Discover Alone, back to main map

Fairy fort / stone ringfort in Coolnaha North

Fairy fort / stone ringfort

What is recorded here

Coolnaha North holds a broken stone ring where a collapsed passage still cuts the west side, proving the fort was built for human entry rather than fairy trickery. The wide low bank rises from pasture on a ridge that faces south and east, giving whoever lived there a broad view across hilly ground while hiding them from much of what comes from behind. Later people joined part of the ancient curve to their own field wall, treating the shape as useful instead of sacred.
In pasture, located on a fairly level terrace on a SE-facing ridge slope, with very good views SE–S, in an area of hilly terrain. Views to NW are restricted by rising ground. A circular area (36.5m N–S; 34.5m E–W) defined by a stone bank/wall (Wth c. 3.8m; int. H 0.2m; ext. H 0.4m). The stone bank survives as a broad, low sod-covered rise from which stones protrude randomly. It is best preserved NE–E, where a number of large horizontally set stones may represent the basal course of stone facing. The wall is severely degraded at NW on the upslope side, and at SSE–WSW it is incorporated into a later field wall which respects the curve of the enclosure. The interior is not noticeably raised, and slopes down gently from centre to SE. There is no clearly defined entrance feature. A collapsed Man-made underground passage (MA093-009002-) is visible in the W half. Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 14 June 2022

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.

What survives
Recorded monument

Places near here

Add to this placeAdd a picture Comment or add a tip

Explore 1,118,481 places