Aikey Brae stone circle, Deer Abbey and Pitfour Lake

[litljortindan]

An afternoon spent visiting a couple of places we've driven past many times, never thinking there was much to see there.
First off, Aikey Brae stone circle: well, there are many such circles in Aberdeenshire I suppose and you get to thinking seen one seen 'em all. This one, though, is worth a visit one several counts; a pleasant hillside location some distance off the main road, a pleasant approach path and the drama of reaching the circle via a walk through a wood. Ok, maybe nothing too special but certainly worth the detour.

DSCN7273 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7274 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7275 by John Little, on Flickr
view west from the way up

DSCN7276 by John Little, on Flickr
out of the woods and into the circle

DSCN7278 by John Little, on Flickr
Aberdeenshire's most retiring recumbent stone?

DSCN7282 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7283 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7284 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7286 by John Little, on Flickr

Set off next for the car park opposite Pitfour Lake with a vague plan to follow the Buchan Way westwards, hoping to get a view of Deer Abbey along the way.
Bumped into a slightly inebriated local who insisted on giving us his potted history of the Abbey. That may have been thin on accuracy but his confirmation that we could loop round to Pitfour Lake via the Abbey was very useful.

DSCN7287 by John Little, on Flickr
On the pleasant, if puddlesome, Buchan Way.

DSCN7288 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7289 by John Little, on Flickr

Pleasant walk along the Buchan way for a short distance, then a sharp right to reach the main road and the Abbey entrance. Met some extra friendly sheep in the field next to the Abbey -more dog like than sheep like in their behaviour, the way they crowded at the gate.

DSCN7291 by John Little, on Flickr
View of Deer Abbey.

We'd already caught sight of the Abbey from the Buchan Way and it certainly looked interesting from there but we still went through the entrance with low expectations. Those were immediately revised once through the doorway though. What a splendid location and fascinating and ancient history.

DSCN7293 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7294 by John Little, on Flickr
Not very sheep like!

DSCN7295 by John Little, on Flickr
Sheep whisperer in action.

DSCN7298 by John Little, on Flickr
The grand wall and entrance.

Maybe it was just the fine weather and some easy on the eye tricks with trees and grass and free entry but the effect was fairly jaw dropping; such a beautiful and well kept site and so much history.

DSCN7299 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7300 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7301 by John Little, on Flickr
Relating the information board floor plan to the remains.

DSCN7303 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7304 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7305 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7306 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7307 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7308 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7309 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7310 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7312 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7314 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7323 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7324 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7326 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7327 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7328 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7330 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7331 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7332 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7333 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7334 by John Little, on Flickr

Decided then to carry on along the main road for the short distance to the track to Pitfour Lake.

DSCN7335 by John Little, on Flickr
Snowdrops on the way to Pitfour Lake.

DSCN7337 by John Little, on Flickr
At the lake.

DSCN7341 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7342 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7343 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7350 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7351 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN7352 by John Little, on Flickr
A lot of swans here.

DSCN7356 by John Little, on Flickr