, well kept grassy path, and is easy to climb. After the second gate, the area becomes a Site of Special Scientific Interest, with many different types of bird nesting in the area around.

We followed the trackway up to the junction of the drystone wall with the plantation, to our right hand side. Just before the end of the wall there is a gate into the field, then another gate to the north which leads into the plantation. We did go into the fields and the plantation, only later finding out we should have asked permission from Swinton Estates to walk across their land and through the plantation.

The West Agra site has at least 9 prehistoric carved rocks in 7 different areas on the southern side of West Agra Plantation and in the fields around West Agra Farm. They are significant because of the number of different carvings in the same area. 6 of the carvings are on individual rocks; the seventh is in a group of closely spaced rocks on the westerly side of the field system around the farm, which show heavily weathered cup marks. During the summer, the rocks within the plantation are covered by heavy bracken and mossy growth; it would be interesting to return in the winter months to find the rest of the stones.

We walked past the group of rocks in the field immediately to the east of the footpath, but couldn’t see any rock art; on our way back down to the car, we looked again, and because the light had changed, cup marks became very apparent and we wondered why we’d missed them in the first place.

Easiest to spot was the rock lying underneath the drystone wall – there is a great hump in the wall where it travels over the stone, which appears to be bedrock. The ground round the stone is very marshy, particularly on the eastern side of the stone on the other side of the wall, which also has a cup mark. The cup and groove marks on this stone were quite remarkable; the grooves appear to surround groups of cup marks . On the southern side of the stone there were other cup and worn groove marks which looked vaguely like a man, but it was difficult to tell. English Heritage say there are over 40 cup marks with grooved lines on this stone.

Since coming home, we’ve found the map showing the seven different areas, and we’ll definitely go back to see this site again nearer to Christmas.

Thornborough N

Date Added: 14th Jul 2014
Site Type: Henge Country: England (Yorkshire (North))
Visited: Yes on 14th Jul 2014. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: After visiting Thorborough Central (and having tried to see where Thornborough South was), we went back to the Northern Henge. Having driven past the first time and failed to find somewhere to park, this time we spotted where other people had parked, complete with a gap in the trees to nip through.
The henge is completely covered in trees, although the outer banks, berm and inner ditch are visible, although not conducive to good photography. There is a footpath which leads all the way round the berm.
We managed to get to the southern entrance of the henge and looked out to central henge. I've submitted a photograph of the view from one henge to another on the 'Thornborough Central' page.
With the sun coming through the trees and no-one else around, this was a very atmospheric spot.

Thornborough Central

Date Added: 14th Jul 2014
Site Type: Henge Country: England (Yorkshire (North))
Visited: Yes on 11th Jul 2014. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: I was completely taken back by the sheer scale of Thornborough Henges. Wow. My husband had managed to get the afternoon off, so I picked him up at Thirsk, and we followed the A61 then the B6267 through Ainderby Quernhow, under the A1, until we got to Nosterfield - a distance of just over 9 miles. It didn't help that Thornborough Henges are one third on one Ordnance Survey map (302) and two thirds on another, which I didn't have with me. However .... Turning left at Nosterfield, we drove past the Northern Henge, but there was nowhere to park, so we decided to carry onto West Tanfield, where we turned left at the mini roundabout, then the next left, towards Thorborough. Back Lane, as I think this is called, goes right past the quarries and immediately to the southern end of Thornborough Central. We bumped up onto the grass verge about 100 yards away and walked back to the Henge. Up and over the very rickety style (one leg was at 45 degrees to vertical) and over into the field.
The scale of this henge was too big to take in - certainly almost too big for the camera. The outer banks of the henge are largely still in place, although it looks as though people have been digging on top of them, although with the rough grass in the middle of the banks, it wasn't possible to see any of the internal ditches.
After having walked all around the banks, we tried to walk down the side of the farm to the northern edge of the henge, which we thought was a bridlepath coming down from Moor Road, close to the Northern Henge, but the field was full of lively cattle, so we gave up and walked back to Back Lane.
There was a bridlepath heading off left about 50 yards up the road towards West Tanfield, so we decided to walk to the southern henge.
After the first 200 yards, the bridlepath went through a field of very ripe oil seed rape plants, and it was hard going getting through this.
We were almost at the place where we thought the southern henge was located when someone starting shooting very close to the bridlepath; they were shooting at birds, and one came down very near me. Whoever it was didn't respond to our (loud) voices asking if it was safe to continue, so sadly, we had to retreat.
We went back to the car and drove round to Thorborough North, where we found a place to bump up onto the side of the road, where we weren't blocking traffic down this relatively narrow lane.

St Mungo's Church

Date Added: 9th Jul 2014
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: England (Northumberland)
Visited: Yes on 9th Jul 2014. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: I'd read about the hog's-back tombstone located in this church, and as Simonburn is only 20 miles away from our house, took advantage of the sunshine to go and explore. By absolute chance, I happened to arrive at the same time as a small coach party who had booked an organised tour with the vicar, so took myself off to the Old Post Office nearby (the only tea shop in this small hamlet) to have lunch.
Whilst the site of the church is very old, there are only a few small parts of the stone 13th century structure visible; the rest is 18th and 19th century, although if you look hard enough (and use the visitor notes available in the church) it's possible to spot some old gems of tombstones and other features built into the current fabric of the building.
The remains of the hogs-back tomb is built into the east wall of the porch, placed vertically in the centre of a display of other interesting artefacts, including (quoting from the visitor notes here!): parts of a medieval table-tomb with shears on; parts of two 13th and 14th century tomb covers; in the left and right hand corners examples of Anglian or Roman champfered impost moulding; a piece of double roll moulding with rosettes; part of the original sundial; part of a coat of arms from a medieval tomb and what is purported to be the central boss of the stone cross on the opposite west wall (Note that when you turn round to look at this said stone cross shaft, it has been clearly cut in half at some point).
Above this group there is also the remains of a stone cross.
Even though only a small portion of the hog's back tombstone remains, it is impressive, which miniature roof tiles clearly visible on both sides. The visitor notes say that the tombstone was reused in medieval times, having shears and three rosettes carved on the roof-ridge.
On a previous visit to Simonside recently, we went in search of the old castle (not much remains, and it's apparently a folly anyway), plus an old well near the river (which we couldn't find).
There is parking at the tea shop, or off the road to the left hand side of the church as you enter the village.

Shap Avenue

Date Added: 7th Jul 2014
Site Type: Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue Country: England (Cumbria)
Visited: Yes on 5th Jul 2014. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: Armed with information from the Portal and a map of the locations of the stones they've mapped in the stone row so far from Shap Local History Society, we started off at Kemp Howe stone circle, and walked round the village looking for stones. We met a couple of the more senior locals as we went round, and they were keen to help and point out where the stones were, and tell us of others. There are so many stones around and near to the village, most of them clearly on the same alignment that we became quite overwhelmed with the scale and sense of what our ancestors achieved and what it all represented.
We ended up at Skellaw Hill and the Thunder Stone, then had to call it a day, as we wanted to travel over to Swinside Stone Circle before heading off home.
The Shap Stone Row is certainly intriguing, and I came back with around 100 photos of possible stones and locations - I've picked two to submit that aren't already recorded on this page.
Well worth exploring, and whilst visiting, I'd also recommend hopping down to Shap Abbey and Keld Chapel nearby, too. Both are free to get into, and are in picturesque locations, with a lot of history attached.

Kemp Howe

Date Added: 7th Jul 2014
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: England (Cumbria)
Visited: Yes on 5th Jul 2014. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 2 Access 4

Log Text: Having been kept awake most of the night by heavy, heavy rain, then being greeted by leaden skies with a distinctly autumn feel, the weather in Cumbria, according to the weather forecast, seemed a lot more appealing.
Armed with information from the Portal and a map with the locations of stones in the Stone Row from the Shap Local History Society, we hopped in the car and drove west.
We parked at the entrance to the field with Kemp Howe in it (the gate to the field was left wide open, and there was a short trackway up to the stones, although the road was horrendously busy), and walked the 100 feet or so up to the stones. Whilst the grass in the field had recently been cut, the undergrowth round the stones had been left uncut.
I confess to being horrified at the damage done to these stones by the Victorians - what a travesty. We got to admire several trains passing by at very close quarters, and could almost have waved to the quarry men the other side of the railway line. The views of the fells to the west (across the road) and beyond was appreciated and were in stark contrast with what was behind us.
This marked the start of an afternoon well spent exploring the Stone Row in glorious sunshine, with a nice lunch stop at the Shap Coffee Shop in the village, then taking in the stones at the west of Shap Village, finishing with the Tumulus at Skellow Hill and the Thunder Stone.

Swinside

Date Added: 7th Jul 2014
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: England (Cumbria)
Visited: Yes on 5th Jul 2014. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 5 Access 3

Log Text: After an afternoon spent visiting the Shap Stone Row, my husband was particularly keen to see Swinside Stone Circle, so we took an additional hour to travel to this site. I have to say it was well worth the visit, and I would very definitely go again.
We parked in a small layby just down from Cragg Hall and walked up the marked public bridleway to Swinside (Sunkenkirk) Stone Circle. The first part of the track was steep, but concreted and thankfully short; the rest of the walk was relatively level and had magnificent views. Visibility during our visit was amazing, and we estimated we could see a good 30 miles to the eastern lakes in the far distance. The tide was out, but we had a good view of (what I am assuming from my limited map reading skills!) Duddon Sands in the estuary below until the land levelled out and we could see the circle in the far distance ahead of us.
Surprisingly, we were passed by two separate cars heading up to the farmhouses further up the track - what a remote, but very lovely place to live.
The circle surpassed my expectations. It had a wonderful atmosphere, and I would happily have stayed there until sunset, which, being summer, was a good 5 or 6 hours away, and sadly we had to get home the same evening.
My photographs aren't as good as some of the ones already on the Portal website, so in the images I've submitted, I've tried to pick out some of the features which stood out for me, which include the portal stones at the entrance to the circle.
On reflection, I think we should have climbed up Swinside Fell to get a distant shot of the circle, which would have completed my album for the circle. Next time.
Just to note that in the fields to either side of the bridlepath (particularly the right hand side) leading up to the circle, there were a large number of what appeared to be shaped stones, and we wondered if at one time there had been an avenue leading up to the circle. I've submitted a picture of one stone which has a striking resemblance to the stone in the circle with the quartz banding across it.

Brecken Hills

Date Added: 2nd Jul 2014
Site Type: Hillfort Country: England (Northumberland)
Visited: Yes on 13th Jun 2014. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: We know this site as 'Blue Crags Hillfort', rather than 'Brecken Hills', so both names are in use. The English Heritage Schedule describes Blue Crags Hillfort as a 'defended settlement of Iron Age/Romano-British date'. It makes excellent use of an existing outcrop of rock (whinstone, from the official records) as part of the defences, and there are very clear ramparts/defensive earthworks on the east, west and south sides of the site, with the main entrance appearing to be to the south west.

We originally went to look at the wells in Colwell (Pricky's well and Coley's Well), but spotted the extensive earthworks of the hillfort marked on the Ordnance Survey map just north west of Colwell, and went to take a look. Blue Crags is situated to the east of the course of Dere Street, with the A68 running between the hillfort and Dere Street.

There is a marked footpath running up to the fort from the west of Colwell, although the visible route vanishes when it reaches the field immediately south of the site, so we followed a vague track through the grass to a large barn which sits at the southern most edge of the hillfort.

The hillfort itself is impressively large and imposing as you walk up to it, as it sits on a hill above you. There is a further footpath that runs north west towards woodland, which would give a superb view of the fort and the outcrop on which it sits, but there were several large bulls, together with cows and their calves in this field, so we trod gingerly trying to get the best photographs from the area around the field entrance to illustrate the site.

On returning home, I logged onto the UK Grid Finder website. The aerial views show about 12 very clear hut circles on the platform of the fort. I will certainly go back in the autumn/early winter to have a closer look.

Houghton Camp, Heddon on the Hill

Date Added: 1st Jul 2014
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement Country: England (Northumberland)
Visited: Yes on 1st Jul 2014. My rating: Condition 1 Ambience 2 Access 3

Log Text: Return visit on 1st July 2014: I obtained permission from Close House Golf Club to walk across the golf course to look at the settlement from the side furthest from the road. They told me that they are unable to do anything with this parcel of land 'because of the antiquities, but there isn't much to see' and were sure that the farmer they lease the land from would be happy for me to visit, having asked permission.
Parking was a problem again; I tried the field gates next to the road, but they were tied very firmly shut and the next gate to the field with the camp in hadn't been opened in a very long time, so to avoid climbing over, I parked at the Golfing Range and walked back towards the road over the golf course to the settlement - all slightly uphill, but very pleasant in the warm sunshine, and what views back over the Tyne Valley.
I confess to having been disappointed, as the banks and ditches weren't as clear from this side of the site as from the road. Having walked up to the eastern end of the camp, and to the highest point in this landscape adjacent to the field boundary, the yellow (parched) grasses gave a vague indication of where the banks were.
The aerial photographs of the camp show a very clear blunt-ended oval shape, and having driven along this road for many years to and from work, I am determined to have another look in the winter months to see if any structures become clearer.
A local lady told me the nearby farms are historic and are well worth a visit, having medieval features.
First visit on 18th June 2014: I was visiting Heddon-on-the-Wall today, to see the section of Hadrian's Wall at the east edge of the village, plus the ancient church of St Andrew's in the village centre, and spotted this settlement on the Portal.
I had to drive past several times and eventually managed to park in a field entrance. I did try driving down the entrance to Close House Golf Course/Hotel, to see if I could walk across the grounds to see the site from the south, but there was nowhere to stop at all.
The photograph on the Portal was very helpful in identifying the part of the field the settlement was in, as I struggled to separate the ditches/boundaries of the settlement from the works that had been done for the pylon on the east side, and the golf course on the west. Away from the field entrance, the hedges were too high (for me) to see over.
I have applied to the landowner for permission to walk across the fields to get closer to the settlement, to take photographs from a better angle, so will report back if I manage to get agreement, and re-visit this site (which is only a few miles from my house).

The Cockpit

Date Added: 1st Jul 2014
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: England (Cumbria)
Visited: Yes on 28th Jun 2014. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: Almost at the course of High Street Roman Road, there is a view of Ullswater from the footpath just below the Cock Pit Stone Circle.
As the circle is on a good footpath, most of the people stopped at the circle. It's always nice to see people appreciate ancient sites, but I had to wait quite a while to get take photographs without anyone else in it! We found a couple of the outlying stones, and identified a couple of cairns nearby, but couldn't get good enough photographs to make these out properly.
By standing just below the circle, on the main footpath, it's possible to make out the bank.
Well worth a visit, and the view of Ullswater and Pooley Bridge below was worth the easy walk.

White Raise Cairn

Date Added: 1st Jul 2014
Site Type: Cairn Country: England (Cumbria)
Visited: Yes on 28th Jun 2014. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: From the footpath leading from the Cop Stone to The Cockpit Stone Circle, this cairn lies after the Cairn Circle, on the right hand side of the footpath.
It initially appears unremarkable as a large mound with stones marking the extent of the cairn, but walking up the slope I came across the excavated burial chamber, which was a great surprise.
It's clearly a favourite with sheep, as the stones retain the heat from the sun, and they were unmoving as we wandering around.
There are great views across the valley towards Ullswater, although it's not quite possible to see the lake from the cairn.
Well worth a visit.

Aspers Field

Date Added: 1st Jul 2014
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: England (Cumbria)
Visited: Yes on 28th Jun 2014. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: This stone is within sight of the Googleby Stone, although a little more difficult to access. The gate to access the field is in Keld Lane, but it's difficult to park here, and we were wary about walking in private fields. There were some dog walkers from the nearby caravan park walking in the fields, so we took advantage of a tumbled stone wall to get a photograph of the cup and ring mark.
Having come home and found out the extent of the stone row at Shap, we'll be going back to see more.

Goggleby Stone

Date Added: 1st Jul 2014
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: England (Cumbria)
Visited: Yes on 28th Jun 2014. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: After failing to park along the narrow lanes around Keld, to see various stones in Shap Row, we finally parked outside the Fire Station on the A6 running through Shap, and followed the footpaths westward to the Googleby Stone and the partially toppled stone in Asper's Field.
This is a short walk, with a couple of stiles to cross, but easy enough.
I was impressed by the size of this stone, although we could discern no cup or ring marks anywhere on it.
I was a bit disappointed to see this stone had been concreted into place to keep it upright!

Cop Stone

Date Added: 1st Jul 2014
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: England (Cumbria)
Visited: Yes on 28th Jun 2014. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: For a long time we've wanted to walk along High Street, the Roman Road, but the scramble up from Ullswater side was too difficult for me. My husband managed to identify another route, via the B road through Askham and Helton, then following the track past Outgang Farm and Heltonhead. There were other cars parked on the grass at the side of the road, so we joined them, and walked the 100 yards up to Cop Stone.
This was just the start of our journey through this fascinating landscape; whilst there are obvious quarried area and shake holes, there are a wide variety of cairns and tumuli, with the footpath leading up past The Cockpit Stone Circle and High Street.
The more we looked, the more there was to see. Well worth a visit, and easy walking.