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no data Internal Links: External Links: Drummore submitted by nicoladidsbury
Stone Circle in Dumfries & Galloway
Drummore Stone circle Grid Ref: NX688459
Drummore Hillfort Grid Ref: NX688458 (location to be added)
nicoladidsbury writes: We recently visited Drummore Castle and stone circle. This is an extract from the "Old Kirkcudbright Website" , taken from a description of a walk in 1876.
Visit the remains of an ancient British Fort, situated on the farm of Drummore, and supposed to be the Caerbantorigum of Ptolemy, a name said to signify in the ancient British language "the fort on the conspicuous height."
Whatever other purposes this encampment may have been designed to serve, it must have been well adapted for a look-out station. From its elevated position it commands an extensive prospect of the surrounding country, and overlooks the Solway Firth and the Irish Sea.
The two primitive tribes which held the province of Galloway are known in history as the Novantes and the Selgovae. The Novantes possessed the portion lying between the Dee and the Irish Sea, ex tending on the north as far as the chain of hills which now separates Galloway from Ayrshire. The Selgovae inhabited the eastern part of Galloway, as far as the Dee, which was their western boundary. To both of these tribes belonged many forts, particularly along the Dee, numerous vestiges of which are still observable in this district. The most important in size and strength, however, is Caerbantorigum, which may be considered to have been their frontier garrison. Chalmers, in his learned work Caledonia, the first volume of which was published in 1807, says - "This was in situation, size, and strength, one of the most important British fortresses in this country. It is of an oval form, and a rampart composed of stone and earth with a deep fosse surround it, which remain pretty entire." At the
present time the site of the fort is quite discernible, the rampart and fosse being easily traced. At the bottom of the hill was a well, now covered with stones, which is thought to have supplied the garrison with water.
A plate of gold is said to have been found in the neighbourhood of the fortress, on the lands of Balmae, by some men engaged in making ditches; it is supposed, however, that it had probably been deposited here long after the erection of the fort.
There was a circle of large stones at the foot of the hill, of the kind popularly known as Druidical, but a few years ago they were split up and removed for building purposes. (Only four stones remain)
About a mile and a half from Drummore Hill, on the farm of Milton, there are the remains of a British fort, which, like other native encampments, is of a circular form; and on Bombie Mains, and near Whinnyligget, not far from Kirkcudbright, there are two Roman camps in the vicinity of many small British forts.
The views from this stone circle are incredible, although the area is very strange, as it is in the middle of MoD restricted access areas.
Drummore submitted by nicoladidsbury View from Drummore Stone circle over Kirkcudbright bay to Little Ross Island and lighthouse.
Drummore submitted by nicoladidsbury Grid Ref: NX688458
County: Dumfriesshire
A very poor picture but it shows the remarkable view westwards from this stone circle and associated hillfort.
Drummore submitted by nicoladidsbury Grid Ref: NX688458
County: Dumfriesshire
Drummore Stone Circle - only four stones remain of what must have been a very large circle
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