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Borland GlenStone Circle
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Despite a common assumption prominent hill tops and clefts are not usually the points where important astronomical events are seen from the perspective of prehistoric monuments .So it was a bit of a surprise to find that the most obvious hill top and cleft (marked with black dots ) as seen from this site turned out be to very close to the major standstill (the cleft ) and summer solstice sun set (hill top ). Coincidence ? I believe so , I'm far from convinced about the site being a four poster or prehistoric . Over the hill is a "heavily cup marked boulder " , according to Canmore .http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/263767/details/dun+muir/ But it's just a conglomerate boulder with "pebble drop" . |
Posted by tiompan5th October 2010ce Edited 5th October 2010ce |
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Once again a circle situated not on the crest of a hill which would have the best view, but is on the southern slope giving restricted views to the SSW. Canmore database notes say the setting is only visible from the immediate vicinity;I'll confirm that. It also says that it stands on a slight terrace which is infested with rushes, contrasting with the rough pasture of the rest of the hill. well, there ain't just one set of rushes on this hill, there must be a dozen in the immediate vicinity. Maybe the people who built this one had reason to conceal it, because unless you know it's there you ain't going to find it.The views from the site are magnificent.Once you've seen it,walk north for 200 metres to a three stone alignment on a crest (not the hilltop) for a 180 degree view with Norman's Law (classic mother hill shape) and The Bishop above Kinross both in view. From here there is an enclosure on John's hill to the NNE and continuing in a straight line, the Grey stone directly over Chapel hill. Southern stone has maybe fallen inwards as it does not have the beautiful flat faces of the other three. Canmore says: It comprises four stones, which define a trapezium measuring 3.2m along its N and W sides, 2.7m along the S and 2.5m along the E. All the stones are set square at the corners with their long axes lying E and W, and they present a long flat face to the interior. The two on the N are markedly larger than the others, and that on the NW is also the tallest. The dimensions of the stones are as follows: NW - 1m by 0.5m and 0.65m high, NE - 0.8m by 0.4m and 0.3m high, SE - 0.73m by 0.43m and 0.2m high and SW - 0.73m by 0.38m and 0.4m high. To get to this one it's uphill all the way. In fine weather, allow at least 90 minutes to get there from the roadside parking below Youth hostel north of Glendevon village. There's usually space for 2 or 3 vehicles as long as you leave space for any cars at the end to exit. Turn left uphill and through the gate with a sign to Auchterarder and Glenfoot cattery. Walk up the track to the cattery and take the gate to its right. Through this it's uphill again to a junction with another path coming from your left. Cross a style into an old stone corral at the end of which the gradient eases somewhat and the path leads on northwards. The conical White Creich hill is ahead of you with two burns at its foot on your right. At this point it is possible to take a track to the right and downhill which crosses the Creich burn (the left of the two) and follow this around White Creich hill. This one is not marked on the map, but I observed horsemen using it from the circle so it should be ok. At this point,I followed the old drove road up the left hand side of Borland glen to grid ref 070988 which will take you completely past White Creich hill and from here you strike off the path downhill to the right and follow the 400 metre contour of Green Law to Sim's hill and the four poster circle on Sim's hill. There are two burns to negotiate, with steep sides, so appropriate footwear only please. Once on Sim's hill itself, I found finding the circle a bit more difficult than I thought, as the long approach up the glen gave a view of the site area and a circular bed of rushes was seen which I thought was the spot. On reaching this, I discovered not one stone! A search of the area between the two burns on Sim's hill eventually proved sucessfull.The RCAHMS co-ordinates are NN 9976 0709, but my feeling is that it's a bit further to the east than this. I did not have a gps, so I can't confirm. |
Posted by Ian Murray 13th July 2003ce |
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