Bunston Knowe

Trip No.12  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Modern Stone Circle etc Country: Scotland (Inverclyde)
Visited: Yes on 10th May 2019. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Bunston Knowe :

The site is a lot bigger than l expected, due to being in private grounds of a hospital access was always limited. And from the aerial photographs it looked more like some sort of Henge, but as you can see it is actually some form of Earthworks.

I got the impression it was dug out ditches with raised banks, but it is more like some sort of Motte, on top of another Motte. Or possibly some sort of viewing platform. It actually looks like there used to be more than the current 2 layers, this is especially noticeable on the South and West sides, where the remains of 4 layers can be seen building up. The area surrounding the site has a massive embankment on it's Western perimeter, with a shallow depression separating it from Bunston Knowe.

Modern steps were built into the Earthworks around 1876 when the land was sold to build the Smithston Asylum.
On the Eastern side there is a shallow cutting through the turf running to the summit, which is about 2m high. Around the perimeter base it looks like there may possibly have been a ring of large boulders, which have now been removed.

The hospital was bulldozed in 2018 and is now a pile of rubble and the future of Bunston Knowe is uncertain, as plans were in place to turn the area into a housing scheme. I then read there are contamination issues at the site. I didn't know this before l went but l seem to be ok, bear it in mind though if you decide to go and have a look before this wonderful creation is destroyed forever.

*Getting There ; From Branchton train station it is approx 650m away (5 min walk)

It is a short walk from the train station, walk East along Inverkip Road for 475m passing Gleninver Road and then Neil Street across the street on your left, you'll soon come to a metal bridge on your right hand side, it goes over the railway tracks. Cross this and head South for a minute and you'll see Earthworks beyond the trees.

Erskine Park

Trip No.13  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement Country: Scotland (Renfrewshire)
Visited: Yes on 13th May 2019. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 2

Log Text: Erskine Neolithic Park :

A large settlement spanning about 3km on the Southern Bank of the Clyde, where the River slowly starts to become the Firth of Clyde.

On this visit l had a look around the Western side of the settlement, down at the bay at Longhaugh Point, where Enclosures, Cropmarks and a Ring Ditch were located. Also found in this area was six Mesolithic Flint Blades, a Flint Arrowhead, Bronze Age Stone Hammer, Bronze Bracelet and a Logboat among other prehistoric artefacts.
A small Menhir, aligned to the cardinal points is located less than 1km away.

I had a good look about the area, looking for more Cup & Ring Marked Rocks, getting up as far as the Big Wood that separates the two golf courses, but didn't find any this time. The area would have been a good spot for fishing or hunting, it is really peaceful and l didn't see a single soul except when passing the golf course.

*Getting There ; From Bishopton train station it is approx 3km away (45 min walk)

Walk down Station Road for 80m and take a left up Gledstane Road, after 230m you'll come to Greenock Road. Head NE up Greenock Road for 770m and you'll come to Ferry Road (B815) on your right hand side. Take the Ferry Road (Crossing over the M8 after 0.5km) and you'll arrive at a turn off called Golf Road, go down this road.

Walk along Golf Road, passing the golf course, and you'll arrive at a crossroads with a farmhouse on your right after 725m, go down past the house and you'll see a gate leading through the fields towards the river. Go through the gate and walk between the trees for 1/4km and you'll arrive at the bay at Longhaugh Point.

Longhaugh Point Menhir

Trip No.13  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (Renfrewshire)
Visited: Yes on 13th May 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 2

Log Text: Longhaugh Menhir :

A fantastic little Menhir, well hidden in an enchanted forest by the Clyde.

Nestled between the tree's it took a good 5 minutes or so scrambling through Longhaugh Wood's to find it. I don't use GPS or anything, l look at a map and take my compass and go for the adventure, never giving up until l find what l went to see (The Larkfield Cup Marks being the only exception)

It is accurately aligned with a North and South face, with the two edges pointing East and West. A large boulder lies about 10m in front of the North Face of the Standing Stone, possibly being an alignment of some sort.

I don't think it is on an artificial terrace, it looks more like the natural inclination of the gentle hillside sloping down towards the river bank. With only a country path cutting through the hill before the crop fields start.
I found that "F. Newall" & "A. Hallifax-Crawford's" assumption that more of the stone may be under ground level to be true. When they documented it's size in 1969 it was recorded as being approx 60cm x 60cm x 30cm. But when l seen it l noticed on the North side the soil has been eroded and the dimensions are now 95cm x 60cm x 30cm.
On the South face the soil level still remains high on the Western side, with about 60cm of the Menhir showing, sloping downwards with about 80cm showing on the Eastern side of the South Face. How big is this Menhir really? How much more is under all the build-up of soil and subsequent growth? If this was placed here thousands of years ago the natural soil erosion on the hill may have buried most of this Menhir with only the top of it showing. Just a thought.

The Grey Grit Menhir has layered banding, and veins of Quartz running through it, although most of it is covered in Moss.
It was a beautiful Sunny day, but the setting in the woods didn't allow much light in, giving off a magical feeling with the bluebells glowing as they caught the odd ray of light. I didn't want to leave but it was getting late so l reluctantly left, but it is a site l will be back to see again.

*Getting There ; From Bishopton train station it is approx 3.15km away (50 min walk)

Walk down Station Road for 80m and take a left up Gledstane Road, after 230m you'll come to Greenock Road. Head NE up Greenock Road for 770m and you'll come to Ferry Road (B815) on your right hand side. Take the Ferry Road (Crossing over the M8 after 0.5km) and you'll arrive at a turn off called Golf Road, go down this road.

Walk along Golf Road, passing the golf course, and you'll arrive at a crossroads with a farmhouse on your right after 725m. Turn left and head West for 700m, you will pass 3 stone walls dividing the fields, after the 3rd wall you'll arrive at a small thinning of the wood's. Look for a large Boulder in the vegetation near the path (Depending on the time of year this may be covered and wont be visible) the Standing Stone is about 10m behind this.

Langbank Crannog (East)

Trip No.14  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Crannog Country: Scotland (Renfrewshire)
Visited: Yes on 17th May 2019. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: Langbank Crannog (East) :

Today was the 2nd lowest tide of the year, so l wanted to get out and have a look at two of the Clyde Crannog's while the water levels were low.

About 100m from the Southern Bank of the River Clyde are the remains of a 30m+ diameter Crannog. Not much of it remains these days, at least not above surface level. I approached from the bank of the Clyde by walking up through the causeway remains. Once I got close I saw that is now a massive pile of stones and boulders, totally covered in seaweed.
You can see the basic oval shape it has, by the boulders poking out through the seaweed. I had a good look around, trying to detect some of the Timbers described in 1972, but they have either rotted away, or were under some of the seaweed (It would take a fast & efficient team to clear the Crannog remains of seaweed and review the site before the tide came back in)

I spent just over an hour at the Crannog, going around it many times, looking for. . . . .anything really, but saw nothing except rocks and seaweed.
As it was the lowest tide of the year so far I was able to walk out as far as 150m from the Southern bank of the river. I couldn't see the circular stone-edged pools that hold water on the North of the site that were reported, but did see one SW of the Crannog, lined with seaweed and filled with water.
I wanted to stay for longer and keep looking until I found something, but there wasn't long left before the tide was due to start coming back in, so I left and made my way to Langbank Crannog (West) which is about a 1/2 hour walk away.

This is 1 of 5 River Clyde Crannog's.

*Getting There ; From Langbank train station it is 2.25km away (25 min walk)
If coming from Langbank Crannog (West) it is a 2.8km walk, taking about a half hour.

Come out the train station and turn right, walk East along Main Road (B789) for 350m passing a roundabout on your left, keep walking another 575m and you'll soon come to a curve in the road going under the railway bridge on your right hand side.
At this point take the path on your left next to the Greenock Road (A8) and keep walking for 700m, you'll come to a bridge under the tracks as the A8 branches off a slip road ahead. When the official path next to the road ends and you have to walk up a path between the trees and continue East for 5 minutes, until you reach the roundabout going under the M8.

Take a left and walk North under the roundabout, heading towards the River. Walk to the end of the car park at West Ferry and down onto the river banks and your there.

Langbank Crannog (West)

Trip No.14  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Crannog Country: Scotland (Renfrewshire)
Visited: Yes on 17th May 2019. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: Langbank Crannog (West) :

Today was the 2nd lowest tide of the year, so l wanted to get out and have a look at two of the Clyde Crannog's while the water levels were low.

Only 20m from the Southern Bank of the River Clyde (After the building of the motorway) are the remains of a Crannog nearly 30m in diameter.
Not much of it remains these days, at least not above surface level. As I approached I could see what is now a large pile of boulders and stones, covered in seaweed.
You could easily see it's basic circular shape, by the boulders poking out through the seaweed. I had a good look around, trying to detect well-defined Ring of Piles described in 1972, but could only find one, on the Western arc of the Crannog. And I found that by accident when I was photographing a Crab, I saw a small bit of wood poking out through a bit of seaweed, when I removed it there was a solitary, small stumpy pile poking out of the mud. It was about 10cm tall.

I spent just under an hour at the Crannog, going around it many times, looking for more piles amongst the seaweed covered rocks. Near the edge of the Crannog, on the Western side I saw a bit of bit of wood, 1m long and wedged between some rocks, at first I got excited as I thought it might be a part of a log or beam with some relation to the Crannog, but when I picked it up I realised it couldn't have been 2,000 years old, the wood was too new, there was no darkening of the wood that is usually seen with ancient wood that has been buried under water.
I placed the small log in the position I found it, which was near the 10cm Pile I saw on the outer perimeter. A few metres North of the main pile of stones were 2 other bit of wood driven into the mud, 1 is about 30cm and the other about 90cm. I do not think these two bits of wood have anything to do with the Crannog but could be wrong.

Even though there isn't much there I didn't really want to leave. I stayed until I noticed the tide was starting to turn, so although the Sun had came back out I had to go.

This is 1 of 5 River Clyde Crannog's.

*Getting There ; From Langbank train station it is only 650m away (5 min walk)
If coming from Langbank Crannog (East) it is a 2.8km walk, taking about a half hour.

Come out the train station and turn left, walk West along Main Road (B789) for 425m and you'll soon come to a curve in the road on your right hand side. The Greenock Road (A8) should be on your right. Find a gap in the bushes and climb the fence.

You'll now have to cross the A8 dual carriageway, l was there when there wasn't much traffic so crossing was easy, but it can be busy at times. Once across make your way down the embankment and head West along the shoreline for 150m and your there.

Whinhill Cup Marks

Trip No.15  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Rock Art Country: Scotland (Inverclyde)
Visited: Yes on 21st May 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: Whinhill Cup Marks :

These Cup Marks are found on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Clyde and are as described in the main site description.

Located on a flattish piece of land on the hillside below Whitelees Moor, the rock is almost totally surrounded on all sides by Gorse, with only a small opening found when facing South. The two times I was there, there was people using the practise hole and the rock is right at the very edge of the putting green. After travelling so far I wasn't about to let them stop me so I set up my camera and started clicking away, the men soon left as the practise green is for club members to warm up on before a round, and these men clearly weren't paying club members, so I didn't feel too bad.

The place is very peaceful and the Rabbits were running from the Gorse and playing on the putting green once the men had left, apart from the Midges it is a very pleasant site. The Cup Mark on the very top of the rock (Usually hidden under Moss and other vegetative debris) is 5cm in diameter, and just over 1cm deep. The oblong carving is quite peculiar, it isn't smooth the way most (Not all) Cup Marks are. It has some rugged surfaces on the interior the oblong shape. It is approx 7cm x 14cm.
And on the other side of the rock across from the oblong shape is some sort of other depression/carving. It is quite possibly natural, but if it isn't natural and is man made it looks like someone started to make another oblong and gave up half way through chipping the rock out.

*Getting there ; Access the golf course from the Old Largs Road, which runs from Overton at the top of Greenock to Loch Thom (And onto Largs) The Cup Marks are about 15 minutes walk from Drumfrochar train station.

From the train station come out onto Peat Road and turn left, walk uphill taking your 3rd left after the last house. Walk up the Old Largs Road for 10 minutes and you'll see the entrance to the golf course, walk through the car park heading towards the river and follow the path around until you see the putting green straight ahead (By this time your facing East)

Whitelees Moor 1

Trip No.15  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Rock Art Country: Scotland (Inverclyde)
Visited: Yes on 21st May 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: Whitelees Cup Marks 1 :

The rocky outcrop on the Western lower slopes of Whitelees Moor is as described in the main site description.

Located on open Moorland, there is usually Sheep grazing around the rock but they run away when they see someone approach on the path up the moor.

Panel 1 : This is the largest Cup Mark I have ever seen, it is absolutely huge. I filled the conical depression with water from the nearby burn and when it was full it reminded me of a Dog bowl. As if someone made this as a watering hole for their hunting dogs possibly, just a thought. There is a similar sounding bowl sized Cup Mark recorded 'IN' the Daff Reservoir.

Panel 2 : This is a strange looking Cup Mark, it looks like a Horse hoof print embedded into the rock. To me, it is debatable if this one is man made or not, there is something about the interior that doesn't seem 'Cup' like. It looks more like a Quartz boulder or something similar has been yanked out of the bedrock and this is the hole that remains.

Panel 3 & 4 : These are similar to Panel 2, in that I have questions over these being man made or a natural features, they don't have a smooth interiors like Panel 1, they are rugged and jagged inside the Cup shape. My initial thought was it looked to me as if small Quartz stones had been yanked from the bedrock and these were the remains. But they did have semi-circular and tear drop shapes to them. Perhaps this is how Cup Marks start out and they were left unfinished, how would we know, or how could we tell?

*Getting there ; Access the moor from the Old Largs Road, which runs from Overton at the top of Greenock to Loch Thom (And onto Largs) These Cup Marks are about 25 minutes walk from Drumfrochar train station.

From the train station come out onto Peat Road and turn left, walk uphill taking your 3rd left after the last house. Walk up the Old Largs Road and after 10 minutes you'll pass Whinhill golf course, keep walking for about another 10 minutes and you'll come to a small place to park a car at the bottom of the moor, there is a large metal gate to stop cars going up the track.
Walk up the track for about a minute, keeping a lookout for rocks protruding from the grass on the left side of the track. They are low rocks and would be easy to miss if they Sheep weren't there to keep the Grass in check.

Whitelees Moor 2

Trip No.15  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Rock Art Country: Scotland (Inverclyde)
Visited: Yes on 21st May 2019. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: Whitelees Cup Marks 2 :

The Cup Marked Rocks on the upper slopes of Whitelees Moor are as described in the main site description.

Located in fenced Moorland about 50m from the Cairn remains at the summit of the moor. These are more traditional than the the Cup Marked rocks at the bottom of the moor.

Panel 1 & 2 : Could not locate these two boulders - I searched for over an hour on my first visit and had no luck finding them, I searched a vast distance of Whitelees through difficult, marshy terrain, but couldn't see these Cup Marked boulders anywhere. There are literally hundreds of boulders dotted over the area and it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Panel 3 & 4 are next to each other, in fact Panel 3 rests on top of Panel 4. During my search for the first two panels I saw these rocks and thought they looked prime rocks to have Cup Marks on them, but when I went and looked them over I didn't spot anything, so I continued my hunt, after much frustration I was drawn back to these rocks for some reason. I started clearing the Sheep wool & dung from the rocks and I then noticed a circular shape filled with debris, I scooped it out and it was a very pronounced Cup Mark.

Panel 3 : The Cup Mark is on the very top of the rock, which is propped up on a small, thin rectangular rock that rests on Panel 4. The Cup Mark has a Radial Groove running down to a natural fissure in the rock.

Panel 4 : Has 2 Cup Marks, one larger one at the Western corner of the rock, and a much smaller one at the opposite Eastern end, almost in line with the Cup Mark on Panel 3. When viewed from above the 3 Cup Marks form a triangle. Panel 4 has a lot of natural grooves criss crossed across it's surface and is sloping gently from East to West.

*Getting there ; Access the moor from the Old Largs Road, which runs from Overton at the top of Greenock to Loch Thom (And onto Largs) These Cup Marks are about 35 minutes walk from Drumfrochar train station.

From the train station come out onto Peat Road and turn left, walk uphill taking your 3rd left after the last house. Walk up the Old Largs Road and after 10 minutes you'll pass Whinhill golf course, keep walking for about another 10 minutes and you'll come to a small place to park a car at the bottom of the moor, there is a large metal gate to stop cars going up the track.
Walk up the windy track for about 5 minutes (Passing Whitelees 1 after a minute) and you'll come to a gate below an old disused, red brick bunker further uphill. From here it's less than 5 minutes away. Climb the gate and head up past the bunker as far as you can go until to start seeing the Clyde. Keep walking and you'll see a long rocky spine running East to West. Head for that. Look across the river to Ardmore Point and Panel 3 & 4 are halfway between the rocks you are at and the fence to the North.

Whitelees Moor Cairn

Trip No.15  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Cairn Country: Scotland (Inverclyde)
Visited: Yes on 21st May 2019. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: Whitelees Cairn :

Cairn remains on the summit of Whitelees, like the main site description mentions the Cairn looks greatly disturbed. Although it is turfed over and most of the stones have been moved, enough remain to give a general shape to the Cairn.
The scatter of stones reminds me of the disturbed Cairn remains on Carman Hill (Minus the Portal Stone) which is visible 10km away upriver.

The view from the summit of the moor is beautiful, with the Holy Loch, Loch Long, Gare Loch, Ben Lomond, Dumbarton Rock, Loch Thom and Goat Fell all visible when standing at the Cairn.

*Getting there ; Access the moor from the Old Largs Road, which runs from Overton at the top of Greenock to Loch Thom (And onto Largs) These Cairn remains are about 35 minutes walk from Drumfrochar train station.

From the train station come out onto Peat Road and turn left, walk uphill taking your 3rd left after the last house. Walk up the Old Largs Road and after 10 minutes you'll pass Whinhill golf course, keep walking for about another 10 minutes and you'll come to a small place to park a car at the bottom of the moor, there is a large metal gate to stop cars going up the track.
Walk up the windy track for about 5 minutes (Passing Whitelees 1 after a minute) and you'll come to a gate below an old disused red brick bunker further uphill. From here it's less than 5 minutes away. Climb the gate and head up past the bunker as far as you can go until to start seeing the Clyde. Keep walking until you see a long rocky spine running East to West. Head for that and then face SE, you'll see a large radio mast next to some trees around the cottage. The Cairn is just over 50m away in that direction, you can't miss it. The Cairn remains sit on raised ground and is the highest point on the moor.

Goat Craig 1

Trip No.16  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Rock Art Country: Scotland (Inverclyde)
Visited: Yes on 10th Jun 2019. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 2

Log Text: Goat Craig Cup Marks 1 :

I spent 1 hour looking for these Cup Marks. But had no luck.

I went up and down the full shoreline looking at every rock behind the wall, but couldn't find this rock with 5 Cup Marks on it.

There are several possible reasons why I had no luck ;
1. There were a few rocks completely covered in moss, and it may have been one of these rocks.
2. A large portion of the wall along the Loch has fallen down, and some of the stones from this cover some of the natural rocks embedded into the ground.
3. It was discovered in 2007, a year we had high temperatures and low water levels. The guy who found it documented co-ordinates that placed the rock 'IN' Loch Thom. Perhaps during the low water levels of 2007 (When the Lochs edge would have been a few metres further in than usual) he actually found a rock in Loch Thom, at the waters edge - similar to the one he recorded at Daff reservoir.

*Getting there ; Access Goat Craigs from the Old Largs Road, which runs from Overton at the top of Greenock to Loch Thom (And onto Largs) It's just over an hours walk from Drumfrochar train station.

From the train station come out onto Peat Road and turn left, walk uphill taking your 3rd left after the last house. Walk up the Old Largs Road and after 10 minutes you'll pass Whinhill golf course, from here its about an hours walk.
Keep on walking along the Old Largs Road for about 45 minutes and you'll pass the Gryffe reservoir, another 10 minutes and you'll arrive at Goat Craigs, follow the road around until you reach the small sandy beach bit. The Cup Marked Rock is recorded as being here.

Goat Craig 2

Trip No.16  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Rock Art Country: Scotland (Inverclyde)
Visited: Yes on 10th Jun 2019. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 2

Log Text: Goat Craig Cup Marks 2 :

After spending an hour looking for Goat Craig '1', I only searched for these for 15 minutes, but due to not being able to locate 'GC1' I also found it difficult to locate Goat Craigs '2'.

Goat Craig is horrible terrain to walk over, it is uneven, rocky, boggy marsh, which makes it time consuming to navigate.
I think I now know roughly where 'GC2' are and will hopefully locate them on my next visit.

*Getting there ; Access Goat Craigs from the Old Largs Road, which runs from Overton at the top of Greenock to Loch Thom (And onto Largs) It's just over an hours walk from Drumfrochar train station.

From the train station come out onto Peat Road and turn left, walk uphill taking your 3rd left after the last house. Walk up the Old Largs Road and after 10 minutes you'll pass Whinhill golf course,from here its about an hours walk.
Keep on walking along the Old Largs Road for about 45 minutes and you'll pass the Gryffe reservoir, another 10 minutes and you'll arrive at Goat Craigs, follow the road around until you reach the small sandy beach bit. The Cup Marked Rocks are recorded as being on the opposite side of the road from Goat Craig '1' Cup Marks.

Goat Craig 3

Trip No.16  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Rock Art Country: Scotland (Inverclyde)
Visited: Yes on 10th Jun 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 2

Log Text: Goat Craig Cup Marks 3 :

Cup Mark site under review ; more information coming soon.

*Getting there ; Access Goat Craigs from the Old Largs Road, which runs from Overton at the top of Greenock to Loch Thom (And onto Largs) It's just over an hours walk from Drumfrochar train station.

From the train station come out onto Peat Road and turn left, walk uphill taking your 3rd left after the last house. Walk up the Old Largs Road and after 10 minutes you'll pass Whinhill golf course, from here its about an hours walk.
Keep on walking along the Old Largs Road for about 45 minutes and you'll pass the Gryffe reservoir, another 10 minutes and you'll arrive at Goat Craigs, follow the road around, passing the small sandy beach bit on your right. Keep heading in the direction of the island on Loch Thom and when you get to the turn in the road, turn and face the moors, you will see a low lying rocky outcrop, 7 Cup Marked Rocks were identified in this area.

Goat Craig 4

Trip No.16  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Rock Art Country: Scotland (Inverclyde)
Visited: Yes on 10th Jun 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 2

Log Text: Goat Craig Cup Marks 4 :

Cup Mark site under review ; more information coming soon.

*Getting there ; Access Goat Craigs from the Old Largs Road, which runs from Overton at the top of Greenock to Loch Thom (And onto Largs) It's just over an hours walk from Drumfrochar train station.

From the train station come out onto Peat Road and turn left, walk uphill taking your 3rd left after the last house. Walk up the Old Largs Road and after 10 minutes you'll pass Whinhill golf course, from here its about an hours walk.
Keep on walking along the Old Largs Road for about 45 minutes and you'll pass the Gryffe reservoir, another 10 minutes and you'll arrive at Goat Craigs, follow the road around, passing the small sandy beach bit on your right. Keep heading in the direction of the island on Loch Thom and when you get to the turn in the road, turn and face the moors, you will see a low lying rocky outcrop, 7 Cup Marked Rocks were identified in this area.

Goat Craig 5

Trip No.16  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Rock Art Country: Scotland (Inverclyde)
Visited: Yes on 10th Jun 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 2

Log Text: Goat Craig Cup Marks 5 :

Cup Mark site under review ; more information coming soon.

*Getting there ; Access Goat Craigs from the Old Largs Road, which runs from Overton at the top of Greenock to Loch Thom (And onto Largs) It's just over an hours walk from Drumfrochar train station.

From the train station come out onto Peat Road and turn left, walk uphill taking your 3rd left after the last house. Walk up the Old Largs Road and after 10 minutes you'll pass Whinhill golf course, from here its about an hours walk.
Keep on walking along the Old Largs Road for about 45 minutes and you'll pass the Gryffe reservoir, another 10 minutes and you'll arrive at Goat Craigs, follow the road around, passing the small sandy beach bit on your right. Keep heading in the direction of the island on Loch Thom and when you get to the turn in the road, turn and face the moors, you will see a low lying rocky outcrop, 7 Cup Marked Rocks were identified in this area.

Goat Craig 6

Trip No.16  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Rock Art Country: Scotland (Inverclyde)
Visited: Yes on 10th Jun 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 2

Log Text: Goat Craig Cup Marks 6 :

Cup Mark site under review ; more information coming soon.

*Getting there ; Access Goat Craigs from the Old Largs Road, which runs from Overton at the top of Greenock to Loch Thom (And onto Largs) It's just over an hours walk from Drumfrochar train station.

From the train station come out onto Peat Road and turn left, walk uphill taking your 3rd left after the last house. Walk up the Old Largs Road and after 10 minutes you'll pass Whinhill golf course, from here its about an hours walk.
Keep on walking along the Old Largs Road for about 45 minutes and you'll pass the Gryffe reservoir, another 10 minutes and you'll arrive at Goat Craigs, follow the road around, passing the small sandy beach bit on your right. Keep heading in the direction of the island on Loch Thom and when you get to the turn in the road, turn and face the moors, you will see a low lying rocky outcrop, 7 Cup Marked Rocks were identified in this area.

Goat Craig 7

Trip No.16  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Rock Art Country: Scotland (Inverclyde)
Visited: Yes on 10th Jun 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 2

Log Text: Goat Craig Cup Marks 7 :

Cup Mark site under review ; more information coming soon.

*Getting there ; Access Goat Craigs from the Old Largs Road, which runs from Overton at the top of Greenock to Loch Thom (And onto Largs) It's just over an hours walk from Drumfrochar train station.

From the train station come out onto Peat Road and turn left, walk uphill taking your 3rd left after the last house. Walk up the Old Largs Road and after 10 minutes you'll pass Whinhill golf course, from here its about an hours walk.
Keep on walking along the Old Largs Road for about 45 minutes and you'll pass the Gryffe reservoir, another 10 minutes and you'll arrive at Goat Craigs, follow the road around, passing the small sandy beach bit on your right. Keep heading in the direction of the island on Loch Thom and follow the turn in the road for about a minute, look for ruined wall remains ruuning up along the moor, this is the area the Cup Marked Rock was identified.

Goat Craig 8

Trip No.16  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Rock Art Country: Scotland (Inverclyde)
Visited: Yes on 10th Jun 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 2

Log Text: Goat Craig Cup Marks 8 :

Cup Mark site under review ; more information coming soon.

*Getting there ; Access Goat Craigs from the Old Largs Road, which runs from Overton at the top of Greenock to Loch Thom (And onto Largs) It's just over an hours walk from Drumfrochar train station.

From the train station come out onto Peat Road and turn left, walk uphill taking your 3rd left after the last house. Walk up the Old Largs Road and after 10 minutes you'll pass Whinhill golf course, from here its about an hours walk.
Keep on walking along the Old Largs Road for about 45 minutes and you'll pass the Gryffe reservoir, another 10 minutes and you'll arrive at Goat Craigs, follow the road around, passing the small sandy beach bit on your right. Keep heading in the direction of the island on Loch Thom and when you get to the turn in the road, turn and face the moors, you will see a low lying rocky outcrop, 7 Cup Marked Rocks were identified in this area.

Goat Craig 9

Trip No.16  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Rock Art Country: Scotland (Inverclyde)
Visited: Yes on 10th Jun 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 2

Log Text: Goat Craig Cup Marks 9 :

Cup Mark site under review ; more information coming soon.

*Getting there ; Access Goat Craigs from the Old Largs Road, which runs from Overton at the top of Greenock to Loch Thom (And onto Largs) It's just over an hours walk from Drumfrochar train station.

From the train station come out onto Peat Road and turn left, walk uphill taking your 3rd left after the last house. Walk up the Old Largs Road and after 10 minutes you'll pass Whinhill golf course, from here its about an hours walk.
Keep on walking along the Old Largs Road for about 45 minutes and you'll pass the Gryffe reservoir, another 10 minutes and you'll arrive at Goat Craigs, follow the road around, passing the small sandy beach bit on your right. Keep heading in the direction of the island on Loch Thom and when you get to the turn in the road, turn and face the moors, you will see a low lying rocky outcrop, 7 Cup Marked Rocks were identified in this area.

Goat Craigs Cairn (Loch Thom)

Trip No.16  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Cairn Country: Scotland (Inverclyde)
Visited: Yes on 10th Jun 2019. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 2

Log Text: Goat Craigs Cairn :

Goat Craigs Cairn doesn't seem to have changed much in the 63 years since it was first documented.

It is hard to spot at first, as most of the remaining stones are now turf covered. The mound is circular in shape, with an oval shaped hollow in the centre.
The oval hollow is divided into two separate chambers and is now filled with tall Grasses with a few boulders are scattered around.

The shape of the Cairn gets easier to discern when moving around it, being easier to see against the horizon the lower to the ground you are.

*Getting there ; Access Goat Craigs from the Old Largs Road, which runs from Overton at the top of Greenock to Loch Thom (And onto Largs) It's just over an hours walk from Drumfrochar train station.

From the train station come out onto Peat Road and turn left, walk uphill taking your 3rd left after the last house. Walk up the Old Largs Road and after 10 minutes you'll pass Whinhill golf course, from here its about an hours walk.
Keep on walking along the Old Largs Road for about 45 minutes and you'll pass the Gryffe reservoir, another 10 minutes and you'll arrive at Goat Craigs, follow the road around until you reach the small sandy beach bit. Turn and face South, and head up onto the moor, it is about 5 minutes from the road.

Look for a quite a large rocky outcrop and the Cairn is right in front of this.

The Govan Stones

Trip No.17  Date Added: 17th Jul 2019
Site Type: Museum Country: Scotland (North Lanarkshire)
Visited: Yes on 3rd Jul 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: Gobhain :

A fantastic collection of First Millennium Carved Stones. Of particular interest are the :

°SUN STONE ; Thought to be a repurposed Neolithic Standing Stone, this weathered Sandstone Menhir is nearly 1.7m tall. On one side there is a carved cross with Celtic style knotwork, below this is a Man hunting on a Horse (Similar to the ones seen on the Jordanhill Cross shaft and the Govan Sarcophagus)
On the opposite side of the stone is a Spiral Boss from which four Snakes swirl around it. Below this is a fret pattern carved into a square panel. The stone tapers towards a tenon at the top.

°SANDSTONE SARCOPHAGUS ; Officially this is said to have belonged to the 9th century Pictish King "Constantín Mac Cináeda", now called "Constantine I".
Some though think it may have belonged to a Brittonic Chieftain of Alt Clut called "Artur MacAeden", who died in the 6th century and later inspired the King Arthur stories.
When it was re-discovered in 1855 it had no lid and was empty. Possibly emptied by the Vikings after they settled the area, or perhaps it was emptied centuries before or after, we will never know.
This is unique in that is the only pre-norman Sarcophagus in Briton. Fantastic to look at in photo's, different ball game seeing it up close though. The carvings are superb, although the man on the horse is looking a little worse for wear when compared to older photographs.

°5 VIKING HOGBACKS : The largest collection of Hogbacks outside of Brompton. 4 of these are the largest Hogbacks discovered to date (Each weighing 1/2 ton) the other smaller one was loaned to the British Museum for the 'Vikings : life and legend' exhibition in 2014, although it is back home now.
Known Hogback sites : There is one Hogback in Eire, one in Wales, several sites across Scotland and a lot of sites found around the Yorkshire area.

*Getting There ; A 2 minute walk from Govan Subway station.

Come out the station and keep walking along Govan Road without turning, (Heading NW) you'll pass Water Row & Pearce Street before seeing the entrance way to the church on your right hand side.