9th August 2010.

Week two field research begins in the Wee Curry Shop with Duncan Lunan, the astronomer who designed the Sighthill Stone Circle(1979). It’s believed to be the first astronomically aligned circle to be built in the UK for 3,000 years and sits on the short cut across the park that McIntosh used to take on her way to school. To meet such an astronomical local who also has installing stone experience is brilliant. He’s also delighted that new star gazing building is afoot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday 10th August.

Off early, they’re soon crossing the Galloway park – mission to head to Culsharg to assess road access for build and walking access for visitors. Still open to other site possibilities, they stop at Loch Dee on the way. It’s a 30min stroll through plantation to a small body of water nestled in hills, is pretty, safe and enclosed, and without the space or energy of Culsharg of little interest. 30mins later, The Pig is handling the forest road to Culsharg. With harvested trees either side, its a grim drive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gradually climbing, the road gets closer to the edge of the valley, and suddenly they’re looking back and across this huge space to the sky and down on the forest. There’s a mound that sits at the top of it, overlooking.  What a site.

It’s perfect. Magnificent. The forest laid out as a map below, the sky beyond. Yird Muin Starn built here could be providing shelter for day time walkers as well as night time star gazers. It’s exposed to the elements so will be cold, but there’ll be a regular supply of energy to make electricity.  An outdoor Sonic Bath on the slope beneath the shelter? with hot water vibrated by the bather as they pedal 2 giant tuning forks gazing at the cosmos above?  A Sonic Bench playing butt and feet shimmering tunes whilst gazing aloft?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing down the road, there away at the bottom is Culsharg tucked into the valley. A base for play and exploration for visitors, further shelter, the soft grassy valley in front. The possibilities are endless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday 11th August.

They have returned, this time taking more care over access details and now considering the flat area in front of Culsharg as a potential site. There it’s soft and enclosed by comparison, but still with huge sky vista. They dig carefully around inside the bothy. Its well kept and frequently used even only as a rest spot for walkers climbing the Merrick. The highest peak in the region.