Pathfoot Stone

Trip No.51  Entry No.3  Date Added: 9th Oct 2017
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (Stirling)
Visited: Yes on 26th Sep 2017. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Pathfoot Standing Stone, University of Stirling: Walking back across the campus from Logie Old Church, we got caught in a very heavy shower of rain and had to shelter by the student residences at the western side of the campus.

When I caught sight of this, I thought this was a sculpture, not a real standing stone at first. It is at the side of Armitage Road, just north of its’ (busy) junction with Grange Road at the north western side of the campus. We clambered up the wet, slippery slope to take some photos, stared at by the passing students.

By this time, my feet were aching, as we’d spent the best part of 2 hours walking round and round the campus. With Stirling Castle still to come, I welcomed getting back into the car.

Airthrey Stone

Trip No.51  Entry No.1  Date Added: 9th Oct 2017
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (Stirling)
Visited: Yes on 26th Sep 2017. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: Airthrey Castle Standing Stone, Stirling University: I have visited the University of Stirling on a number of occasions over the years, visiting an organisation at the Beta Innovation Park, but not known (until I saw them on the Portal) that there were standing stones within the grounds.

We parked at the Wallace Monument, thinking it would be quick half hour walk around Stirling University Campus. Wrong! From the car park, we walked east up Hillfoots Road (the B989) cutting into the Alpha Centre Innovation Park, then walking round the east side of the lake to the University Sports Ground.

As soon as we reached the fence into this area, this huge standing stone stood out. I found the stiles a little too high for my dodgy knees, so it was interesting getting over them!

The surrounding hills, and the view back to the Wallace Monument make this an interesting spot. There were lots of dog walkers and students around, but none seemed to take any notice of the stone – presumably they are all familiar with it. By the time we’d visited Logie Old Church and the Pathfoot Standing Stone, my feet were aching! But no time to relax – Stirling Castle called with a loud, clear voice!

St Colmac's Cross

Trip No.50  Entry No.8  Date Added: 9th Oct 2017
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (Isle of Bute)
Visited: Couldn't find on 25th Sep 2017

Log Text: St Colmac's Cross, Isle of Bute: I really, really wanted to find this standing stone with incised Latin Cross, but we couldn't work out a way to get behind the barn at East St. Colmac Farm to view it. The Canmore records show this intriguing stone in a wooden enclosure, which was built round it after it was damaged in recent times (the top was knocked off).

By the time we'd had several attempts to find this stone, we were seriously running out of time to get back for our ferry back to Wemyss Bay. We needn't have worried, however, as the ferries were suspended because of the heavy fog. This necessitated a drive up to Rhubodach to get a shorter ferry ride across to Colintraive, then a very hairy mountain drive on a single track road with dense fog back to Dunoon. A not to be forgotten trip!

St Colmac Cottages Stone Circle

Trip No.50  Entry No.7  Date Added: 9th Oct 2017
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: Scotland (Isle of Bute)
Visited: Saw from a distance on 9th Oct 2017. My rating: Ambience 2 Access 4

Log Text: St Colmac Cottages Stone Circle: Defeated by a pond between us and the stone circle, a large heap of cow dung by the gate, heavy mist, and running out of time before our ferry back, we stopped at the gate and photographed this from a distance.

We had tried to see the standing stone near Calmac Bridge, but the farmers were moving a large herd of cattle into the field, and we would have had to wait for ages. Rapidly running out of time before we needed to get back to Rounsay for the ferry, we pressed on to St. Colmac Cottages, where we parked at the entrance to the field with the stone circle. Here, the farmer has created a fenced walkway along the side of the road.

The walkway, however, was deep in wet slurry from the cows having just been moved down this path, and the field was sodden. Arriving at the gate into the field, the farmer had also dumped a whole load of cow manure just the other side of the gate, making it incredibly uninviting to walk to the stone circle, which we could just see through the mist in the field.

At this point, not having wellies, I realised I’d rather see the standing stone inscribed with a cross before we left the island, so we waded back to the car and set off just down the road to the ruined church at Calmac Bridge.

Acholter

Trip No.50  Entry No.6  Date Added: 9th Oct 2017
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (Isle of Bute)
Visited: Yes on 25th Sep 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Acholter Standing Stone, Isle of Bute: From the Scalpsie Bronze Age Barrow, we headed north up the A844 towards Colmac and East Colmac to see the stone circle, a standing stone with incised cross and an earthwork. By this time, we were starting to run out of time as we needed to get back to Rounsay for the ferry.

There had just been an accident at the southern end of Ettrick Bay – a camper van and a car had gone head on into each other at low speed. All the occupants of the vehicles were out on the roadside and others had stopped to help. I can imagine turning the corner of the A844 and coming onto this lovely stretch of sand and sea, not looking where you were going properly. We followed the line of cars past them. I spotted this standing stone on the map. We weren’t going to stop, but the stone was visible through the mist in the field, so we pulled up by the side of the road.

My goodness, the entrances to the fields were ankle deep in water, so we walked further south to another field gate and used an alternative route. The whole field was so very wet and absolutely covered in damp, smelly cow pats, that we could only get within about 10 metres of the stone. By this time, the mist really was so bad we could hardly see the stone.

Picking our way back to the road, me with very wet socks and shoes, I turned back to the field only to see a herd of large cows making their way towards us. Where had they come from? We didn’t see them in the field, and they made an eerie sight through the mist!

Scalpsie Barrow

Trip No.50  Entry No.5  Date Added: 9th Oct 2017
Site Type: Round Cairn Country: Scotland (Isle of Bute)
Visited: Yes on 25th Sep 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Scalpsie Barrow, Isle of Bute: We didn’t plan to stop here, but there was a car park and information board by the field alongside the A844 past Ambrismore on the way to Ardscalpsie, signposted to the beach, so we screeched to a halt to explore. The information board differentiated between the barrow and another cairn, also somewhere in the field, but the fog was so bad, we couldn’t see it, and it was very difficult to photograph the main barrow.!

Worth stopping to see. The gate into the field was about 100 metres further west along the road from the small car park. Walking back to the barrow, my feet got completely drenched. A shame the fog was so bad, as I’d have loved to have found the second cairn.

Blackpark

Trip No.50  Entry No.4  Date Added: 9th Oct 2017
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: Scotland (Isle of Bute)
Visited: Yes on 25th Sep 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Blackpart Standing Stone, Isle of Bute: About 2.3 km north of St. Blane’s Chapel, still on Plan Road. There is a small car park just off the road, north of the stones, at NS 09160 55716. The ground was very boggy, with large pools of water both on the path to them and in between, so we had to pick our way very careful.

These three stones are some of the most mis-matched I’ve seen. The northern and southern most stones are made of a reddish conglomerate, a little like cement. The third stone looks like whinstone, which has split down the middle, and is the oddest of shapes, morphing what it looks like completely as you walk around it.

Thankfully the mist had thinned by the time we arrived here, and the sun was just starting to show throw the pine trees of the surrounding forest.

I was very intrigued by the southernmost stone, on a mound – is this a cairn? No mention of this on Canmore, although as I was walking around it I spotted graffiti, including what looked like a misshapen cross.

St Blane's Chapel (Isle of Bute)

Trip No.51  Entry No.3  Date Added: 8th Oct 2017
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: Scotland (Isle of Bute)
Visited: Yes

Log Text: Cross base/socket stone, St. Blane's Chapel, Isle of Bute: Whilst I was wandering through the ruins of the chapel and photographing it, husband Andrew was in search of this sandstone socket in the lower churchyard. In the end, it was easy to find – head south out of the ruins, into the upper churchyard, down the steps, and it is virtually in front of you to your left hand side. I confess that without the Canmore record, I might have very well missed this, as I’m used to seeing socket stones that are sitting on the ground, not buried within it.

St Blane's Well

Trip No.51  Entry No.2  Date Added: 8th Oct 2017
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: Scotland (Isle of Bute)
Visited: Yes on 25th Sep 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: St. Blane's Well, Isle of Bute: After St. Mary’s Chapel and Well, we made our way to the south end of the island, by which time the mist was starting to come in from the sea. There is a layby at NS 09299 53076 for around 6 cars at the start of the path uphill to the chapel. I was very disappointed to find quite a few other visitors there. They must have done what we did, and made their way straight to the south end of the island to work their way back. Should have timed it better.

At this site, as well as the chapel, there is a holy well, a hogback and a cross shaft. This whole place is very ancient and it was atmospheric in the mist.

St Mary's Well (Rothsay)

Trip No.51  Entry No.1  Date Added: 8th Oct 2017
Site Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring Country: Scotland (Isle of Bute)
Visited: Yes on 25th Sep 2017. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: St. Mary's Well, Rothsay: Almost immediately across the road from St Mary's Chapel, set into a dry stone wall and very sadly neglected. There is no outlet but the remains of a metal tethering ring for a cup or ladle is still embedded in the arch. Worth a walk across from the chapel to take a look.

Rhymer's Stone (Melrose)

Trip No.50  Entry No.7  Date Added: 7th Oct 2017
Site Type: Marker Stone Country: Scotland (Scottish Borders)
Visited: Yes on 24th Sep 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Eildontree Stone/Rhymer Stone, Melrose: After our failed attempt to find St. Dunstan’s Well in Melrose, we wanted to end the day on a positive note, so asked to come here, particularly because of the Steeleye Span song. The sign from the road said ‘Rhymer’s Stone’ ½ mile. It was more like a good mile, then a walk of about 300 metres from the layby by the gate closing the road. Loved the view up to Eildon Hillfort, but far too late in the day to go exploring.

Font Stone (Dryburgh)

Trip No.50  Entry No.6  Date Added: 7th Oct 2017
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: Scotland (Scottish Borders)
Visited: Yes on 24th Sep 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: The Font Stone, Dyburgh (Cross Base): Sited on a corner of the B6356, it is a miracle that this cross base is still in one piece, being located so close to the road.

From Mertoun Kirk, we followed the B6356, turning right before reaching Dryburgh along a minor road signposted to Bemersyde, where the stone is located some 270 metres along the road on a slight right hand bend.

It is largely hidden by grass at the right hand side of the road as you head up to Bemersyde. There is a layby just before the stone, where we pulled in to photograph the stone. Note: this is a busy road, so be careful of traffic.

As we were very near the Scott’s View Geological Indicator and the Wallace Monument, whilst there was still light, we decided to go on and take a look.

Mertoun Kirk (St Boswells)

Trip No.50  Entry No.5  Date Added: 7th Oct 2017
Site Type: Sculptured Stone Country: Scotland (Scottish Borders)
Visited: Yes on 24th Sep 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Mertoun Kirk, incised stone: The church lies in the grounds of Mertoun House, which lies almost directly north, across a bend in the River Tweed, from Maxton with its Burgh Cross. To approach the church, we had to follow the signs up the single track road to the house; the church is just before you reach the house. There were other Roman fragments built into seats in the gardens just outside the house, but we needed to pay to get in the house, and there was only half an hour before it shut for the evening. Fortunately, we were able to park outside the church, next to the mounting block, and walked around this very hidden, almost secretive church.

The church itself was locked, and we couldn’t get in. Whilst Canmore gives no date for the stone, the fragment looks older than the church which was built in 1658 and restored in 1820 and 1898.

St Boswell's Old Church

Trip No.50  Entry No.4  Date Added: 7th Oct 2017
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: Scotland (Scottish Borders)
Visited: Yes on 24th Sep 2017. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: St Boswell's Old Church, Incised Cross Slab: I was expecting much more from this site, lying in a corner tucked between the River Tween to the east and Boswell Burn to the south. The ruins of the old church have been taken down to only a couple of courses, whilst the graveyard is still in use today.

Not very atmospheric. It turns out, pulling the Canmore record up on site, that there was only 1 tombstone with incised cross standing against the south wall of the church, which is supposed to have: “A tombstone, measuring 5ft 8in in length and tapering in width from 1ft 7 1/2in to 1ft 2in, is attached to the S wall of the church. It bears a slightly incised, equal-limbed cross within a circle.” No date is given for this. The rest of the interesting old stones have been built into the modern church, which we didn’t bother to find, as it presumably would be locked, and we had a lot more sites we particularly wanted to see.

Maxton Burgh (St Boswells)

Trip No.50  Entry No.3  Date Added: 6th Oct 2017
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: Scotland (Scottish Borders)
Visited: Yes on 24th Sep 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Maxton Burgh Cross, Scottish Borders: We stopped off at a garden centre café in Newton St. Boswell’s for refreshments, then carried on eastwards towards the small village of Maxton. We didn’t have precise grid references for this cross at the time, and with no mobile signal, we were a little lost as to where to find it. Eventually I managed to pull up the website for Maxton village, which described the location of the cross as being just off the main street, in front of what was the smiddy, “on what remains of the village green”. They state that “Parts of the cross are probably original 13th century, but the main part was replaced in 1881 by Sir William Ramsay Fairfax, Bart.”

We drove up and down the A699 through the village trying to find the old village green, even driving down St. Cuthbert’s Way to the church. Eventually, we decided to park on the main road and walk around. From here, the cross was easy to spot. The old village green is now someone’s private garden. The man who lived in the cottage immediately behind the cross said it was OK to go and look. Photographing the cross was somewhat hampered by the land rover parked immediately next to it. Fancy having the old village green for your private garden!

Purveshaugh

Trip No.50  Entry No.2  Date Added: 6th Oct 2017
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (Scottish Borders)
Visited: Yes on 24th Sep 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Purveshaugh (Earlston) Standing Stone, Scottish Borders: Our second stop of the day. Although the B6105 is supposed to be a minor road, it is still very busy and traffic rushes along it at a pace of knots. We managed to pull into the ungated field entrance without causing too much chaos.

A few steps into the field, we realised it was planted with wheat. We managed to navigate the 10 metres or so from the field entrance to the stone by following the empty ground where the tractor wheels had run, so didn’t cause any damage.

I was really amused to see the stone had its own name sign ‘Standing Stone’. It really is the most oddly shaped stone, like a small chair. Canmore says it is unsculptured, and it looks as if it has been quarried before being located here. I was surprised to find Canmore had two other records for this site, within a few tens of metres of the stone – a post medieval farmstead (Canmore ID 343237) and a well (Canmore ID 343240), neither of which we saw evidence for on the day.

Not a great location in modern times, with power lines running almost overhead, and the busy road.

Dods Corse Stone (Boon)

Trip No.50  Entry No.1  Date Added: 6th Oct 2017
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: Scotland (Scottish Borders)
Visited: Yes on 24th Sep 2017. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Dods Corse Stone (Cross shaft and base): We pulled over in field entrance opposite wood the stone stands within, at NT 58395 46267. There was another huge bull with his ladies in this field, standing staring at us very menacingly, as if he was about the charge at us. As we were getting out of the car, we were overtaken by 3 army land rovers on exercise, the driver of the first vehicle waved.

The step on the stile into the wood was very tall, so my knees needed a bit of help getting up on it. There was a very narrow path leading to the north of the small wood. There is a fence line running east-west and another small section of wood (a narrow section of field is shown on the map). Following this inner fenceline some 200 metres to the west, we eventually came across the cross and base almost buried under moss and debris from the surrounding trees.

The incised cross on the northern face could just be made out, but the cross in relief on the southern face remained buried under the moss. All under foot around the cross were other bright red sandstone stones, but with all the forestry work, and debris from it, made it difficult to tell what archaeology there might be around us.

Gormyre

Trip No.49  Entry No.4  Date Added: 6th Oct 2017
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (West Lothian)
Visited: Yes on 22nd Sep 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Gormyre Stone, Torphichen: Ever since I went to Torphichen on 13th May 2017, I’ve wanted to come back and not only look round the Preceptory, but also try to find the other refuge stones associated with the Sanctuary Stone in the churchyard.

Today, despite not feeling 100% I was glad to be in search of this stone, and delighted to be able to see it from the road. We parked at NS 98072 72853 (there was just enough room by the gate to pull off the road), approximately 1.2 km east of Torphichen Preceptory.

The farmer had padlocked the gates into the field and the track which ran alongside it; these were really high and a little precarious to climb over (didn’t want to break them), so I ended up clambering gingerly over the wooden fence next to the gate. Following the grassy trackway north, just over 200 metres further on there was another gate, again padlocked, so we negotiated the wooden fence next to it. Thankfully, the huge bull and his ladies were in the adjoining field.

This stone sits on top of a natural mound. We couldn’t see the outline of the Maltese Cross on the north face of the stone, despite careful looking at a number of different angles and distances (although looking at one of the photographs, it does stand out a little). A really nice location, and a very friendly stone.

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.

Galabraes

Trip No.49  Entry No.1  Date Added: 5th Oct 2017
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (West Lothian)
Visited: Yes on 22nd Sep 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Gala Braes Standing Stones, Bathgate: We drove up and down the road, but couldn’t see a gate into the field along either from the ‘main’ road (Drumcross Road) or the side road running north-south up to Cairnpapple Hill, so we ended up clambering over an almost demolished stone wall and squeezing through the wire fencing. There was a big (very unfriendly looking) bull in the field just below the western end of the ridge, who stood his ground and kept looking at us, so we didn’t dare approach the other small knoll where the other stone (B) should have been located.

As we were leaving, I spotted some old boundary features to the south of the standing stone so was photographing these, when I heard some cawing behind me. Looking up, a large crow was sitting on the standing stone, bobbing up and down. Eerie!