Lively Well (Witton-le-Wear)

Trip No.21  Entry No.3  Date Added: 6th May 2017
Site Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring Country: England (County Durham)
Visited: Yes on 4th May 2017. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Lively Well, Witton-le-Wear, County Durham: Andrew saw this well on the “Ancient, Healing and Holy Wells of County Durham” listing by Laurence Hunt, which formed the basis for today’s ‘well hunt’.

He says “On the banks of the river Wear below the level crossing at Witton le Wear. A footpath leads down from the level crossing. Whether of any great age or repute I was unable to determine, but this named well, consisting of a spring at the head of a small overgrown channel leading to the river Wear, is attractively sited and worth a visit. Its water is far from 'lively', however, being muddy and stagnant”

This is a really beautiful little village. We’ve whizzed up and down the A68 many, many times, but never turned left down to Witton-le-Wear. Well worth a detour! Would like to come again for a wander round. There is even a cross shaft in the church, although this is supposed to be 12th century.

We parked in the layby by the small station, just past the level crossing (as travelling from the A68 through Witton). There was a footpath with a sign to the cricket club immediately opposite, so we walked down this tarmacked path to the cricket pavilion (with its beehives and even a swarm of bees in a basket next to the path). We followed the path down to the gushing, rushing, pebbly River Wear, but decided we’d gone too far.

Spotting another path climbing up a steep bank on the other side of the railway crossing, we headed back across the cricket field, and where this footpath levels off, there is a small bridge over a channel of water at NZ 15059 31172 which seemed to rise out of nowhere. This disappeared under the footpath, not to reappear again (must be channelled into the river at some point). Following this small channel to the west for around 100 metres, there is a fenced off area of reeds and tall grasses, and I think this is where the spring rises (NZ 15023 31152)

Dropping small leaves into the water, we couldn’t determine a flow of water, or even which direction it flowed in – the leaves just sat sedately on the surface of the water.

Getting home, and trying to do some more research on this well, on the OS map of 1857 the well is not marked but the area is called Lively Bank Plantation. There is a small note on Keys to the Past, but the village dates back to Saxon times. I have emailed County Durham HER to find out more, if possible.

Llanllawer Church

Date Added: 26th Aug 2014
Site Type: Early Christian Sculptured Stone Country: Wales (Pembrokeshire)
Visited: Yes on 21st Aug 2014. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: The only access to the church is through a gate and a 100 yard walk through the field to the church gate.
This church is not used, and is falling into ruin. It is boarded up and there are slates coming loose from the roof.
It was not possible to get inside, as the door was locked and some of the windows boarded up.
There is a clear view from the edge of the church yard down to the Llanllawer Holy Well.

Llanllawer Holy Well

Date Added: 26th Aug 2014
Site Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring Country: Wales (Pembrokeshire)
Visited: Yes on 21st Aug 2014. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Having visited the Pillar Stones, we drove the additional 2km through the village of Llanychaer to the Llanllawer Parish Church and Holy Well. There was a small lay-by opposite the gate to the field leading up to the church, so it was easy to park.

The church, which stands on top of the hill, is very obviously redundant, boarded up, and with loose slates. The only access to the church is through the field from the road.

The well is accessed by walking 50 yards further up the road, turning a left hand corner, where a stile/gate gives access to the Llanllawer Holy (Sainted) Well.

The well was dry when we saw it, but there is a clear channel to take water down hill. The ground was still boggy, although large stones made it easy to cross the channel to look inside the well.

Inside the well there were lots of tea-lights and tokens, and tokens had been hung from the gate to the well. It is clearly a place that is well revered, even today.

Loch Ederline

Date Added: 1st Aug 2018
Site Type: Crannog Country: Scotland (Argyll)
Visited: Saw from a distance on 18th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3

Log Text: Loch Ederline Crannog: We saw this from a distance only, as the view was impeded by a line of trees and shrubs. We needed to stop on the side of the road, going downhill from Ford, where there was only a short length of fence between us and the loch. A great tanker needed to get past us, so Andrew had to move the car right into the side of the road; even so, he only just scraped by. I hurriedly took some photographs, steadying the camera on a fence post to try and get a decent shot.

It was hot and humid, so we decided to beat a retreat to Kilmartin to get refreshments. Only 2pm and already 9 sites under our belt!

Logie Old Kirk (Stirling)

Trip No.51  Entry No.2  Date Added: 9th Oct 2017
Site Type: Early Christian Sculptured Stone Country: Scotland (Stirling)
Visited: Yes on 26th Sep 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Hogbacks at Logie Old Kirk, Stirling: To reach the church from the University Halls of Residence, we had to walk through the gardener’s compound/offices. The top two gates around the churchyard were locked; the actual entrance was next to the small stone building to the south of the churchyard, near the stream, with an information board by a small car park, so there is access from the main road.

The churchyard is full of wonderful (morbid!) tombstones. Could have spent the day photographing them. It was also a lovely location with a small stream trickling along the eastern side of the churchyard.

Found one hogback SE of the church, the second is just a lump at the end (by the church) of the 6th row of graves, counting from the stream at the east end of the churchyard. A wonderful location. Really could have spent hours here.

Long Meg And Her Daughters

Trip No.185  Entry No.2  Date Added: 21st Aug 2022
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: England (Cumbria)
Visited: Yes on 7th Aug 2022. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Long Meg and Her Daughters: We walked along the quiet, shady old hollow ways from St Michael's and All Angels, Addingham to Long Meg and her daughters, coming across a well by the side of the track, plus a solitary standing stone in a field just north of Long Meg. The latter was too close to the field boundary to be a rubbing stone. It wasn't marked on the OS map, nor is it mentioned on the Historic England map search or the entry for Long Meg.

We took my daughter-in-law, son and their two dogs along, and they were amazed it was 'a proper stone circle'. The base of Long Meg itself is currently being used as a shrine, with people leaving offerings even as we walked up to this stone - including flowers, key rings and even a pair of sunglasses!

The rock art on Long Meg stood out well in the bright sunlight. The site was very busy today, and the field full of large cattle, who fortunately kept their distance.

Long Nanny

Trip No.75  Entry No.2  Date Added: 21st May 2018
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: England (Northumberland)
Visited: Saw from a distance on 20th May 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Long Nanny Standing Stone, Tughall: On our way into Beadnell, on the B1340, husband Andrew screeched the car to a halt on the busy road, telling me there was a standing stone in the field that only had a couple of photographs on the Portal. We could only see this from a distance, as there were large cattle and a BIG bull in the field. I took a couple of photographs from the side of the road, although the stone was so far away, even resting the camera on the fence and the window ledge of the car, the shot was hazy.

Like wayland, I can’t find anything on Pastscape or Historic England. Intriguing. Need to go back and have a look when the bull and his ladies have been moved out of the field.

Long Stone (Barcombe Hill)

Trip No.70  Entry No.2  Date Added: 6th May 2018
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: England (Cumbria)
Visited: Yes on 5th May 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: The Long Stone, Barcombe Hill: we always thought this was a modern marker stone, sitting high above Stane Way. We also thought it was difficult to get to. Not so. There are well mown grass trackways that lead from Barcombe Iron Age Defended Settlement/Roman Signal Station, as well as from the Trig Point on Barcombe Hill. We approached from the trig point, which is higher than this stone and the settlement.

The whole stone and base are held together with large metal/iron rivets. The base looks as if it has been broken into two, and one half has been taken away. The top of the cross appears rounded upwards at the four corners, as if a cross head (or similar) was mounted on top.

The more time I spent here, the more I was convinced this was an old cross. What a location! With Vindolanda below, it is certainly a very prominent spot.

Longknowe (Kilham)

Trip No.41  Entry No.3  Date Added: 28th Aug 2017
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement Country: England (Northumberland)
Visited: Yes on 26th Aug 2017. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Longknowe Settlement, Kilham: Our first scheduled stop of the day, having been diverted by two very interesting standing stones!

Driving down the single track road towards Longknowe Farm and Thompsons Walls, it was a bit tricky to track precisely where we were on the road because of all the little twists and turns it took. But when we first saw the settlement from a distance, cut by the road, it was obvious what it was.

This is a very pretty little valley, if somewhat remote, surrounded by tall hills to the south, east and west, with a pretty (unnamed burn/syke) running alongside the eastern side of the settlement, back towards Kilham. Another small stream, but with a fast water flow, trickled to the west. The farmer had cut a drainage channel with led this to the burn to the east of the settlement.

The stony banks of the settlement were an obvious brighter green and with shorter grass, than the tall yellow grass in the landscape surrounding it. The settlement has been clearly cut by the road. There is a large round hollow area in the northern part of the settlement, with a few stones peeking out of the grass - the remains of the 7m hut circle?

Described as ‘much robbed’ and in poor condition, if the farmer decides to put hay bales or any farming equipment here, then this will probably destroy what remains of this settlement.

Onwards and upwards to park the car at Thompsons Walls and walk up to Ring Chesters, with the dark clouds gathering above us.

Lord's Tree (Hawick)

Trip No.29  Entry No.2  Date Added: 31st Jul 2017
Site Type: Cairn Country: Scotland (Scottish Borders)
Visited: Yes on 3rd Jun 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Lord's Tree Cairn, Hawick: We arrived in Hawick, intending to buy a map, but the majority of the shops (apart from the bookmakers, charity shops and 1 café, were closed (looking at the opening times, they largely shut at 2pm on a Saturday. The town seemed deserted apart from a few tourists. We later found out that most local people had gathered near the community centre for the Riding of the Marches.

Relying upon the Trigpointing UK maps (good job there was a phone signal!), we navigated our way through the town (stopping off to look at The Mote on the way), past the golf course and out into the glorious open countryside with the hills beyond.

This cairn appears as a slight bump at the top of a small rise of a hill; it's unmistakably a large, low cairn, and the lush green grass and wild flowers invited a walk through the meadow towards it.

Completely circular, there is a low bank surrounding the cairn. Shame the old Lord's Tree wasn't there. Lovely view down to Ca Knowe Cairn further south.

Lordenshaw Hillfort

Trip No.8  Entry No.1  Date Added: 10th Jan 2017
Site Type: Hillfort Country: England (Northumberland)
Visited: Yes on 1st Jan 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Lordenshaw Hillfort, Northumberland: after an abortive trip to the Five Kings stone row, via Tosson Tower Bastle/Tower House, we parked at the main Lordenshaw's car park and headed northwards up the hill towards the hillfort. It was almost 3pm on new year's day and dusk was starting to fall, together with a biting wind and sleet flurries. We've been here before with our daughter and son-in-law on a glorious (but still windy) autumn afternoon, but didn't take any photographs at the time. Wanting to see Channel Rock and other rock art before darkness fell, we didn't linger too long in the hillfort. The defensive banks and ditches are still remarkably clear and the views, particularly down to Rothsbury were great. On the way back from Channel Rock, to the north west of the hillfort, I spotted what looked like cairns. There was an old boundary feature and in the interior of the hillfort, following the pathway to Main Rock, we spotted the stone ring bases of three round houses. Would love to go back on a warm summer's evening!

Loth Stone

Trip No.52  Entry No.6  Date Added: 10th Oct 2017
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (East Lothian)
Visited: Yes on 27th Sep 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: The Loth Stone, west of Traprain Law hillfort: Just up the hill from Standingstone Farm, up a lovely grassy lane just to the west of Traprain Law hillfort. The stone has now been moved against a hedge. There is a small gate into the field, where the wheat had just been harvested, letting us walk right up to the stone and photograph it.

We did peer around the field hoping to see some sign of the cairn at NT 5781 7409, some 53 metres to the south of its current location but could see nothing.

With Traprain Law hillfort rising up to the east, this was a quiet, pleasant and atmospheric spot, although the standing stone did seem a little abandoned. Next stop was to be a hill fort in an even more remote location.

Loupin' Stanes NW

Date Added: 9th Apr 2015
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: Scotland (Dumfries and Galloway)
Visited: Yes on 6th Apr 2015. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: The Loupin' Stanes, Stone Circle near Eskdalemuir: From the Girdle Stanes, the footpath pointed along the field boundary above the river, so we attempted to follow this line, although there were lots of boggy areas and field drains to step/jump across. A tall, but well built stile helped us over the first fence nearest to the Girdle Stanes, which even I managed! Although it hadn’t rained in a while, there was plenty of surface water, presumably from springs in the field so we had to deviate onto higher ground. This had the benefit of us being able to spot several larger (presumably fallen) stones along the route between the two stone circles. As the circles are ‘hidden’ from each other by a small hill in-between, we were curious as to whether this was a deliberately marked route.

The Loupin’ Stanes formed a smaller circle than the Girdle Stanes and seemed to sit on a platform of earth. The two larger stones form an entrance towards the west. As at the Girdle Stanes, someone had placed a small bunch of flowers against the thinner of the two tallest stones, which also had a mask sculpture placed upon it.

We were curious as to the stones between this stone circle and the road – is this the third (now destroyed) stone circle that is referred to in some of the literature? We walked round them, but couldn’t make out a definitive pattern.

On the way back, we walked back to the road rather than retrace our steps back to the Girdle Stanes. Because the field gate had been shut with barbed wire, needed to climb the high stile. We’d walked further than we thought; it was a good ten minutes walk back to the car. From this site, I wanted to try and explore the Stone Rings/remains of a settlement just north east of Rennaldburn. Although we were unable to get into the forest (blocked by a substantial fence) we did get an excellent view of the Loupin’ Stanes site from the forest track on the way back to the car at grid reference NY 25936 97021.

Loupin' Stanes SE

Date Added: 11th Apr 2015
Site Type: Stone Row / Alignment Country: Scotland (Dumfries and Galloway)
Visited: Yes on 6th Apr 2015. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: The Loupin' Stanes Stone Row, Eskdalemuir: The walk between the Girdle Stanes and the Loupin’ Stanes along the side of the river was boggy and wet and we kept having to step over modern field drainage ditches so we deviated onto higher ground towards the road. In doing so, we came across a number of boulders sitting on the hillside in isolation. After seeing a couple, we began to wonder if we were walking along an avenue between the stones, although without taking the grid references and plotting them on a map, we weren’t sure if there was any alignment between these stones. One seemed to be more of a small cairn.

The Ancient Scotland web site (site 106) makes reference to this line of stones, as does the ‘Langholm Walks (Loupin)’ brochure, saying they either link the stone circles or act as pointers. The latter asks us to make our own mind up as to whether it's a stone row or not. We were undecided and stood scratching our heads - there was obviously some purpose to these boulders being placed - they didn't seem like natural bedrock.

Low Dinsdale Cross

Date Added: 8th Oct 2014
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: England (County Durham)
Visited: Yes on 5th Oct 2014. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: I found details of this beautiful little church on the Darlington Borough Council Website, under their Scheduled Monuments list.

Low Dinsdale is situated in a bend of the River Tees south east of Darlington. The church was originally built of pink sandstone, with modern work in red sandstone, which gives it a warm, welcoming appearance. The history sheet published by the church says that “Dinsdale Church was built in the year AD 638 ... the building consisted of a sanctuary, chancel and one long aisle.”

The church of St. John the Baptist sits on an ancient site and houses fragments of pre-Conquest sculptured stones, including two cross-heads, the lower part of a cross-shaft, and half of a hog-back stone. The lower part of the cross-shaft sits in the churchyard, near an impressively large pre-conquest stone coffin.

At the time of our visit, the eastern wall of the porch which houses the Anglo Saxon cross fragments had been taken down in preparation for the building of a toilet. The fragments currently sit on pews inside the church, which is kept locked. The church warden lives locally and an appointment to view can be arranged by telephoning in advance.

In conversation with the church warden, he told me that attendance at services runs to 8 or 9 people.

The church warden helped me to turn the stones around to see the carvings. On one fragment, two horsemen on side that had previously been mortared into the porch wall.

They had found some bones and had an archaeologist (who had been to Bosnia for war grave forensic identification) come and examine the bones and tell them what illnesses these people had. He thought they were from Newcastle University.

Lower Craigmailing (Torphichen)

Trip No.49  Entry No.2  Date Added: 5th Oct 2017
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: Scotland (West Lothian)
Visited: Yes on 22nd Sep 2017. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 1 Access 5

Log Text: Lower Craigmailing Socketed Stone: This socketed stone was well hidden under shrubbery at the start of a footpath running from Cathlaw Lane to Witch Craig/Crag. I would have walked right by it, had husband, Andrew, not pushed his way through the shrubbery to find it.

What a sad fate for this socketed stone. Being located so close to Torphichen, I assume it had something to do with marking the way to/from the Abbey, possibly up to Cairnpapple Hill.

Lowhouse

Trip No.9  Entry No.6  Date Added: 15th Feb 2017
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: England (Cumbria)
Visited: Yes on 12th Feb 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Lowhouse/Holme Head/Kitchenhill Standing Stone, Penrith, Cumbria: From Newbeggin, heading back up the M6, leaving at junction 41, turning right onto the B5305 and taking the first exit off the roundabout, we headed up the minor road signposted to Calthwaite. Where the road divides at Kitchenhill Farm, we turned right, heading over the railway line, then immediately over the small bridge over the River Petterill. At grid reference NY 49802 34135 there is a left hand turn on the bend, leading down to a small area of land by the river, used by the farmer for storing hay. There is room here for one car to park at the entrance. We walked back the short distance over the bridge over the river and went to look over the gate into the field. At first, in the gathering dusk, we couldn’t see anything, but then at the far end of the field, sheltered by a large tree, we spotted this huge grey stone.


The field is guarded by a barbed wire topped gate. I don’t like trespassing, but there was nothing in the field, so we let ourselves gingerly in and followed the tractor trail over the grass to the stone. It is huge. I spotted what seemed like other smaller (grey) stones in the base of the red sandstone wall to the right-hand side of the field. Getting closer to the stone, it sits on (what was) a lovely spot (pre railway line), overlooking the gently meandering river below.


Andrew was keen to try and get sight of two other stones in the area (and another I’d spotted travelling south on the M6 on the way down), so we drove to Plumpton, slightly further north, stopping near Plumpton Wall Farm to peer over the fields, but could see nothing. We retraced our route and headed off towards Calthwaite, stopping at the entrance to Hallrigg to peer eastwards over the fields. With the sleet hammering in our faces, Andrew got the binoculars out and spotted a stone next to Calgarth Plantation at grid reference NY 48253 37527. Looking on UK Grid Reference Finder, I couldn’t see any sign of it, although this is an old map on the Modern Antiquarian web site which would be worth investigating.

Luston Holy Well

Trip No.169  Entry No.1  Date Added: 8th Aug 2021
Site Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring Country: England (Herefordshire)
Visited: Yes on 14th Jul 2021. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Luston Holy Well: This well is not shown on the HE map search, or listed on the HE Research Records or Herefordshire SMR. It is located at the corner of the B4361 and Eye Lane.

We parked on Townsend Park, opposite the well and walked across the road.

There is a plaque on the north eastern corner of the well proclaiming it to be a holy well. Can’t (yet) find out any more information about it.

The handle of the pump had been chained and padlocked in place. We couldn’t hear any water flowing, and looking down the drain cover, the water was stagnant.

Maiden Castle (N Yorks)

Date Added: 4th Aug 2014
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement Country: England (Yorkshire (North))
Visited: Yes on 30th Jul 2014. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: We ran out of time to see this site on 11th July, when we visited Thorborough Henges and West Agra (we got thoroughly distracted by the tremendous rock art at the latter), so took advantage of a trip down to Nottingham to detour via North Yorkshire and Swaledale to visit Maiden Castle.

Signs of the recent Tour de France were everywhere in this area (lots of yellow bunting and yellow bicycles, and spray-painted signs of encouragement to the riders on the roads). We stopped off in picturesque Reeth for lunch, then headed off southwards through the village of Grinton, turning west down a small narrow road with views of the river Swale to the north. This single track road runs for about 2km past ‘Bleak House’ and Harkerside Place. There are a number of footpaths and bridleways which run past Maiden Castle, but we picked the westernmost one, just past the fort, where there is a small parking area, sufficient for 4 or 5 cars.

From the car park, there is clearly marked path which runs (quite steeply) up past the western edge of the fort. As we were putting on our walking boots, two walkers were coming down and commented that the fort was ‘very well preserved; well worth seeing’.

I don’t like steep slopes or drops, but the path was relatively easy, and I needed a helping hand in only one or two rocky parts.

The fort was virtually invisible from the path, and is strangely situated part-way up the hillside. About 200 metres up the slope, the wsestern ditches of the fort suddenly come into view, then a few more paces open up a vista across the whole of the fort area. Turning to look back down the path, there are stunning views across the Swale valley and to the villages of Healaugh and Reeth across the valley.

There is a clear ditch and bank surrounding the fort; from the footpath to the west of the fort, it’s relatively easy to negotiate the ditch and bank easily (husband like a mountain goat, me picking my way gingerly), and ended up in a quiet, gentle spot, out of the wind and spotting rain. The brush underfoot wasn’t like other sites I’ve visited – the interior of the fort had what appeared to be low growing box plants with ferns, and we used sheep tracks to navigate from one point to the next within the fort area to avoid prickled ankles. At the southern end of the fort, where the slope drops steeply into the valley, there are quite a few tumbled stones, as if the fort had an outer wall at some point.

Before we visited, I had come across, and downloaded, the Durham University Archaeological Services report on Maiden Castle and West Hagg (geophysical surveys, report 2631, May 2011), which is available on the web when typing in ‘Maiden Castle Yorkshire’ on my web browser, so were able to largely identify the features they found within the fort, which was a real help in understanding what we were looking at.

Where their report had indicated a probable roundhouse, we found a circular area with very different vegetation, with low lying stones popping up through the grass to indicate where the foundation walls had been.

The walled approaches on the eastern side of the fort were impressive, giving the fort a ‘banjo’ shape. There is also a cairn/round barrow immediately adjacent to the northern end of the northern wall approach road to the fort.

Whilst exploring the fort, we saw other walkers pass by on the footpaths above and below, but very few people actually came into the fort, which was surprising. Definitely worth a visit.

Maiden Well (Kettle Hill)

Trip No.36  Entry No.3  Date Added: 31st Jul 2017
Site Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring Country: England (Northumberland)
Visited: Yes on 30th Jul 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 4

Log Text: Maiden Well and The King's Chair, Wooler: After having walked round the outer perimeter of the promontory of The Kettles, we’d actually stood just above the site of the Maiden Well (Pin Well), but would have needed a rope and harness to descend the vertical cliff down to it. We walked back to the car, drove back into Wooler, then back out again on the road to the tiny (and ancient) hamlet of Earle.

Where the road splits at NT 99100 26973, we took the western fork (right hand if coming from Wooler) and take the track that runs from NT 98924 26750 to a small quarry. Note: the gate to this road is kept padlocked to prevent people taking vehicles up to the quarry, but there are gates for walkers. Husband Andrew hadn’t spotted the gate, so we ended up climbing the fence into the neighbouring field, then back out again!

Just before the main entrance to the quarry a small (overgrown) footpath leads to your left from NT 98808 26845. We followed this for some 300 metres, the nettles eventually giving way to open ground in a small valley/ravine. We first spotted the King's Chair protruding from the hill in front of you, although I was a bit dubious at first as the stone was hidden by lush, tall bracken growing round it from the rock face. Walking further forward the well is hidden under a hawthorn tree.

The well is in a lovely, enigmatic location. It looks as if someone has recently created this lovely circular ‘halo’ of stone around the clear water. A stone a metre of so to it’s north west has a hole at its base. Glimpsing down, I could see the water running into the well pool.

A small stream runs out of the well pool. The water course is marked by groups of stones leading back towards the entrance to the quarry, on either side of the small stream, which is also marked by lush grass and bracken growing on either side of it. I walked up a little way to look at various groups of stones, to find parts of the ground boggy and heavy with water.

With The Kettles rising up above you to the east, this is a really nice spot. I could have lingered longer, but 4-5 Romano-British settlements called. Time to move on.