Fortingall Part II

Following on from Fortingall Part I, with the ancient yew tree and the spirit stones, we took a wander across the road into a field. What we found is possibly my favourite discovery so far.

Imagine you look out across a backdrop of snow sugared mountains, and you see this:

So you get a little closer. You're probably thinking burial mound by this point...

And you take a wander up to the top and notice that someone's erected a plaque. That's interesting, you're thinking, not many ancient sites tell you what they are. So you take a step closer...

...and realise what you're standing on top of.

Carm na Marbh

Here lie Victims of the Great Plague of the 14th Centuary.
Taken here on a Sledge, drawn by a White Horse,
led by an old Woman.

Follow the link above to read more about it. I think something's missing, though. Is that honestly supposed to be a literal descriptive? It reads more like a riddle. My original question to Paul #1 was 'why would you tell someone that?' If it were a standard death rite, why say it? Everyone would know that's how you transport the dead. And why wouldn't you name the woman if she were that important? I wonder how the passage translates into Gaelic? Perhaps one too many Forensic Linguistic lectures, but there feels to be something altogether folkloric behind that.

From there, we wandered down the road to the Fortingall Circle. A complex of three sets of standing stones. It was bitterly cold and snowing, but we had a wonderful time exploring.

We warmed ourselves up with soup and smoked salmon bagels in Aberfeldy. Apparently, Feldy is the name of the water sprite, as aber and inver are Gaelic for 'river mouth'.

On the way home, we swung past Croft Moraig stone circle, which is a gorgeous wee thing perched by the roadside. Triple circle?

    

Also found Shrek Lichen. Seriously, how much does this look like Shrek's ears?

Stopped off at the pub on the way home for a pint of Black Stout. Watched the snow come down from the comfort and warmth of The Bridge of Lochay, which has carvings of green men above the inner bar.

Comfort & Warmth