Tail Burn

Also known as:
Giant's Grave
Nearest town:
Moffat (14km SW)
OS reference:
NT18671462
OS sheet:
79
Latitude:
55° 25' 6.92 N
Longitude:
3° 17' 5.93 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Tail Burn (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) by thelonious

21/03/2013 – View from the top of the Giant’s Grave down the glacial shaped valley of the Moffat Water

thelonious
thelonious Mar 24, 2013
Image of Tail Burn (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) by thelonious

21/03/2013 – View from the top of the Giant’s Grave to the Gray Mare’s Tail waterfall

thelonious
thelonious Mar 24, 2013

Articles

Tail Burn

thelonious
thelonious Mar 24, 2013

21/03/2013 – Iron Age bank and ditch beside the Tail Burn, marked on the OS map as the Giant’s Grave. According to the noticeboard and Canmore there seems to be various theories as to the use of this site. Believed to be for defence but some now think it could have been a site for pagan pilgrimage, due to its view of the impressive Grey Mare’s Tail waterfall. This is a must visit just for the scenery alone. From the top of the bank the view down the glacial shaped valley of the Moffat Water is quite beautiful. The Grey Mare’s Tail is one of the nicest waterfalls I’ve seen. It’s quite easy to imagine this place as one of pilgrimage.

Grey Mare’s Tail and the Giant’s Grave gets a mention in Walter Scott’s poem, Marmion (published in 1808)

“Where deep deep down, and far within
Toils with the rocks the roaring linn;
Then issuing forth one foamy wave,
And wheeling round the giant’s grave
White as the snowy charger’s tail
Drives down the pass of Moffatdale.”

Sites within 20km of Tail Burn

Like all websites everywhere, we use cookies.