Scheduled MonumentsScotlandRing of Castlehill, fort 380m SW of Summer Byres
Iron Age · Fort 380m sw of summer byres

Ring of Castlehill, fort 380m SW of Summer Byres

Scotland
HES SM576
Period
Iron Age
Site type
Fort 380m sw of summer byres
Nation
Scotland
Boundary

Scheduled area

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Overview

History & significance

Ring of Castlehill is an Iron Age fort situated approximately 380 metres south-west of Summer Byres in Caithness, northern Scotland. The monument comprises a univallate or multivallate defensive enclosure typical of the Iron Age period in northern Britain, constructed with rampart and ditch earthworks. Such forts served as territorial centres or refuge strongholds during the later prehistoric period, reflecting the social and military organisation of Iron Age communities in the far north of Scotland. The site's location in Caithness places it within a landscape containing numerous contemporary defensive monuments, contributing to understanding of settlement patterns and power structures in this region during the first millennium before the Common Era.

Ring of Castlehill, fort 380m SW of Summer Byres is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM576. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Ring of Castlehill, fort 380m SW of Summer Byres?

Ring of Castlehill is an Iron Age fort situated approximately 380 metres south-west of Summer Byres in Caithness, northern Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM576.

What period does Ring of Castlehill, fort 380m SW of Summer Byres date from?

Ring of Castlehill, fort 380m SW of Summer Byres dates from the iron age period, and is classified as a fort 380m sw of summer byres. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across Britain.

Who is responsible for protecting Ring of Castlehill, fort 380m SW of Summer Byres?

Ring of Castlehill, fort 380m SW of Summer Byres 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 SM576.

What other scheduled monuments are near Ring of Castlehill, fort 380m SW of Summer Byres?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Gearsay Cairn,broch 240m SW of West Gersa (3.8 km), Scottag Cairn (5.5 km), Kirk o'Moss, site of St Duthac's Chapel, Moss of Killimster (5.6 km).

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