Two #HilltopMonuments to heroes of the Napoleonic Wars, a mile apart, near Bakewell in Derbyshire’s Peak District. Modest in scale and not highly visible from a distance, they are interesting curiosities, nonetheless.
(Thread 🧵)
One of Edinburgh's less well-known #HilltopMonuments - views of it being obscured by the mature trees surrounding it - this is Clermiston Tower on Corstorphine Hill in the west of the city.
(Thread 🧵)
One of Scotland’s unique #HilltopMonuments, McCaig’s Tower: a vast Colosseum-inspired folly which might have been even more impressive had its creator’s heirs not stymied his posthumous plans. (Thread 🧵)
On a knoll above the old kirk at Inchnadamph at the head of Loch Assynt in NW Scotland is this stone monument erected in 1930 to commemorate the ground-breaking work of a memorably named duo, Peach and Horne. #HilltopMonuments
(Thread 🧵)
Striding Arches by environmental artist, Andy Goldsworthy.
Three identical #HilltopMonuments erected in 2006(?) on broad hilltops around the natural amphitheatre of the Cairnhead Forest near Moniaive, Dumfries & Galloway.
Well, that’s 150 sites featured on this micro-blog since I started it nearly 4 yrs ago.
To celebrate, I’ve created a Google map plotting each of them with links to the relevant post/thread.
Lots more #HilltopMonuments to visit! I’ll update the map as I...
This is the 150th site to feature on this micro-blog, so I’m going with Scotland’s greatest #pyramid and one of its very best #HilltopMonuments.
Prince Albert’s Cairn, Balmoral.
In the top tier of Scotland’s #HilltopMonuments, the impressive Airlie Monument sits on Tulloch Hill between the heads of Glen Clova and Glen Prosen, Angus.
For my money, one of Scotland’s best located #HilltopMonuments, the obelisk on Kildoon Hill, near Maybole, South Ayrshire. Erected 1853, commemorating local aristocrat and landowner Sir Charles Dalrymple Fergusson (1800-1849).
Cairn commemorating the coronation of Edward VII on the ridge of the Hills of Cromdale, east of Grantown on Spey. #HilltopMonuments
(Thread)
Known as the Duke's Candlesticks, these two miniature towers on the cliffs above Berriedale, Caithness, were beacons to guide boats into the narrow harbour entrance below.
#HilltopMonuments (Thread)
The Mackenzie Meridian, also known as the Privy's Prap, on Keillor Hill, is 4.5 km south west as the crow flies from the observatory on Kinpurney Hill (seen here on the horizon).
#HilltopMonuments
They may look very different, but this pair of splendid #HilltopMonuments, situated a few miles apart near the village of Newtyle in Angus, have a linked purpose. (Thread)
The Lynedoch Obelisk, erected 1853(?) on Murrayshall Hill near Scone, Perthshire, commemorating Thomas Graham, 1st Baron Lynedoch (1748-1843), a man who packed an awful lot into his 95 years. (Thread)
#HilltopMonuments
Three #HilltopMonuments in one image: In the foreground, McDuff's Monument, a folly built in 1783 on Murrayshall Hill above Scone, Perthshire. On the horizon just to the left (zoom in), its neighbour, the Lynedoch Obelisk. And further left, 14 miles distant, Kinpurney Tower.
Two modern memorial cairns above the Earnscleugh Water on the western edge of the Lammermuir Hills commemorating landowning aristocracy. #HilltopMonuments (Thread)
This cairn marking the summit of Wardlaw Hill, south of Muirkirk, East Ayrshire, commemorates Col JGA Baird, former MP for Muirkirk and laird of Wellwood House, since destroyed. #HilltopMonuments (Thread)
Visited on Easter Sunday on a big day out on the #ebike which included several #HilltopMonuments - more to come! (Spot the cairns on the horizon in this photo.)
Despite a slow start due to Covid travel restrictions in the first few months, I've recorded visits to 33 more #HilltopMonuments this year. Here are three of my favourites from 2021 ⬇️ 1/5
Known as Kinnoull Tower, the folly serves as a prominent eyecatcher for travellers on the rail line and A90 Dundee road on the valley floor below. #HilltopMonuments
Hutcheson's Monument at the north end of the Isle of Kerrera. One of Scotland's classic #HilltopMonuments by virtue of its wonderful position overlooking Oban Bay, and passed by several Hebridean ferry routes.
Was back at Penicuik Estate at the weekend. This view gives a good impression of the tower's elevated position on Knight's Law, with the Pentlands behind. #HilltopMonuments
Was lucky to visit on @DoorsOpenDays with the chance to climb to the roof. Spotted two other #HilltopMonuments from the top: The Airlie Monument and Kinpurney Tower.
This fine tower on Balmashanner Hill overlooking the town of Forfar, Angus, was built as memorial to those who fell in the Great War and was completed in 1921. #HilltopMonuments
The National Monument, Nelson Monument and Playfair Monument. Calton Hill. #HilltopMonuments #Edinburgh
We have George Gordon, the 5th Duke of Gordon (1770-1836), to thank for these two fine #HilltopMonuments on the wooded hill of Torr Alvie, south of Aviemore.
Although Victoria has several #HilltopMonuments in her honour - mostly 'Jubilee Cairns' - I'm not aware of one to match this.
