Andy Burnham's Blog, page 67

The Celtic Way - a walk through the prehistoric sites of western Britain

Originally sent in 2013 but worth sharing again. Val Evans writes: I see that Tracey Ramsbottom has uploaded back copies of her Devon earth mysteries magazine, Wisht Maen. I would be pleased to offer up the original version of my book The Celtic Way, which is a walking guide through the prehistoric sites of western Britain.

Kilfeddar Farm

A round cairn originally c. 60 feet in diameter, however small to medium-sized field clearance stones deposited on the SE and NW arcs have changed it into an oval mound measuring 25m from NW to SE by 16.5m transversely and up to 1.4m in height.

Embury Beacon Fort

Embury Beacon Fort is an Iron Age promontory fort with double defences, the inner work reduced by cliff falls. Pottery found during excavation in the 1970s was mainly late Glastonbury ware dated to the Late Iron Age, The site was excavated because of rapid coastal erosion.

Balvraid Chambered Cairn

A chambered cairn in the Highlands, some 19m by 16m, it has an oval capstone over a rectangular chamber towards the eastern end of the mound.

Mayburgh

Mayburgh Henge guided walk on 1st June, part of Castlerigg Connections 2024 Festival. Located within earshot of the M6, this massive henge consists of a huge bank 110m in diameter composed of grey, water worn stones brought up from a nearby river and a single standing stone. It has one entrance to the east in the direction of King Arthur’s Round Table.

Heretoka Pa

Heretoka Pa is located on the banks of the Kaipara Harbour, as shown by the arrow, at the north western end of Atiu Creek Regional Park, north of Auckland. See our nearby sites list for more in the area.

EastCoomleagh standing stone

A solitary standing stone in the townland of Coomleagh East, Co. Cork. Pentagonal shaped and with markings on one edge.

Lydford Anglo Saxon Defences

Lydford is a village between Okehampton and Tavistock in Devon. In the 9th century it is documented as one of four important towns or burhs in Devon. The surviving defensive earthworks shown in the photos are at the north east end of the village, but it is likely that the defences once surrounded the whole of the Saxon town.

Castelo de Tavira

See also the new pages for the local museum in Tavira nearby, thanks Maatje. Tavira is an ancient sea port in a dominant position over the mouth of the river Gilão. The settlement has developed since antiquity, with predecessors dating back to the 8th century BC, passing through the hands of Phoenicians, Greeks, Celts, Carthaginians, Romans, Moors and the Portuguese crown.

Gorteendarragh Wedge Tomb

A small wedge-tomb lies in a thicket, a few metres behind its 3-metre long, single roofstone which has been dramatically and unusually embedded at an angle in the ground. A perhaps-unique example of a tomb's roofstone having been lifted off and planted prominently in the ground nearby