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Mevoisins menhir
Trip No.204 Entry No.263 Date Added: 9th Sep 2020
Site Type: Modern Stone Circle etc
Country: France (Centre:Eure-et-Loire (28))
Visited: Yes on 7th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 4 Access 5
Mevoisins menhir submitted by thecaptain on 24th Aug 2005. This wonderful 3 metre tall stone standing up in the hills between Mevoisins and Yermenonville, can be seen for miles around.
It turns out that this stone has only been here a few years, having been erected in the year 2000 to celebrate the millennium, but its such a lovely stone, I thought it deserves to be seen here.
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Log Text: This lovely 3 metre tall menhir can be seen from miles around, beside the D.329 road up in the hills between the two villages of Mevoisins and Yermenonville. It’s a gorgeous angular lump of flinty sarsen, but it turns out that it was erected only 5 years ago to mark the turning of the millennium. It seems that there was a big party to celebrate putting the stone up, using only manpower, logs and ropes.
This had me fooled into thinking it was the Pierre-qui-Vire, which is supposedly to be found in the community somewhere. So as not to fool anyone investigating this stone in the future, there is buried under the stone a computer, a mobile phone, some money and a listing of all the people living in the community.
Chantecoq dolmen
Trip No.204 Entry No.261 Date Added: 9th Sep 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Centre:Eure-et-Loire (28))
Visited: Yes on 7th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 3
Chantecoq dolmen submitted by thecaptain on 10th Feb 2007. Here there is a big natural outcropping of rocks, which may have been used for dolmen making.
There is lots of it, and it makes very good slabs, and in many ways reminds me of the rock outcrops / quarries at Tinkinswood.
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Log Text: Marked on my ign map near to the village of Ymeray is the Dolmen de Chantecoq. I had a good look around, but could find no obvious signs to a dolmen of any kind, but there was a trackway called "Sentier des Roches" which I found near to the railway bridge, so I went for a walk up there. After several hundred metres was a little area being turned into a little public parkland, with picnic tables etc. Here there is a big natural outcropping of rocks, which may have been used for dolmen making. There is lots of it, and it makes very good slabs, and in many ways reminds me of the rock outcrops / quarries at Tinkinswood. It looks like there are soon to be some interpretive signs put here, but without any more information, it was difficult to know exactly what there is here.
Within the soon to be grassy area is a slab of rock, half on the ground, half on another stone, which may be the remains of a dolmen. At the top of this stone are four grooves and a little basin, where it has been used as a polishing stone.
La Mère aux Cailles
Trip No.204 Entry No.260 Date Added: 9th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Centre:Eure-et-Loire (28))
Visited: Yes on 7th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3
La Mère aux Cailles submitted by thecaptain on 10th Feb 2007. La Mère aux Cailles.
Up a trackway called "Sentier des Roches", in a private orchard, is what I assume is a menhir, at least there is a 2.5 metre tall slab of rock standing upright.
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Log Text: Marked on my ign map near to the village of Ymeray is the Dolmen de Chantecoq. I had a good look around, but could find no obvious signs to a dolmen of any kind, but there was a trackway called "Sentier des Roches" which I found near to the railway bridge, so I went for a walk up there. After several hundred metres was a little area being turned into a little public parkland, with picnic tables etc. Here there is a big natural outcropping of rocks, which may have been used for dolmen making. There is lots of it, and it makes very good slabs, and in many ways reminds me of the rock outcrops / quarries at Tinkinswood. A bit further up the track, in a private orchard, is what I assume is a menhir, at least there is a 2.5 metre tall slab of rock standing upright. But without any more information, it was difficult to know exactly what there is here.
Dolmen de la Grenouille
Trip No.204 Entry No.259 Date Added: 9th Sep 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Centre:Eure-et-Loire (28))
Visited: Yes on 7th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5
Dolmen de la Grenouille submitted by thecaptain on 28th Nov 2006. The remains of the Dolmen de la Grenouille are the most obvious of all the Dolmens de Changé here beside the river Eure to the north of the village of Changé.
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Log Text: The remains of the Dolmen de la Grenouille are the most obvious of all the Dolmens de Chagné here beside the river Eure to the north of the village of Chagné, and stand only a few metres from the village sign.
It is a broken dolmen with two side slabs and a leaning capstone that does indeed look like a frog sticking its head out of water. The chamber is 3 metres in width, but hard to tell how long it would have been, although the capstone is about 6 metres in length. The opening was probably to the southeast, where the capstone sits on the ground.
Petit Menhir (Changé)
Trip No.204 Entry No.258 Date Added: 9th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Centre:Eure-et-Loire (28))
Visited: Yes on 7th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4
Petit Menhir (Changé) submitted by thecaptain on 25th Nov 2006. Petit Menhir (Changé)
A large slab of the grey stone stands just outside the remains of the two dolmens.
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Log Text: A large slab of the grey stone stands just outside the remains of the two dolmens. It is about 2 metres tall, but was leaning against a wooden post to hold it upright when I visited, due to the excavations going on here.
Petit Dolmen (Changé)
Trip No.204 Entry No.257 Date Added: 9th Sep 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Centre:Eure-et-Loire (28))
Visited: Yes on 7th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 4
Petit Dolmen (Changé) submitted by thecaptain on 25th Nov 2006. Petit Dolmen (Changé).
The excavations seen here showing the entry passageway curving around to the right.
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Log Text: About 5 metres to the north of the Le Berceau dolmen, and also being excavated, are the remains of the Petit dolmen. This one has a chamber about 4 metres by 3 metres, with many side slabs to be seen but no capstone. Before the current excavations, there was probably very little to be seen of this.
Le Berceau
Trip No.204 Entry No.256 Date Added: 9th Sep 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Centre:Eure-et-Loire (28))
Visited: Yes on 7th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4
Le Berceau submitted by thecaptain on 25th Nov 2006. Le Berceau dolmen seen during excavations.
Unfortunately I could not get to see inside the dolmen for its fabulous carvings.
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Log Text: The Dolmens de Chagné were undergoing excavation when I visited, and were fenced off and enclosed, but from what I could see, this includes 3 dolmens and 2 menhirs, which were apparently re-used for burials by the Merovingians from about the year 500BC. The dolmens can be found in a field beside the river Eure to the north of the village of Chagné. Le Berceau dolmen is not the portholed dolmen I thought it may have been, but the reason that I knew of it is for the carvings upon its stones.
This is a large dolmen undergoing excavations, and well worth a look. The chamber is about 5m by 4m, with a single large, but broken capstone. It was difficult to make any details out with it being fenced off.
Le But de Gargantua
Trip No.204 Entry No.255 Date Added: 9th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stones
Country: France (Centre:Eure-et-Loire (28))
Visited: Yes on 7th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3
Le But de Gargantua submitted by thecaptain on 25th Nov 2006. The giants goal seen in amongst its friendly horses keeping the pitch trimmed.
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Log Text: In a field to the east of the Dolmens de Chagné can be found the But de Gargantua. This seems to be two menhirs, one a large grey slab about 2.5 metres tall and the other a bit smaller. I wonder if it is the remains of what was once a dolmen. I couldn't get a close look as the stones are in a field of horses, but they are easily visible from the roadside.
Musée des Sciences Naturelles et de Préhistoire
Trip No.204 Entry No.254 Date Added: 9th Sep 2020
Site Type: Museum
Country: France (Centre:Eure-et-Loire (28))
Visited: Couldn't find on 7th Aug 2005
Log Text: The picture I have seen of the Maison de l'Archaeologie has a dolmen in the front yard, so I go for a look. But it's moved ! I found where the museum was, but its now a private residence. I have no way of knowing where to, so this must go down as the first museum I have failed to find ! Wonder what happened to the dolmen in the yard outside the museum when it moved.
Offa's Dyke near Brockweir
Date Added: 9th Sep 2020
Site Type: Misc. Earthwork
Country: England (Gloucestershire)
Visited: Yes on 27th May 2019. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4
Offa's Dyke near Brockweir submitted by TheCaptain on 18th Apr 2020. Beware. There may be dragons and monsters
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Log Text: Well preserved and significantly built section of Offa's Dyke high up on the eastern side of the River Wye near the village of Brockweir. The Offa's Dyke path is well used here, and in places offers splendid views over the river to Wales, especially at the well known "Devil's Pulpit" rock stack allowing intrepid visitors a superb vista of Tintern Abbey.
Offa's Dyke at Tidenham Chase
Date Added: 9th Sep 2020
Site Type: Misc. Earthwork
Country: England (Gloucestershire)
Visited: Yes on 22nd Nov 2019. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4
Offa's Dyke at Tidenham Chase submitted by TheCaptain on 7th Apr 2022. A walk up Offas Dyke from Chepstow to Brockweir, and not hammering down with rain this time, so I got a few snaps. The banks are not built as big as further north, but there is a lot of stone in the construction here, looking more like a wall in places.
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Log Text: Well preserved and significantly built section of Offa's Dyke high up on the eastern side of the River Wye at Tidenham Chase. The Offa's Dyke path is well used here, and in places offers splendid views over the river to Wales, with options to walk north to the well known "Devil's Pulpit" rock stack allowing intrepid visitors a superb vista of Tintern Abbey. South leads to the rocky cliffs above the River Wye at Wintour's Leap.
Castle Ditches (Glamorgan)
Date Added: 9th Sep 2020
Site Type: Hillfort
Country: Wales (South Glamorgan)
Visited: Saw from a distance on 21st Sep 2019
Castle Ditches (Glamorgan) submitted by TheCaptain on 22nd Sep 2019. The wooded remnants of the Castle Ditches promotary fort near Llantwit Major.
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Log Text: Wooded remnants of the Castle Ditches promotary fort near Llantwit Major.
St Anne’s well (Siston)
Date Added: 9th Sep 2020
Site Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring
Country: England (Gloucestershire)
Visited: Yes on 30th May 2020. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 2 Access 5
St Anne’s well (Siston) submitted by TheCaptain on 30th May 2020. St Anne’s well (Siston), an open stone trough with a covering grate, right at the edge of the road. On the day of my visit, this was largely dry.
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Log Text: Not to be confused with the hexagonal gothic wellhouse tower to the north of Siston Court, the real St Anne's well is found down by the stream beside the road, just to the north of the old bridge and on a very dangerous bend. Amongst other things, the water was supposed to be good for healing poor eyesight, and people travelled for miles to try the cure, which was still being publicised into the 1930's.
What there is to see today is an open stone trough, about 4 feet by 18 inches with a covering grate, right at the edge of the road rather like a big drain. On the day of my visit, this was largely dry.
Shortwood Hill barrow
Date Added: 9th Sep 2020
Site Type: Round Barrow(s)
Country: England (Gloucestershire)
Visited: Yes on 30th May 2020. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 2 Access 4
Shortwood Hill barrow submitted by TheCaptain on 30th May 2020. A long walk during the supposed lockdown (end May 2020) took me through this field and over the barrow for the first time in many years. Despite the field being cleared and shorn of vegetation, the barrow was more disappointing to see than I remembered.
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Log Text: A long walk during the lockdown (end May 2020) took me through this field and over the barrow for the first time in many years. Despite the field being cleared and shorn of vegetation, the barrow was more disappointing to see than I remembered.
Oldbury-on-Severn Submerged Forest
Date Added: 9th Sep 2020
Site Type: Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature
Country: England (Gloucestershire)
Visited: Saw from a distance on 3rd Jun 2020
Oldbury-on-Severn Submerged Forest submitted by 4clydesdale7 on 4th Jul 2011. As I stated like Atlantis risng
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Log Text: It is now possible to walk all the way up the Severn Estuary past the tidal pool, and through the ex nuclear power station. Looking out at the tidal pool at low tide, all sorts of lumpy bumpy bits can be seen below the wall, quite possibly the remains of the petrified forest.
The Toots (Oldbury)
Date Added: 9th Sep 2020
Site Type: Hillfort
Country: England (Gloucestershire)
Visited: Yes on 3rd Jun 2020. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4
The Toots (Oldbury) submitted by 4clydesdale7 on 4th Jul 2011. The best evidence of the Fort - the NNE rampart looking SE
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Log Text: At the end of a walk along the Severn estuary and all round the old Oldbury Nuclear Powerstation, I walked back to Oldbury-on-Severn right through the Toots camp. Nice roadsign leading to it, and some information boards have now been put up in the village.
Haresfield Beacon tumulus
Date Added: 9th Sep 2020
Site Type: Round Barrow(s)
Country: England (Gloucestershire)
Visited: Yes on 31st Aug 2020. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 4
Haresfield Beacon tumulus submitted by TheCaptain on 3rd Sep 2020. The tumulus with trig point on top, at the western end of Haresfield Beacon.
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Log Text: Walk around the Bruce Friendship Trail, which takes in the superb Haresfield Beacon with its remnants of promontory hillfort with a round tumulus at the western point, with a trig point on the top. Superb views over the Severn Vale
Haresfield Beacon and Ring
Date Added: 9th Sep 2020
Site Type: Hillfort
Country: England (Gloucestershire)
Visited: Yes on 31st Aug 2020. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 4
Haresfield Beacon and Ring submitted by 4clydesdale7 on 24th Jun 2011. From the same spot looking NNW over the inside of the Fort
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Log Text: Walk around the Bruce Friendship Trail, which takes in the superb Haresfield Beacon with its remnants of promontory hillfort with a round tumulus at the western point, with a trig point on the top. Superb views over the Severn Vale
Hawkesbury Knoll
Date Added: 9th Sep 2020
Site Type: Long Barrow
Country: England (Gloucestershire)
Visited: Saw from a distance on 7th Aug 2020
Hawkesbury Knoll submitted by TheCaptain on 15th Apr 2004. Hawksbury Knoll, Chambered Tomb, South Gloucestershire, ST768872.
The view of the barrow atop Hawkesbury Knoll from the Somerset Monument.
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Log Text: Seen up on the top of the Cotswold Edge during a hot and humid Friday afternoon 11k walk, north from Hawkesbury Upton to the monument, then down the Cotswold Edge to Inglestone Common, south to Hawkesbury Common and on to Horton Court before going back up the Cotswold Edge and along the Cotswold Way andd "Yellow Brick Road" to Hawkesbury and a pint at the Beaufort Arms afterwards.
Drakestone Camp
Date Added: 9th Sep 2020
Site Type: Misc. Earthwork
Country: England (Gloucestershire)
Visited: Yes on 23rd Aug 2020. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 5 Access 3
Drakestone Camp submitted by 4clydesdale7 on 6th Jul 2011. One of the middle banks and ditches
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Log Text: Walk round the Korea Friendship Trail from Dursley on a bright and breezy Sunday afternoon with a pint in the Old Spot afterwards. The views up here are tremendous, and with various other nearby viewpoints you get a full 360 degrees. Even on this not very clear day, as well as almost the entire length of the Cotswold Edge, I could make out the Mendip Hills, Bristol Channel, Black Mountains, Malvern Hills.