Ballymacdermot

Trip No.1  Date Added: 9th Apr 2019
Site Type: Court Tomb Country: Ireland (Northern) (Co. Armagh)
Visited: Yes on 29th Apr 2011. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: Cashla Court Tomb :

The "Place of Diarmaid's Son" ; 2km from Newry (as the crow flies)

Not far from the summit of BallymacDermot Mountain, lie the remains of a large Neolithic Court Tomb (3,500bc) what is left of them anyway (the British & American army thought it would be a good idea to test out their new tanks on top of the Tomb during WWII and wrecked most of it)

What remains is the semi-circular forecourt entrance, with some large upright Menhirs still in place, this lead's into the 3 burial chambers, none of which have their capstone's anymore, but the site is still impressive.
Despite the destruction, this site still gives off a special aura, and l could feel & see why this would have been a sacred place for Neolithic inhabitants of the area.

On a Sunny day the view of the surrounding countryside with the Cooley & Mourne Mountains is beautiful, which is always a bonus.

*Getting There ; This is the only site l have visited where l was in a car so l dont have directions for this one. But it is really close to Newry town centre so shouldn't be hard for anyone to find. Due to the roads and elevation l would estimate it to be about a 45 minute walk from Newry.

Letterdeen

Trip No.2  Date Added: 28th Apr 2019
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Ireland (Republic of) (Co. Galway)
Visited: Yes on 2nd Sep 2012. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: Letterdeen Menhir :

This 160cm tall Menhir sits on a patch of grass surrounded by salt marsh, at the edge of a small bay on the Atlantic Ocean. The Granite Menhir has 4 sides that are roughly aligned to the cardinal points.

This whole area is littered with Prehistoric sites (About 40 are documented within a 10km radius of this Menhir)
It would have been quite a sight around 4,000 years ago, with the Menhir overlooking a beautiful little fishing bay with several islands, and Letterdeen Tomb a few hundred metres up the hill to the West.

*Getting There ; About an hours walk from Clifden Bus Stop (3.05km uphill)

Get off the bus and follow Market Street up to Main Street and turn right, walk along Main Street until you come to the petrol station and take a left up Westport Road (N59)
You have to follow this road for 2.45km (It is all uphill) You come to a small road turning left and running down to Streamstown Bay, once there you cant miss the Menhir.

Greenock Moors

Trip No.3  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement Country: Scotland (Inverclyde)
Visited: Yes on 30th May 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 3

Log Text: The Greenock Moors :

Documented on the Greenock Moors (So far) ;

*More than 30 Hut Circle sites
*25 Cairns
*32 Cup Mark sites (Including the 5 on Larkfield Moor)
*Neolithic & Bronze Age artefacts

Site visits ;
1. 30/05/18
2. 08/06/18
3. 30/03/19
4. 21/05/19
5. 10/06/19

Getting there ; There are lots of ways to get up onto the Moors, but the easiest way from Greenock is from Overton. Drumfrochar train station is 2 minutes from the Old Largs Road, which takes you to the East side of Loch Thom, and if you continue on up the hill another few minutes you'll come to Overton Road, which takes you to the West side of the loch. The Old Largs Road route can be driven, the Overton Road way is for walking.

Larkfield Moor

Trip No.4  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Rock Art Country: Scotland (Inverclyde)
Visited: Yes on 29th Jun 2018. My rating: Condition -1 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: Larkfield Moor 1 :

Located about 100m above sea level, the view from Larkfield Moor is spectacular. Looking across the Clyde you have Kilcreggan on the Rosneath Peninsula, with the entrance to Loch Long to it's left, and the rugged peaks of the Arrochar Alps in the background.

To the back of the Moor near the factory is flat piece of land that is sheltered from the elements by a natural cliff face which provides protection and privacy.
It would have been a great place for Neolithic People to have a tempoaray or permanent settlement.

This is one of 8 Cup Mark Sites found around the Larkfield Moor area so far (2 sites are on Earn Hill - above the cliffs in the main page photograph)

Site visits ;
1. 29/06/18
2. 21/06/19

*Getting There ; The moor is approx 2.5km from Gourock train station or 1.75km from McInroy's Point.

From the TRAIN station : Get to the Kempock Menhir, and from here it is just over a half hour walk through a maze of streets. Walk onto Bath Street and follow it onto Barhill Road, continue for 800m and then turn onto Victoria Road. From here take the first left up Golf Road and follow until the end of the road, take a quick left then right and you'll be on Cowal View, and 0.5km later you'll arrive at the golf course.

From the FERRY terminal : Walk Eastward along the Cloch Road for 1/2km until you see a turn in to your right. Walk up Cloch Brae and walk up the set of stairs cutting through the houses, you will come out on Turnberry Ave.
Walk Westward and take your first left, walk up Cowal View for 400m and you will reach the golf course.

Once at the golf course stick to the left hand side next to the Mile Burn. Walk up for about 5/10 minutes and it is somewhere around here the Rock Art was discovered.

Drumadoon Hillfort

Trip No.6  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Hillfort Country: Scotland (Isle of Arran)
Visited: Yes on 9th Aug 2018. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: Drumadoon Hillfort :

The first thing that you see when approaching are the impressive Columnar Basalt Cliffs. You can climb the Hillfort form the South, behind the large geological dyke, or from the Eastern slopes, through lots of heavy vegetation.

The Hillfort has been inhabited since at least 3,000bc and some consider it to have been an Oppidium due to it's size and location. It has commanding 360° views.
On the Eastern side of the summit stands a 1.5m high Menhir, and earlier reports mention the remains of a Souterrain, although the entrance to this is more than likely filled in with soil and vegetation debris and has not been seen in a long time.

It would have been quite the site 5,000 years ago, with a thriving community on top of the Hillfort, and all around the surrounding farmlands at the base of the Fort, and the nearby Kings Caves and Machrie Settlement's.

*Getting There ; Its about a 20 minute walk from the bus station at Blackwaterfoot
Cross the bridge and walk along the beach past the golf course to your right, continue on for 15 minutes until you hit Drumadoon Point and turn right.

Kings Cave

Trip No.6  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter Country: Scotland (Isle of Arran)
Visited: Yes on 9th Aug 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Fionn's Cave :

Formed about 10,000 years ago after the end of the Younger Dryas, The Caves are situated below Torr Righ Mor (137m) on the West coast of Arran, halfway between Torbeg & Tormore. They look out onto the Kilbrannan Sound and across to the Kintyre Peninsula.

There are 3 caves next to each other, with the central one being the one tagged 'Kings Cave', although in the past it was known as 'Fionn's Cave' (Fingals Cave) after the mythical Irish hero - which would provide a connection with Fionn's Cauldron on Machrie Moor.
Occupied since ancient times, these deep caves would have provide adequate shelter and a good base for fishing and hunting for our Mesolithic ancestors. It has at least 1 Cup & Ring Mark, some Ogham Carvings, Viking Carvings and plenty more to discover on the walls of the Cave.
Not far from the Caves are documented Dinosaur footprints (1 of 3 sites on Arran)

*Getting There ; Coming from Doon Hillfort at Drumadoon Point, you can walk along the shore in front of the Forts cliff's, and then join the path, OR if coming from the Hillfort itself you will see a path leading down the slope's at the Northern end and joining a well worn path that takes you straight to the caves. (It is exactly 1.5km from the base of the cliffs to the caves)

Shortly after joining the path you will pass a small rocky area where people stack boulders on top of each other. After 15 minutes you pass a rocky part of the beach (when the tide is out) which contains dinosaur footprints. And after a further 5 minutes you will reach the caves.

Machrie Moor 10

Trip No.6  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: Scotland (Isle of Arran)
Visited: Yes on 9th Aug 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: MM10 : MM 10 : This is the FIRST site you encounter when heading East from the Beach at Machrie. From the car park 'Machrie Moor 10' (Moss Farm Cairn Circle) is 760m away

Remains of a 19m diameter Bronze Age Cairn and Stone Circle.

In 1861 the Cairn was completely encircled with with 70~100cm high Menhirs.
The Cairn has been robbed of much of it stones, and the outer kerb now consists only of 6 upright stones, with several now lying on their sides, and covered in grass.

The Cairn and Stone Circle may be destroyed, compared to it's original state, but the site still retains a special aura.

*Getting There ; Get the '322 bus' to Blackwaterfoot from the Ferry terminal at Brodick. It takes approx 45 minutes.
From Blackwaterfoot you can go directly to the Moor by following the A841 road which is a 5.5km walk (It took me about an hour on the way back)

Or you can take the scenic route which is 8.5km. The long way follow's the beach to Drumadoon Point, and then onto the Doon Hillfort, after exploring the Fort you walk along the beach path to Kings Caves (These part's of the journey are covered in log visits for these sites)

From the Caves you can go along the shore to Machrie Bay (which would have been shorter) but instead l followed the trail path up Torr Righ Mor (137m) and around the Pine forests on Torr Righ Beag (109m) until l reached to visitors car park. From here it's a 15 minute walk to the visitors car park at Machrie Moor.
This is the 1st site you encounter when coming from the car park.

Moss Farm Stone

Trip No.6  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (Isle of Arran)
Visited: Yes on 9th Aug 2018. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: MM7 : This is the SECOND site you encounter when heading East from the Beach at Machrie. From the car park 'Machrie Moor 7' (Moss Farm Menhir) is 1.5km away

A 1.6m high Sandstone Menhir on a prominent point on the Moor, roughly aligned to the cardinal points, with the West Face facing the Kintyre Peninsula.

When visiting the Menhir I found a small Gold box with a Chinese coin inside, the coin had a square hole in the middle and a little note saying "Magic for you"

*Getting There ; Get the '322 bus' to Blackwaterfoot from the Ferry terminal at Brodick. It takes approx 45 minutes.
From Blackwaterfoot you can go directly to the Moor by following the A841 road which is a 5.5km walk (It took me about an hour on the way back)

Or you can take the scenic route which is 8.5km. The long way follow's the beach to Drumadoon Point, and then onto the Doon Hillfort, after exploring the Fort you walk along the beach path to Kings Caves (These part's of the journey are covered in log visits for these sites)

From the Caves you can go along the shore to Machrie Bay (which would have been shorter) but instead l followed the trail path up Torr Righ Mor (137m) and around the Pine forests on Torr Righ Beag (109m) until l reached to visitors car park. From here it's a 15 minute walk to the visitors car park at Machrie Moor.
This is the 2nd site you encounter when coming from the car park.

Tormore 2

Trip No.6  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Chambered Cairn Country: Scotland (Isle of Arran)
Visited: Yes on 9th Aug 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: MM8 : This is the THIRD site you encounter when heading East from the Beach at Machrie. From the car park 'Machrie Moor 8' (Moss Farm Cairn Menhir/Tormore 2) is 1.55km away

Remains of a 9m oval 'Clyde Type' Cairn, now nearly totally covered in Heather. The most prominent feature is the 1.8m high Standing Stone.
Nearby is another upright stone, about 50cm tall. In 1861 flint flakes and arrowheads were dug up beneath the chamber by J. McArthur.

*Getting There ; Get the '322 bus' to Blackwaterfoot from the Ferry terminal at Brodick. It takes approx 45 minutes.
From Blackwaterfoot you can go directly to the Moor by following the A841 road which is a 5.5km walk (It took me about an hour on the way back)

Or you can take the scenic route which is 8.5km. The long way follow's the beach to Drumadoon Point, and then onto the Doon Hillfort, after exploring the Fort you walk along the beach path to Kings Caves (These part's of the journey are covered in log visits for these sites)

From the Caves you can go along the shore to Machrie Bay (which would have been shorter) but instead l followed the trail path up Torr Righ Mor (137m) and around the Pine forests on Torr Righ Beag (109m) until l reached to visitors car park. From here it's a 15 minute walk to the visitors car park at Machrie Moor.
This is the 3rd site you encounter when coming from the car park.

Moss farm chambered cairn

Trip No.6  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Chambered Cairn Country: Scotland (Isle of Arran)
Visited: Yes on 9th Aug 2018. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: MM6 : This is the FOURTH site you encounter when heading East from the Beach at Machrie. From the car park 'Machrie Moor 6' (Moss Farm Chambered Cairn) is 1.6km away

Remains of a Bronze Age Sandstone Cist. Originally it was square shaped and consisted of 5 Menhirs lain horizontally, with a Capstone on top.

Two stones formed the E side, with one stone on each of the other sides.
When excavated by J.Bryce in 1861, only 4 of these stones remained. He found an Urn and some Flint Arrowheads.

Now all that remains are two upright Menhirs, sitting at a right angle.
The large one, orientated E-W, measures 2m long, 1.1m high and 40cm wide. The small one is orientated N-S, measures 1m long, 80cm high and 40cm wide.

*Getting There ; Get the '322 bus' to Blackwaterfoot from the Ferry terminal at Brodick. It takes approx 45 minutes.
From Blackwaterfoot you can go directly to the Moor by following the A841 road which is a 5.5km walk (It took me about an hour on the way back)

Or you can take the scenic route which is 8.5km. The long way follow's the beach to Drumadoon Point, and then onto the Doon Hillfort, after exploring the Fort you walk along the beach path to Kings Caves (These part's of the journey are covered in log visits for these sites)

From the Caves you can go along the shore to Machrie Bay (which would have been shorter) but instead l followed the trail path up Torr Righ Mor (137m) and around the Pine forests on Torr Righ Beag (109m) until l reached to visitors car park. From here it's a 15 minute walk to the visitors car park at Machrie Moor.
This is the 4th site you encounter when coming from the car park.

Machrie Moor 5

Trip No.6  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: Scotland (Isle of Arran)
Visited: Yes on 9th Aug 2018. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: MM5 : This is the FIFTH site you encounter when heading East from the Beach at Machrie. From the car park 'Machrie Moor 5' (Coire Fhionn-Fingals Cauldron) is 1.75km away

A double concentric Stone Circle made from large, radioactive Granite boulders.
The inner circle is roughly 11.5m in diameter and has Eight stones, 60~100cm high.
The outer circle is 18m in diameter consists of Fifteen slightly smaller stones, one of which has a hole in it.

J.M.Arthur excavated this circle in 1858 and removed a lot of small packing stones and boulders, but he didn't reach the original ground level.
A few years later in 1861, J.Bryce found a small Sandstone Cist in the centre of the circles, less than 30cm from the surface. The Cist contained several bone fragments and black earth, and he suggests that the area had been disturbed several times before his excavation.
J.A.Balfour records the remains of this Cist in 1910, but it no longer exists today (perhaps it has been filled in)

During the 1980s Paul Devereux and other members of the Gaia Programme conducted a series of tests, over a 5 year period, to monitor electromagnetic anomalies at many Megalithic Stone Circles across Europe.
MM5 gave a site average, of 33% above background radiation levels.
The tallest, and the most Westerly of the upright stones in the inner ring, is particularly energetic, giving readings 16% above the next most radioactive stone in the double ring.

*Getting There ; Get the '322 bus' to Blackwaterfoot from the Ferry terminal at Brodick. It takes approx 45 minutes.
From Blackwaterfoot you can go directly to the Moor by following the A841 road which is a 5.5km walk (It took me about an hour on the way back)

Or you can take the scenic route which is 8.5km. The long way follow's the beach to Drumadoon Point, and then onto the Doon Hillfort, after exploring the Fort you walk along the beach path to Kings Caves (These part's of the journey are covered in log visits for these sites)

From the Caves you can go along the shore to Machrie Bay (which would have been shorter) but instead l followed the trail path up Torr Righ Mor (137m) and around the Pine forests on Torr Righ Beag (109m) until l reached to visitors car park. From here it's a 15 minute walk to the visitors car park at Machrie Moor.
This is the 5th site you encounter when coming from the car park.

Machrie Moor 4

Trip No.6  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: Scotland (Isle of Arran)
Visited: Yes on 9th Aug 2018. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: MM4 : This is the SIXTH site you encounter when heading East from the Beach at Machrie. From the car park 'Machrie Moor 4' (Granite 4 Poster) is 1.87km away

A Four Poster Granite ellipse about 90cm high, and about 6.4m on it's longer axis. The positioning suggests a 5th Boulder may have been in place at one time, giving a more Circular shape to the site.

Excavated by J.Bryce in 1861, he found a Bronze Age Cist (90cm long, 40cm wide and 60cm deep) in the centre.
Skeletal remains were accompanied by an Irish tripartite bowl, a Bronze awl, and three Flint Flakes.

*Getting There ; Get the '322 bus' to Blackwaterfoot from the Ferry terminal at Brodick. It takes approx 45 minutes.
From Blackwaterfoot you can go directly to the Moor by following the A841 road which is a 5.5km walk (It took me about an hour on the way back)

Or you can take the scenic route which is 8.5km. The long way follow's the beach to Drumadoon Point, and then onto the Doon Hillfort, after exploring the Fort you walk along the beach path to Kings Caves (These part's of the journey are covered in log visits for these sites)

From the Caves you can go along the shore to Machrie Bay (which would have been shorter) but instead l followed the trail path up Torr Righ Mor (137m) and around the Pine forests on Torr Righ Beag (109m) until l reached to visitors car park. From here it's a 15 minute walk to the visitors car park at Machrie Moor.
This is the 6th site you encounter when coming from the car park.

Machrie Moor 3

Trip No.6  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: Scotland (Isle of Arran)
Visited: Yes on 9th Aug 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: MM3 : This is the SEVENTH site you encounter when heading East from the Beach at Machrie. From the car park 'Machrie Moor 3' (4.3m Red Sandstone Menhir) is 1.96km away

Originally this Stone Circle had 8 or 9 stones. Now only 6 stones are visible, and only the tallest, a 4.3m high, Red Sandstone Menhir remains standing.
The rest have fallen over, there is an ribbed Menhir lying flat near the centre of the circle (Perhaps used to sharpen swords?) The axis of symmetry (NE-SW) is approx 15.5m long.

Excavations by J.Bryce in 1861 uncovered a small Cist in the centre containing an Urn with some Flint Flakes. The Urn, which contained fragments of burnt bone, disintegrated on removal.
A second Cist was found 1m South of the centre, which contained a crouched burial, also with some Flint Flakes.

*Getting There ; Get the '322 bus' to Blackwaterfoot from the Ferry terminal at Brodick. It takes approx 45 minutes.
From Blackwaterfoot you can go directly to the Moor by following the A841 road which is a 5.5km walk (It took me about an hour on the way back)

Or you can take the scenic route which is 8.5km. The long way follow's the beach to Drumadoon Point, and then onto the Doon Hillfort, after exploring the Fort you walk along the beach path to Kings Caves (These part's of the journey are covered in log visits for these sites)

From the Caves you can go along the shore to Machrie Bay (which would have been shorter) but instead l followed the trail path up Torr Righ Mor (137m) and around the Pine forests on Torr Righ Beag (109m) until l reached to visitors car park. From here it's a 15 minute walk to the visitors car park at Machrie Moor.
This is the 7th site you encounter when coming from the car park.

Machrie Moor 2

Trip No.6  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: Scotland (Isle of Arran)
Visited: Yes on 9th Aug 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: MM2 : This is the EIGHTH site you encounter when heading East from the Beach at Machrie. From the car park 'Machrie Moor 2' (3 Menhirs & 2 Millstones) is 2.1km away

Originally this Stone Circle had 7 or 8 Red Sandstone Menhirs. Now only 3 remain standing. The tallest of which is 4.9m high

Excavations by J.Bryce in 1861 uncovered a Cist (90cm long, 55cm wide and 65cm deep) in the centre of the circle, containing an inhumation, and accompanied by an Irish tripartite bowl, and four Flint Flakes.
A second smaller Cist was found not far from the Menhir in the NE arc, but he didn't find anything inside it.

There are two millstones, of a different rock type to the other stones, in the south-east arc, and look to be from a later date.

*Getting There ; Get the '322 bus' to Blackwaterfoot from the Ferry terminal at Brodick. It takes approx 45 minutes.
From Blackwaterfoot you can go directly to the Moor by following the A841 road which is a 5.5km walk (It took me about an hour on the way back)

Or you can take the scenic route which is 8.5km. The long way follow's the beach to Drumadoon Point, and then onto the Doon Hillfort, after exploring the Fort you walk along the beach path to Kings Caves (These part's of the journey are covered in log visits for these sites)

From the Caves you can go along the shore to Machrie Bay (which would have been shorter) but instead l followed the trail path up Torr Righ Mor (137m) and around the Pine forests on Torr Righ Beag (109m) until l reached to visitors car park. From here it's a 15 minute walk to the visitors car park at Machrie Moor.
This is the 8th site you encounter when coming from the car park.

Machrie Moor 1.

Trip No.6  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: Scotland (Isle of Arran)
Visited: Yes on 9th Aug 2018. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: MM1 : This is the NINTH site you encounter when heading East from the Beach at Machrie. From the car park 'Machrie Moor 1' (6 Granite & 5 Sandstone) is 2.16km away

Originally this Stone Circle (ellipse) had 6 Granite Boulders alternating with 6 small Sandstone Menhirs (A Sandstone Menhir on the Northern arc is now only a stump)

It roughly measure's 13m in diameter and is only about 25m away from MM11.

Cremated remains were found in an off-centre pit, along with a Bone Needle, Flint Knife and covered by an inverted Urn.
A.Burl made the discovery in 1979 of Timber post holes, which predated the placement of the stones.

*Getting There ; Get the '322 bus' to Blackwaterfoot from the Ferry terminal at Brodick. It takes approx 45 minutes.
From Blackwaterfoot you can go directly to the Moor by following the A841 road which is a 5.5km walk (It took me about an hour on the way back)

Or you can take the scenic route which is 8.5km. The long way follow's the beach to Drumadoon Point, and then onto the Doon Hillfort, after exploring the Fort you walk along the beach path to Kings Caves (These part's of the journey are covered in log visits for these sites)

From the Caves you can go along the shore to Machrie Bay (which would have been shorter) but instead l followed the trail path up Torr Righ Mor (137m) and around the Pine forests on Torr Righ Beag (109m) until l reached to visitors car park. From here it's a 15 minute walk to the visitors car park at Machrie Moor.
This is the 9th site you encounter when coming from the car park.

Machrie Moor 6

Trip No.6  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: Scotland (Isle of Arran)
Visited: Yes on 9th Aug 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: MM11 : This is the TENTH site you encounter when heading East from the Beach at Machrie. From the car park 'Machrie Moor 11' (10 small stones & Timber postholes) is 2.18km away

Completely buried under peat, it was discovered by E.W.MacKie in 1975, by him probing through the peat.
Excavations by "A.Burl" between 1978 and 1979 revealed 10 small upright Stones, the tallest of which is 1.2m high and is standing on the Western arc of the circle.

Measuring 13m in diameter, and only about 25m away from MM1, Cremated remains were found in a central pit, made of Flint.
Pitchstone and Diorite Knifes & Scrapers were excavated along with some pottery.
10 Timber Post Holes were also discovered, situated between the 10 stones, suggesting use of the site before the Stones were put in place.

*Getting There ; Get the '322 bus' to Blackwaterfoot from the Ferry terminal at Brodick. It takes approx 45 minutes.
From Blackwaterfoot you can go directly to the Moor by following the A841 road which is a 5.5km walk (It took me about an hour on the way back)

Or you can take the scenic route which is 8.5km. The long way follow's the beach to Drumadoon Point, and then onto the Doon Hillfort, after exploring the Fort you walk along the beach path to Kings Caves (These part's of the journey are covered in log visits for these sites)

From the Caves you can go along the shore to Machrie Bay (which would have been shorter) but instead l followed the trail path up Torr Righ Mor (137m) and around the Pine forests on Torr Righ Beag (109m) until l reached to visitors car park. From here it's a 15 minute walk to the visitors car park at Machrie Moor.
This is the 10th site you encounter when coming from the car park.

Galabraes

Trip No.7  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (West Lothian)
Visited: Yes on 25th Aug 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: Gala Braes Menhir :

A 1.6m tall Whinstone Menhir, situated on a ridge 160m above sea level.

It is approximately aligned to the cardinal points, and lies about 1.9km (as the Crow flies) to the South of Cairnpapple.
The Southern Face of the Menhir looks out over the low lying countryside, with Goatfell on Arran visible to the West on clear days.

A farmer called Mr Carlaw found human bones in 1902, when digging at the base of this stone.
A second Menhir lies toppled at the edge of the field nearby, 70m to the West.

*Getting There ; Just over half an hour walk from Bathgate train station, which is 2.3km away.

Leave the train station and cross Edinburgh Road into Gordon Avenue, take the 2nd left onto Marjoribanks Street, take the 2nd right and follow Balbardie Road until the end, turn right when you come to Drumcross Road.
Walk up this hill for about 15/20 minutes (1.25km) until you come to Limeroad crossroads where you make a left, the Menhir is in the second field to your left, you cant miss it. You have to climb over a small wall to access the field, which sometimes has Cattle in it.

(The journey is all uphill once you come to Balbardie Road. And Drumcross Road is the steepest part)

Knock Stone Circle

Trip No.7  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Modern Stone Circle etc Country: Scotland (West Lothian)
Visited: Yes on 25th Aug 2018. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: Knock Stone Circle :

The Knock Stone Circle has 50 stones, with 17 of them in the smaller circle (although an 18th one may have been moved and now laying in the centre next to the Dolmen)
Inside the inner circle is a mini Dolmen raised up off the grass by 3 tiny stones, and a small Menhir to the West of the Dolmen.
Outside the circle, around 60m to the NE, standing on a small ridge is a waist height Menhir, it has an unusual shape to it, reminding me of a Cetacea of some sort.

The Mystery Stones ;
No one knows exactly when these stones got put up, there are several stories doing the rounds regarding them. The stones look old, but we are told they only got put up less than 25 years ago.

*Some sources say it was built in 1998 by the farmers son at Knock Farm as a surprise for his dads 50th - would his dad not have noticed this massive circle being built?
*Others have told me it was actually built in memory of his father when he passed away - it may be difficult to find out when he passed away.
*And lastly, the comment below suggests it wasn't built in 2006 when an artist was painting the area - why was he painting an empty, featureless field l wonder? could this painter be mistaken?

Is it possible some of these stones were there already and the farmers son rebuilt them? Or perhaps the NE Menhir was always there, No one really knows, and the farmers son has never been interviewed.

Whatever the case may be, the Stone Circle looks spectacular, especially on a Sunny day. I like the small Dolmen in the centre, it is a nice touch.

Definitely worth a look when on your way to Cairnpapple Henge & Cairn, which is visible from the Stone Circle.

*Getting There ; About an hour walk from Bathgate train station, which is 3.9km away.

Coming from the Gala Braes Menhir, continue North on along the country road for 1.6km. There are no turns to take, just a slight bend in the road, getting here is pretty straightforward.

Cairnpapple Hill

Trip No.7  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Round Cairn Country: Scotland (West Lothian)
Visited: Yes on 25th Aug 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 3

Log Text: Cairnpapple :

The site contains ;
*Neolithic Henge & Timber post holes
*Bronze Age Cists and Cairns
*Iron age burials

The main attraction is the Cairn with burial Cists inside. What was once a solid Cairn packed tight with thousands of stones, and burial Cists in the centre, it is now empty and covered by a protective concrete dome, letting us walk amongst the burial chambers. To enter the Cairn you must climb stairs to the summit, turn around, and climb down backwards, as if going down a set of ladders. The Northern grave at the far end has a large Menhir standing at it's Western end. And the Southern Chamber still has a massive Cup Marked Capstone on top of it (Although it is propped open letting us see inside) It is an amazing restoration job they have done, and being alone in the tomb was special, connecting to the spirits of old.

Outside is a massive Henge encircling the whole area, between the Henge and Cairn are a series of 14 holes believed to be Timber Postholes, which are impressive in their own right in a strange sort of way, they are now lined with red chips to try and prevent weeds growing through. Between the holes in the East are 4 Graves, two of which are aligned East~West.

Surrounding the Cairn is a stone chipped area, surrounded by a massive Stone Circle, made using boulders instead of Menhirs, the guy in the hut told me a few of these rocks were supposedly magnetic, so l tested them all, and found 3 that had slight magnetism.
Between this Stone Circle and Cairn are another series of holes, the remains of 13 in all, but these ones are much larger than the ones on the grassy outer henge part.

It is a most peculiar site, there is something magical about it.

I spent 2 hours there, and watched many people come and go, most people stayed for 15 minutes or so, so even though it was really busy at point's, there were times l had the whole place to myself, which was great.
Highly recommended.

*Getting There ; Around an 1hr 15m walk from Bathgate train station, which is 5km away.

Coming from Knock Stone Circle, continue North on along the country road for 1.05km. There are no turns to take, just a couple of bends in the road, getting here is pretty straightforward.
Upon reaching the entrance gate you climb some step's and reach a field with cows & a Bull roaming around, the Bull l saw was massive.
At the top of the entrance steps, to the left are some scatteres boulders, it looks to me like they have been placed there, and may be another ancient site, as far as l know it hasnt been excavated/investigated yet.

Walk through the Cattle field and enter the Cairnpapple field, which is fenced of to stop the cows destroying the site. An entrance fee is paid at a small visitors hut, which houses some artifacts and the history of the site.
The guy l spoke to was very knowledgeable and friendly.

Gormyre

Trip No.7  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (West Lothian)
Visited: Yes on 25th Aug 2018. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: Gormyre Menhir :

Made of Red Grit Sandstone, the Menhir is small, only 1.2m tall, but it isnt the size thats important, it's the location that is. l tried to picture the landscape when this may have been placed here, l cant imagine too much having changed, apart from the flora perhaps, and maybe some dwellings have came and gone since then.

The location is nice and peaceful, from leaving Cairnpapple until reaching Torpichen l didn't encounter a single person. Which was a walking time of nearly an hour. l was wondering if there was possibly more stones with this in the past, or if it had spent its days alone. Plain Menhir, but worth the visit and glad l came to see it.

From here Torpichen Preceptory Menhir is about a 20 minute walk away.

*Getting There ; Around a half hour walk from Cairnpapple, which is 2.2km away
(or a 1.6km walk if coming from the Torpichen Cup Marked Menhir)

Coming from Cairnpapple, go back out the main entrance onto the same country road that brings you from Knock Stone Circle, continue North until you come to a road and turn left. Walk down this road for a couple of minutes and take your next right. Walk North for about 475m and take your 2nd left down a long 450m+ tree lined country road, follow this to the end and take the sharp right, then left and you will come to a gated field.
You will see the Menhir standing against the horizon. Take the tractor path up to a gate in the field, and remember to be careful if the farmer has crops in when you visit.