The Eskdale Prehistoric Trail is a waymarked trail through the parishes of Westerkirk and Eskdalemuir bringing to life some of the many sites of interest in this area. Follow the links near the bottom of this page to find out how to find the trail and what to look for.

Winter sunrise from the Loupin Stanes

“I have often thought that if one of the fort-dwellers could rise from his grave; an hour's conversation with him would go far to enlighten our minds regarding these prehistoric remains, and dispel an enormous mass of theory, conjecture, and suggestion published on such subjects by many writers.”

Richard Bell (1905) “My Strange Pets”

Richard Bell (1833-1909) was a landowner living at Castle O‘er Mansion, now no longer standing. His book “My Strange Pets” is well worth a read (see “like to learn more?”). As well as being an observant naturalist and an intrepid menagerie keeper, he was a keen antiquarian and amateur archaeologist and the first to record excavations at Castle O’er Hill Fort and at Over Rig.