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Celtic Radio Community > Scotland > Standing Stones


Posted by: Catriona 02-Jul-2003, 04:08 AM
All over Scotland there are stones, circles and brochs built by the ancient peoples who lived in the area that became known as Scotland.

I find them fascinating, and have visited many of the sites featured on
http://www.stonepages.com/scotland/scotland.html


I have a friend who has made it his ambition to visit ALL the sites in Scotland. He lives in Dumbarton and tries to get to a site at least once a month.... He's been doing it for many years, and is STILL not finished.

The ones on Orkney are really fascinating.



Posted by: Aon_Daonna 02-Jul-2003, 11:15 AM
I always wondered about Brochs. I have been visiting Britanny often and standing stones are very fascinating in themselves, but there are seldom brochs found outside of Scotland...

Posted by: Catriona 02-Jul-2003, 03:09 PM
I know, AD - the early history of the land now called Scotland is fascinating - and there is still so much to learn....

If you have a chance, you really should visit Orkney - the islands are amazing and the relics are truly fascinating.

Posted by: barddas 02-Jul-2003, 03:24 PM
I can not wait to go back to Scotland! There is so much I want to see....
I only got as far North as Loch Lomand, and Stirling....

I truely loved my short time there. I think of it often.....

Posted by: Aon_Daonna 02-Jul-2003, 04:15 PM
I visited Stirling last winter... I have to say, that project is really wonderful...
Craigs Mom lives in Helensburgh, which is not far from Loch Lomond and when we drive from Fife to Helensburgh we usually stop on the shore and take a donder... beautiful scenery!

I always wanted to visit as many places as possible, and I am going to realise that as soon as I have sorted out everything here...

Posted by: Catriona 02-Jul-2003, 04:38 PM
Jason
You didn't really get 'North' at all if you only got to Stirling! biggrin.gif

I love the highlands. My grandparents lived there and we had many happy holidays when we were children and loved it, even as adults. Sadly they are no longer alive, and the family home is now owned by my Uncle - we still visit, but it's not the same. The land there has been in our family for hundreds of years, but it is no longer viable as a farm. The house is a 'new' one, to replace the one that was knocked down in about 1800!

I love Caithness and the Orkneys.... The Orcadians are just wonderful people - I have seriously thought about buying a house on Orkney. But the wind....... my how it blows, and with no trees of any note......... It gets bad! laugh.gif

AD - I hope you have a wonderful time exploring Scotland - the areas are all so different - and so are the natives!

Posted by: Aon_Daonna 02-Jul-2003, 05:11 PM
=) I'm going to!
It'll take me a wee while I guess and I'm going to study in between but I'm quite sure I'm going to have fun while doing so.. I've only seen a small part but I love it already...

btw, what do you have against the wind?? that is what makes living at the sea worth doing so, the howl and the steady strength of the wind!
I'd love to buy a wee cottage in the Highlands one day, I don't mind living far from everywhere... it will be different but I am fairly flexible, I'm sure I will make it!

Posted by: Shadows 02-Jul-2003, 06:59 PM
Do not forget the standing stones, carved heads and all, on Easter Island.
Be these Scot?

Posted by: Catriona 03-Jul-2003, 01:51 AM
QUOTE (Shadows @ Jul 3 2003, 01:59 AM)
Do not forget the standing stones, carved heads and all, on Easter Island.
Be these Scot?

Absolutely not! The Easter Island statues are precisely that..... statues. The standing stones are not statues.

There are the stones in Bitanny ( the theory is that they may have been raised by a similar racial/religious group) - and in other parts of of Europe.

The Scottish stones are not unique, but there are a lot of them.

The best examples in England are at Stonehenge and the Avebury Ring, both in Wiltshire.

Posted by: free2Bme 03-Jul-2003, 07:22 AM
Cousin, you really must check out the thread I started about Stonehenge.

We have our own "standing stones" in the USA - some are true mysteries, others are just built by people who have an artistic bent with a sense of humor to match.

Posted by: barddas 03-Jul-2003, 07:55 AM
QUOTE (Catriona @ Jul 2 2003, 11:38 PM)
Jason
You didn't really get 'North' at all if you only got to Stirling! biggrin.gif

I love the highlands. My grandparents lived there and we had many happy holidays when we were children and loved it, even as adults. Sadly they are no longer alive, and the family home is now owned by my Uncle - we still visit, but it's not the same. The land there has been in our family for hundreds of years, but it is no longer viable as a farm. The house is a 'new' one, to replace the one that was knocked down in about 1800!


yea, yea... I know. wink.gif But I made it there. I have been trying since I was 20. And I finally made it. WHHHOOOOOoo....

Next trip I plan on spending more time...
I did see a lot for the 11 days I was traveling....I made it thru England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.

I would like to spend more time in Scotland though. And I would like to see the western half of Ireland.


My grandparents have a farm too. It has been in the family for a long time... My grandfather is 78 and still works 240 acres! I don't know what will happen to the land when he's gone.... I just hope it stays in the family....I spent much of my childhood there and would hate to see it ripped apart for devlopment. Thatis a VERY common practice here in the states.... sad.gif It's sad that here farms are not a priority.

All for the all mighty dollar......

Posted by: Catriona 03-Jul-2003, 08:30 AM
Well, I hope you make it over again, Jason.

I have travelled the world, but nowhere is like my home country! I know that everyone thinks that, but we Scots KNOW it's the truth!!!

When you get back and get further into Scotland - actually into the Highlands, you will see lots of properties like my uncles.... Large houses, set alone on a hillside, surrounded by forest - but no farming. He allows the local laird to use some of his land for running the deer and for his sheep, in return for some venison, game birds and lamb at the due season.

Scotland is still relatively 'empty' outside the main towns. All the people who were 'cleared' for sheep were never replaced. When you get to Glencoe you will no doubt experience the eeriness that so many of us notice... and it's not just cos of the Massacre - it's just the loneliness of the place. My family home is not far from that area.

Posted by: barddas 03-Jul-2003, 08:39 AM
Well, I am looking at going back with in the next 3-5 years. I could go back before, but I want to vest the time at work so I am able to take 4-5 weeks.

Posted by: Aon_Daonna 03-Jul-2003, 10:31 AM
oh... i know what you mean about Glencoe, Catriona. I've been there last winter and this whole place is just so... deserted! On the way there it was getting emptier and emptier... that was really (i don't know what word to use here)... interesting?

Posted by: Catriona 03-Jul-2003, 10:40 AM
If you think that is empty, AD, wait until you get as far north as Sutherland or Caithness - even areas of Perthshire!

Posted by: Aon_Daonna 03-Jul-2003, 10:46 AM
well.. I'm going to, I'm sure... but still, in germany it's mostly crowded so that WAS quite empty for me to see smile.gif

Posted by: FloweroftheWest 30-Jul-2003, 02:05 PM
rolleyes.gif Yeah , Scotland is a great place for peeps interested in history, especially where stonecircles and standing stones are concerned. The Hebrides are a great place for that. Callanish is definitely one of the most fascinating places, even tho its very touristizised. But its def worth the entrance fee and the info in the visitor centre, not minding the rest of Lewis and the other half of the Long Island ... (Harris wink.gif ) A very unspoilt circle that gives ye the creeps is on North Uist, Piňbuill Fhingaill (Fingals People), and according to the map there is another one not very far from there. PF is situated on the edge of Bčinn Langass, a good viewpoint across North Uist, even tho its just 140 m high. Standing stones; oh there must be hundreds on the Uists ... (even Skye boasts a few hehe). But back to Bčinn Langas, there is a very interesting chambered cairn there, Langass Barpa. Its accessible but dont forget to bring a pair of trousers ye want to chuck away and a torch , its a matter of hands and knees. And once ye 're in Uist I very much recommend Berneray, Udal Beach with Aird a ' Mhurain (´maybe known to some from the Song Siňl Gorraidh and from the video City of Lights) , and the obligatory visit to Howmore, Flora Mc Donalds Birthplace and Eriskay; amounts high on the scales of desertedness ... well mebbe not now .. wink.gif But it gave me a shudder, mind ye its a beautiful place , still ...

Posted by: Herrerano 29-Aug-2003, 07:10 AM
An ancient stone circle discovered on the Isle of Lewis, close to the standing stones of Callanish. Predates Stonehenge, the BBC article is here, but will probably time out.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/3186601.stm

Leo, far from all of those cold northern places. cool.gif


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