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Harelaw Moor is an earthwork located 750 metres east-north-east of Barebreeks Wood in Berwickshire, Scotland. The monument sits upon bedrock of the Stratheden Group, a Late Devonian formation of interbedded sandstone and conglomerate that shapes the underlying geology of this moorland landscape. This solid foundation of mixed stone provided a stable base for construction, though the exposed moorland setting would have made the site both prominent and exposed to the elements.
The earthwork is protected as a scheduled monument under Historic Environment Scotland's designation SM4499, reflecting its archaeological significance within the Berwickshire region. Monuments of this type, when preserved in moorland settings, often retain clearer surface features than those in lowland areas subject to intensive agriculture. The Devonian bedrock's resistance to erosion has helped maintain the earthwork's definition across the centuries.
The moorland location suggests a defensive or territorial function typical of prehistoric or early medieval settlement patterns in the Scottish Borders. The site's elevation and open ground offer extensive views across the surrounding landscape, characteristic of positions chosen for control and communication across the borderlands.
Harelaw Moor,earthwork 750m ENE of Barebreeks Wood is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM4499. View the official record →
Harelaw Moor is an earthwork located 750 metres east-north-east of Barebreeks Wood in Berwickshire, Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM4499.
Harelaw Moor,earthwork 750m ENE of Barebreeks Wood is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM4499.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Harelaw Moor,farmstead 1500m NE of Barebreeks Wood (1.1 km), Halliburton,cairn 1300m N of (1.7 km), Blackcastle Rings,fort (2.9 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Harelaw Moor,earthwork 750m ENE of Barebreeks Wood's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Harelaw Moor,earthwork 750m ENE of Barebreeks Wood stands on Stratheden Group, bedrock that formed in the Late Devonian. The rock here is sandstone and conglomerate, interbedded.