© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic Environment Scotland
Hill of Dores is a hillfort situated in Angus, Scotland, built upon volcanic bedrock of mafic lava and tuff that formed during the Devonian period. The fort's defensive position exploits the natural topography of this distinctive geological foundation, where ancient volcanic activity has created the elevated terrain. The site's location makes strategic use of the underlying geology to command views across the surrounding landscape, a characteristic feature of Iron Age hillforts in eastern Scotland.
The fort is protected as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM7315, reflecting its significance as a prehistoric defensive structure. Hillforts of this period typically served as centres for territorial control, settlement, and refuge during the latter Iron Age, roughly the first millennium before Christ. The volcanic geology of the site would have provided a naturally defensible position, enhanced by earthwork fortifications constructed by Iron Age communities.
The Hill of Dores fort represents a key example of Iron Age settlement strategy in Angus, where communities adapted to local geological conditions to establish secure strongholds. The Devonian volcanic bedrock that forms the hill's foundation would have influenced both the construction methods available to Iron Age builders and the defensive advantages offered by the site's natural elevation and composition.
Hill of Dores, fort is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM7315. View the official record →
Hill of Dores is a hillfort situated in Angus, Scotland, built upon volcanic bedrock of mafic lava and tuff that formed during the Devonian period. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM7315.
Hill of Dores, fort dates from the iron age period, and is classified as a fort. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Hill of Dores, fort 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 SM7315.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Enclosures, barrows and pits 360m N of 8 Glebe Park (7.2 km), Moncur, remains of timber buildings 400m WSW of (7.2 km), Mains of Inchture, prehistoric and later settlement and enclosures (7.7 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Hill of Dores, fort'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.
Hill of Dores, fort stands on Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Silurian To Devonian, bedrock that formed in the Devonian. The rock here is mafic lava and mafic tuff.