Cothiemuir Hill
Kieg, Near Alford .
Cothiemuir Hill is located in the outstanding landscape of Donside, the small ancient wooded hill sits within the historic Designed Landscape of the Forbes Estate. One of the oldest estate in Scotland, the land in which Cothiemuir Hill sits has been the seat of the clan Forbes for more than 600 years.
The hill rises from verdant arable land, through a belt of deciduous ancient woodland and mature Scots Pine, to a Neolithic stone circle crowning the wooded crest of the hill. The four and a half thousand year-old stone-circle, thought to mark an ancient burial ground, is dominated by two huge flankers and what is reputed to be the largest recumbent stone in Europe.
The site lies within an area renown for its high diversity of bird species. In particular, the nearby Lords Throat Paradise Wood, south east of the site, is a protected area. In addition, the Forbes Estate conservation inventory indicates the presence of a raptor nesting site and badger setts at the eastern and northern extents of Cothiemuir Hill.
At Cothiemuir, we offer rights of burial, for contained ashes only, at locations between the trees. To the east, in the lee of dramatic Bennachie, there is a dedicated area for full plot interments.
No headstones are allowed in the wood or grassland area, interred ashes will be covered by a rough hewn flat stone from a nearby quarry and full plot graves in the area to the east of the woods may be marked by a small engraved stone laid flat.
In keeping with the ethos of natural burial, the site is managed primarily for the benefit of the plants and wildlife indigenous to the habitat. The same level of care should be exercised when walking through the site as one would normally use when passing through undisturbed woodland.
Full Association of Natural Burial Grounds member.
Location
Aberdeenshire
AB33 8BL
The site is accessed off a minor road running north east from Mill of Keig, toward Pond Croft, north of Keig on the B992. The surfaced access road leads to a small car park for 10 vehicles. Access to the wood and the area for full plot interments is nearby.
Contact
James Leedam
The Market Tavern
26 Agincourt Square
Monmouth
NP25 3BT
01600 716438 / 07905 335830
james@nativewoodland.co.uk
www.nativewoodland.co.uk or
www.nativewoodland.co.uk/
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