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Upper Gaskan

This site was identified as a possible stone circle in 1991 during forestry clearance. A cup-marked stone had already been recorded, standing amongst thin conifers (about 10 years in age). A huge rock, it has up to 28 cup marks carved into its flat upper surface. Some of these are very clear, others are very faint, and the stone has obviously suffered from weathering over the years. Just to the E, close to this central stone, is a smaller stone lying prostrate. It doesn’t appear to have any markings. George Currie and myself visited here on 2nd August 2003 to map out the site.

Further out from the central stone, there appears to be a circle of approximately 25m in diameter. Looking at the plan (see below), you can see that stones A, B, C and G are all the same distance from the central stone, and are equally spaced out 30 degrees from each other (G is 60 degrees from C, but it looks like E has been shifted from its original position halfway between G and C) which would suggest that they are close to their original positions in an original circle of 12 stones. However, there is a definite lack of stones to the E. Perhaps the circle consisted originally of 10 stones, and an “entrance” was left to the E, marked also by the stone closest to the cup-marked one.

Inside this circle are what could be the remains of a smaller circle with a diameter around the 14 or 15m mark, but these stones have been affected even more by the forestry than those in the outer ring. Further out from the outer ring there may also be the remains of two larger circles, but again the impact of forestry has been felt more keenly here. We also spotted, immediately to the W of the circle, what looks very suspiciously like a pair of cairns that have been flattened by forestry machinery.

This is a much disturbed site, but when you are standing there, the circular arrangement of the stones is very obvious. Most of them have obviously been moved around over the years by forestry machinery, but nonetheless this is a stone circle with a great atmosphere in a tranquil setting.

Central stone – 1.71m x 1.98m (NW-SE x SW-NE) x 0.74-0.91m tall.
Nearby stone – 0.95m x 1.20m (SW-NE x NW-SE) x 0.55m tall.
Many further stones of varying sizes.
Circle diameter – 25.00m approximately.

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Where is Upper Gaskan?

Upper Gaskan is in the parish of Blair Atholl and the county of Perthshire.

Grid reference: NN 7466 6113

Lat / long: 56.7248266, -4.049541915

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OS Map for Upper Gaskan

OS map OL49
Pitlochry & Loch Tummel (Aberfeldy, Kinloch Rannoch & Schiehallion)
OS Explorer map OL49


Directions to Upper Gaskan

Enter a starting point

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Weather at Upper Gaskan

9°C
max 9°C / min 9°C
2km/h NW
1026mb
91%
100%
03:23 21:11

Overcast clouds
Weather observed at Aberfeldy at 00:40
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References (websites)

Canmore

Ancient sites near Upper Gaskan

Braes of Foss rock art

5.8km away

Clach na Boile standing stone

8.3km away

Clach na h-Iobairt standing stone

8.9km away

Na Clachan Aoraidh stone circle

9.2km away

Clach a' Mharsainte standing stone

9.5km away

Queen's View fort

11.7km away

Clach na h'Iobairte standing stone

13.0km away

Carse Farm I stone circle

13.6km away

Clach na h' Iobairt standing stone

13.6km away
more ancient sites....
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Castles near Upper Gaskan

Dunalastair (site of)

4.3km away

Tom an Tigh Mhoir

7.4km away

Bunrannoch (possible)

9.0km away

Garth Castle

10.9km away

Blair Castle

12.9km away

Comrie Castle

13.1km away

Weem Castle (site of)

14.4km away

Castle Menzies

14.6km away

Carnbane Castle

14.9km away
more castles....
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Pictish stones near Upper Gaskan

Struan Class I symbol stone

7.5km away

Priest's Stone Class III cross-slab

16.9km away

Dunfallandy Stone Class II cross slab

20.4km away

Logierait Class II cross-slab

23.8km away

Dunkeld 1 Class I symbol stone

32.0km away

Pittensorn Class III slab

40.3km away

Murthly 1 Class III stone

40.9km away

Murthly 2 Class II cross slab

40.9km away

Fowlis Wester Church Class III cross-slab

41.1km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Upper Gaskan

Torvean silver chain

82.8km away

Norrie's Law hoard

84.8km away

Burghead fort

113.9km away

Haddington silver chain

115.8km away

Dunnicaer fort

116.0km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

118.9km away

Borland silver chain

118.9km away

Traprain Law silver chain

119.3km away

Nigg silver chain

127.0km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Upper Gaskan

Loch Tummel Inn
hotelStrathtummel
7.0km away
Dunalastair Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantKinloch Rannoch
8.9km away
Macdonald Loch Rannoch
hotel, restaurant, barKinloch Rannoch
9.6km away
Coshieville House
bed and breakfastAberfeldy
12.3km away
Atholl Arms Hotel, Blair Atholl
hotel, bar, restaurantBlair Atholl
13.1km away
River Tilt Park
campsiteBlair Atholl
13.6km away
Bridge of Tilt Hotel
hotelBridge of Tilt
13.6km away
Aberfeldy Weem Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantWeem
14.8km away
The Kenmore Hotel
hotelKenmore
15.9km away
Killiecrankie House
hotelBridge of Tilt
16.7km away

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bed and breakfasts
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more accommodation....

Cafés, restaurants & bars near Upper Gaskan

House of Bruar
restaurant, caféBlair Atholl
8.7km away
Dunalastair Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantKinloch Rannoch
8.9km away
Macdonald Loch Rannoch
hotel, restaurant, barKinloch Rannoch
9.6km away
Atholl Arms Hotel, Blair Atholl
hotel, bar, restaurantBlair Atholl
13.1km away
House of Menzies
caféAberfeldy
14.5km away
Aberfeldy Weem Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantWeem
14.8km away
The Watermill
caféAberfeldy
16.2km away
Habitat Café
caféAberfeldy
16.2km away
The Auld Smiddy Inn
bar, restaurantPitlochry
19.1km away
Strathgarry Restaurant & Rooms
restaurant, hotel, self-catering cottagePitlochry
19.2km away
more food.... / more drink....

Related pages

Dirleton Castle in East Lothian
Dirleton Castle in East Lothian
Garden of Cosmic Speculation plus castles
Garden of Cosmic Speculation plus castles
Inveraray Castle and standing stone
Inveraray Castle and standing stone
A doocot, a castle and a beach in East Lothian
A doocot, a castle and a beach in East Lothian
A pair of castles on the River Tweed
A pair of castles on the River Tweed
Dunbar harbour and castle
Dunbar harbour and castle
Published on the 14th of May 2010 at 4:20 pm. Updated on the 11th of May 2015 at 2:01 pm.

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Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

Stravaiging around Scotland is written, photographed and researched by Andy Sweet.
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