Gleneagles A

Trip No.83  Entry No.9  Date Added: 25th Jul 2018
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (Perth and Kinross)
Visited: Yes on 13th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: Peterhead Farm Standing Stone, Gleneagles: Our last stop of the day. Driving (it was too hot, and we were too lazy to walk) further along the single track road towards the mast and the entrance to Peterhead Farm, we parked near the mast and walked across the road. The nearest gate into the field appeared to be near the farm buildings, so we clambered over the wooden fence at the corner of the road with the farm track.

This standing stone looks as if it sits just below the top of a natural mound. There were quite a few packing stones around the base of the stone, with others scattered around the ground nearby.

Forteviot Cross

Trip No.84  Entry No.4  Date Added: 25th Jul 2018
Site Type: Sculptured Stone Country: Scotland (Perth and Kinross)
Visited: Yes on 14th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: Modern Pictish Cross Slab, Forteviot: Having been spooked by the Maggie Wall Memorial and disappointed at not being able to get into Forteviot parish church (St. Andrews), the lady gardener told us to walk down the road to look at the new cross slab that had just been erected.

Just behind the bus-stop, and in front of a charming courtyard of whitewashed houses, we found out later this cross had been erected only on either 17th or 18th March 2018, so very new.

The lady gardener told us there were some leaflets ‘in the bus stop’ and indeed there were several tucked underneath the bus timetable board. The cross was carved by David McGovern, of Monikierockart for the 2017 Tay Landscape Partnership project. “In the form of a Pictish Cross Slab, the new cross celebrates Forteviot’s status as an early Christian site and its association with King Cinead mac Alpin. The Pictish stone fragments that inspired the cross design can also be visited across the road in St Andrew’s Church (when open).” The leaflet also gives a guide to the patterns on the cross.

Gray Stone (Dunning)

Trip No.84  Entry No.5  Date Added: 26th Jul 2018
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (Perth and Kinross)
Visited: Yes on 14th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: The Gray Stone, Dunning: Thrilled to be seeing my second standing stone of the day (and one we were likely to get close to), we parked at the end of the driveway up to The Knowes farm. The stone is signposted, but the signpost follows the line of the fence and wood to the north west. Undecided whether to follow the sign and walk through the knee high grass or take the farm track which ran directly westwards. Consulting the map, we didn’t come to any firm conclusion, so to avoid having to climb over any fences, we ended up walking up the farm track, ending up at the cottage just before the gate to the big farmhouse to the left. Turning to our right here, in front of the cottage, there is a way across the deep, wide ditch which ran to our right hand side all along the track, then followed another farm track which ran north east to two field gates at NO 02171 11700. Opening the left hand gate, we let ourselves into the field, and the stone was immediately in front of us, about half way along the middle of the field, near to the fence line with the neighbouring wood which is to the stone’s eastern side.

Walking towards the stone (through what looked like a field of wheat, looking back on the photos, but is actually tall, yellow grass which has gone to seed) which is about 7ft tall, we realised it had a ‘shoulder’ to its northern side. Having seen a few other stones like this recently (the Megget Stone springs immediately to mind), I wondered if this had been deliberately cut like this, but looking at the bashes this stone has had, and the cracks and loose pieces on it, it looks as if it has fractured and a piece fallen off.

Whilst the views to the south and east are blocked now by forestry, there was a great vista northwards to Dunning and the hills (which appeared as a blue mist) in the far distance. On its northern side, there is a change in slope down from the stone; to its west and slightly to the south, there is a very slight rise. I wondered if the change in ground level might be because either farming, or perhaps a prevailing wind over time, has caused the ground level to build up here.

A very peaceful and beautiful place.

Castleton (Dollar)

Trip No.84  Entry No.6  Date Added: 26th Jul 2018
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (Clackmannanshire)
Visited: Yes on 14th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Castleton Standing Stone, Pool of Muckhart: To find this stone, we followed the signs to the ‘Japanese’ garden, which had a large car park. The entrance and part of the car park were still in the process of being constructed, but was obviously just about to close for the night, so we parked as close a wall outside the entrance. Scanning the field for a gate, there was one by the farm house, some distance away (and it looked as if there was a small stream we’d have had to cross to reach the stone) or an old, painted red iron gate (very ornate) virtually opposite from where we parked. This had not been used in some time, and our usual gate opening skills didn’t work. We ended up climbing over the gate and walked across the field.

It was by now so hot and sticky, that the sheep had taken shelter under the trees to the east of this stone, in what looked like an old sheep fold, now fallen into ruin. This standing stone had two sides which were eroded, one with what looked like cups, but (having seen similar examples doing the ERA data entry exercise) are probably small holes where pebbles have fallen out, or possible solution holes if the stone had lain on the ground for some considerable time.

A very lovely spot, with gentle rolling hills to the north and north west.

Mercat Cross (Clackmannan)

Trip No.84  Entry No.8  Date Added: 26th Jul 2018
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: Scotland (Clackmannanshire)
Visited: Yes on 14th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: The Mercat Cross, Clackmannan: The Mercat Cross, the Stone of Mannan and the Tolbooth are all in the same small area. When we arrived, it was about 6.40pm and the sun was low in the sky, giving deep shadows. Much to the amusement of the people drinking outside the pub behind the Tolbooth, I took a number of photographs of these monuments, then retreated to the car to try and get out of the heat. Was worth seeing, but at this time of day I wanted something to eat, drink and cool shade!

Parkmill Cross (Alloa)

Trip No.84  Entry No.7  Date Added: 26th Jul 2018
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: Scotland (Clackmannanshire)
Visited: Couldn't find on 14th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition -1

Log Text: Parkmill Cross, Alloa: Could not find this – the grid reference seemed to be somewhere in a breaker’s yard. Parking in the nearby housing estate just to the south west of this location, we followed the footpath sign to the footpath which ran west-east along the bottom of the field this cross base is supposed to be in, the tall fence and padlocked gates prevented entry. Andrew tried to gain access from the car breakers yard to the north-west, but said it looks as if their site has been extended to cover where this cross might have been.

Stone of Mannan

Trip No.84  Entry No.9  Date Added: 26th Jul 2018
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (Clackmannanshire)
Visited: Yes on 14th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: Stone of Mannan, Clackmannan: I was surprised to find this only about 20m east of the Mercat Cross (refer to that page for the rest of my visit report). Right next to the market cross and the Tolbooth. See the report above. I was interested to read the plaque on the eastern wall of the Tolbooth: “The Stone or Clack, originally placed at the foot of Lookabootye Brae, was sacred to the pre-Christian deity Mannan and is an unique relic of pagan times. It was raised on the large shaft in 1833”.

Market Cross (Kincardine)

Trip No.84  Entry No.10  Date Added: 26th Jul 2018
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: Scotland (Fife)
Visited: Yes on 14th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 2 Access 5

Log Text: Mercat Cross, Kincardine: Our last stop of this very hot day, thankfully. This cross was in a very busy stop, next to the main bus stop in the town, with lots of take away shops around the ‘triangle’ of what might have been the village green. Not an impressive site, although the cross (apart from the finial) seems almost identical to the Mercat Cross, Clackmannan. Just one to 'tick off the list' that we've seen it (and photographed it).

Dupplin Cross

Trip No.84  Entry No.1  Date Added: 25th Jul 2018
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: Scotland (Perth and Kinross)
Visited: Yes on 14th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: Dupplin Cross, St Serf's, Dunning: Our first stop of the day, and a very old, popular, tourist village. We first saw a drinking fountain outside the churchyard, almost at the cross roads.

By the southern door to the church were two hogbacks.

Inside was the Duppline Cross and a smaller cross slab to its north west. There was a guide, already talking to a gentleman about the cross, but when she saw us, she interrupted her talk and came up to us to ask us to join in. Not usually one for ‘tours’ we reluctantly joined her, as I really wanted space and time to drink in this cross on my own, then photograph it; this was not to be, as there was a steady stream of visitors coming into the church. As we went out, another family came in, followed later by a large walking group.

I photographed most of the individual panels around the Dupplin cross and need to sort these out using the diagrams in the 'Official Souvenir Guide' (£1). I was particularly fascinated by the base, which appeared to have carved lines across one corner, and cups (or very worn interlacing) on its base.

Dunning

Trip No.84  Entry No.2  Date Added: 25th Jul 2018
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (Perth and Kinross)
Visited: Saw from a distance on 14th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Dunning North Standing Stone: From St Serf’s church, we walked along Kirk Wynd, down alongside the stream, down past some cottages, to where the footpath split. The standing stone was right in front of us, albeit in the middle of a ripening crop of wheat. It seemed very far away, and I was very, very reluctant to trample any of the crop, so we stuck to the footpath. With the camera lens on maximum zoom I tried to capture the different faces of the stone, but as the footpath ran roughly west-east, we couldn’t really get close.

The guide in the church told us there were two standing stones nearby; most people visited the northern (this) stone, but apparently not many people went to the southern stone.

If the field hadn’t been set with a crop, I’d have been tempted to look for the gate, or an alternate route to get closer.

Our next stop was to the very peculiar "Maggie Wall Monument", 1km west of Dunning on the B8062. This is a 20ft tall monument topped by a cross to a witch called Maggie Wall who was apparently burnt in 1657. The stories I've all tracked down say Maggie Wall didn't exist. This monument definitely made me shiver!

St Andrew's Church (Forteviot)

Trip No.84  Entry No.3  Date Added: 25th Jul 2018
Site Type: Class III Pictish Cross Slab Country: Scotland (Perth and Kinross)
Visited: Visited (still working on) on 14th Jul 2018. My rating: Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: St. Andrew's, Forteviot: We drove up to this church to find a lovely local lady garden by the gate into the churchyard. She told us the church would be locked, "but it'll be open on 29th (July)." We explained we were only here for the day, so this was too late. She told us about the recently erected modern cross, just down the road from the church, next to the bus stop. We thanked her kindly and walked down to take a look.

Castle Law

Trip No.85  Entry No.1  Date Added: 26th Jul 2018
Site Type: Hillfort Country: Scotland (Midlothian)
Visited: Yes on 15th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Castle Law Hillfort, Glencorse: First stop of the day, and I was surprised this hill fort was so close to a modern military firing range. Because of its proximity to Edinburgh, there were a few other people parked in the small car park below the fort, but very few walked up onto it; a track carried on up the hill.

The earth house was very unusual, with steps leading down into it, and a narrow, curving passage leading into it. About half way down, a small doorway leads into a circular chamber.

We searched, and found, the cup marked stone towards the eastern wall of the terminus. If other stones had been put on top of this, the cups couldn’t have been seen. It was difficult to capture the cups (and some micro-cups?) in the dim lighting, even using flash and a torch, and had me giggling with our efforts to get a good photograph.

We walked round the inner defences of the fort, admiring the shooting range below, then carried on up the hill to what was left of the palisaded settlement. Walking up the hill to this site gave us an excellent view down on to the hillfort.

Castle Knowe (Glencorse)

Trip No.85  Entry No.2  Date Added: 27th Jul 2018
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement Country: Scotland (Midlothian)
Visited: Yes on 15th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Castle Knowe Palisaded Settlement, Glencorse: From Castle Law hill fort, we continued northwards up the track, turning right up another footpath onto the Castle Knowe Palisaded Settlement. I stopped half way up to get some photos of Castle Law Hill Fort, looking down on it. There were a few other people walking up the track, and whilst they had largely stopped at the fort to look quickly around, no-one paid any attention to this settlement.

There wasn’t a lot to see, apart from some small boundary banks and ditches on the northern and just the north eastern side. There is a modern cairn on top – just a pile of red sandstone rocks, but this was very eye-catching, particularly from the car park and fort below, mostly because of its red colour.

The military earthworks to the north of this settlement look like a much more substantial monument, but are just for military training exercises.

Whilst there were only a couple of the palisade trenches visible on the north and north east side of the settlement, and possibly signs of one of the timber house circles, it was well worth walking further up the hills for the views to the east and north.

Glencorse Cup and Ring Marked Stone

Trip No.85  Entry No.3  Date Added: 27th Jul 2018
Site Type: Rock Art Country: Scotland (Midlothian)
Visited: Yes on 15th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Glencorse Cup and Ring Marked Stone: Just outside the tall, imposing (and locked) Parish Church, which had an amazing old tree in the field opposite, and a long layby; this village is obviously popular with walkers, as there were lots of cars parked around here, and footpaths leading through the woods, away from the church.

This poor cup and ring stone is contained behind railings, so it looked as if the stone had been caged. The lichen and moss growing on it made it a little difficult to pick out the cups (we certainly couldn’t count 22), and we saw a couple of cup and ring motifs. Even trying to view the stone from different angles, to try and highlight the cups, didn’t make it any easier. A brush and a bottle of water would have come in useful.

I was much amused by the ‘reserved’ signs next to the stone, as if the minister and church warden might have had cars with specially shaped bonnets to fit neatly around the ‘railing cage’.

We did try the church door, just in case, but like many of these churches, locked and bolted. This church had the most amazing number of floodlights around it, so it must have been well lit in the dark.

St Matthew's Well (Roslin)

Trip No.85  Entry No.4  Date Added: 27th Jul 2018
Site Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring Country: Scotland (Midlothian)
Visited: Yes on 15th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: St. Matthew's Well, Roslin: Getting to this well was interesting! Parking in Roslyn Chapel car park at NT 27405 63109, we took the gate from the south east of the car park through the cemetery, then out of the cemetery down a very overgrown lane, with very tall nettles on either side. About 50m from the grid reference for the well, we needed to head off south west into the wood. There were some tracks through here, but obviously not regularly used. We could see a green, mossy mounds/structure through the trees, but couldn’t find a way of getting down to them. In the end, I realised the track had been covered by a heavy, large dead tree branch, which Andrew and I managed to haul away from the path with a little difficulty. Having cleared the track, we used the tree roots as stepping stones at first, then slide the 20m or so down the slope to the well (I told myself it was always easier going up!).

At first we thought there was only one dome here, but looking harder, there was a second one, a few metres up the slope. The front face of the second dome (nearest the river Esk) had a hole in the front, which I poked the camera through to take a photograph. The was a large iron pipe which gushed water into the well chamber. A continuation of this pipe could be seen in a small gully which headed towards the river from the well chambers, although the gloom and all the detitus made it difficult to capture the location.

Heading back to look at the ruins of St. Michael’s church, we looked over the western end of the graveyard, looking south west, and realised we could not only see the well houses, but it also looked as if there were the remains of a wall and steps, as there were cut blocks of stone lying around.

I went back to photograph the 'Spooky Angel' I'd seen when I visited with my friend two years ago (hidden under a bush by the small outbuildings) - she much reminded me of an episode of Dr. Who, where the angels only moved when you didn't look at them.

Inveraray Castle

Trip No.86  Entry No.1  Date Added: 27th Jul 2018
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (Argyll)
Visited: Yes on 16th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: Inveraray Castle Standing Stone: On our way from our daughter’s house to Craignish peninsula (having had the trauma of catching their cat and taking her to the cattery first!) we decided to stop of in Invarary to see our first standing stone of this part of the trip. Mistake.

We arrived the day before the Highland Games at the castle started, so the town was heaving, both with coach tours of largely American tourists, and people attending the games. There was a large funfair on the grass by the harbour, which didn’t aid the flow of traffic through the town.

We managed to turn up the entrance into the castle, only Andrew had to stay in the car whilst I ran out onto the grassy show-ground area to take photographs of the stone. I chuckled to think what the delivery drivers and people putting up the marquees and stands must have thought of this woman running around the stone with a camera must have thought!

Craignish Sculptured Stones

Trip No.86  Entry No.2  Date Added: 27th Jul 2018
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: Scotland (Argyll)
Visited: Yes on 16th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Craignish Sculptured Stones, Kirkton: After having arrived at the cottage we were staying in for the next three nights, we decided to head off to find supper, but taking in a couple of sites on the way, one of which we learned about from Rachel Butter's Kilmartin book, the other marked on the OS map. Not the most auspicious of starts, as a lady on a bicycle rode (at speed) up from the lane leading to the castle and told us off for parking on the grass by the garage near the entrance to the castle. She told us the area opposite had been cleared for a car park. I apologised whilst Andrew moved the car and told her we thought the cleared area was just a large passing place, as the road just in front (heading south) split into two – one road to the castle, the other to Aird Farm. We got chatting and she eventually said ‘not to worry’ (a ‘park here’ notice might have helped). She pointed out the old Kirk and told us to ‘enjoy’, which we most certainly did!

Having moved the car to the layby, we walked up to the metal gates up a short, grassy lane by the side of the modern cemetery, which had a “Craignish Sculptured Stones’ sign hanging on it, and let ourselves into the churchyard. Going through the south door into the church nave, turning to our left (west) there was a collection of old grave markers; to the east are some old box tombs. Almost straight in front of us was a cross base, not recorded on Canmore, with a sundial (see the highlighted entry below).

There are a number of Canmore entries for this location. The ‘Kilmartin’ book by Rachel Butter (page 98) reads: Old Parish Church, Kilmarie, Craignish NM 778 014. This former parish church probably dates to the 13th century though much repair is more recent. It overlooks Loch Craignish and neighbours ruins of a former township, Kirkton. Its dedication was to St. Maelrubha of Applecross. The church contains a collection of medieval slabs which formerly were n the graveyard.
Most of the carved stones are products of the 14-15th century Loch Awe School. They depict crosses, swords, armoured figures in niches, and are mostly carved in local epidiorite or quartzite gneiss. Some are of Easdale slate. There are also some Early Christian slabs (pre 10th century) and some 16th century stone chests.
An epidiorite cross base is carved with a sundial; it has a central socket and 24 rays with cardinal points marked by crosses.
Access: Six miles north of Kilmartin on the A816 take a left turn along the B8002 to Ardfern. You will come to the village after 1 mile. The chapel is a further 3 miles on the left. Kilmarie Church is in private ownership.

Clach An T-Sagairt

Trip No.86  Entry No.3  Date Added: 28th Jul 2018
Site Type: Chambered Tomb Country: Scotland (Argyll)
Visited: Yes on 16th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Clach An T' Sagairt Chambered Tomb, Ardfern: From the map, this cairn appeared to be just behind the small school in the middle of Ardfern, and finding a small path behind the back of the school, followed this for about 20m before discovering we were in someone’s garden! The reality was we had to walk up the small road to Ardlarach, going past the school buildings to our right, until we got to what looked like a private road (seemingly unnamed). This led up a slope to the right to a number of other houses. A new gate in the fence to our left hand side led into the field with some beautiful horses, with the cairn some 100 yards straight in front of us.

What beautiful views from this chambered cairn. It looked as if it had a number of ‘arms’ coming out of the central mound, presumably the spoil form the excavations.

We were followed to the gate by a local resident, and we got chatting. She had lived in the village for 16 years and her children, who played on the cairn, told her there were dead bodies and gold in it. She started talking about the whole field being protected if there was an ancient monument in it, so I suggested she looked at Canmore, as it was usually only the area immediately around the monument that was scheduled.

She told us the gate had only appeared in the last few days, and the residents were wondering if a developer was looking to build in-fill houses. Seeing us with a camera walking the site got her worried we'd come to survey the site, so she came out to check.

She also said about once a year, before the gate, people asked to go into the field from her garden.

We went onto dinner at the Galley of Lorne Inn in the village. The last two sites had been a good introduction to this area, and despite the lack of internet and therefore having to rely on the OS map for information, we were both looking forward to seeing the many, many sites around here.

Barnacarry

Trip No.87  Entry No.1  Date Added: 28th Jul 2018
Site Type: Crannog Country: Scotland (Argyll)
Visited: Saw from a distance on 17th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4

Log Text: Barnacarry Crannog, Loch Nell: (note on access: boat needed to get across!) Not having any broadband or mobile connection at the cottage we were staying in, we relied on the OS map. Andrew picked today’s sites, but mistakenly thought the area we were going to was only 10 miles north of Ardfern. Wrong. More like 30 and an hour and a half’s drive along twisty roads. Having wanted to come to the Kilmartin area for so long, I was cross that we’d already strayed so far from what I really wanted to see. However, the sites we did see today more than made up for this, I’m pleased to say.

First on the agenda were two sites close to each other – the Barnacarry Crannog and the Kilmore, Dalineun (or Dalnaneum) Chambered Cairn. A real treat.

Driving along the road from Kilmore village to the south, we came to the southern shore of Loch Nell. Just after Barnacarry Farm, before we sighted the crannog, we came across Clan (holiday?) cottages, which looked like they were really old and thatched. We couldn’t get close enough to really tell. This is a hugely pretty spot.

Without a boat, we couldn’t really get close to the crannog, but stood on a very small piece of sandy shore (where someone had left a nicely carved wooden seat and table, presumably for fishing), and looked from a distance. A very pretty little island, covered in trees. Not too far from the shore, although the water looked deep.

Dalineun

Trip No.87  Entry No.2  Date Added: 28th Jul 2018
Site Type: Chambered Tomb Country: Scotland (Argyll)
Visited: Yes on 17th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Dalineun (Dalnaneun Farm) Chambered Cairn, Loch Nell: We made the mistake of thinking the chambered cairn was in the field opposite the crannog, and climbed over a small stile over the fence; however, we realised that we were in the wrong field, climbed back onto the road and walked down to the gate in the field at about NM 88045 26771; this way there were no small streams or field drains to cross.

Climbing up the slope, the stones of the cist came into view – it reminded me of the photos that Kristiansen has been sending in from Denmark. Turning to look east, there were great views across Loch Nell. Another nice place to be buried.

This was by far a much more atmospheric chambered cairn that the one in Adfern that we’d looked at the night before, as the location seemed both isolated and special. We walked round all sides of the cairn, photographing it as best we could. The Barnacarry crannog is visible from here, and I manged to get a photograph with the lens on maximum zoom. Certainly wish I’d had the plan whilst we were here – should have done a lot more research before we visited, but then that takes the spontaneity out of our daily trips.

It was certainly hot up on this hill. I could have stayed here for a few hours, just looking over the loch, but time marched on, and other sites called.