Comment posted Argyll and the Isles Secrets Collection: The Brainport Alignment by Robert Wakeham.
Credit is due to Colonel Peter Fane-Gladwin, who lived at Braigh Varr near the top of Minard Hill, and who in the 1970s first realised the importance of this alignment, lost in thick forest. In the 1960s he had previously discovered the site of the lost milecastle 64 on Hadrian’s Wall (near where the present day M6 crosses the line of it). Not bad for someone who wasn’t an archaeologist.
Recent comments by Robert Wakeham
- Radically new council group changes all the dynamics: party politics dead in Argyll
Surely party politics are national politics, dealing with national issues, and as such can often get in the way of resolving the local authority issues that councillors are elected to deal with. - Radically new council group changes all the dynamics: party politics dead in Argyll
Thinking of ornithological similes, the behaviour of the Argyll & Bute body politic brings to mind the story of the fabled Oozlum Bird – the one that flew in ever decreasing circles….. - Transport Scotland publishes shortlist for one A82 contract and starts another
Good news for Crianlarich, and – at last – signs of movement on the long and disgraceful history of central government’s gross neglect of the A82 ‘trunk’ road along the northern shore of Loch Lomond. - One of world’s top minds on radar wins AF Harvey Prize
Reading this I couldn’t help thinking of the analogy with the development of a tracking system to keep tabs on the activities of Argyll & Bute councillors – but I fear that would be way beyond the ingenuity of even the most fertile scientific brains. - Peace Pilgrimage going through Crinan Canal now, en route for Faslane
Promoting Peace, Simon? – wouldn’t the automatic disqualification of councillors who put national party politics before their council responsibilities be more effective?
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This is the sort of article that makes FA a gem,
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Great stuff.
Its on my “to do” list
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It’s now on my ‘bucket list’ too.
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Wonderful, insightful article. I have lived in Argyll for over 20 years and did not know of this secret place until now. Many thanks FA
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Credit is due to Colonel Peter Fane-Gladwin, who lived at Braigh Varr near the top of Minard Hill, and who in the 1970s first realised the importance of this alignment, lost in thick forest. In the 1960s he had previously discovered the site of the lost milecastle 64 on Hadrian’s Wall (near where the present day M6 crosses the line of it). Not bad for someone who wasn’t an archaeologist.
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This is quite stunning – and great to see on the record.
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Absolutely Excellent….more ! more ! more !
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great article
is that a 2 1/4 mile round trip or one way? I am coming over this summer and building my list of places to see.
cant wait to see Argyll again.
George Young from Seattle USA
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Yes it is, George – but its a 2 1/4 miles that rewards a lot of time.
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George Young – 2 1/4 miles would take you to the calendrical site, there and back, from Minard. But there is such a network of paths that you could easily double that distance. One detour I would recommend would be to Oakbank, which overlooks Brainport Bay. So take a camera, and a picnic lunch, and make a day of it.
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I was brought up in the area – Tullochgorm to be exact – and Brainport was within easy strolling distance. It was the place we used to go “dookin’” and little did we suspect the ancient connections.
The path along the shore from Woodhouse was a popular Sabbath afternoon’s walk, and wild strawberries could be picked at the Black Quarry which was en route. It was near the Black Quarry that the body of Murdy Fletcher was found in the mid thirties. He had earned the Military Cross in WW1 and was a fisherman on one of the boats out of Minard.(It may have been a suicide.)
On the southerly arm of Brainport lay the wreck of the “Lily” -an outdated fishing smack which had a folding propeller, so she was obviously from the sailing era. The remains are possibly still there if one cares to look.
The area between Brainport and the “Castle Avenue” was known as “The Pheasantry”, no doubt where “the toffs” came to shoot pheasants in the early days of the Castle. Up till the mid nineteen hundreds the castle was the the balliewick of the Lloyd family, as was Braigh Bharr and Woodhouse.
It was a great place for any youngster to grow up and I still thank God for giving me the privilege of spending my childhood in the area.
Hope the above may be of interest.
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