Knock Stone Circle

Trip No.7  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Modern Stone Circle etc Country: Scotland (West Lothian)
Visited: Yes on 25th Aug 2018. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: Knock Stone Circle :

The Knock Stone Circle has 50 stones, with 17 of them in the smaller circle (although an 18th one may have been moved and now laying in the centre next to the Dolmen)
Inside the inner circle is a mini Dolmen raised up off the grass by 3 tiny stones, and a small Menhir to the West of the Dolmen.
Outside the circle, around 60m to the NE, standing on a small ridge is a waist height Menhir, it has an unusual shape to it, reminding me of a Cetacea of some sort.

The Mystery Stones ;
No one knows exactly when these stones got put up, there are several stories doing the rounds regarding them. The stones look old, but we are told they only got put up less than 25 years ago.

*Some sources say it was built in 1998 by the farmers son at Knock Farm as a surprise for his dads 50th - would his dad not have noticed this massive circle being built?
*Others have told me it was actually built in memory of his father when he passed away - it may be difficult to find out when he passed away.
*And lastly, the comment below suggests it wasn't built in 2006 when an artist was painting the area - why was he painting an empty, featureless field l wonder? could this painter be mistaken?

Is it possible some of these stones were there already and the farmers son rebuilt them? Or perhaps the NE Menhir was always there, No one really knows, and the farmers son has never been interviewed.

Whatever the case may be, the Stone Circle looks spectacular, especially on a Sunny day. I like the small Dolmen in the centre, it is a nice touch.

Definitely worth a look when on your way to Cairnpapple Henge & Cairn, which is visible from the Stone Circle.

*Getting There ; About an hour walk from Bathgate train station, which is 3.9km away.

Coming from the Gala Braes Menhir, continue North on along the country road for 1.6km. There are no turns to take, just a slight bend in the road, getting here is pretty straightforward.

Cairnpapple Hill

Trip No.7  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Round Cairn Country: Scotland (West Lothian)
Visited: Yes on 25th Aug 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 3

Log Text: Cairnpapple :

The site contains ;
*Neolithic Henge & Timber post holes
*Bronze Age Cists and Cairns
*Iron age burials

The main attraction is the Cairn with burial Cists inside. What was once a solid Cairn packed tight with thousands of stones, and burial Cists in the centre, it is now empty and covered by a protective concrete dome, letting us walk amongst the burial chambers. To enter the Cairn you must climb stairs to the summit, turn around, and climb down backwards, as if going down a set of ladders. The Northern grave at the far end has a large Menhir standing at it's Western end. And the Southern Chamber still has a massive Cup Marked Capstone on top of it (Although it is propped open letting us see inside) It is an amazing restoration job they have done, and being alone in the tomb was special, connecting to the spirits of old.

Outside is a massive Henge encircling the whole area, between the Henge and Cairn are a series of 14 holes believed to be Timber Postholes, which are impressive in their own right in a strange sort of way, they are now lined with red chips to try and prevent weeds growing through. Between the holes in the East are 4 Graves, two of which are aligned East~West.

Surrounding the Cairn is a stone chipped area, surrounded by a massive Stone Circle, made using boulders instead of Menhirs, the guy in the hut told me a few of these rocks were supposedly magnetic, so l tested them all, and found 3 that had slight magnetism.
Between this Stone Circle and Cairn are another series of holes, the remains of 13 in all, but these ones are much larger than the ones on the grassy outer henge part.

It is a most peculiar site, there is something magical about it.

I spent 2 hours there, and watched many people come and go, most people stayed for 15 minutes or so, so even though it was really busy at point's, there were times l had the whole place to myself, which was great.
Highly recommended.

*Getting There ; Around an 1hr 15m walk from Bathgate train station, which is 5km away.

Coming from Knock Stone Circle, continue North on along the country road for 1.05km. There are no turns to take, just a couple of bends in the road, getting here is pretty straightforward.
Upon reaching the entrance gate you climb some step's and reach a field with cows & a Bull roaming around, the Bull l saw was massive.
At the top of the entrance steps, to the left are some scatteres boulders, it looks to me like they have been placed there, and may be another ancient site, as far as l know it hasnt been excavated/investigated yet.

Walk through the Cattle field and enter the Cairnpapple field, which is fenced of to stop the cows destroying the site. An entrance fee is paid at a small visitors hut, which houses some artifacts and the history of the site.
The guy l spoke to was very knowledgeable and friendly.

Gormyre

Trip No.7  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (West Lothian)
Visited: Yes on 25th Aug 2018. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: Gormyre Menhir :

Made of Red Grit Sandstone, the Menhir is small, only 1.2m tall, but it isnt the size thats important, it's the location that is. l tried to picture the landscape when this may have been placed here, l cant imagine too much having changed, apart from the flora perhaps, and maybe some dwellings have came and gone since then.

The location is nice and peaceful, from leaving Cairnpapple until reaching Torpichen l didn't encounter a single person. Which was a walking time of nearly an hour. l was wondering if there was possibly more stones with this in the past, or if it had spent its days alone. Plain Menhir, but worth the visit and glad l came to see it.

From here Torpichen Preceptory Menhir is about a 20 minute walk away.

*Getting There ; Around a half hour walk from Cairnpapple, which is 2.2km away
(or a 1.6km walk if coming from the Torpichen Cup Marked Menhir)

Coming from Cairnpapple, go back out the main entrance onto the same country road that brings you from Knock Stone Circle, continue North until you come to a road and turn left. Walk down this road for a couple of minutes and take your next right. Walk North for about 475m and take your 2nd left down a long 450m+ tree lined country road, follow this to the end and take the sharp right, then left and you will come to a gated field.
You will see the Menhir standing against the horizon. Take the tractor path up to a gate in the field, and remember to be careful if the farmer has crops in when you visit.

Torphichen Churchyard Stone

Trip No.7  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (West Lothian)
Visited: Yes on 25th Aug 2018. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Torpichen Cup Marked Menhir :

This 75cm tall Cup Marked Menhir sits in the graveyard of the Torpichen Preceptory, which was built around the site of the Menhir by the Knights Hospitallers in 1168, who built the Preceptory on the site of an earlier Celtic Cell.
The Menhir has associations with Irish Monks, Ringan (St Ninian) in the 4th century & MoEcca (St Féchín) in the 7th.

The Celtic carvings that once adorned this Menhir, are thought to date from this period (but sadly they no longer remain)
Five small cup-marks on the East face of the Menhir date from the early Bronze Age when it stood on Cairnpapple Hill (2km away to the East) the Cup Mark on top looks like it has been deepened at a later date, probably when the Knights added the cross.

The location is a bit unusual, it now sit's under a Yew Tree, and a modern gravestone is situated between the Menhir and the Tree, making it difficult to get photograph's of it that don't contain graves.
There are plenty of fascinating graves to be seen but the Sandstone Menhir is spectacular looking, and feeling. Even if it is small.
The shape of it, along with the Cup Marks really give off a feeling of importance.

It's true history may be lost, due to the many uses of the Menhir over the millennia. But one thing it hasn't lost, is character.

*Getting There ; Around a 20 minute walk from Gormyre Menhir, which is 1.6km away
(or a 4.9km walk if coming from the Bathgate train station)

Coming from Gormyre, go back to the gate and turn right, follow this country road for 1.3km, take the turns of the road but there are NO turn off's to take. Just keep walking and you'll end up in Torpichen.
Its mostly downhill. Once you get to Torpichen take your 1st left and walk along a couple hundred metres and you'll arrive at the Torpichen Preceptory.

Grannie Stane

Trip No.8  Date Added: 22nd Jun 2022
Site Type: Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature Country: Scotland (North Ayrshire)
Visited: Yes on 2nd Sep 2018. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙮 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙚, 𝙄𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙚, 𝘼𝙮𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙚

Thought to be the remnants of an ancient Stone Circle that once existed in the area. In 1895 four of the stones from the circle were apparently removed and used during the construction of a weir further downstream, public outcry saved the last stone which was also the largest stone, and it grew to be known locally as the 'Granny Stane'. The new weir caused the water levels of the River Irvine to rise and submerge most of the stone, leaving only the top 12” visible above the surface. A nearby plaque at St. Inan's Holy Well call's this stone “One of Irvine's prehistoric puzzles”.

The Granny Stane once served an important role in the annual Marymass celebrations held every August in Irvine. The Carters Society's would twice encircle the stone before heading out to the Moors. This tradition was done to commemorate the crossing of the River Irvine by 'William Wallace' in 1297 on his way to fight the English at knadgerhill. This would suggest that the stone stood on dry land or at least in very shallow water if the Carters were able to walk around it, which would have been possible before the weir was built in 1895. It's now situated in the shadows of the Rivergate Bridge, 5m from the SW bank and 35m from the NE bank.

If a Stone Circle did once exist here, then it would have obviously had to have been built on dry land. Various maps shown in 'John Strawthorn's' 1982 book: The History of Irvine, show how much the Ayrshire coastline and course of the River Irvine has changed in the last two millennia. 1,000 years ago the River Irvine ran a different course entirely and didn't pass anywhere near where the Granny Stane is now located, it entered the sea further south near Warrix. Some believe before the river changed course that the area on the NE bank of the river (next to Saint Inan's Holy Well) was once a lush holm that was the original location of the stone circle. As there are little written records I guess it's destined to remain “One of Irvine's prehistoric puzzles”.

Drybridge

Trip No.8  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (North Ayrshire)
Visited: Yes on 3rd Sep 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: Drybridge Menhir :

This 2.6m tall Menhir is positioned near a bend in the River Irvine, and would have stood out immensely against the relatively flat landscape surrounding the site.

*Dundonald Cursus is 0.5km to the North, with the Mesolithic settlement at Dreghorn roughly 2km away
*Shewalton Moor Mesolithic settlement is 2.5km to the West
*A vitrified Bronze Age Hillfort on Dundonald Hill was located 2km to the South, with Kemp Law Dun nearly 3km away

So the whole was thriving for thousands of years before this Menhir was even erected. 4,000 years ago it would have been quite the sight

*Getting There ; You can walk or get the bus from Irvine to Dreghorn (Briton's oldest continuously inhabited village) and get off at Dundonald Road. From here it is around a half hour walk.

Follow the road South and walk under the A71 overpass onto Dreghorn Road. Follow this road for 20 or so minutes and you pass the site of Dundonald Cursus in a field to your right.
Continue on for another 5 minutes and you will end up at the tiny Drybridge village. Drybridge Road changes name to Main Street and you will see Shewalton Road turning off to the right. Take this right and walk to the gate of the 1st field you encounter.
The Standing Stone is in now situated in a farmers field, with an old railway line running behind it to the South and houses to the East.

Dumbarton Hilllfort

Trip No.9  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Hillfort Country: Scotland (West Dunbartonshire)
Visited: Yes on 6th Oct 2018. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Alt Clut :

The Rock has been used since at least the Bronze age, and likely before, although due it's continued use for the last 2 millennia not many artifacts remain.
There is currently a small patch of land at the front of the Rock, suitable in the past for small time farming, but l don't know how long it has been like this for. The Rock itself, is surrounded on all sides by steep jagged cliffs, with defensive walls built on the South side of the Nether Bailey (lower settlement ; 9m) & Northside of the Over Bailey (upper settlement ; 44~64m)

The main entrance (which was used as a back gate during medieval times) is on the lower level 'Nether Bailey' and is 9m above sea level. Here is a small flat area which in the past would have been suitable for at least a handful of hut circles or similar type dwellings.
From here you climb around 50 or so stairs between a cleft that splits Dumbarton Rock into it's two parts ; the taller Western side named 'Tower Crag' (74m) & the Eastern 'Beak' (69m) and come out onto a flat Plateau about 44m above sea level.
This flat piece of land is about 80m x 15m, and halfway down it's length is a well, how long it has been here no one knows, but it has been there for at least 1,300 years.

A high cliff face provides protection from Westerly winds and this was the main settlement on the rock.

From the Over Bailey there is a small winding path up to more flat land and after more steps you arrive at the peak of the Beak which now houses a Cannon Powder Magazine, but in the past l can imagine this possibly being the spot where the Chieftain would have had his home as it is the prime location of Alt Clut.
Going back down to Over Bailey there are now steps connecting the Beak to the taller Tower Crag, which in all honesty is only good for being a lookout point, which is exactly what it was used for as far as we can tell.
You climb the steep steps (l dont envy our ancestor's trying to ascend this without the use of steps and a railing, they would have had to have climbed at first, then use ropes, then ladders and eventually hundreds of years later, these stairs)
Once at the top the views are stunning, you can see the Firth of Clyde and the Cowal Mountains to the West, Ben Lomond and the Highlands to the North and as far as Glasgow to the East. The abundance of hillforts in the local area would mean sending smoke signals between each hillfort would have been easy and a good way of warning neighbors of potential dangers.
The location of Carman Hillfort is visible 5.5km to the NE on Carman Hill, this is thought by some archaeologist's to have been a small Damnonii Oppidium during Roman occupation, and when the Romans left Caledonia, the descendant's of this Damnonii tribe re-took control over Alt Clut and became known to historians as Britons.

*Getting There ; Less than a fifteen minute walk from the train station.

Come out the train station onto the A814/Glasgow road and you'll see the Stags Head Pub across the street.
Cross over and walk West for 170m taking your 2nd left into Victoria St.
(Which changes name to Castle Road after the small roundabout halfway down the street) continue South for 840m and thats it. Really easy to get to. Entrance fee's apply but once in you can stay as long as you want.

Barochan Cross

Trip No.10  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: Scotland (Renfrewshire)
Visited: Yes on 25th Mar 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: Barochan Celtic Cross :

The Cross is to the left when you walk through the main doors.
It has it's only little recess at the back of the Abbey. The Cross has carvings on all 4 sides, although most are worn away due to weathering.

It is a really impressive Celtic Cross, and it's position in the Abbey in front of the Wallace Window provides a nice peaceful setting for the cross.

*Getting There ; Only 400m from Paisley Gilmour Street train station.

Walk across the old County Square and onto Gilmour Street.
Take your first left onto Gauze Street and cross the bridge, take the first right into Abbey Close and the entrance is facing the White Cart Water.

Gleniffer Braes Menhirs

Trip No.10  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Standing Stones Country: Scotland (Renfrewshire)
Visited: Yes on 25th Mar 2019. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: Gleniffer Brae Menhirs :

Approaching the wall surrounding the field l notice a lot of medium sized Menhirs that have been used in the farmers wall. These were more than likely something to do with the Gleniffer Brae Menhirs, which might possibly be Alignment Stones.
When drawing a straight line through the centre of the 2 Menhirs they line up with the centre of Dumbuck Crannog 14.2km away

Dumbuck Crannog (situated between the Volcanic Basalt Plugs of Dumbarton Rock & Sheep Hill) is 1.4km from the settlement at Dun Bowie Hillfort, to the North.
The Dumbarton Rock settlement was only 1.6km downriver to the West, Sheep Hill Fort was 1.9km upriver to the East, and it is here that the substantial discovery of Greenland Cup & Ring Markings were found.

Where the people who aligned these Menhirs related to the Dumbuck/Dun Bowie community - Was it the same people who done both?
There was a Neolithic Settlement found on the South bank of the Clyde, as well as several Crannog remains discovered on the Southern bank of the River Clyde between Langbank and Erskine.

*Getting There ; From Paisley Gilmour Street train station, walk across the old County Square and onto Gilmour Street. Cross over onto St Mirren Street and get the Number 26 bus to Glenburn, get off on Gleniffer Road, at the Stanely Reservoir. From here its about a 1/2 hour walk.

From the reservoir you follow Gleniffer Road uphill for 2.3km. About 350m before the Menhirs you will pass a carpark on your left. You will have to climb a wire fence to enter the field, the area around the Menhirs can be boggy.

High Craigenfeoch Rock Art

Trip No.10  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Rock Art Country: Scotland (Renfrewshire)
Visited: Yes on 25th Mar 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: Craigston Wood Cup & Ring Marks :

About 20m from the roadside, through the tree's is a special Sandstone outcrop. This outcrop contains carvings that are 3,500 ~ 4,000 years old.

When we approached it l was a little disappointed, we couldn't see any Cup or Ring markings, the whole outcrop was totally covered in moss & dead leaves.
I grabbed a broken branch from the ground and started clearing away leaves and vegetation from the surface, and we started noticing a couple of Cup Marks, so we started scooping out the debris from the depressions, and noticed Rings around these Cups. We traced out the wavy gutters in a line of moss running from the Cup & Rings.

After much cleaning of leaves, moss and dirt, we had a rough shape of 3 Cup & Rings, forming a Triangular shape, all 3 were connected.

The one at the top right had a line connecting it to the one at the top left, which had a wavy line running downwards to the bottom Cup & Ring of the triangular arrangment, which in turn had a wavy groove running down to a crack in the rock. This crack in the rock seems to be natural, although it may have been deepened and widened by the creators of the Cup & Rings.

We noticed a Couple of likely Cup Marks above this triangular formation, so we cleaned them out and found these were also full Cup & Ring Marks. These must be the 5 as documented by J. Kirkwood in 1938 and by OS (WDJ) on 25 November 1964.

Previously Documented Records :
1. J. Kirkwood (1938) ; 5 Cup & Rings
2. OS 1:2500 (1964) ; 5 Cup & Rings
3. R.W.B Morris & D.C Baily in (1967) ; 4 Cup & Rings
4. OS 1:10000 (1973) ; No Mention
5. RCAMHMS (1985) ; No Mention

Site visits ;
1. 25/03/2019
2. 12/04/2019

*Getting There ; Around a 15~20 minute walk from Johnstone train station.

Come out the station and take a right onto Thorn Brae, walk East up Thorn Hill and take your third right down Kings Road. Walk up Kings Road for 440m and take a left when you reach Auchenlodment Road, follow this road for 470m until you reach the end of the housing.

Walk up the country road for 300m and you will come to a bend in the road, walk up the bend in the hill for a further 250m and you will see some trees to your right, this is Craigston Woods.

Craigston Wood Menhir

Trip No.10  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (Renfrewshire)
Visited: Yes on 25th Mar 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: Craigston Wood Menhir :

A massive Menhir in a clearing in Craigston Woods, surrounded by small cliff faces and boulders, it may have been an ancent quarry site.

This Menhir has a crack running the lenghth of it,and has a most unusual feel to it.
l found a few shells at the base of the Menhir, suggesting birds drop the shells onto the rock to smash them open and get the food inside.

It is about 2 or 3 minutes from the Cup & Ring Marks, in the same Woods.

When I spoke to an elderly couple walking their dog, they didn't know much about it, but told me it had been there for as long as they've lived there.

Site visits ;
1. 25/03/2019
2. 12/04/2019

*Getting There ; About a 20~25 minute walk from Johnstone train station.

Come out the station and take a right onto Thorn Brae, walk East up Thorn Hill and take your third right down Kings Road.
Walk up Kings Road for 440m and take a left when you reach Auchenlodment Road, follow this road for 470m until you reach the end of the housing.

Walk up the country road for 300m and you will come to a bend in the road, walk up the bend in the hill for a further 600m - you will see a carpark on the left handside of the road, across from this is an entrance path through the woods to the Menhir.

Round Hill (Cameron home farm cairn)

Trip No.11  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Cairn Country: Scotland (West Dunbartonshire)
Visited: Yes on 22nd Apr 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 2

Log Text: Cameron Wood Round Hill Cairn (Loch Lomond) :

One of two Cairns in Cameron Farm Woods.
This one is an Earth and Stone Mound, measuring 30m x 20m by 2.5m high.
Oval in shape, although the front part on the NE has been disturbed and a fair bit of Earth removed, so the Cairn was probably circular originally, the flat summit roughly measures 11m x 6m.

Upon approaching the Site from the trackway, 50m lower down the hillside, the Cairn stands out against the skyline and the tree's, it is very easy to see from the moment you approach the big dirt patch outside Cameron Farm.

Once there the first you notice is it is definitely man made, this isn't a morainic mound.
Second thing you notice is the view, set 110m above sea level, the views from the top of the Cairn over the Southern part of Loch Lomond, all the way up to Ben Lomond (974m) 20km away to the North, are phenomenal.

I set about documenting the size and shape of the Cairn, then photographed the site from all directions. After that l gave the Cairn a close up inspection, and noticed a large amount of White Quartz protruding through the soil, on the side and on top of the Cairn.
There are a few boulders that appear to have been removed fairly recently, and it looks like cattle trample over the NE side of the Cairn when they get a chance.

For such a plain site, before l knew it 2 hours had passed, and l had to start making tracks to the next Cairn further up the hillside.

I would like to think that this site remains undisturbed, with a Cist buried below the surface and the occupant still at peace, the way their ancestors left them.
Until Lidar (Or something similar that wont disturb the interior) is used, we won't know for sure.

*Getting There ; About an hours walk from Balloch train station, which is 3km away.

It isnt the easiest site to get to or find, but if you follow these directions you should be ok. Turn right onto Balloch Road when you leave the train station and take a left, follow for 400m and you'll come to a roundabout, go around the roundabout to your right, and take the 2nd right onto Old Luss Road. Walk up Old Luss Road for 160m and taking your 2nd left up Lower Stoneymollan Road. From here it's mostly uphill.

Walk up the small road for 400m until you reach the A82 (You'll see a bridge crossing the road to your right, cross this bridge and continue straight ahead past the house, for 100m and climb the barbed wire fence into the field and head North, the A82 should be on your right hand side now.

Cross 2 fields and you'll see a dirt path on the lower slope, at the bottom next to the trees. Sticking to the lower slopes follow this path through the next two fields, and go through the gap in the trees. Walk through the next field and through another gap in the trees, following the tree line on your right until you see a big dirt patch ahead outside Cameron Farm, from here you will see a patch of trees to the SW, 2 fields up.
You can follow the path all the way around or cut through the fields up to the Cairn next to these trees.

Cameron Farm

Trip No.11  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Chambered Cairn Country: Scotland (West Dunbartonshire)
Visited: Yes on 22nd Apr 2019. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 2

Log Text: Cameron Wood Chambered Cairns (Loch Lomond) :

One of two Cairns in Cameron Farm Woods.
This one is a Neolithic Chambered Cairn that's situated in the middle of an active, modern forestry plantation.

The Long Cairn has a rough ESE-WNW alignment to it's shape, and used to measure 30m x 18m in 1845 when it was first documented, and even then the 'Statistical Account of Scotland' report that the covers of the Cists had been mostly removed or destroyed, indicating they were disturbed at a far earlier date.
Back then, and up until 1895, the Cairn was arranged in two rows of graves numbering between 20~25, and packed in on the North side by an immense quantity of small loose stones. During the 1845 investigation a selection of Bones and Stone Arrowheads were recovered from the graves.
Nowadays in it's current state, the site measures approx 20m x 10m. Sadly the Cairns are mostly destroyed and no care seems to be taken to preserve what is left of this ancient site.

After the trek up from the Round Hill Cairn in Cameron Woods, the first thing you see when approaching is a small 50cm square boulder (More of it is buried) next to a tree, and on the South face of the boulder are several large Cup Marks.
I have since read that there is 9 altogether, but l only spotted 3 definite ones, although l wasn't looking for them as l didn't know beforehand there was any at the site.
At first l couldn't see anything else, so after a short wander through the tree's l found an oval ditch, about 2m x 1m. At the SE end of the ditch was a solitary boulder visible through the growth, and possibly more small boulders running along the outer rim on the NE curve of the ditch.
A further walk through the tree's revealed the last remaining burial chamber, a small Cist measuring approx 150cm x 115cm. It had a large, thick block on the NE side, with nothing on the SW side, but there is a 20cm thick, flat boulder lying underneath a lot of moss and sawdust above the SW edge of the Cist.

It can be slippy, even on a dry sunny day. I scoured the area for any more remains, but difficult terrain and felled tree's all around didn't allow much more investigation. Set 140m above sea level, the Cairn is located near the edge of the Woods, next to Stoneymollan Muir (200m) if the tree's weren't there you would have spectacular views over Lower Loch Lomond. I recorded what l could, and then photographed the site from all directions. Due to the tree's and underfoot conditions l only spent an hour at this site.

*Getting There ; About 10~15mins (750m) from Cameron Wood Round Hill Cairn.
Or about 45~60minute walk from Balloch train station, which is 2.5km away.

Head SE from Cameron Wood Round Hill Cairn along the dirt track, it leads across the field into the trees, walk through these tree's into the next field, following the dirt path until you reach the next patch of tree's. You will see a small gate to your right, with a path leading up into the woods.
Take this path up through the woods for 200+ metres until you see Stoneymollan Muir behind the trees. Turn right and you should soon see the Cup Marked Boulder.

*From the train station turn right onto Balloch Road when you leave the train station and take a left, follow for 400m and you'll come to a roundabout, go around the roundabout to your right, and take the 2nd right onto Old Luss Road. Walk up Old Luss Road for 160m and taking your 2nd left up Lower Stoneymollan Road. From here mostly uphill.

Walk up the small road for 400m until you reach the A82. You'll see a bridge crossing the road to your right, cross this bridge and walk up Upper Stoneymollan Road for about 700m until you come to a farmhouse on your right. From here the Tarmac stops and the road becomes a dirt road.
Climb over the small gate and walk up the dirt road for 220m passing the first field, when you get to the second field, stop and turn right, you should be facing North, and looking at a row of trees at the far end of the field 200m away.
Go to these trees, once there cross the ditch and walk down Stoneymollan Muir (There should be trees to to your right, and straight ahead) until you come to the corner of the field/Cameron Woods. Venture into the woods, sticking close to Stoneymollan Muir side, and you should see the Cup Marked Boulder, walk NW and the Ditch remains are about 10m away, another 10m or so and you'll come to the Cist Remains.

Carman Hill cairn

Trip No.11  Date Added: 29th May 2022
Site Type: Chambered Cairn Country: Scotland (West Dunbartonshire)
Visited: Yes on 22nd Apr 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 2

Log Text: Carman Hill Cairn: A decent sized Portal Menhir made from Gneiss, a small Basalt Standing Stone, and a small pile of boulders are all that remains of this Neolithic Clyde-Carlingford type Cairn, not far from the summit of Carman Hill.
Located about 142m above sea level, it is situated in what is now a fenced off livestock field, and has been dated to about 2,500~3,000bc.

As l approached from the North, coming from the HillFort at the summit of Carman Hill, l noticed a slight Silvery-Gold shimmer to the surface of the Menhir, Sol was getting ready to set over the Arrochar Alps to the West.
l recorded some measurements and directions, and noticed the Menhir has rough alignments to the cardinal points.
It is slightly triangular shaped, with the largest face oriented South, the other two sides face NE and NW, so where these three sides meet show rough alignment to E, N & W

An excavation in 1954 by "J.G. Scot" noted there was 2 Portal Stones and 2 Slab Stones making a sort of passage way that appeared to indicate a Burial Chamber. He measured the Cairn as being 4.5m long, and found 50 Quartz Pebbles and the butt of a broken, polished Greywacke Axehead inside.
By 1963 when OS visited the site they reported the Cairn had been greatly disturbed, by excavation(s) and tree removal (The Cairn once being at the Southern end of Walton Woods) and the shape of the Cairn was no longer traceable, and that was nearly 60 years ago.
Even now when l compare the current state of the site to photographs taken 5 years ago, there has been even more of a disturbance at the Cairn, with most the boulders now appearing to have been moved or displaced.

The most recent tree removal was unnecessary in my opinion, the photo from 1992, when it shows the Cairn with a tree on either side and a few bushes adds some atmosphere and character to what is now pretty much a bare field. The close proximity of the trees to the Cairn and the removal of it's roots probably destroyed much of the remaining shape of the Cairn, although to a trained eye you can see a slight resemblance and shape of what it might have been.

It would have been quite the sight 5,000 years ago though, with the now demolished Cairn enjoying spectacular views up and down the River Clyde.
While l was there l was lucky enough to experience the Sun setting behind the Mountains in the West. And it dawned on me how significant the positioning and alignment of the burial chamber was, roughly aligned WNW, it faces the Sun each evening as the Sun "Symbolically Dies" (The Sun sets against these Mountains in Cowal every day of the year)

Carman Hill Fort

Trip No.11  Date Added: 29th May 2022
Site Type: Hillfort Country: Scotland (West Dunbartonshire)
Visited: Yes on 22nd Apr 2019. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 2

Log Text: Carman Hill Fort: A strategically well positioned Iron Age Hillfort with amazing 300° views (The view to the North is blocked by Overton Muir -288m)

I have had an interest in this site ever since l read about the possible 'King Arthur' connection after reading "William Scobie"s convincing article on the subject (Robert de Brus settled in the area 600+ years later, so perhaps the area has always been inhabited by leaders, chieftains or kings)
The Vale of Leven is a prime location, Carman Hillfort along with The Dumbarton Rock Settlement are thought to have been occupied by the Damnonii before Roman occupation, with their descendants later reclaiming Dumbarton Rock and making it the capital of their Kingdom ~ Alt Clut.

There is impressive stonework remaining on the HillFort, with several large Menhir sized stones lying on their side and partially covered by soil and grass. Were any of these ever erect as Standing Stones l wonder? Some of the large stones in the wall are an impressive size, especially on the lower Southern sections.
A field wall dividing the Fort in two seem to be the same type and age of stone found in the Fort, suggesting they have been taken at some time in the past to make fields on the hillside.

In 1863 the boulders suffered some damage, as recorded in the 1927 book 'The Old Vale and Its Memories' by "J.G.Temple" and "James Ferguson". Local youths from the Vale carried coals, wood and tar, and had a great bonfire which could be seen in many counties. The fire cracked the big rocks badly and the damage can still be seen today. In "Iain.C. Lees" 1933 book 'The Campsies and the Land of Lennox' - it states that local traditions consider the stones on the summit to be the supposed site of a 'Druid temple'.

Due to time constraints l didn't have time to investigate the numerous Hut Circle remains, l will do that next time l visit.
l would definitely recommend a visit to this site, it has never been excavated, so who knows what historical artefacts or remains lie under the surface.

Lawfield Cairn

Trip No.12  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Cairn Country: Scotland (Renfrewshire)
Visited: Yes on 10th May 2019. My rating: Condition -1 Ambience 2 Access 2

Log Text: Lawfield Cairn :

Nothing at all to see of the old Cairn, nowadays it's just a walled off field next to a farmhouse. I went just to see the location, and get a feel for what the layout of the land is (And what it might have been like in the past)

Surrounded by pasture lands and low lying hills, if you removed the farmhouse out of the equation it would actually have been a quite nice setting for a Cairn.
Less than 1/2km away to the SW is a Cairn at Barlogan, was it possibly the same people who are responsible for the two of these Cairns? Or their descendants?

*Getting There ; From Kilmacolm it is approx 2.5km away (30 min walk)

There are no trains serving Kilmacolm, so get off the bus at the main village square, and walk up along Bridge of Weir Road (A761) for 825m, taking your 5th left up Houston Road. Walk up Houston Road for 600m where it turns into Kilallan Road, you should have Kilmacolm golf course on either side of you with the road running through the middle of it. Keep on following the road for another 1km and you'll arrive at Lawfield, you'll see the farmhouse to your left, the site of the Cist was on the other side of the drystone wall. I just quickly jumped the wall and took a few pictures then left again, the farmer drove past me but didn't seem to mind.

Barlogan Cairn

Trip No.12  Date Added: 29th May 2022
Site Type: Cairn Country: Scotland (Renfrewshire)
Visited: Yes on 10th May 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 2

Log Text: Barlogan Cairn :

A medium sized Stone Cairn on the slopes below North Barlogan Woods.

I first spotted the Cairn from the edge of the golf course as l made my way along it, and even from over 300m away l could see the Cairn stand out against the green hillside, a herd of Cows where sleeping in the next field.

As l got to the end of the golf course l tried to look for a way down the hillside, on the way in an adjacent field to the North of the Cairn, l spotted a large boulder to my left (Looking East) so before l went to the Cairn l went over to have a look, on the way l noticed another stone, a lot smaller, but it seemed to line up with the big one from the direction l was walking, so l took my compass out and while they didn't exactly align E~W, it wasn't far off it.
When l got to the large boulder l then seen another marker stone to the South, again when l checked this was off by roughly the same amount of degrees (Pole shift?)
The 3 rocks formed markers of an almost perfect right angle triangle.
So the large boulder aligns N~S with a smaller boulder to the South, AND aligns E~W with another small boulder to the West. Until this point l had never thought of only using 3 rocks to mark the Cardinal Points, having always used 4 before. Clever.

I left these boulders and headed to a small Burn at the Northern edge of the field, as l entered the field all the Cows stood up in an instant, even though l was about 175m away from them, l noticed the gate between the fields was open, so l slowly made my way up towards the Cairn.

As l made my way to the Cairn the Cows all came to the fence to look at me, and they all started heading for the gate, l picked up my pace. I was only halfway across the field, when they started charging towards me, and down to where l had just entered from, so l couldn't turn back. I ran and they chased me up to the top of the Cairn, l had nowhere else to go, the cows surrounded me, l counted 18 and then noticed they weren't cows at all, they were young Bullocks. I was trapped up the top of a Cairn surrounded by Bulls for about 15 minutes. Not knowing what to do, l couldn't do anything but wait it out. Eventually they seen l meant no harm, and after walking around the Cairn and sizing me up the largest Bull started slowly heading off in the opposite direction from which they had came, and the rest eventually followed.

Once l had time to look at the Cairn and measure and document it l was really impressed, l didn't know what to expect beforehand but what remains are quite impressive, and even though it started raining the placement of the Cairn in this surrounding landscape is really peaceful and has a tranquil feel to it. There no no sound apart from nature, the only civilisation you can see are the golf course and a few distant farmhouses, apart from that you are all alone, with cliffs behind you, and a wooded hill in front of you, to West and East is relatively flat land.

When it started raining l headed up to the small cliffs at the top Barlogan Woods, l saw a tree in a gap that would provide shelter, on my way l passed a large boulder. Once up at the gap in the cliff waiting out the rain, it looked like this part of the cliff had been quarried, possibly the source of the two large boulders in the two fields, and maybe even the stone used for the Cairn itself. On the way back down l stood in front of the large boulder (Which is 90m away) and like the triangle formation in the next field, this almost lined up N~S perfectly, only out by the same few degrees the other stones were) So if you were standing at the Cairn looking up at the large boulder you would be facing South.

The rocks used to build the Cairn look really weathered and ancient, on the SW part a large number of stones look to have been removed at some point in the last decade or so, it is very noticeable when looking North, but you wouldn't see it if you were facing South.
The Cairn itself is built at the bottom edge of a natural rocky ridge on the hillside, and from the Northern side of the Cairn it is about 1.5m or so high, but as you go around to the Southern side it only appears to be 1m high, due to the slope of the hill.

The site has a very old feeling to it, and l didn't really want to leave. While visiting Barlogan l was fortunate enough to watch a Buzzard fly overhead for 5 minutes or so as it scanned the land below. I spent just over an hour there, enchanted by the Cairn and my surroundings, only leaving because the rain started up again.

St Fillan's Seat (Kilallan)

Trip No.12  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature Country: Scotland (Renfrewshire)
Visited: Yes on 10th May 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 2

Log Text: St. Fillan's Seat :

A large Whinstone Boulder protruding from the Earth, has a natural hollow that is ideal for a seat, with another smaller hollow to the right.

It measures about 2.5m x 2.5m, although because it is sloping, some of it is still covered in soil. The overhang with the seat and hollow is about 50cm+ deep. The soil below this part has been greatly eroded since St. Fillan sat here. The seat is about 35cm across, and the smaller hollow is about 15cm x 9cm, and about 10cm deep.

The seat is on the West side of the Rock, facing St. Fillan's Kirk 123m away.
St. Fillan had his Cell in the area sometime around the 8th century, St Fillan's Kirk dates back to around the 10th or 11th century, 200~300 years later.
2.5km SE of Kilallan was a place called Kilpeter, now called Houston, or Hugh's Town, after Knight Templar Sir 'Hugh de Paduinan'.
When the Kirk fell into disuse in the 18th century, during later restoration work, the windows and doors were filled in - with Gravestones from the cemetery, and Two fragments of Templar Gravestones can be seen in the windows on the Southern wall. Could one of these be part of Hugh de Paduinan's gravestone?

In the corner of the field 75m away is a Natural Spring, probably used since Neolithic times, but later called St. Fillan's Well. It was this water he used to fill the small hollow when he performed his Religious activities. I went to the Spring and filled a bottle, took it back to the seat, and filled the small hollow until it was completely full. It held the water for about 5 minutes or so, slowly permeating through the rock.

A wall has been built on the Southern side of the Boulder, and from the road, you cant see over the wall, and you wouldn't even know there was anything on the other side.

I would say the site most definitely pre-dates St. Fillan, the seat possibly having been used by some other important person. As was standard at the time, Irish Monks would often set up their cells at the sites where those classed as pagan's held rituals or ceremonies.

*Getting There ; From Kilmacolm it is approx 3.4km away (50 min walk)

There are no trains serving Kilmacolm, so get off the bus at the main village square, and walk up along Bridge of Weir Road (A761) for 825m, taking your 5th left up Houston Road. Walk up Houston Road for 600m where it turns into Kilallan Road, you should have Kilmacolm golf course on either side of you with the road running through the middle of it.
Keep on walking along Kilallan Road and after 1km you'll see Lawfield Farm to your left, keep going another 610m and you'll see a road up to a farm, walk past this and take the left bend in the road, walk down and you'll come to Corsliehill Road on your left after a minute, you walk up here 180m and your at the Boulder.
-There is a gate in the corner of the field for those who wish to visit the Kirk.

Bogle Stane

Trip No.12  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature Country: Scotland (Inverclyde)
Visited: Yes on 10th May 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 2 Access 5

Log Text: Bogle Stane :

Quite large remains of a Glacial Erratic perched at the top of the Clune Brae.

At some time in the distant past there was an minister who lived in the area, and jealous of the lore and superstitions surrounding the Monolith, he sneakily arranged to have to stone blown up and carted off to be used to build some local dykes, with enough left over to make some curling stones.
You can clearly see where the gunpowder shattered the rock in pieces.

Said to have been nearly 4m tall before it was destroyed, it would have been seen for miles around, and was said to have been a local beauty and picnic spot back then, with fantastic views across the River Clyde of Ben Lomond 29km away.
The trackway from Kilmacolm to Port Glasgow used to run on the other side of the Bogle Stane, which is why it is sometimes (Incorrectly) said to have been 'moved' across the road.

It is stuck right beside a path and a road, across from a school that used to be called Boglestone School (Now called Newark after the Castle at the bottom of the Clune Brae) it has houses and shops surrounding it and the place is just chaos. The peaceful serenity this place once had is now long gone.
Having been here 10,000+ years, this stone probably played an important role throughout history, and must have been significant to all who lived here. Even today the old stone lends it's name to the local area, with the whole place now called Boglestone.

There is an unusual stonemasons mark on the Eastern face of the Erratic, nothing is recorded about who made it. There was at one time a plaque with a poem attached to the Bogle Stane, but this is now long gone.

*Getting There ; From Port Glasgow bus or train station it is approx 2km away (45 min walk)

Get the '531' bus to Boglestone from the town centre (The Bogle Stane has it's very own bus stop) at the top the Clune Brae, which is a steep hill 1.4km long.
The bus journey takes 5 minutes.

St Fillan's Holy Well (Kilallan)

Trip No.12  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring Country: Scotland (Renfrewshire)
Visited: Yes on 10th May 2019. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 2

Log Text: St. Fillan's Well :

A Natural Spring emanating from under a huge boulder in front of a small Cliff Face, 5m behind it.

It is found tucked behind the trees at the edge of a wooded area, 75m North from St. Fillan's Seat. It measures about 2.5m x 3m roughly, and has an unusual shape to it depending on the viewing angle, at its thinnest part it is about 1m thick, and upto 1.5m at its thickest parts.

Fáelán was a Monk from Cluain Moescna in Co. Westmeath, who set up a Cell in the area in the 8th century. He was later canonized a Saint by the Pope of Rome. His mother was Caintigern, who is known as St. Kentigerna, and his uncle was St. Comgan.
Fáelán is said to have used the water from this well when he filled the hollow next to the seat in the boulder across the field. Later, the water would be used to perform baptisms in St. Fillan's Kirk - 150m away at the far end of the field to the SW.

The water of the well is said to have healing properties (Although l would advise against drinking it - it's covered in Duckweed) l believe the water was rubbed on affected body parts, and kids were bathed in it. Pieces of cloth and rags used to be hung on trees beside the well as votive offerings, reported to have ceased at the end of the 17th century when the radical Calvinist minister, James Hutcheson filled the well with stones, but l saw a red rag tied to the tree beside the well, so the tradition lives on.

The well was later cleared out as the water continued to flow, as it still does today. There have been several courses of brickwork surrounding the well over the centuries, nowadays it is an old stone wall that has been propped up and repaired with modern red bricks, forming a U-shape, but the ground in front of these bricks is sometimes wet indicating it flows beneath the current ground level.
Once surrounded by trees, they have now all been cleared, and the Horses in the field wander around the boulder when they please. Apparently they drink from the well. There is a small upright stone in front of the boulder, to the right of the well.

I took some of the water (And jagged myself on Nettle's in the process) up to St. Fillan's Seat and filled the hollow to the brim, it lasted about 5 minutes or so before it was empty again.

*Getting There ; From Kilmacolm it is approx 3.4km away (45 min walk)

There are no trains serving Kilmacolm, so get off the bus at the main village square, and walk up along Bridge of Weir Road (A761) for 825m, taking your 5th left up Houston Road. Walk up Houston Road for 600m where it turns into Kilallan Road, you should have Kilmacolm golf course on either side of you with the road running through the middle of it.
Keep on walking along Kilallan Road and after 1km you'll see Lawfield Farm to your left, keep going another 610m and you'll see a road up to a farm, walk past this and take the left bend in the road, walk down and you'll come to Corsliehill Road on your left after a minute. Walk up here for 225m (passing St. Fillans Seat after 180m) you will arrive at some trees next to a house, this is the easiest way into the field - climb through the trees and over the fence and walk along the treeline for 50m and you'll arrive at the Boulder with Spring underneath it.