27th February - Surrounding the village of Insch is a remarkable natural theatre of vast psychological power. Julian Cope's sacred Omphalus - Dunnideer. I am beginning my voyage here with Candle Hill RSC, one of many rings located within sight of Dunnideer.
View from Candle Hill to Dunideer, with the hills of Bennachie in the distance.
Occuyping a forgotten, overgrown patch on an elevated hilltop terrace sits Candle Hill RSC. In what was a common theme of the Dunnideer circles, we had a forlorn scene; neglected, fallen, overlooked but not subdued, for here were almost all of the stones present for the circle but only one was standing. The recumbent and flankers are in fine condition and could stand with a little help. Instead they make for a broad lovemaking patch, and i sit on the most marine looking recumbent I have yet come across. Not a straight edge on this one. The curve is sublime. You couldn't lie on this if it were upright - too narrow also. The flankers are like dolphins. Perfectly rounded and both ends. One has a remarkable crook at its base, like a hockey stick. It would sit under the open wedge of the recumbent.
I kick at turf covering the major stones. I kick for maybe an hour. I tear up huge patches of soft turf and wish that I had a shovel. I expose more of the stones than perhaps has been seen for years. A more perfect way to spend my morning I cannot imagine. I am even more resolved to restore ancient monuments in my career.
The right flanker - note the hockey stick end.
The submarine recumbent
Still air. Sunshine. The horizon is vast and blue. Dunnideer sitting in the middle of this heavenly auditorium like Camelot. The scene is exactly like the video game Oblivion (or Skyrim). The only elements missing are the NPCs, the tunics, ankle boots, gems, shields, missions.
I call Tristan and speak for half an hour; exchanging views of the stones and the 70s flytip in the ditch below, for a posted copy of "Snow Queen", his exquisite 9 track homage to 70s "Giallo" movies, which should arrive by the weekend.
Stone circle and 70s dumping ground in one. What more could you ask for?
I dig some more with my hands and remove about 20 clods of earth and turf. I then make a little altar of my own and set it up on the recumbent to photograph.
Many chockstones uncovered under the recumbent (in the background). Letting these perfect stones sink into the earth is negligence; sacrilege! When we the archaic revival happen?
Extraordinary heavy metal circle near Aberdeen Dyce airport. One of the finest, most complete monuments of its kind. The growing urbanisation surrounding it cannot hold this druidic temple back.