EXCELLENT 2002 UK ADVENTURE Day Five |
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Aquhorthies Stone Circle |
We left Aberdeen early, and headed for Inverurie. (“IN'-voo-ROOO-rie”)
Once there, we’d need to search for directions to the Easter Aquhorthies Stone Circle.
(Easter “AWK'-worth-eez”)
Inverurie was easy to find. We got off the highway, and started through town on the “main drag”
… searching for a SIGN saying where to turn to head for the stone circle.
We drove for a bit and saw NO SIGN … nothing.
So, when I saw a grocery (on the LEFT!), I turned off on that street, parked, and went in to ask for directions. The grocery manager acted as though she’d never heard of the circle. (Gadz!)
She looked at the small map I had … hemmed and hawed …
and then she noticed someone about to leave the store.
It was a wizened, little man, in well-worn clothing, with an adorably weathered face.
“Ach! There’s MacDuhb! He’s a farrrrmerrr. He’ll know where you turn!”
When I asked Mr. MacDuhb (name changed to protect the innocent)
where we should turn to get to the Easter Aquhorthies Stone Circle,
he looked at me … looked out the window … looked back at me, and said,
“Darrrlin’ … ye’ve jest turrrned ontae it.”
By sheer “luck” (hmmm???), I had turned precisely where I was supposed to have turned, to get to where we wanted to go!
MacDuhb continued his directions with something along the lines of,
“Just go on doon this rrroad here, stay on it until ye get to a farrrm with a sign aboot the stones. Turrrrn therrrre. It’s just a wee bit up that lane.”
A mere 30 minutes later, after traveling about a mile on the single-lane road
that lead from the “turn-at-the-farrrm-house” to the Circle’s parking lot,
we parked and began the short walk up a path to the Stone Circle.
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 Our first day in Scotland … and, already, Susan & I are taking pix of (finding wonder in) the SAME THINGS! |
One of these is mine … the other is Susan’s. This view is along the path to the circle.
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The circle is too large for a single pic.
CLICK HERE |
This circle dates from about 4000 bc. It is 19.5 m (64 ft) in diameter, comprises nine stones set in a low bank. A massive 3.8 m (12 ft 6 in) recumbent (horizontal stone) is flanked by two tall portal stones.
In addition, in front of the recumbent are two huge blocks of stone delineating an area, |
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As the site has not been excavated, it is not known whether there is a central cairn. But, an early reference to a cist, and the rise in the profile of the interior, suggests that there may have been one. |
The Frasers were a couple visiting from AUSTRALIA! I took their picture and we exchanged cards (Email addresses). Then, Mr. Fraser took a pic of Susan and I with my camera (the one featured above). Once home, I Emailed them the pic of us, and all the pix we had that they also were in. Mr. Fraser has already replied with his “kindest regards.” |
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 Susan’s STONE close-up. My SLUG close-up! Said the man with dog, “Oh! That’s just a wee one!” |
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to ASK someone WHAT these flowers were!
Are they Someone let me know! They were beautiful! And, everywhere! |
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we headed back to the parking lot.
I think we were worried about
NEXT TIME, |
drive to and from Easter Aquhorthies Stone Circle
(I think that’s the Fraser’s car. |
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CLICK ABOVE and COME WITH US! |
c-d-miller@neb.rr.com
