© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic Environment Scotland
The Caterthuns is a pair of Iron Age hillforts situated in Angus, Scotland, occupying elevated ground above the Strathmore valley. Both forts are built upon sandstone bedrock of the Strathmore Group, formed during the Emsian period, with conglomerate, siltstone and mudstone interspersed within the geological sequence. This solid foundation provided excellent drainage and stability for the substantial defensive structures constructed here during the Iron Age.
The two forts represent different phases of fortification, each defined by concentric ramparts and ditches that exploit the natural topography. The inner fort is the more heavily defended, whilst the outer fort extends the defensive perimeter across the hillside. The hillfort form—combining natural elevation with engineered earthworks—was characteristic of Iron Age communities in eastern Scotland, serving as centres for settlement, craft production and refuge during periods of conflict.
The Caterthuns is protected as a scheduled monument under Historic Environment Scotland reference SM90069, recognising its significance as a rare example of dual-fort construction and its importance for understanding Iron Age settlement patterns in the Tayside region. The forts' prominent position within the landscape reflects their role as symbols of territorial authority and community identity during the later prehistoric period.
The Caterthuns, hillforts is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90069. View the official record →
The Caterthuns is a pair of Iron Age hillforts situated in Angus, Scotland, occupying elevated ground above the Strathmore valley. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90069.
The Caterthuns, hillforts dates from the iron age period, and is classified as a hillforts. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
The Caterthuns, hillforts 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 SM90069.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Broomfield,enclosure 200m ESE of (6.2 km), Craigend of Careston, enclosure 600m NE of (6.4 km), Mains of Careston, barrows 100m E of (7.1 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of The Caterthuns, hillforts'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.
The Caterthuns, hillforts stands on Strathmore Group, bedrock that formed in the Emsian. The rock here is sandstone with subordinate conglomerate, siltstone and mudstone.