Hunt House Road Waymarkers

Date Added: 9th Dec 2024
Site Type: Marker Stone Country: England (Yorkshire (North))
Visited: Yes on 20th Sep 2024. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 2 Access 5

Log Text: Had an hour or so to spare, but it was foggy on the moor so had to be careful where I went. Decided that having a look for the stones beside the road from Goathland was sensible, then maybe walk over to the roman road. First one was easy, but nowhere obvious to park on the single track road out past the next two.

High Bridestones (Yorks)

Date Added: 4th Dec 2024
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: England (Yorkshire (North))
Visited: Yes on 17th Sep 2024. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: After a day walking the beautiful coastline between Runswick bay and Staithes, I had an hour or two of beautiful sunshine left in the day, and made the decision to drive over onto the moor for a quick look for the Bridestones, of which I have vague memories from 27 years ago. In this weather, three upright stones standing can clearly be seen, so I walk over to the tallest, more than 6 feet tall. At this point, three other large stones can be seen flat to the ground along with several smaller ones. My memory tells me they were in a circle, but that doesn't really look to be the case to me today. To the northwest, slightly down the hill, can be seen several other standers in a rough line, and walking down along the row the I come to another group of several stones, but this time nothing more than a few feet tall. There are many other smaller stumps and flat stones can be seen before progressing down to another fairly large stander. Back at the top, there is another short stander off to the southeast, and what appear to be several moor, but which turn out to be sheep munching! Its all a bit of a mess, but I dont think this should be given stone circle status, it's more like a stone row to me. A megalithic disaster indeed.

Low Bridestones (N) (Yorks)

Date Added: 6th Dec 2024
Site Type: Standing Stones Country: England (Yorkshire (North))
Visited: Yes on 17th Sep 2024. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: From the High Bridestones I now drive down the hill to the northwest and am able to park in a big area where the bridleway crosses, and an entry road to a quarry. From here it is easy to walk out towards the Lower Bridestones, which I don’t remember finding before (I was being rushed), but it is now much easier with the detailed maps available through the Megalithic Portal which show three groups of stones. A couple of hundred yards along the bridleway and then head southeast up the slope to look for the first of three groups marked on the detailed OS map. Yes, theres the top of a stone peeking above the long grass. And another. Three in a line to start, then a good look around in the boggy ground and there are many stones to be found, maybe a couple of lines across the slope, but to be honest, they could be almost anything. I now see a couple of bigger stones standing above the long grass to the west of here, which must be the second group, so head over towards them, which is not quite so straightforward with the long couchgrass and a very boggy area between me and them. Approaching them and I can first see three stones standing in a line across the slope, and several confusing sheep, which look just like more. When I get to them, it is clear that there are many more stones here, again forming a perhaps a couple of lines around the hill, but its all a bit obscured in the long marsh grass, and a bit of a megalithic mess. The upper line seems to go on for a fair distance, with one stone after another to be found. Further over to the northeast a sort of circle of stones is shown on the map, so I wander over for a look. Without GPS and detailed map ths would be impossible to find, but I do get here and find a small cairn like pile of stones, but no semblance of a stone circle.

Low Bridestones (S) (Yorks)

Date Added: 7th Dec 2024
Site Type: Stone Row / Alignment Country: England (Yorkshire (North))
Visited: Yes on 17th Sep 2024. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: The sun is getting low and I consider giving up at this point, but I wisely decide that I do still have time to go and have a quick look for the southern of the three marked groups of stones, and I am very glad that I did. Walking southwards through some initially very difficult boggy ground with long couch grass, I find easier going up the hill a bit and then along what was presumably a sheep track. Then I see in the distance a row of about half a dozen stones standing proud of the moorland, showing clearly as shadows with the golden light of the settng sun behind. They look magnificent. Feeling good now that I have found them, I head over with a spring in my step, and not worrying about the boggy ground underfoot. Thank goodness I have my boots on! When I get there, the five or six large stones are clearly standing in an approximate straight line, but with many other smaller stones also with them. In the middle it seems to be a double row of stones about three or four feet apart, reminding me a bit of a Dartmoor double row. At the lower, southern end, any real form sort of disintegrates into a bit of raised ground with lots of stones almost in a heap. The light here is now just beautiful, all golden with a blue sky and green/brown moorland underfoot. Time to head back, and there looks to be a boggy stream between me and the bridle way back, but after a good look around I find a sheep track which leads me through the marsh ground and across to get me back to the bridleway. All my years of training on Dartmoor have paid off, as it is much easier going than much of that! Walking back to the north along the bridleway I see many large stones laying between the stony track and the nearby field wall. Could these possiby be the remnants of anther row of stones, or are they just large stones which have been moved and dumped out of the way of the track? Its hard to know. Back to the car and time to go for a celebratory pint. It has been another great day, with some grade 1 stone hunting this early evening, and I have a real feeling of achievement.

House Crag (Howl Moor)

Date Added: 11th Dec 2024
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: England (Yorkshire (North))
Visited: Yes on 20th Sep 2024. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: I had an hour or so to spare, but it was foggy on the moor so had to be careful where I went. Decided that having a look for the stones beside the road from Goathland was sensible, then maybe over to the roman road. A closer look at the Mega Portal map showed this (possible) stone circle fairly near, and not far from what appeared to be a decent path, so I gave it a go. Perhaps stupidly, as I had deemed it not far, I went without my bag, therefore no paper map or compass, relying on the phone app alone in the fog, something I would never have done in the past. Anyways, it was a decent track up to the top of the hill, so then came time to hunt for the stones, as seen on the portal. I proceeded across the open moor from the path to where marked on the portal map, but nothing. So call up the portal site page and see that the accuracy rating was not good, but that comments from JohndHunter did give a better reference. Now a fair distance from the track which would lead me back, and in very limited visibility, I was unsure of proceeding in case my battery went flat or I lost the signal, but my curiosity got the better of me, aided by the thought that all I needed to do was head back in the direction I had come, keeping the hill edge to my right and at some point I would get to the track. Anyways, all worked out just fine, and I found the stones as seen in the pictures. At first they just seemed like a jumble of mostly large stones laying on the ground, but then I got to a point where a good arc of stones could be made out, or maybe several arcs. A few of the stones were definitely once standing and set into the ground. Having seen the Bridestones, and in the past Commondale, I personally decided that this indeed could once have been a stone circle. The fog was getting thicker, not aided by it starting to get dark, so I decided to head back, across the moor to the track and then back down to the car, all in taking about an hour. All was good, and I had a real feeling of achievement, so went for a well deserved pint at the Mallyan Spout Hotel.

Jõelähtme

Date Added: 27th Oct 2019
Site Type: Barrow Cemetery Country: Estonia
Visited: Yes on 19th Oct 2003

Log Text: None

Rebala

Date Added: 27th Oct 2019
Site Type: Barrow Cemetery Country: Estonia
Visited: Yes on 19th Oct 2003

Log Text: None

Kostivere Sliding Stone

Date Added: 27th Oct 2019
Site Type: Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature Country: Estonia
Visited: Yes on 19th Oct 2003

Log Text: None

Pierre de Nautours

Trip No.203  Entry No.65  Date Added: 5th Apr 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Aquitaine:Dordogne (24))
Visited: Yes on 17th May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 2 Access 5

Log Text: I wasn’t expecting this. I was just getting caught up in rush hour traffic on the outskirts of Périgueux when I saw this large brownish black megalith standing beside a busy roundabout. There was a bus stop conveniently right by it at which I was able to stop and have a decent look although I didn’t spend long here.

I assume its been moved here from Combe du Puy Gauthier wherever that may be and it was dedicated as a monument to somebody whose name I didn’t remember.

Peyre d'Ermale

Trip No.203  Entry No.58  Date Added: 5th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Aquitaine:Dordogne (24))
Visited: Yes on 17th May 2005. My rating: Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: Marked on my ign map as a menhir but signposted along a track from the road as Dolmen I parked and walked to see what I could find.

What I eventually found after about a kilometre walk was a strange lump of natural rock which has been shaped has a squarish cut out in one side and a round basin to the south with little channels cut in the surrounding rocks to presumably collect water.

I have no idea what this is meant to be and indeed no idea whether this is the proper megalithic remains! Later I find out that this is indeed the remains of a megalithic burial chamber (dolmen a bit incorrect perhaps). And thet there is also a menhir nearby. I wonder where that was then.

Dolmen de Peyrelevade (Paussac)

Trip No.203  Entry No.57  Date Added: 5th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Aquitaine:Dordogne (24))
Visited: Yes on 17th May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: This is a nice little dolmen in a pleasant open bit of land with lots of orchids butterflies and lizards at the time of my visit on a sunny May morning. Its just off the D93 between St Vivien and Paussac 50 metres down a little track which is signposted from the road.

The dolmen consists of a strangely layered dark reddish brown/black capstone sitting on 5 limestone supports about 2 metres off the ground covering a chamber of dimensions approximately 3m by 2m. What looks like a further fallen capstone and an extra chamber is at the western end and there are lots of big stones around. Perhaps it was once a much bigger or multiple chambered type of thing.

Pierre du Diable (Vitrac)

Trip No.203  Entry No.93  Date Added: 6th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Aquitaine:Dordogne (24))
Visited: Yes on 20th May 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: What I found here was a tiny little dolmen right beside the road which is being incorporated into a garden wall a few kilometres south of Sarlat-le-Caneda on top of a hill towards Vitrac. The capstone is not 2 metres by 2 metres and sits on a couple of stones both less than a foot in size. Its probable that there was more to this dolmen which is now under some trees and in the garden wall.

Abri de Cro-Magnon

Trip No.203  Entry No.82  Date Added: 6th Apr 2020
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter Country: France (Aquitaine:Dordogne (24))
Visited: Yes on 19th May 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Up a little track to the side of the Cro-Magnon hotel along the road to the railway station can be found this sad little UNESCO World Heritage site where the Cro-Magnon man was discovered in 1868 by Francois Berthoumeyron as they were clearing the way for the road to the railway station.

Despite all the hustle and bustle in Les Eyzies and all the attractions crying out for your visit this place does not even have a signpost. Its nothing much to see just a little rock shelter in the cliff face shaded by a couple of large chestnut trees with a little walled and fenced area around it. It looks a bit like a large garden feature or something from a cemetery tucked round the back and almost forgotten.

Once you have found it there is a sign in fact two the official UNESCO World Heritage site plate and a little plaque commemorating the discovery. I am surprised it is not a bit of a pilgrimage site like so many others around here in this village which thrives on its reputation as the home of Cro-Magnon man.

Musée National de Préhistoire

Trip No.203  Entry No.78  Date Added: 6th Apr 2020
Site Type: Museum Country: France (Aquitaine:Dordogne (24))
Visited: Yes on 19th May 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Access 4

Log Text: Recently completely rebuilt this is one of the must sees of the area. There are loads and loads of tools and lots of videos of people making and using them. On the second floor there are some nice finds and again more tools. I thought that there were too many tools on display and not enough other things it seemed to be an ancient tool museum rather than a complete prehistory museum but then again I guess that they are all we have to see. But there's nothing much from the bronze age onwards nothing at all concerning megalithic structures which was a bit of a shame. There was however one representation of a very early burial found nearby where the body of a girl was found in what it called a “proto-dolmen” where the body was placed in a stone lined cist and covered by two large stones.

I have to admit I was expecting better such as more artwork statuettes explanation of how the paintings were done etc but it was an enjoyable couple of hours before it shut for lunch. I did however buy myself a little replica of the Dame de Brassempouy a 25000 year old babe to keep me company on my travels round these ancient sites.

Font-de-Gaume

Trip No.203  Entry No.71  Date Added: 5th Apr 2020
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter Country: France (Aquitaine:Dordogne (24))
Visited: Yes on 18th May 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 5 Access 4

Log Text: Walk quickly the 2km from Les Eyzies to the entrance building for the cave, and am just in time to be a part of the 10:00 trip. Hooray. It is fantastic.

The colours don't seem so vivid as I recall, (probably from seeing pictures), but I am actually in the cave with these paintings, and could almost touch them if I wanted) strictly forbidden!) they are that close and available. They are said to date from 14000 years ago, dated by means of calcite build up dating methods as there is no charcoal in any of the paintings. There are bison, horses, reindeer, normal deer, a mammoth... Superb. In red and black but they look totally different with the lights on and off.

Entering the cave from the old entrance, the animals would have passed you by as you proceeded into the cavern, it is intended as a moving picture. These people could paint with perspective, something which became lost until the renaissance period only 500 years ago. Some of the animals are painted on flat surfaces. Some are made to fit the cave features. Some have been carved. The two deer, one licking the other, are amazing. I want to rate this place as 10 out of 5.

Grotte des Combarelles 1

Trip No.203  Entry No.72  Date Added: 5th Apr 2020
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter Country: France (Aquitaine:Dordogne (24))
Visited: Yes on 18th May 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 5 Access 3

Log Text: Its good being here in mid May while its not very busy as I can get to visit places like this. Visits are strictly limited to a couple of groups of up to six people at a time per day and often have to be booked several weeks in advance. But I enquired in the morning and got to be on the afternoon tour. Brilliant.

A couple of kilometres north of Les Eyzies beyond Fonte de Gaume in the base of a cliff face is found this cave entrance which in fact is two caves but with one common enlarged entrance dug out in the last century. The engravings within the cave were discovered by L Capitan D. Peyrony and Abbé Breuil on the 8th September 1901 and at that time there was not much credibility for any of the cave art which had been found as being ancient. But the findings within this cave proved that they were indeed many thousands of years old for sure and the rest is history. What went to prove the ancientness of the artwork in this cave is that the animals are engraved in the calcite coating of the cave walls which of course in places has been calcited over thus proving that they were not recent additions.

The tour of the cave lasts about an hour an on my visit there were just 4 of us including the guide (in French of course). I don’t know when but some time in the fairly recent past the cave has been enlarged by digging downwards below the passage making the visit possible in a stooped walk rather than the hands and knees crawl of the past. After a few hundred metres of twisting turning cave passage we get to the first engraving of a horse. It takes a while to see what is being shown but after a while the outline of a horse engraved into the calcite becomes clear. Then you see another one and another. There are engravings everywhere and just centimetres away. More than 600 engravings have now been identified and dated to between 10000 and 12000 years old. There’s a full zoo down there not only the many horses (which have very stylised zigzag markings on many of them) but bison mammoth cows

Le Bourdil Dolmen

Trip No.203  Entry No.106  Date Added: 6th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Aquitaine:Dordogne (24))
Visited: Couldn't find on 21st May 2005

Log Text: Supposedly close to the D.19 but I couldn’t find it. Have to say that by now I wasn’t looking hard. Maybe tomorrow.

Grotte de Lascaux

Trip No.203  Entry No.89  Date Added: 6th Apr 2020
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter Country: France (Aquitaine:Dordogne (24))
Visited: Yes on 20th May 2005

Log Text: This world famous cave has not been opened for visitors since about 1962 after the paintings had started to seriously deteriorate. It was found in September 1940 by two boys out walking their dog which fell down a hole underneath the roots of a freshly uprooted tree. It is now fenced off and not even opened up to specialist groups since 2001. The fence of course has its UNESCO World Heritage site plaque proudly on display.

Dolmen de la Faille

Trip No.203  Entry No.80  Date Added: 6th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Aquitaine:Dordogne (24))
Visited: Yes on 19th May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: An out of the way dolmen a kilometre or so to the west of the village of Rouffignac along the D6 then just south along a lane by the rubbish dump. It’s on a slope in a fenced off field not far from the lane and can be seen from there. There is a brown capstone sitting on a few support stones becoming enclosed by trees.

Abri du Moustier

Trip No.203  Entry No.75  Date Added: 5th Apr 2020
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter Country: France (Aquitaine:Dordogne (24))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 18th May 2005. My rating: Access 4

Log Text: In the cliff face right opposite the main square in the delightful village of Le Moustoir on the west bank of the Vézère is found this World Heritage Site. Things found here gave its name to an entire epoch the Mousterien. But late on in the day on a long bike ride and wanting to get back (and knowing there's at least one more big hill in the way) it looked like more fenced and walled off bits of cliff face.