On a hill by Auchterarder

A walk from Gleneagles railway station, through Auchterarder, and on to the top of Craig Rossie hill. Passing Beld Hill and Ben Effrey, we reflect on the number of Iron Age forts in the area, and the impact on them of the Roman invasion that saw the creation of Rome's most northerly frontier in Scotland along the Gask Ridge, just north of Craig Rossie, on the other side of the River Earn. We also pause to wonder about an old land feature called The Ship. Once thought to be the remains of a Roman camp, then regarded as a natural feature, this ancient elongated bank forms one side of an area bordered on the three other sides by water courses, and I feel quite comfortable in suggesting that this is indeed part of a temporary Roman camp. Iron Age forts in the immediate area include one near the steading of Pairney, one on Ben Effrey (called a 'Roman Outpost' in first edition Ordnance Survey maps dating to around 1860), a fort to the west on the other side of Pairney Burn, and a fort to the east on Rossie Law. That's a lot of Iron Age forts in such a small area. To the north, the Romans placed forts and fortlets, signal towers and watch towers along a Roman road by Gask Ridge, and pretty much kept a wary eye out for any large groups of warriors coming from the Highland area. On top of Craig Rossie we can see the land all around, and pause to reflect on life in that ancient but fascinating period of our past.

[@rpw1013]

Another great video Ed, my sister had a house at the very bottom of Auchterarder Main St heading towards Perth, she named it Craigrossie View, so this brings back memories. I am sure the source for Highland Spring water is up in that range, now well protected and guarded, incidentally I also googled the difference in train tickets - quite ridiculous.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks.

[@alanglasgowbassist]

Great video. That looks like a nice hill. I will have to get to the top sometime.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks Alan. It's worth the effort to get there. Take care.

[@andyboyle3536]

Once again love that chat about what may have been with the Romans in the area. Keep safe.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks Andy.

[@RG-ja34sep]

Another cracking video Eddy, those Perthshire hills and the scenic views are truly amazing to see. On top of that, you had the best weather to be out and about! Enjoyed the music as well, I believe you would be a good choice to produce a film score. Take care and best regards, Rob.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks Rob. Not sure about the film score; I've never been able to read music, and prefer to just make it up as I go along. A bit like my life, I suppose. Take care.

[@dougiemilnephotography756]

Ah, you should have gone over to Ben Effrey. The hill fort on the summit is very obvious. There is, as you mentioned, a string of hillforts right along from Dumyat to Dunning. They belonged to the Maeatae (who gave their name to Dumyat). They were, unfortunately, massacred by the Romans and their forts destroyed. There is a very well preserved Roman fort on Gleanearn Hill, which well worth a visit - it's walkable from Forgandenny. The Romans got as far north as Aberdeenshire, where they fought and won the Battle of Mons Graupius (documented by the Roman historian Tacitus, who documented the first named Scotsman, Calgacus)

[@EdExploresScotland]

It's a fascinating area, Dougie. While Ben Effrey was on the agenda, I just didn't have the time, or the leg-power, to do it justice, and so walked away. Maybe some day I will return. Take care.

[@joeb3800]

Ed, thank you for your videos. We are planning a move to Scotland from the dismal south of England. While we wait for the job that takes us there your videos are giving us something to look forward to. I hope I can meet you on a walk one day and buy you a pie to say thanks :)

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks Joe. May your dreams come true.

[@voicezful]

Hi again Ed, I'm just across the valley at 28:01. and the mountains to the north are where I spend a lot of time in all seasons. You're right the Romans never managed any further north than Findo Gask though there were skirmishes with the locals towards the mountains and they did set camp at Dornock on the north side of the Earn near the fort of Strageath. There is a hand dug ditch called the Pow that the monks dug in the 13th century to drain bog and marsh, it's like the Suez Canal for canoes.Amazing engineering and enters the River Earn at Innerpeffray Library (the oldest lending library in Scotland) and where the old Roman Road from Ardoch (Braco) to Bertha (Perth) ran, fording the Earn at the point of the old castle and home of the ancient Bards of Strathearn and at Inchaffray Abbey where the monks lived and blessed those entering battle at Bannockburn in 1314. The Pow water is interesting in that its dig was to remove water from the bogs north of the Gask frontier and was designed with such precision the bends all marry up with ancient burial sites and standong stones across the region, before falling to the Earn a distance of 11 miles in its alternating route and at places is so deep, they waters are considered bottomless by those on the land.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks for that. That whole part of Scotland is bristling with history. Lots more to explore. All the best for the new year.

[@byrontilly5065]

Ed, you evoke a wonderful image of times past. Thank you. As an aside, I really like the gossamer effect of what I assume are cobwebs blowing in the breeze at about 10:20 and following at the bottom of the picture (the shot with the wind turbines on the hill top). I doubt we would have been able to see that effect with your old camera.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks. You're right, it was a whole load of cobwebs, many blowing about the shop at head height. I struggled to focus on it; I would have loved to focus properly on it but I'm having real issues with this camera when trying to focus far away. (A bad workman always blames his tools!)

[@vermeerofdelftscotlandwalk3294]

Great views from the hill. That was quite a long walk and climb Ed, making for a very long day in total. Next time you're in the area may I recommend the New Honey Flower Chinese takeaway in Auchterchoochter. You should stay there overnight and enjoy a few beers with it, and get a train back the next day.

[@EdExploresScotland]

I think you're right. Staying overnight is clearly key to fully enjoying and exploring these places in Scotland that we're maybe not familiar with. Then we're fresh for a good walk the next day.

[@robertwright4651]

Another great video Eddy spectacular views it's good that you research the area and surroundings and Tell a tale of the past brings the video together beautifully what was the distance from base to summit take care cheers

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks Robert. The paper Ordnance Survey map in question is number 58 'Perth & Alloa'. On looking at that, the distance from behind Pairney Farm to the top of Craig Rossie is just a mile, straight up a very steep slope. The walk from Gleneagles railway station there and back is quite long. Take care.

[@andyp9040]

Another great video eddy! £30.60 for a return to gleneagles from partick?! How can they justify nearly double the price compared to queen street?? I bet youre glad to get glasgow back after cop26! The roads were chaos especially around partick and the west end! All the best andy

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thanks Andy. I suspect the real reason for the pricing anomolie is that Perth & Kinross may have an arrangement with Scotrail so that travelers can get off-peak tickets earlier than those travelling to other areas, presumably to increase tourism to the area. That small arrangement clearly doesn't extend a few miles to Partick. It's a very poor system that relies on Scotrail staff knowing how to 'beat' the system.

[@johnmull59]

Is the best known bridie the Forfar Bridie? Super video as always . Thank you.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks.

[@dougieross1042]

Ed, you should do a film on Pies, could be called 'Pies Pilgrimage'

[@EdExploresScotland]

I like the sound of that. Maybe a long distance walking route called The Pie Trail.

[@dougieross1042]

On the trail of Scotland's best Pie

[@Alfred_51]

Wit nae pie ?

[@clonie9963]

Haha I thought when the stane came out it was a going to be the pie