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<< Our Photo Pages >> Dumbarton Hilllfort - Hillfort in Scotland in West Dunbartonshire

Submitted by nicoladidsbury on Sunday, 29 May 2005  Page Views: 12574

Iron Age and Later PrehistorySite Name: Dumbarton Hilllfort Alternative Name: Dun Breatann
Country: Scotland County: West Dunbartonshire Type: Hillfort
Nearest Town: Dumbarton
Map Ref: NS399744
Latitude: 55.935916N  Longitude: 4.564609W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
3 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
3 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
5 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
3

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AstroGeologist visited on 6th Oct 2018 - their rating: Cond: 2 Amb: 4 Access: 4 Alt Clut : The Rock has been used since at least the Bronze age, and likely before, although due it's continued use for the last 2 millennia not many artifacts remain. There is currently a small patch of land at the front of the Rock, suitable in the past for small time farming, but l don't know how long it has been like this for. The Rock itself, is surrounded on all sides by steep jagged cliffs, with defensive walls built on the South side of the Nether Bailey (lower settlement ; 9m) & Northside of the Over Bailey (upper settlement ; 44~64m) The main entrance (which was used as a back gate during medieval times) is on the lower level 'Nether Bailey' and is 9m above sea level. Here is a small flat area which in the past would have been suitable for at least a handful of hut circles or similar type dwellings. From here you climb around 50 or so stairs between a cleft that splits Dumbarton Rock into it's two parts ; the taller Western side named 'Tower Crag' (74m) & the Eastern 'Beak' (69m) and come out onto a flat Plateau about 44m above sea level. This flat piece of land is about 80m x 15m, and halfway down it's length is a well, how long it has been here no one knows, but it has been there for at least 1,300 years. A high cliff face provides protection from Westerly winds and this was the main settlement on the rock. From the Over Bailey there is a small winding path up to more flat land and after more steps you arrive at the peak of the Beak which now houses a Cannon Powder Magazine, but in the past l can imagine this possibly being the spot where the Chieftain would have had his home as it is the prime location of Alt Clut. Going back down to Over Bailey there are now steps connecting the Beak to the taller Tower Crag, which in all honesty is only good for being a lookout point, which is exactly what it was used for as far as we can tell. You climb the steep steps (l dont envy our ancestor's trying to ascend this without the use of steps and a railing, they would have had to have climbed at first, then use ropes, then ladders and eventually hundreds of years later, these stairs) Once at the top the views are stunning, you can see the Firth of Clyde and the Cowal Mountains to the West, Ben Lomond and the Highlands to the North and as far as Glasgow to the East. The abundance of hillforts in the local area would mean sending smoke signals between each hillfort would have been easy and a good way of warning neighbors of potential dangers. The location of Carman Hillfort is visible 5.5km to the NE on Carman Hill, this is thought by some archaeologist's to have been a small Damnonii Oppidium during Roman occupation, and when the Romans left Caledonia, the descendant's of this Damnonii tribe re-took control over Alt Clut and became known to historians as Britons. *Getting There ; Less than a fifteen minute walk from the train station. Come out the train station onto the A814/Glasgow road and you'll see the Stags Head Pub across the street. Cross over and walk West for 170m taking your 2nd left into Victoria St. (Which changes name to Castle Road after the small roundabout halfway down the street) continue South for 840m and thats it. Really easy to get to. Entrance fee's apply but once in you can stay as long as you want.

nicoladidsbury have visited here

Dumbarton Hilllfort
Dumbarton Hilllfort submitted by nicoladidsbury : The ancient site of Dumbarton Hillfort, now a magnificent castle. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Dumbarton Hillfort in West Dunbartonshire, ancient fortress of the British

The rock was the centre of the Kingdom of the Britons, that stretched along the River Clyde, north into Stirlingshire and south into Ayrshire. Known as Dun Breatann - ‘Fortress of the Britons’ or 'Alt Clut' (Rock of the Clyde). It was the centre of a flourishing Britonnic culture that spoke Old Welsh, or Cumbric, which is now almost entirely forgotten.

For more information please visit -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/scottishhistory/darkages/trails_darkages_britons.shtml

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Dumbarton Hilllfort
Dumbarton Hilllfort submitted by AstroGeologist : Facing W (06.10.18) : Sol behind the peak of 'Tower Crag' (74m) on the Western side of Dumbarton Rock - Alt Clut (Vote or comment on this photo)

Dumbarton Hilllfort
Dumbarton Hilllfort submitted by AstroGeologist : Facing south (06.10.18) : View of Renfrewshire across the River Clyde from inside the Portcullis Arch (Vote or comment on this photo)

Dumbarton Hilllfort
Dumbarton Hilllfort submitted by AstroGeologist : Facing W (06.10.18) : The 'Beak' (69m) on the Eastern side of Alt Clut (Vote or comment on this photo)

Dumbarton Hilllfort
Dumbarton Hilllfort submitted by cosmic : Viewed from South across Clyde. Hill fort was on right hand hump as I remember (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Dumbarton Hilllfort
Dumbarton Hilllfort submitted by Antonine : Info panel at the foreshore, 2010

Dumbarton Hilllfort
Dumbarton Hilllfort submitted by Antonine : How the hillfort fort would have looked

Dumbarton Hilllfort
Dumbarton Hilllfort submitted by Antonine : Photo taken in 2010

Dumbarton Hilllfort
Dumbarton Hilllfort submitted by Antonine : View east and The Beak

Dumbarton Hilllfort
Dumbarton Hilllfort submitted by Antonine : The view to the northwest with Dumbarton FC

Dumbarton Hilllfort
Dumbarton Hilllfort submitted by Antonine : The Gunpowder Magazine with White Tower Crag

Dumbarton Hilllfort
Dumbarton Hilllfort submitted by Antonine : Misc sculptured stones

Dumbarton Hilllfort
Dumbarton Hilllfort submitted by Antonine : Photo taken in 2010

Dumbarton Hilllfort
Dumbarton Hilllfort submitted by Antonine : Just below White Tower Crag looking west

Dumbarton Hilllfort
Dumbarton Hilllfort submitted by Antonine : White Tower Crag is the highest part of the rock at 74 metres with 360 degree views from the top.

Dumbarton Hilllfort
Dumbarton Hilllfort submitted by Antonine : Photo taken in 2010

Dumbarton Hilllfort
Dumbarton Hilllfort submitted by Antonine

Dumbarton Hilllfort
Dumbarton Hilllfort submitted by Antonine : The estuary at low tide with Bower Battery

Dumbarton Hilllfort
Dumbarton Hilllfort submitted by Antonine : The foreshore

Dumbarton Hilllfort
Dumbarton Hilllfort submitted by Antonine : View to the west toward the estuary

Dumbarton Hilllfort
Dumbarton Hilllfort submitted by Antonine : 10th-century grave slab (of someone of importance)

Dumbarton Hilllfort
Dumbarton Hilllfort submitted by Antonine : Detail of scissors on 13th-14th century grave slab

Dumbarton Hilllfort
Dumbarton Hilllfort submitted by Antonine : Part of the impressive volcanic plug with Governor’s House

Dumbarton Hilllfort
Dumbarton Hilllfort submitted by Antonine : View to the south

Dumbarton Hilllfort
Dumbarton Hilllfort submitted by Antonine : View to the west and across to south side of the Clyde. (1 comment)

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"Dumbarton Hilllfort" | Login/Create an Account | 2 News and Comments
  
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Dumbarton Castle by Andy B on Friday, 07 September 2012
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Dumbarton Castle
Opening times throughout September, Mon - Sun, 9.30 to 17.30.
Contact: , Historic Scotland.
Tel: 01389 732 167
Where: Postcode: G82 1JJ. Grid reference: NS 398 744.

http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

Dumbarton Castle is a stronghold with a recorded history reaching back 1,500 years. First known as Alt Clut, ‘Rock of the Clyde’, it later became known by the Gaelic name Dun Breatann, ‘Fortress of the Britons’, from which the name Dumbarton is derived.

First built in the 1220s, the castle was effective against threats from Norway, the then rulers of the Hebrides and Clyde Islands. Its defences last saw military action as recently as the Second World War.

The mighty Dark-Age stronghold sits high on a volcanic rock, a vantage point with a view for miles.

From the 5th century AD until 1018, Dumbarton Rock was the capital of the British kingdom of Strathclyde. Legend tells of Merlin the magician staying at King Riderch’s court there in the 6th century. The Rock was besieged several times, but the Viking assault in 870 was by far the worst. After a four-month siege, Kings Olaf and Ivar of Dublin carried off the slaves and looted treasure in 200 longships.

William Wallace may have been held prisoner here before being taken to London for execution and David II (in 1333–4) and Mary Queen of Scots (in 1548) both sheltered here until ships could take them to France and safety.

Adult £4.50, Child £2.70, Concession £3.60
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Re: Dumbarton Hilllfort by coldrum on Tuesday, 06 April 2010
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