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Sites AstroGeologist has logged on trip number: 5 (View all trips)
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Haylie
Trip No.5 Date Added: 31st Jan 2022
Site Type: Chambered Cairn
Country: Scotland (North Ayrshire)
Visited: Yes on 4th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4
Haylie submitted by AstroGeologist on 1st Mar 2019. Haylie's Tomb (Largs) 12
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Log Text: A solitary chamber is all that remains of this Cairn in the coastal town of Largs. It has been classified as a Clyde-Type Cairn, as described in the 1979 book: 'Introduction to British Prehistory' by Megaw and Simpson.
It's situated at the foot of a steep hill, in what is now a fenced off field and it has been carbon dated to 3,000 BC. The Cairn is roughly aligned to the cardinal points, with the opening/entrance facing East. Castle Hill Fort is about a 20 minute hike up the hill.
One source I read said there was originally 5 stone chambers, but the official source states it only had 3, when visiting the site I tend to lean towards 3 based on the size of the remaining chamber, but I am not ruling out 5. The original Cairn, known then as 'Margaret's Law' measured 2m x 7m. It was first excavated by William Wilson in 1772, when a reported 1,500 cart-loads of stone & rubble were removed from the top of the Cairn.
Inside the stone chambers, were 10 human skulls, bones, urns and flint knives. The remaining chamber has a large capstone that measures about 2.5m x 1.8m.
Castle Hill Fort (Largs)
Trip No.5 Date Added: 29th May 2022
Site Type: Hillfort
Country: Scotland (North Ayrshire)
Visited: Yes on 4th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 3
Castle Hill Fort (Largs) submitted by AstroGeologist on 7th Mar 2019. Facing N (04.07.18) :
View of the South bank of Castle Hill Fort (with Knock Hill Fort at the summit of the peak on the hill in the background)
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Log Text: Castle Hill Fort: Situated 183m above sea level, from a defensive point of view l can see why this place was choosen by our Iron Age ancestors. The inhabitants would have seen any sea invaders hours before they could arrive at the Hillfort.
Not much of the Hillfort remains, you can see the ditch remains to the South, and the entrance near the NE corner sloping down to a sort of level plateau, were a hut circle once stood. Once on site you can see the basic shape of the Fort, and it isnt hard to imagine what it may have looked like in it's prime.
Looking out across the Firth of Clyde, the views are spectacular, with great views of Arran to the West, and the silhouette of the Arrochar Alps behind Cowal to the North. This Spot has a very special feel to it.
4.25km away to the NNW, is another Iron Age Hillfort - Knock Hill Fort. Would they have been in operation at the same time? (Perhaps related or allied to the tribe on Castle Hill Fort?)