Back to the Bronze Age

It's a regular comment on 'Blip' that we often - if not always - miss things that are really close to home and that's certainly the case as far as I'm concerned.

Today's blip - the one I had planned for yesterday - shows the three standing stones at Huly Hill in Newbridge, which is about 2 miles from home and very close to where the M8 and M9 motorways merge. (the stones at the left and right of the shot are not so easy to see, but they are there, at the edges of the shot)

The stones actually mark a Bronze Age 'tumulus' or burial site and, although there are only three stones now, there were in fact 12 standing in the late 18th century.

The burial site is not central to these stones and one suggestion is that there may have originally been two rings of upright stones surrounding the earth mound.

Strangely enough, there is a fourth stone located on an industrial site about 300 yards away, on the other side of the motorway.

The stonework surrounding the Cairn is of course from a more modern era and I assume this was built to offer some protection.

All this information comes from the 'Ancient Stones' web site which also adds that, despite the surrounding industrial estates, motorways, main roads and nearby Edinburgh Airport (as you can see) the area has survived well and is easily accessible.

Think I must seek our more local sites of interest. That what 'blipping' does for you!!!

Probably best viewed LARGE!!