Durn Hill

This was a lovely solstice walk up durn hill for the first time, if a touch on the windy side. Getting there meant a drive via the carnyx find site and past Gaulcross. I parked at the quarry which is disused but it looks like Aberdeenshire council sometimes uses the site for storage, so don’t block anything.

First off, I explored the quarry which reminded me of the Ringmer quarry where I cremated both Sprot and genghis. But with more gorse. Then straight up the the hill, following a grassy track that soon hit a gate at a field and what looked like a disasembled recumbent stone circle – with pictish markings on one of the stones!!?!? As a notable archaeologist once opined: “You only see what your eyes want to see, How can life be what you want it to be?” and so on.

I later researched if that’s a RSC and there’s nothing sooooo. In ieder geval it has a lovely view over to Sandend and Portsoy. Straight up the hill again and soon I was at the top, which was very windy.

Amazing views! Good for the soul. The current thinking is there are remains of either an incomplete hilldfort or an early one, but why not a ritual centre where precious quartz was quarried? Especially since quartz can have seams of gold!