List of hill forts in Scotland
Encyclopedia
Hill fort
A hill fort is a type of earthworks used as a fortified refuge or defended settlement, located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. They are typically European and of the Bronze and Iron Ages. Some were used in the post-Roman period...
s in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Hill forts typically date from the Bronze
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
and Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
s. Typically, they only survive as earthworks today, although remains of vitrified fort
Vitrified fort
Vitrified fort is the name given to certain crude stone enclosures whose walls have been subjected in a greater or lesser degree to the action of fire. They are generally situated on hills offering strong defensive positions. Their form seems to have been determined by the contour of the flat...
s are found throughout Scotland.
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Argyll and Bute
- An Caisteal, CollCollColl is a small island, west of Mull in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Coll is known for its sandy beaches, which rise to form large sand dunes, for its corncrakes, and for Breachacha Castle.-Geography and geology:...
- Dùn ChollaDùn ChollaDùn Cholla is a hillfort located on the Inner Hebridean island of Colonsay, Scotland. The site is located at .According to tradition it was a fort of Colla Uais after being exiled from Ireland in 310. St. Columba established his first church in Scotland in the shadow of Dùn Cholla.-Citations:...
, ColonsayColonsayColonsay is an island in the Scottish Inner Hebrides, located north of Islay and south of Mull and has an area of . It is the ancestral home of Clan Macfie and the Colonsay branch of Clan MacNeill. Aligned on a south-west to north-east axis, it measures in length and reaches at its widest... - Dùn DubhDùn DubhDùn Dubh is a hillfort, located on the Inner Hebridean island of Coll. The fort is one of three associated with a local tradition which states that they were once the fortresses of Norsemen before being defeated by a Maclean chieftain...
, Coll - Dùn EibhinnDùn EibhinnDùn Eibhinn, also known as Dun Evan, Dun Eivan or Fort of Eyvind, is a hillfort located on the Inner Hebridean island of Colonsay, Scotland. The site is located at ....
, Colonsay - Dùn MeadhonachDùn MeadhonachDùn Meadhonach is a hillfort located on the Inner Hebridean island of Colonsay, Scotland. The site is located at .The fort overlooks Port Mòr and the village of Lower Kilchattan.-Citations:...
, Colonsay - Dùn MorbhaidhDùn MorbhaidhDùn Morbhaidh, also known as Dun Borbaidh, is a hillfort located on the Inner Hebridean island of Coll. The early 20th century antiquary Erskine Beveridge considered it as one of the four most interesting fortifications on Coll...
, Coll - DunaddDunaddDunadd, , is an Iron Age and later hillfort near Kilmartin in Argyll and Bute, Scotland and believed to be the capital of the ancient kingdom of Dál Riata.-Description:...
East Lothian
- Black CastleBlack Castle, East LothianBlack Castle, East Lothian is an Iron Age hillfort with a number of defensive banks, located south-east of Gifford, East Lothian, Scotland. It is south of the B6355, between Darent House and Green Castle hillfort....
- Blackcastle HillBlackcastle Hill, East LothianBlackcastle Hill is an iron age hill fort south of Innerwick, East Lothian, Scotland. It is near Cocklaw in the Lammermuir Hills at , at a height of above sea level. The fort has a single defensive bank.-External links:**-See also:*Traprain Law hillfort...
- Chesters Hill FortChesters Hill FortChesters Hill Fort is an Iron Age hill fort in East Lothian, Scotland. It lies one mile south of Drem, 1.5 miles east of Ballencrieff Castle, 2.5 miles north of Haddington, and 2 miles west of Athelstaneford...
(Historic Scotland) - Traprain LawTraprain LawTraprain Law is a hill about 221m in elevation, located east of Haddington in East Lothian, Scotland. It is the site of an oppidum or hill fort, which covered at its maximum extent about 16 ha and must have been a veritable town...
- White CastleWhite Castle, East LothianWhitecastle was originally a hillfort in East Lothian, Scotland, situated on the edge of the Lammermuir Hills, two miles south of the village of Garvald, . It later formed part of a landed estate which is known today as Nunraw...
Scottish Borders
- Edin's Hall BrochEdin's Hall BrochEdin's Hall Broch is a 2nd century broch near Duns in the Borders of Scotland. It is one of very few brochs found in southern Scotland. It is roughly 27m in diameter.-External links:...
(Historic ScotlandHistoric ScotlandHistoric Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government, responsible for historic monuments in Scotland.-Role:As its website states:...
) - Eildon HillEildon HillNot to be confused with Eldon Hill, EnglandEildon Hill lies just south of Melrose, Scotland in the Scottish Borders, overlooking the town. The name is usually pluralised into "the Eildons" or "Eildon Hills", because of its triple peak....
- Peniel HeughPeniel HeughPeniel Heugh is a hill near Ancrum and Nisbet in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland. On it stands the Waterloo Monument.Places nearby include Bonjedward, Crailing, Jedburgh, Monteviot House, Roxburgh.The Roman Heritage Way and St...
West Lothian
- Bowden hill fort
- Peace Knowe hill fort
- Castlethorn hill fort
- Cockleroy hill fort
- Dechmont LawDechmont LawDisambiguation: the name Dechmont, and an associated "Dechmont Hill" are also places near Cambuslang in ScotlandDechmont Law is a hill in Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland. It lies around 700 yards south west of the village of Dechmont, where it derives its name. It is known locally as "Decky...
, possible hill fort
See also
- List of castles in Scotland
- List of hill forts in England
- List of hill forts in Wales
External links
- West Lothian Archaeology Group, aerial photography of a number of hill forts in West Lothian