BESSIE’S HILL FORT (NY254 954) AND SETTLEMENT(NY249 955)

Follow the footpath indicated by the green poles diagonally up the hillside through the conifer forest. In about 300m this ends at a few steps bringing you out on to a forestry track from which you can explore the earlier Bessie’s Hill Fort (down the track to the SE) and the later Bessie’s Hill Settlement (uphill to W of the track).

 A longer but gentler walk to the sites follows the forest track from the car park winding up the hillside, taking first right following more green poles.

Bessie’s Hill Fort

If you’ve taken the forest path, walk about 100m S from the steps to a green post which guides you to the easiest path back into the forestry to your left, towards the entrance to the fort.

In the trees on the south side of the site you’ll find the Archaeosights interpretation panel with its commentary on the importance of imposing defences as showing power and affluence.

Bessie’s Hill Fort will look familiar if you’ve followed the Trail clockwise and have already visited Bailiehill, The Knowe and Castle O’er.  Like The Knowe, it is in a very defendable position atop a steep slope on the shoulder of the high ground over which Castle O’er held sway.

 The present dense forestry around it means that we can’t  see the commanding view enjoyed<