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Showing 1-25 of 11,520 fieldnotes. Most recent first | Next 25 
Charles Head (Round Barrow(s)) |
| Bronze Age Round Barrow - scheduled monument. Has a dry stone wall going over it. |
Posted by mascot10th September 2010ce |
Reed Hill (Round Barrow(s)) |
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Bronze Age Round Barrow - scheduled monument. Clearly visible at the top of Reed Hill. Shown on some maps as a cairn but was excavated in 1911/12 "It was surveyed and excavated in 1911. The mound itself was composed of closely packed pebbles and covered in a turf layer. The primary burial was a chamber built of gritstone in the form of a beehive. Sunk into the mud floor was a mass of cremated human bones. A secondary stone cist was found but there were no human remains inside." |
Posted by mascot 10th September 2010ce |
Craster Heugh (Enclosure) |
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Visited the site in July 2010 and took some photos. Access to the site is best from Craster village itself. Follow signs for the smoke house (home of Craster Kippers) and turn right up Whin Hill just after the smoke house itself. Go straight up Whin Hill, straight across the first road you meet (slight, left, right kink crossroad) and Whin Hill turns into a track bearing left. A little later the track starts to turn to the right, ignore the right hand fork here and proceed west up the main track. Ahead you'll start to see the banking of the enclosure on the skyline. The site is listed as being an Iron Age enclosure. The "defended" area makes use of the natural cliffs for protection to the north and west, with raised banking (with at least a single ditch) to the east and south. Roughly rectangular in shape around 50m North/South and 25m East/West at it's widest, tapering towards the north. Bank and ditch are impressive from the east and look defensive in scale. The cliffs to the west offer great protection (careful here as there is no fencing around what is a 20+m drop) and great views. |
Posted by mascot 10th September 2010ce |
Toads Mouth Cairn / Barrow (Cairn(s)) |
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Another one that's hardly worth a visit, but if your planning on visiting Hathersage Moor ring cairn you'll pass by it, so why not. ! Located between Over Owler and the ring cairn, on the sloping heather covered moor. To look at this one appears like an old grouse butt, probably due to it being robbed out. Nearby there's 2 small standing stones (within 10 metres) that should help you locate it. |
Posted by megadread10th September 2010ce |
Batsford Camp (Enclosure) |
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Visited 28.8.10. First the good news – very easy to find in the lovely village of Moreton – In – Marsh. Heading north along the A429 (just before the road crosses over the railway line) there is a turning on the left – where the children's playground is. (Winner of best playground in Gloucestershire – so Dafydd was happy!!) A little along this road you will see the entrance to Moreton cricket club on your left – park here. The remains of the settlement are on the other side of the road to the cricket club, easily seen from the wooden field gate. The road you have just driven along cuts right through the 'hillfort' (although I would call it an enclosure). There is a clearly seen small half circle mound, a few inches high, which is 40 paces across. I couldn't see if there were any remains on the opposite side of the road due to the thick hedge. Not worth a visit in its own right but Moreton-In-Marsh certainly is and I guess whilst in the area……….. |
Posted by CARL 10th September 2010ce |
Wasdale (Crannog) |
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September 7th about one o'clock. Coming down Wasdale road from N. Past the traditional graveyard side [marked by a hut] the loch opens out and the bright overhead sun picks out figures in the loch, two (?conjoined) circles of dissimilar sizes on the side near the road and a long ?ellipse towards the other side and a little further north. First impression is that the gale is whipping waves that flush underlying vegeatation up to reflect underlying archaeology. But the camera later reveals that the plnts are actually a myriad small stones. Also the circles have a clear central space, so annular rings I suggest. An archaeo tells me thay in Skye exceptional conditions can bring crannogs into view, I have always thought that there should be a Neolithic settlement below Howe Harper, as with the Cuween and Wideford Hill Cairns. Just remembered that in a field S/SW of the loch thre is what could well be a dry version of the lochbed sites, after a prolonged period of rain it is marked by a shallow pool. |
Posted by wideford9th September 2010ce |
Magi Stone (Standing Stone / Menhir) |
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Visited 17.4.10. There is a layby you can park in shortly beyond the B3274 / A39 junction (layby is on A39). Once you park you need to walk about 300 metres up the road (north) until you see a metal gate. In this field (visible from gate) is The Magi stone. If you walk up the farm track the stone is on your left but in the next field. The stone is a small, squarish stump of a stone - not much to write home about. I assume it is connected with the the Nine Maidens as it is shown on the O/S map as The Fiddler. |
Posted by CARL 8th September 2010ce |
Uley Bury Camp (Hillfort) |
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This must be one of the largest hill-forts I've yet seen; we walked here along the Cotswold Way from Nympsfield long barrow. Gorgeous walk on an up/down path with the steep wooded slopes of the Cotswold escarpment to our right; to our left, evidence of past quarry work had resulted in some impressive cave-like clefts in the rock face. We had lunch sitting on the high rampart of Uley Bury overlooking the landscape to the south. A chunky white bull appeared between the ramparts, strolling purposefully along leading a small herd of young cows behind him - heading no doubt for the water trough near the entrance to the hill-fort. We walked around the ramparts only to find a larger herd of young cows congregated by the gate we needed to walk through. As we then noticed the white bull heading back in our direction we climbed onto the top of the hillfort (which is a massive open field) making our way diagonally back towards the water trough. From here another lovely wooded walk along to Hetty Pegler's Tump. Splendid! |
Posted by tjj7th September 2010ce |
Nympsfield Long Barrow |
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Very easy to access by car as on the site of a viewing/ picnic area on the Cotswold Way. Although there is a plantation of trees blocking the spectacular views over the Severn Valley from the actual barrow, the views a few metres along make this a very satisfying place to visit. Rather manicured and to be honest somewhat soulless, this is my second visit. This time, however, I was struck by the characteristic cross shape of the chambers - the entrance facing east, with north, south and west chambers visible from the top of the barrow. From here we headed to Uley Bury hillfort and Hetty Pegler's Tump along the Cotswold Way. |
Posted by tjj 7th September 2010ce |
West Barrow (Long Barrow) |
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A beautiful late summer day and a walk planned along the Cotswold Way from Nympsfield long barrow to Uley Bury Hillfort then on to Hetty Pegler's Tump. My friend (the amazing map-reading M) picked me up at the usual place in Cricklade and away we went, heading in the direction of Malmesbury. M had a little surprise tucked away; en route we went through the little village of Leighterton, deep in the rural Cotswolds; M had been studying OS Explorer 168 and spotted a long barrow just past the village school along Boxwell Road. This is an enormous barrow and easily visible from the road; we parked in a little pull-in and donned walking boots – although on private land we were definitely up for a clamber over the three Cotswold stone walls that were between us and the barrow. Be warned about these walls though, especially the road side one – a low wide wall with a much higher drop into the next field; not really a problem until we returned. The barrow is magnificent, reminiscent of the East Kennett Long Barrow it is a similar size – 80 metres and 6 metres high. Although it didn't appear to be on high ground there was tantalizing glimpses of harvested bales spreading out to the south of the barrow. The barrow itself is surrounded by an old Cotswold stone wall which is relatively easy to climb so we did … it is completely covered with ivy and trees (either sycamores or field maples). Clues to long past excavation in the dips where there was once possibly an entrance to the barrow, however, this is no longer in evidence. A few scrapes and scratches to show for this one, but so well worth it. |
Posted by tjj 7th September 2010ce Edited 8th September 2010ce |
Chypraze (Round Barrow(s)) |
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Visited 23.6.2010. The last prehistoric wandering of my June hoilday. This one is prompted by a mention in the latest edition of Maen Mamvro magazine, which mentions that a recent clifftop fire has exposed this barrow for the first time for years - must be worth a look then. A quick bus trip to Morvah, a village in possession of the only church in England dedicated to a Swedish saint (St Bri(d)get). It's a pleasant stroll along the South West Coast Path to Chypraze Cliff, taking in views of Watch Croft, Carn Galva and Gurnard's Head, before I come to a large area of burning on the seaward side. I've approached from the east, and make the mistake of heading off the path into the burned area too soon. After 10 minutes of poking about, I have interesting charcoal stripes all over my trousers, but no barrow to show for it. I head back to path and head further west. Almost at the end of the burned area, a small fenced off structure appears on the seaward side of the path - I have the barrow in my sights now. Although confined behind a (hopefully temporary) post and wire fence, the barrow is a bit of a gem. The kerb in particular is very well preserved, almost contiguous and with its stones all leaning inwards at an angle of about 60 degrees. There's not much left in the way of a mound, but the remains of a central cist can be seen. A small quartzite rock, about fist sized, can be seen in the remains of the mound. As well as the barrow itself, there is a curving linear feature on the slope to the east, the remains of a prehistoric boundary feature of some kind and probably part of an early field system. All in all this is a very worthwhile site to visit, especially before the bracken starts to encroach again as it inevitably will do. From here I follow the coast path west, until an intersecting footpath takes me back to Morvah, over granite stiles wreathed in the inevitable foxgloves. And the little tea room sells very nice home-made cakes. Yum! |
Posted by thesweetcheat6th September 2010ce |
Wall Hills Camp (Ledbury) (Hillfort) |
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Visited 4.9.10. What a hassle this was!! I did manage a brief visit – but only just. Taking the A438 turning at the A417 roundabout at Ledbury, you quickly come to the turning to Wallhills farm on the left. Take this turning and follow the long drive up to the farmhouse. I then parked outside the farmhouse. So far so good. (There is a new road leading off to the left which I chose to ignore and thought it better to head for the farm house). There was no-one about to ask for permission to visit the Hillfort (no public right of way) and I then heard voices from the other side of the barn. I climbed over a gate and approached the somewhat surprised people to see if they could give me permission? (They live in the 'new build' which the other road led to). They said they couldn't but gave me a phone number to ring to ask the land owner. I duly rang the number but the person I spoke to said the land didn't belong to them and that I had to ask at the farm. One of the people then said it was ok for me to visit but to stay away from the cows and make sure I closed the gates behind me. Leaving the heavily pregnant Karen and Dafydd in the car (he was asleep) I headed up the track which ran around the back of the barn. The path was easy enough to follow (the cows use it!) although it was steep. Just at the top of the hill a large ditch / bank could be seen either side of the path – overgrown but clearly visible. The centre of the Hillfort was flat and used for grazing. As I was about to have a better look my 'phone went and Karen told me I had to go back to the car as a man had arrived and told me I didn't have permission to visit. He said the farmer carries a shot gun and no one was allowed to visit the site!! (Needless to say this worried Karen somewhat!) I came back down the track to find the chap had gone into the farmhouse. I then decided enough was enough and headed off. Although the section of the Hillfort I saw looked fairly well preserved (the bank / ditch was large) I can't recommend a visit due to the problems associated with access. I get the distinct impression I was luck to get as far as I did. |
Posted by CARL 6th September 2010ce |
Kilbury Camp (Hillfort) |
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Visited 4.9.10 My third (and last) Herefordshire Hillfort of the day and by far the best view. Taking a minor road north out of Ledbury (pretty market town and well worth a visit) you come to the entrance drive to Kilmory House on your left. There is a small are to park directly opposite near the public footpath sign. Over the gate and a short easy walk up to the top of the small hill. The very top of the hill is covered by trees and the centre of the earthwork was covered in chest high nettles so I decided a view from the tress was best! There were decent views to be had and you can just make out Ledbury in the distance. I returned to the road and walked a bit further north to the next field gate where you can make out small earthworks at the top of the hill. There was no public access to this field and it didn't look like there was a lot to see. This seemed to me to be much more an 'enclosure' of some sort rather than a Hillfort. |
Posted by CARL 6th September 2010ce |
Haffield Camp (Donnington) (Hillfort) |
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Visited 4.9.10 My 400th post! Who would have thought it? - and a fairly easy visit as well. Take the Donnington turning; off the A417 near Junction 2 of the M50. There is a small area you can park immediately to your left. Park here and a little ahead you will see the public footpath sign (also on your left). Over the gate and head for the wooden gate at the top of the right hand corner of the field. Over this gate and immediately on your left is another wooden gate with a 'Private' sign on it. Over this gate and it's a short, steep walk up the bank to the top of the Hillfort. The whole area is covered with trees and I was unable to make out any ditches / ramparts – other than the steep bank just described. Nothing else to report and not really worth a visit. |
Posted by CARL 6th September 2010ce |
Giant's Castle (Cliff Fort) |
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It's an odd sort of a fort, this. There are several (at least four) low lines of "defence" that cut the rocky headland off from Salakee Down. There are quite closely spaced, not much room between each line. And the interior is a small, exposed space, climbing up to a rocky promontory that has been sculpted by the elements into fantastic shapes. It's hard to believe that this could have been big enough to warrant defending, let alone be possible to live inside. All of which may suggest status rather than practical defensive purpose. Still, I have fun clambering onto the topmost rocks, where a gusty wind does its best to send me back down again. At the base of the fort, the low mound of another battery can be seen, perhaps evidence that the real need for defence would come a millennium and a half after the Iron Age construct. This post appears as part of the blog post "To be in England, in the summertime, with my love (3) St Mary's"
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Posted by thesweetcheat 5th September 2010ce |
Salakee Downs (Cairn(s)) |
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Next up we reach Salakee Down. The tombs here are much harder to see, being covered in deep bracken. I bumble about on top of one, finding a very long capstone still roughly in place, together with a decent kerb. G/F doesn't share my enthusiasm and carries on along the coast path – very wise. What I do get from here is a great view of Giant's Castle, with its concentric lines of ramparts. We head there next. This post appears as part of the blog post "To be in England, in the summertime, with my love (3) St Mary's"
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Posted by thesweetcheat 5th September 2010ce |
Porth Hellick Downs (Cairn(s)) |
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The "Great Tomb" is a huge, reconstructed circular passage grave, which includes an unusual blocking-slab separating the roofless passage from the central chamber itself. From here many of the other chambered tombs on the Down can be seen, as can the Deep Point tombs on the headland to the north. All these tombs are thought to be part of a Bronze Age continuation of a chambered tomb style that begun during the Neolithic, on the mainland in West Penwith. Whether they actually pre- or post-date similar mainland tombs, the Scillonian ones are preserved in much greater numbers, usually in concentrations like this (or at least pairs). All in all, this makes for a hugely rewarding place for the stonehead to visit, particularly when coupled with such lovely surroundings. We confine ourselves to a few of the more obvious tombs ('B', 'C', 'E' and 'G' are all well worth a look) before we head off the Down. This post appears as part of the blog post "To be in England, in the summertime, with my love (3) St Mary's"
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Posted by thesweetcheat 5th September 2010ce |
Deep Point (Chambered Cairn) |
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The ridge is surmounted by a number of chambered tombs, in varying degrees of preservation. There's a heavy covering of bracken over the mounds at this time of year, but the general shape and form can still be seen. We have a poke about on the top of 'A', the most westerly of the three primary tombs that remain. This reveals one in-situ capstone, as well as another slab that presumably formed part of the chamber's roof. 'B' is another large mound, but the chamber is badly ruined with only a couple of uprights to be seen. 'D' on the other hand is great, with a well-preserved kerb and a largely intact chamber covered by a very thick, square slab. This is a beautiful spot, with views across Crow Sound to St Martin's and south to Porth Hellick, also dotted with chambered tombs and our next destination. This post appears as part of the blog post "To be in England, in the summertime, with my love (3) St Mary's"
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Posted by thesweetcheat 5th September 2010ce |
Mount Todden (Cairn(s)) |
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Our first stop of an already hot day is the cairn at Mount Todden. At first sight, this large barrow could easily be dismissed as a natural boulder outcrop, as the western side of the barrow is exactly that. However, a couple of long slabs, similar to the ones that roof many of the island's chambered tombs, can be seen on the east side and may mark the remains of a cist or chamber. This post appears as part of the blog post "To be in England, in the summertime, with my love (3) St Mary's"
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Posted by thesweetcheat 5th September 2010ce |
Drimmies (Standing Stone / Menhir) |
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Continuing with Chris's spinning wheel theory for Broomend. This standing stone is found to the north of Inverurie at the Brandsbutt junction. Balquhain is also in the distance, which would mean the chain of stones stretching from Tyrebagger. There is another stone in the vicinity at Dubstone. The stone can be seen from the road and is 1.5 meters high coming to a fairly pointy peak. A walk of no more than a 100 meters. Good scenery to the northern hills, the River Urie and the Battle of Harlaw monument. Visited 6/9/2010. |
Posted by drewbhoy5th September 2010ce |
Burrough Hill (Hillfort) |
| I think this a super site. It's in a really pretty part of Leicestershire, there is a little car park for those (like me) who don't always want to drag family members across miles of trackless moor, and it's only a short walk to the fort itself.It has an obvious entrance where a guard house was situated. The ramparts are high all round and the hill at the back of the fort is really steep and high.I know, I walked up it and it took about twenty minutes to get my breath back. The view over rural Leicestershire is very dramatic, but visit early or late if you want atmosphere, there seem to be quite a few visitors and people flying kites or model aeroplanes! |
Posted by neogeek 5th September 2010ce |
Oldox Camp (Hillfort) |
| In a part of the country which is thin on the ground in anything worth seeing,Oldox camp is a real gem.I went to find it on hearsay, without a map, and after a nice walk through some fields, it just appeared off to the right of the path.Very easy to find.There is an entrance directly facing the tumulus adjacent to the camp with some low but nicely pronounced ditches and earthworks.The walls get higher as you go further round the camp, and as you reach the entrance at the back, they are really impressive and built on quite a steep slope.It's not too overgrown with trees either.There is a small straight ridge running from the camp to the direction of the village of Oxton; it's only a few metres long, but I'd be interested to know if it's part of the camp or some later agricultural addition.The view from the top of the earthwork is something else.I've read that there were other settlements close to Oldox but I don't know where they were, and I don't think they exist anymore.There is a sunken lane running from the village towards the camp.Pretty and fascinating site. |
Posted by neogeek 5th September 2010ce |
Cairnhowit (Chambered Cairn) |
| Audrey Henshall believed the two stones , there is also a recumbent third , to be a portal and the first stone of a side chamber of a chambered cairn . |
Posted by tiompan4th September 2010ce |
Fan Frynych (Round Barrow(s)) |
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I've occassionally heard it said by experienced 'stoneheads' that the more sites they see, the less physical remains they need on the ground to be able to fully appreciate a site. I'd go along with this - up to a point - providing the siting of the monument is all that it should be. That is to say a solitary orthostat in a housing estate isn't necessarily going to suffice for me. Place that same stone upon a glowering mountain top, however, and now we are talking! Guess that's one of my many idiosyncracities, for better or worse. The Bronze Age cairn upon Fan Frynych very much falls into this category... you're either going to love it to bits for its exceptional vibe, or think the not inconsiderable effort required to reach it not worth the relatively insignificant physical remains... Judging by the traces that remain within the soil - sundry embedded stones, a few courses of possible kerb, the possible capstone(?) SC mentions etc - the small walkers cairn occupies but a small fraction of the original surface area of what must have been a pretty substantial monument in its time, similar in stature to many other examples that grace these South Walian uplands (see Coflein's dimensions given in the miscellanous post). However to focus entirely upon the physical form of what is, after all, a large pile of rocks - albeit a seriously robbed one - is, I think, to miss the salient point... which I would argue is why monuments such as this were specifically placed at such extreme locations in the first place. In other words I believe the positionning was the most important aspect of the monument, the physical marking / occupying of the landscape the primary concern to these people. Yeah, it HAS to be HERE. In my opinion the judgement of the Bronze Age people of Fan Frynych was sound... this is the 'right' place, for it is certainly awe inspiring, even today in our age of science with education for all. One could argue the same applies to the upland stone circles, which often tend to consist of diminutive orthostats arranged in spectacular locations. The precise demarcation of an area of the landscape would appear to have been the key purpose, not the erection of a towering monument to impress the neighbours... our monument is special BECAUSE it is here, not down there, so to speak. Significantly, perhaps, the cairn was not placed at the summit of the mountain, this, due to topography limitations being notable primarily for its lovely little tarn and not as a viewpoint. The chosen position was in fact near the north-eastern extremity of the mountain, this providing an unobstructed, and thus sweeping vista northwards towards the Usk. To the east, across the Glyn Tarell, rise the Brecon Beacons, the majestic, flat topped summits of Pen y Fan and Corn Du bearing the highest prehistoric monuments in Southern Britain. To the west the fertile field systems fed by the Afon Senni speak volumes. The viewpoint was apparently everything.... and remains so. Of course we must forever speculate, but there can be no better premise for such speculation that to stand here for a few moments - more if you can - and observe. Today I intended to ascend Fan Frynych via the straightforward route from Forest Lodge cottages. However mountains affect the mind... they really do... a fact the religious people of yore no doubt manipulated for their own ends.. and the ridge leading straight to the summit from the R*man Road to the north 'called me'. Although a little too steep for my ageing limbs, perhaps, it was appropriate. I shall continue to do this whilst I physically can for I am attracted to these high places like a moth to flame. I guess they truly are the abode of the 'gods' that inhabit the human mind. |
Posted by GLADMAN4th September 2010ce Edited 5th September 2010ce |
Fosbury Camp (Hillfort) |
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What a surprise this was... marvellous. Needing somewhere else to spend a few hours following a morning at Tow Barrow, Fosbury seemed to fit the bill nicely, judging by the 1:50K OS map. But reality often has a way of not living up to expectations, doesn't it? Not in this instance... Fosbury is very much a case of 'Ding dong!'... as the great Leslie Phillips might very well have said if he ever came here.... or even a 'Blimeus' uttered by a R*man legionnary tasked with storming the ramparts. After negotiating the maze of minor roads which criss-cross the area, I finally ascend from the east, near the Vernham Dean junction. To be honest I find it quite a slog in the heat of this sultry early afternoon, cloud beginning to roll in behind the morning's pristine blue skies. It is worth it since, upon arrival, the scale of the inner rampart is immediately apparent... much larger than I expected. The circumference is impressive in scope, too, the bivallate defences protecting what must clearly have been an extensive settlement in its day. Hell, yeah. According to the map the northern arc of the site is within foliage, investigation proving this to be correct. In fact the trees are some of the oldest, most handsome specimens I've seen in a long while, root systems encompassing the bank in a strangely beguiling manner. Then again I always did like woodland - feel at home in it .... perhaps the vestiges of some long held folk memory we all possess? Perhaps. Its then a little disappointing to find that appalling creation barbed wire in evidence in places. For me, the most impressive ramparts are upon the south western arc, these also boasting a superb view down into the valley of Hippenscombe. Nice. However the main entrance to the hillfort is, so it would seem, at the east, a typical affair of inturned parallel banks. I wouldn't be at all surprised if a nearby pond is an original feature specifically incorporated within the enclosure? Perhaps its just a reflection of my psyche today, but I reckon Fosbury has a 'special' aura about it, something that's heightened by the section of woodland. I glance at one of the massive trees and note a prominent piece of graffitti carved in the bark... 'Ha! Guy... unusual name for these parts. Then again it was the name of the leader of The Dambusters, so it was', I ponder. Suddenly - I kid you not - there is a low, deep roar as a World War 2 Avro Lancaster makes its way slowly up the valley.. the very type of aircraft the Dambusters flew, of course. I stand gobsmacked, for I am in the middle of reading the book. But then again, this IS Fosbury. |
Posted by GLADMAN 4th September 2010ce |
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