Aikey Brae stone circle, Deer Abbey and Pitfour Lake
Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 8:14 pmAn 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
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 FlickrDSCN7274 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7275 by John Little, on Flickrview west from the way up
DSCN7276 by John Little, on Flickrout of the woods and into the circle
DSCN7278 by John Little, on FlickrAberdeenshire's most retiring recumbent stone?
DSCN7282 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7283 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7284 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7286 by John Little, on FlickrSet 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 FlickrOn the pleasant, if puddlesome, Buchan Way.
DSCN7288 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7289 by John Little, on FlickrPleasant 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 FlickrView 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 FlickrDSCN7294 by John Little, on FlickrNot very sheep like!
DSCN7295 by John Little, on FlickrSheep whisperer in action.
DSCN7298 by John Little, on FlickrThe 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 FlickrDSCN7300 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7301 by John Little, on FlickrRelating the information board floor plan to the remains.
DSCN7303 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7304 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7305 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7306 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7307 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7308 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7309 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7310 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7312 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7314 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7323 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7324 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7326 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7327 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7328 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7330 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7331 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7332 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7333 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7334 by John Little, on FlickrDecided then to carry on along the main road for the short distance to the track to Pitfour Lake.
DSCN7335 by John Little, on FlickrSnowdrops on the way to Pitfour Lake.
DSCN7337 by John Little, on FlickrAt the lake.
DSCN7341 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7342 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7343 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7350 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7351 by John Little, on FlickrDSCN7352 by John Little, on FlickrA lot of swans here.
DSCN7356 by John Little, on Flickr