Hill Of Dores

Nearest town:
Coupar Angus (5km WNW)
OS reference:
NO25763607
OS sheet:
53
Latitude:
56° 30' 39.1 N
Longitude:
3° 12' 23.29 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Hill Of Dores (Hillfort) by drewbhoy

Trees almost emulating a palisade protect the fort at the north east.

Image credit: drew/A/L/B
drewbhoy
drewbhoy Dec 30, 2017

Articles

Hill Of Dores

drewbhoy
drewbhoy Dec 31, 2017

Hill Of Dores is a hillfort associated with Macbeth and a castle. The castle apparently never existed, the hillfort most certainly does.

From Dronley we headed west back onto the A923 and made our way to the car park near the bottom of Dores Hill. It is also the car park for the Laird’s Loch fishery. By this time the weather had completely changed.

With snow getting heavier and heavier we made our way along the track to the fishery. Just as we neared the end of the track we headed uphill through the trees to summit, which houses the fort.

On three sides there are steep slopes but we approached from the west which, fairly difficult because of the trees, is less steep. The massive fort is almost 100m in length and well over 50m wide being oval shaped. A lot of the rampart has been destroyed but the forestry people have marked the ramparts by leaving parts of tree trunk giving an idea of a wooden palisade. Good idea this!

With the snow getting heavier we made our way back down, still heading south west but via a different route taking us back onto the A923 about a 1/2 mile west of the car park.

It is no secret that I love the snow. Along with heavy cloud the snow gives a different otherworldly atmosphere. Fortunately Macbeth did not appear.

Visited 29/12/2017.

Folklore

Hill Of Dores
Hillfort
drewbhoy
drewbhoy Dec 30, 2017

The Castle of Dores was situated on the summit of the Hill of Dores; it is traditionally said to have been a residence of Macbeth. Great quantities of ashes have been found at various places on this hill, as well as at the site of the Castle. They are thought to be from beacon fires.

Presumably the tradition concerning a castle of Macbeth arose from this; there is no trace of a castle.

Historic Scotland

Sites within 20km of Hill Of Dores

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