White Meldon Fort
14/7/02
From the glen between White and Black Meldon we started our climb deciding on this fort as opposed to the Black variety as this one also had a cairn on the top- always an added bonus! It was a steep climb of about 250m just about straight up from the road- we managed it in about 30 mins or so- probably fuelled on by the mix of last nights fine malts and curry and this mornings eggs rolls-mmmmmmmmm!!! Pouring with sweat and with the wind blowing in our faces we finally sighted both the cairn and the OS triangulation point which spurned us on. And what a fantastic view and rather extensive fort. We counted about 4 walls round the steep summit- the interior of which encloses an area of about 8 acres with the remains of 28 ring-groove houses. Some of these proved to be easier to see than others though. The cairn itself has been mostly piled up into a large modern looking mound from it’s original larger diameter- there are many large blocks still around the original outline. This must have been an inspiring (and pretty safe) place to stay. You can see way round the Border Hills and up to the Pentlands, over the Moorfoots- fantastic.
An entry from Ancient Stones, an online database that covers most of the standing stones, stone circles and other stones found in South East Scotland. Each entry includes details, directions, photograph, folklore, parking and field notes on each location.
Anywhere else but here - set above the Meldon Burn between the towering hill forts of Black and White Meldon - this would be a headline monument worth a substantial trip in its own right. As a bonus site... well... the abundance of the archaeological and aesthetic riches available in the immediate locality takes the breath away as comprehensively as the brutal slogs to the aforementioned summits. Ideal as a less demanding - in a physical sense, at least - alternative visit, or as a post-exertion evening chill-out, proving the idiom that things aren't always black or white..... (sorry).
Anyway, according to the RCAHMS 1967 (visited 1959) the settlement consists of:
"Two stone-walled enclosures, one of which has been built inside the other are situated on a broad natural terrace near the foot of the W slopes of White Meldon Hill. The earlier.. (is)... 220' by 180' ... surrounded by a heavy wall, 12' in thickness... The later..... 165' by 120' within a wall consisting of a rubble core faced with heavy angular blocks....the collapsed debris indicate a thickness of 10'."
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Posted by GLADMAN
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