Images (13)
Fieldnotes (1)

Images

Image of Hill of Edzell 2, 3, 4 & 5 (Cairn(s)) by drewbhoy

NO57808 70052 Edzell5, the houked centre looking north east.

Image credit: drew/AMJ

drewbhoy Jan 10, 2025

NO57808 70052 Edzell5, a pile of clearance plus the cairn’s footprint to the north west.

Image credit: drew/AMJ

drewbhoy Jan 10, 2025

NO57808 70052 Edzell5, looking straight north, the west side of the cairn.

Image credit: drew/AMJ

drewbhoy Jan 10, 2025

NO57863 69957 Edzell4, field clearance to the south west.

Image credit: drew/AMJ

drewbhoy Jan 10, 2025

NO57683 69957 Edzell4, the east side of the cairn’s footprint, note a rather flush to the ground kerb.

Image credit: drew/AMJ

drewbhoy Jan 10, 2025

NO57683 69957 Edzell4, the actual cairn is in front of the big stone, might be a kerb.

Image credit: drew/AMJ

drewbhoy Jan 10, 2025

NO57575 69845 Edzell3 Medieval people onwards might have ruined the cairns, they couldn’t ruin the scenery.......................yet.

Image credit: drew/AMJ

drewbhoy Jan 9, 2025

NO57575 69845 Edzell3, south east section is the best preserved as regards outline.

Image credit: drew/AMJ

drewbhoy Jan 9, 2025

NO57575 69845 Edzell3 This looking north west has the best outline of all the cairns on the hill. definite footprint, couple of kerns in place.

Image credit: drew/AMJ

drewbhoy Jan 9, 2025

NO57520 69796 Edzell2, despite the destruction some kerbs are still in place, this photo, I believe, gives the best angle to see the original outline of the cairn.

Image credit: drew/AMJ

drewbhoy Jan 8, 2025

NO57520 69796 Edzell2, this looking south at least gives the cairns outline.

Image credit: drew/AMJ

drewbhoy Jan 8, 2025

NO57520 69796 Edzell2, looking north west, included in the havoc is a small trench through the middle of the cairn.

Image credit: drew/AMJ

drewbhoy Jan 8, 2025

NO57520 69796 Edzell2, the outline the original cairn can just about be seen despite the clearence being dumped on top.

Image credit: drew/AMJ

drewbhoy Jan 8, 2025

Articles

Hill of Edzell 2, 3, 4 & 5

Cairn(s)

drewbhoy May 29, 2025

NO 57808 70052 – Edzell 5

This cairn is south west of the trig and slightly downhill. At one time this must have been impressive, sadly like most of the sites on the hill it has taken some severe punishment, it has been houked and field clearance dumped on top. Like the cairns nearer Laurencekirk the majority of stones appear to be pebbles. Still, it survives at almost 7m wide and is 0.3m high.

NO57863 69957 – Edzell 4

Continuing south west to the next cairn. Weirdly the next three cairns all appear to very similar in size being over 8m and 0.3m high. More pebbles are mixed in with the cairn material which also has seen field clearance dropped on top.

NO57575 69845 – Edzell 3

Similar in size to its near neighbour, Edzell 4, it is 8m wide 0.3m high. It might have been larger going by the size of the footprint. Canmore says irregular shape, perhaps for a square, it looks reasonably circular to me and seems to have less field clearance thrown on top. Stunning views north, to the north east many miles away cloud was building up.

NO57520 67696 – Edzell 2

Several kerbs remain in place, at the this the furthest south west of the cairns. I normally have a go at people who put fences through the middle of sites, here they deserve some applause as the fence is at least a couple of metres away from the west side – so fair play. These ancient people must have only had a tape measure that went to 8m, as yet again the site is that width and is 0.3m, as usual, high. Look closely and small ditch marks the east edge.

There appears to nothing be ‘that special’ about any of these sites but given the location and the fact that there are quite a few sites on the ridge that has superb all round views perhaps it was a significant place.

On my way down I headed back up to the trig then followed a track on the east side of a Christmas Tree wood that would head, south, back to the road near Edzell Castle. I’d also hoped to have a look at the ground north of the castle to see if there were any hints or remains of a fort. A good idea – except the people with red flags and their pals with guns were shooting at birds in the area.

Back to the car, time to go visit an old friend.

Visited 04/01/2025.