15 August 2015 - Stone Circles

Rain, rain go away, no school today, it’s Saturday!  Annika made some great vegetable soup, perfect for winter like temperatures, which we enjoyed for lunch. I had a Skype call with my parents.  We decided we had to get out in the fresh air despite the weather.

 

This area of Scotland has 90 or so Pictish relics in the form of stones and stone circles of significance.  They are all accessible, well signed with archaeological information and are free.  Although Luke would like to go to Stonehenge, the ancient stones are much better when you can touch them and scramble on them and enjoy them with no crowds.

 

The Brandsbutt Stone

 The Brandsbutt Stone is engraved in Ogham, the ancient Irish alphabet which dates it to 5-6 th Century AD.  It has a serpent and some other symbols on it.  We thought it looked a bit pieced together and then read that two pieces were found in a stone dyke on a local farm and another in a ditch!  It is made of whinestone, a local rock.

A stane dake - stone dyke.

After we had seen the Brandsbutt Stone, which is literally a carved stone, in the middle of a housing estate and not that interesting, really, we went on our way!  The Easter Aquhorthies Stone Circle which was much more of a thrill.  A bumpy trip down a farm track, then a walk up a nettle, thistle and wild flower lined footpath led us to the Stone Circle in a farmer’s field with great views! The soggy and muddy cows in the next paddock stared at us.  The rain eased and so the kids could scramble over the stones and we could read the visitor’s information and take in the history.  

Lovely views to the East from Aquhorthies Stone Circle

It is thought that the name Easter Aquhorthies means Field of Prayer in Gaelic.  Eight stones are granite and the recumbent stone is a different type of stone, red jasper, and was probably used by the agricultural community to observe the moon.  This stone circle still has its original complement of stones. These stone circles were erected in Aberdeen shire about 2000BC.  What mighty pieces of rock they are that were somehow transported up the hill and put in place.

Over this rock, the moon was observed

It is not every day you get the chance to sit on 4000 year old stones!

Looking proud of himself!

Majestic

Gymnastic equipment?

Tall and proud!

Annika loves her selfies

Sheltering from the wind

Then on to Loanhead Stone Circle and Cemetry in Daviot not too far away.  This was even better than Aquhorthies with lovely views over the hills, loads of wild freshly washed raspberries in which we indulged (at least half a punnet each!) and a little forest camp to walk through.  The rain had stopped by this time but it was still really dreich.  Although there are many other stone circles about, this was enough for the afternoon.

Loanhead Stone Circle

Enjoying exploring - Loanhead Stone Circle

Amazing wild raspberries!

 Luke was encouraged to do some more cooking for his Farm module so it was a perfect afternoon for scones with jam and cream – the cream tea we’ve been hankering after but not partaking in because of our travel budget.  The scones were amazing and probably better than a cream tea from a commercial venue.  The kids worked together on the scone project which was so lovely to see.  This house is very well equipped and so we can enjoy cooking again.

Making scones

Cream tea - delicious