Hareheugh Craigs

NT64SE 5 6877 4005

See also NT64SE 13.

(NT 6877 4005) Hareheugh Craigs Fort crowns a high narrow 'crag and tail' formation which is everywhere steep and precipitous, except at the east end. The fort measures 137 x 44yds; its axis points NE. All the summit of the crag has been surrounded by a stone wall, the foundations of which are in places traceable, notably along the south side. A part of the rampart here shows the stones rising above the turf in a straight line; it has apparently been 9 or 10 feet thick. The fort has had three entrances, the main approach having been at the east end up the slope of the 'tail'. The entrance, 6ft wide, is still flanked by two large stones. Another entrance lies at the west end. A third entrance lies to the north, and would be easily defended. Several hut circles are noticeable within the rampart. One, 15ft diameter, lies within the east entrance; another, 23ft diameter, lies 10yds. further in. Two more, both 18ft diameter, are placed near the wall half-way along the south side. Most of the stones of the rampart have been removed, probably for building purposes, and a quarry has been opened at the west, or 'crag', end of the formation.

R Kinghorn 1935.

The fort remains as described above, except that the quarry has greatly encroached on the west end. The remains of the stone rampart are only vaguely traceable except at the SE, as mentioned above, where a straight stretch 25.0m long is visible. The hut circles are seen as shallow depressions ranging from 5 - 7m in diameter. The east and north entrances are intact, except that the former does not have two large stones flanking it as described. The fort is in a very strong position, the rock face falling steeply on all sides except to the east, where the 'tail' is so narrow as to be easily defended.

Visited by OS (JFC) 22 January 1955.

Generally as described above; but the shallow depressions that represent the hut circles are ill-defined.

Surveyed at 1:2500.

Visited by OS (RDL) 25 November 1963.

NT 688 400 An archaeological evaluation comprised seven trial trenches located within and on the edges of a proposed development, which lay within a Scheduled area. Four of the trenches revealed a probable 18th to 19th-century field system. One trench was located within a base of a spring, which had been modified during the 18th to 19th-century to enable draught animals to drink. The remaining three trenches were archaeologically sterile. An EDM survey of the whole Scheduled area was also undertaken, including the hillfort upon which a large number of platforms were identified; the date of the hillfort is unknown.

Sponsor: Borders Council.

C Ellis 1999

NT 6877 4005 A small archaeological evaluation was undertaken of two features first identified during the Phase 1 evaluation (DES 1999, 76) at the Iron Age fort. These were found to be natural in origin and of no archaeological significance.

Sponsor: Scottish Borders Council.

Martin Cook 2000.

Scheduled (with NT64SE 13) as Hareheugh Craigs, fort and settlement.

Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 8 November 2001.