Erskine Park

Trip No.13  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement Country: Scotland (Renfrewshire)
Visited: Yes on 13th May 2019. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 2

Log Text: Erskine Neolithic Park :

A large settlement spanning about 3km on the Southern Bank of the Clyde, where the River slowly starts to become the Firth of Clyde.

On this visit l had a look around the Western side of the settlement, down at the bay at Longhaugh Point, where Enclosures, Cropmarks and a Ring Ditch were located. Also found in this area was six Mesolithic Flint Blades, a Flint Arrowhead, Bronze Age Stone Hammer, Bronze Bracelet and a Logboat among other prehistoric artefacts.
A small Menhir, aligned to the cardinal points is located less than 1km away.

I had a good look about the area, looking for more Cup & Ring Marked Rocks, getting up as far as the Big Wood that separates the two golf courses, but didn't find any this time. The area would have been a good spot for fishing or hunting, it is really peaceful and l didn't see a single soul except when passing the golf course.

*Getting There ; From Bishopton train station it is approx 3km away (45 min walk)

Walk down Station Road for 80m and take a left up Gledstane Road, after 230m you'll come to Greenock Road. Head NE up Greenock Road for 770m and you'll come to Ferry Road (B815) on your right hand side. Take the Ferry Road (Crossing over the M8 after 0.5km) and you'll arrive at a turn off called Golf Road, go down this road.

Walk along Golf Road, passing the golf course, and you'll arrive at a crossroads with a farmhouse on your right after 725m, go down past the house and you'll see a gate leading through the fields towards the river. Go through the gate and walk between the trees for 1/4km and you'll arrive at the bay at Longhaugh Point.

Longhaugh Point Menhir

Trip No.13  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (Renfrewshire)
Visited: Yes on 13th May 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 2

Log Text: Longhaugh Menhir :

A fantastic little Menhir, well hidden in an enchanted forest by the Clyde.

Nestled between the tree's it took a good 5 minutes or so scrambling through Longhaugh Wood's to find it. I don't use GPS or anything, l look at a map and take my compass and go for the adventure, never giving up until l find what l went to see (The Larkfield Cup Marks being the only exception)

It is accurately aligned with a North and South face, with the two edges pointing East and West. A large boulder lies about 10m in front of the North Face of the Standing Stone, possibly being an alignment of some sort.

I don't think it is on an artificial terrace, it looks more like the natural inclination of the gentle hillside sloping down towards the river bank. With only a country path cutting through the hill before the crop fields start.
I found that "F. Newall" & "A. Hallifax-Crawford's" assumption that more of the stone may be under ground level to be true. When they documented it's size in 1969 it was recorded as being approx 60cm x 60cm x 30cm. But when l seen it l noticed on the North side the soil has been eroded and the dimensions are now 95cm x 60cm x 30cm.
On the South face the soil level still remains high on the Western side, with about 60cm of the Menhir showing, sloping downwards with about 80cm showing on the Eastern side of the South Face. How big is this Menhir really? How much more is under all the build-up of soil and subsequent growth? If this was placed here thousands of years ago the natural soil erosion on the hill may have buried most of this Menhir with only the top of it showing. Just a thought.

The Grey Grit Menhir has layered banding, and veins of Quartz running through it, although most of it is covered in Moss.
It was a beautiful Sunny day, but the setting in the woods didn't allow much light in, giving off a magical feeling with the bluebells glowing as they caught the odd ray of light. I didn't want to leave but it was getting late so l reluctantly left, but it is a site l will be back to see again.

*Getting There ; From Bishopton train station it is approx 3.15km away (50 min walk)

Walk down Station Road for 80m and take a left up Gledstane Road, after 230m you'll come to Greenock Road. Head NE up Greenock Road for 770m and you'll come to Ferry Road (B815) on your right hand side. Take the Ferry Road (Crossing over the M8 after 0.5km) and you'll arrive at a turn off called Golf Road, go down this road.

Walk along Golf Road, passing the golf course, and you'll arrive at a crossroads with a farmhouse on your right after 725m. Turn left and head West for 700m, you will pass 3 stone walls dividing the fields, after the 3rd wall you'll arrive at a small thinning of the wood's. Look for a large Boulder in the vegetation near the path (Depending on the time of year this may be covered and wont be visible) the Standing Stone is about 10m behind this.