Pictish stone, summit & hillfort near Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries & Galloway
★★
The Picts were a group of people who lived in modern-day northeast Scotland between around 300 and 900 AD. Their main legacy is a fascinating array of artwork carved onto rocks throughout the region, comprising curious symbols, people, animals and patterns. This large stone is found in southern Galloway – a long way from their usual location – but features a double disc, Z-rod and fish monster which are all instantly recognisable as Pictish. The stone lies at the entrance to a vitrified hillfort, which offers decent views over the Fleet floodplain and towards Rutherford’s Monument; combine all these sites with our Boreland Hills walk route.
Location
In the Boreland Hills 1 mi west of Gatehouse of Fleet, with access from Fleet Street (B796)
O.S. Grid Reference: NX 589560
GPS coordinates: 54.879009,-4.201060
Bus to Gatehouse of Fleet (1 mi)
Street parking on Fleet Street, NX 597561 / 54.880282,-4.188617
Key info
Always viewable
Free
From the west end of Fleet Street it’s a 1 km or 30-min walk to Trusty’s Hill, with around 80 m of ascent (⬤ Easy). Facing away from the village, turn right (public footpath sign to Anwoth) where the main road bends left. Follow the minor road uphill, keeping right at a fork. Where the road becomes an unsurfaced track, take the footpath just to the left, soon crossing a stone stile. The path then winds through a scrubby, hilly area; keep left at a junction, signed for Trusty’s Hill. Follow the main path – briefly steep – to the Pictish carvings and summit.
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