Clune Wood is a little bit of a hidden gem tucked away behind the larger Durris Forrest and probably doesn’t get much attention because of its location.
(Shhhh!, Don’t tell everyone)
There are three colour coded forestry walks which vary in length and which have some local children’s stories built in to wooden posts for you to discover and read along the way. (Blue was closed due to fallen trees when we placed cache)
The first time I came here with our children we enjoyed the walks and the stories but as we climbed higher were amazed to find a small Recumbent Stone Circle at the top of the hill.
These circles are unique to the North East of Scotland and believed to be from 3000BC to 1500BC (mostly Bronze Age) and used for ceremonies linked to the Moon and other communal rituals.
The “Recumbent” stone is the one that is laid out flat between the two pillars and is believed to have been for viewing a “Standstill Moon” which occurs only every 18.6 years!
This one also has an adjacent Ring Cairn which would have been an addition linked to burials.
It totally amazes me that we have some of these ancient monuments on our doorstep and people are hardly aware of them.
I know you are all sensible people but please be sure not to disturb any stones or create your own little cairns for cache purposes in the immediate vicinity of the Circle – it is a listed ancient monument.
Good Luck finding our cache. We really hope you like Clune Wood.
P.S can get a little muddy and boggy in places so alternative footwear recommended!
Cache is kindly postioned with the position of the Forestry Commission Scotland