Old Bourtreebush

Ordnance Survey map reference: NO 902964.

Landranger map number: 38.

Latitude: 57.034 degrees.

Longitude: -2.09 degrees.

Architecture: Recumbent stone circle..

Length of the major axis: 30.5 metres.

Length of the minor axis: 22.6 metres.

Height of the highest stone: 2.8 metres.

Shape: ?.

Number of stones in the circle originally: .

Number of stones in the circle now: 4.

Impression of the site (10 amazing, 1 limp): 3

Burl rating of the circle: 4 (Destroyed, unrecognisable ).

Thom reference for the circle: B3/2.

Astronomical alignments from this circle: -.

Excavations undertaken at this circle: 1863.

Details of any finds at this circle: None.

This circle is not in state care.

Access to the circle:

Access is via a rough bumpy road at Old Boutreebush farm and there is room to park besides the farm buildings. However the circle is on private land and permission may have to be sought before visiting. The circle is clearly visible on the hillside and a short walk of 200m across the farm field and up a sharp incline is needed to reach it.

The stones of this circle stand out clearly against the skyline and can be seen from the road. There are only four remaining stones in what was a typical recumbent stone circle. The interior is a hap-hazardous mess of large half embedded boulders. The four remaining standing stones are on the southern arc of the ring, and given the unrecognisable status attributed by Aubrey Burl, I wonder whether these stones have been reerected? The tallest of the stones stands 2.8m high, the recumbent sits at the edge of a slope down into the surrounding field. Another stone circle at Auchquhorthies can clearly be seen from this site and that circle is in far better condition. Clearly recognisable as the remains of a stone circle but not very impressive.

Whilst the site is recognisable, it is in poor condition and it may be that some of the stones have been re-erected and not necessarily in their original positions.