Showing 1-50 of 2,138 posts. Most recent first | Next 50 
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.
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Archaeologists Uncover Iron Age Evidence At Knockromie
Archaeologists working on behalf of Springfield Properties on the outskirts of Forres have found evidence of a substantial Iron Age settlement close to the site of a roundabout the firm is building as part of its new Knockromie Meadows development.
Edinburgh based AOC Archaeology are examining and recording the site before further work continues.
Project manager Martin Cook says he and his team have been sifting through trenches dug in fields close to Knockromie Meadows.
"We've known for a long time that it's a very prolific area for archaeological finds," he said " but what we're getting evidence of now is really very exciting. We know of another large food pit nearby, but when we examined the trenches near the roundabout we found evidence of another, larger one."
The finds point to late Iron Age occupation around 600 AD with a large souterrain or food storage pit surrounded by post holes indicating round houses that would have used to fence off specific areas.
The entire area around the Knockromie Meadows site and beyond suggests it was occupied throughout history with evidence of Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman settlements.
Previous excavations in 2007 and 2008 by AOC in a field adjacent to the current site uncovered remains indicative of people living in the area over 2,000 years ago. These included a souterrain - an underground storage passage - and several structures thought to be granaries. The floors of these latter features were raised up on posts to stop vermin and moisture getting to the grain. A cluster of postholes was also found, thought to be evidence of a multi-phase structure, possibly a roundhouse.
Springfield is delighted to have the archaeologists recovering and recording the area's early settlement history, before covering up the site. The excavations prior to construction is a standard procedure triggered by an archaeological survey which was carried out as part of the site's planning permission. It ensures that Scotland has a clearer picture of the previous land use by humans.
The costs involved in the archaeological dig are being met by Springfield.
Knock News Issue 41 July 2010.
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'We march down to Blackhills House. Our wonder is a garden feature. Six stone pillars support a jaunty stone-tiled roof. Within this shelter a rugged stone block perches on a little plinth. One face is pocked with a random rash of round pits. On the opposite face are two linked spirals. My map tells me that this a prehistoric Cup Marked Stone. These things are old : Neolithic-Stone Age-the age of the first farmers whose slash-and-burn and simple ploughs tore open Scotland's soil 5,000 years ago-or maybe more. We do not touch the carved designs, though tempted. There is an ancient magic here that urges us to trace the spiralled coils or to place a finger in each pecked-out cup. But what supernatural forces might inhabit the stone-awaiting ritual release.'
John Barrett.
Knock News Issue 42 August 2010.
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Sadly this cairn will gradually fade into memory thanks to farming and deforestry. Marks of damage can already be seen. Still it is 8.5 meters wide standing at 0.5 meters tall, looks taller because of the growth. Somehow I contrived to walk back down the hill and forget about a much larger cairn some 60 meters to the south. Doesn't matter as I would think my feet will be back in this area fairly soon.
Pull into the farm, east, after Migvie church and follow the track heading in a north easterly direction until the fir trees. The cairn is near the farm rubbish.
Visited 3/08/2010.
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The detailed account of the excavation by Professor Alexander Low during 1935. There are pictures of the cist, urn and various other finds.
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'On the summit of Mither Tap (1698 feet) are the ruins of what is probably a Pictish fort. It was an enormous structure, the total circumference of which must have been over 700 feet. The outer wall is fully fifteen feet in thickness and is carefully built with well coursed masonry having a rampart walk and a parapet. Inside the protected area were found the remains of around ten hut circles, a well and a second wall.'
Algy Watson.
Oyne Past and Present.
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'Two graves of an early historical age, containing some bones and dust, and at least one burial urn were found on the farm of Newlands. In the beginning of August, 1932, the cover stone of a short cist was discovered while excavation was taking place for material to repair the road leading up to the farm of Newlands. On raising this stone a short cist was uncovered on the floor of which lay the remains of a human skeleton and an urn. Mr. George Murray, the farmer, removed the urn to his house, left the bones undisturbed and replaced the cover so that the burial might be examined by one familiar with such deposits. This was a typical short cist of the early Bronze Age and was formed by four slabs set on edge, one at each side and one at each end. The urn which belongs to the beaker class was found intact apart from two cracks on opposite sides of the lip.'
Algy Watson.
Oyne Past and Present.
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I wondered why these stones were fenced in, not likely they'd escape, but they do seem to have moved. Near Standing Stones farm I looked for a stone circle/kerb cairn but was told the stones were piled up near the standing stone.
They are situated just slightly to west of the standing stone, on the other side of a brand new barbed wire fence.
Visited 31/07/2010.
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Finding this cairn showed real signs of stupidity and signs of a never give up nature. How I didn't injure myself doing this walk, a very naff description of events, is nothing short of a miracle.
Things started well, went east from Dinnet on the A93, turning north at St James. Follow this track until the tar runs out but keep going until the next turning, the last house, and pull in. From here follow the track north until the remains of farmers croft. Turn east and up thru the trees. From here a nightmare begins. Basically hack your way thru ferny things like trees, after 1 hour I was knackered climbing Mulloch Hill. I couldn't turn back and I was never going to be able to climb to the top so I headed towards tress in the south east. Another hour of hacking and tramping before I reached them. At least it was easier to walk beneath the branches. The cairn is easily enough found.
Basically a cairn of big boulders. Sitting at 15 meters wide and at it's tallest 0.7 meters. I thought there was a trace of a kerb thanks to some bigger stones near the edge of the cairn. One thing for sure was the silence, I don't think I heard a thing apart from me glugging from a water bottle! There was no point in going on, Id intended visiting 8 sites but could only manage one. There is no easy way here. Agonisingly the hilltop was close but it might as well have been miles away. The way back down was just as difficult. Eventually I made it back to the car battered and bruised. The pub in Tarland made for a safe haven. Next time I'll approach from the north at Ordie.
(for a bonus Paul Anderson, who wrote a piece of music for the stone circles was playing. The trumpet player and violinist compared notes.)
Visited 5/08/2010.
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Several boulder kerbs remain in place of this robbed cairn set on top of small hillock in the middle of a field near Migvie Church. Sadly a lot of damage has been done with all types of rubbish, field clearance, wood chips etc flung on top. Also a cattle feeder, thats 3 sites with cattle feeders dumped on them all in the same area. Same farmer?
From the A97 travel east on the Migvie road pulling in at the farm just after the kirk. The cairn is in the field to the south.
Visited 3/08/2010.
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Drummy is the home to the Blue Cairn and Corrachree kerb cairn as well as a number of hut circles, three of which I managed to find. Unfortunately others were covered in heather/ferns or in amongst boggy stuff. So basically follow the directions to Corrachree and then use your eyes. There is also a cairn with fallen monoliths but that was hidden from view on the day I visited, plus I was rather damp. There is always another day!
Visited 2/08/2010
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The archaeological notes of the Cromar group. Evidently there had been a lot going on here.
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Follow the directions for Corrachree, the remains of this cairn are a small distance to the east. Originally this was a tall cairn but most of the stones have gone leaving a circular bank 23 meters wide. 4 kerbs remain in place looking down onto the village of Tarland.
Further to east there is a more modern cairn dedicated to a woman who died before her time. Her husband must have loved her very much to erect this in an awkward place. Maybe the old ways of remembering those departed hasn't gone altogether.
Visited 2/08/2010.
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In fact the stone hasn't been painted white for twenty years, and then an old guy of whom I asked directions promptly told me about the connections to Lumphanan and the Macbeth story. Then he said I sounded like a 'Turra Loon' (I am) and had a strong Buchan accent. This rapidly changed as I was on my way down to the football in the East End of Glasgow.
Aerial foties suggest that this might be in an enclosure, but nothing on the ground indicates this. Still the stone stands 6ft 9 inches with the white paint gradually fading away. It looks over to the Mearns Hills, including Millplough and a heap of cairns. Although in a prominent position it can't be seen from the dual carriageway below, the A90. I pulled in at Mondynes and climbed the hill heading north west, the old guy keeping me right before I went.
With that done I resumed my journey, the first home game of the season, south.
Visited 4/08/2010.
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History tells us that this must have been a massive cairn But forestry and power lines have badly damaged the surrounds. Most of the stones have long gone. What remains is a circular bank almost 20 meters in width almost resembling a small fort. A cist sits in the middle but couldn't be seen thanks to turf, ferns and nettles.
Heading north from Logie Coldstone this is the next place up from the famous Blue Cairn RSC with its massive recumbent. I asked permission to park at Knocksoul farm and was given directions from the elderly occupant. Climb the hill behind the farm heading for the hydro electrics clearing, for their cables. Reach the south east corner of the wood then head in a north westerly direction.
Visited 2/08/2010.
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Head west from the Knock Soul cairn over uneven turf until the clearing in the wood. There are three hut circles here but only one was visible today as it was built on top of a cairn. At 12.5 meters wide and 0.5 meters tall, this is the biggest of the hut circles. Glorious views looking south onto Milton Of Whitehouse.
Visited 2/08/2010.
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Head direct north from Knock Hill and you will walk straight into this small cairn which nestles between two hills. (same field) Some kerbs remain with height of the cairn being 0.4 meters and width being 6 meters.
From here back to Fernyhowe is fairly easy. A track heading west should be followed until a track heading south can be found. This evenually leads to behind the bunch of cottages at Fernyhowe. Fernyhowe, Knockargety Fort, Knock Hill and Corblelack a walk containing some easy bits, climbs, bogs, fences, streams and track. A fine way to spend a morning.
Visited 31/07/2010.
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Showing 1-50 of 2,138 posts. Most recent first | Next 50
Still doing the music, following that team, drinking far to much and getting lost in the hills! (Some Simple Minds, Glasvegas, Athlete, Us3 on the headphones, good boots and sticks, away I go!) As well whistling Lostboy tunes soon to be whistling another bhoys tunes. Soon!
(The Delerium Trees)
Protect your heritage!
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