Stone Circle

Getting there - (OS Map ref NJ 958470) From Old Deer, head west on the B9029 Old Deer to Maud road. On the left (south) park at the Aiky Brae Quarry. About 100 yards (100m) back up the road towards Old Deer there is a track that takes you round the top of the quarry. Follow this track and head up hill. Go through (or over) the first gate, once in this field, cut across it to the right and look for a stone wall. Follow the wall and you will come to a fenced off path. Climb the stile and follow this path up the hill. Over the crest of the hill, look for a fenced off path on the left that dissects two fields and heads directly towards a small wooded area. Either open the gates or climb them, this is the correct way to go, and head for this wooded area. Once in the trees, follow path marked by white stones to the other side of the trees.

Info - This is the most intact recumbent stone circle in the area. The upright stones rest on a bank of small stones and earth. These stones are really big and the recumbent is supposed to weigh 21.5 tons and is 15 feet (4.6m) long! The east flankers tops 6 and a half feet (2m) in height and the fallen west flanker is approximately 10 feet (3m) long. An arc of upright stones runs from the fallen west flanker. People of commented that several of these stones have a very phallic shape! The stones also appear to be ordered by height. The recumbent and the fallen flanker are made of whinstone with the remainder being grey granite.

Lindsey's tip - The path up the hill is over grown with berries and gorse so on no account wear your shorts if visiting in the summer! It is also a steep climb but is worth it. When we visited the grass was cut and its a lovely sheltered spot. This site also affords great views of the countryside to the south.