Caerlanrig Hilltop Enviromental and Historic Contemplation Site

In collaboration with Buccleuch estates, the Trust have negotiated and safeguarded the eroded Iron Age hilltop settlement at Caerlanrig, which was scheduled for plantation.

 

The hilltop and its sitelines will be left open spaced, and its borders will be fenced and planted with oak, birch, hazel, crab apple, holly and cherry.

 

The plan is to create a site of contemplation and an environmental conservation sanctuary and to also create a Dark Sky observation viewing site, with solar alignment standing stones established on the top of the rig.

 

The project is also in partnership with Teviothead Dark Sky CIC, a community interest group with the purpose of establishing Teviothead Parish as a Dark Sky Community, with International Dark Sky Status.

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As well as incredible skies the hilltop has an iconic 360 degree landscape of hillforts, history and geology.  

 

Close association and legends with the site include

 

The motorcycling hero Steve Hislop

The capture of the notorius Johhnie Armstrong of ballad legend by the King in 1530

Jamie Telfer of ballad tradition, who ran along the rig to Gideonscleugh

The Ninth legion and the Roman fort at Watch Knowe

Tom Jenkins, Britain's first black schoolteacher

The Royal Observation Core bunker which is a chilling reminder of the Cold War

 

The Rig also has long association with Folk music – the Folk legend Willie Scott, who was a herdsman for many years at Gideonscleuch, and also Sangster Jock Anderson, who lived and farmed at neighbouring Lymiecleuch; he was a close friend of Ronnie Browne of The Corries, who was a frequent visitor. More recently the rig has been resident to singer songwriter Pat Douglas, ‘The Teviotdale nightingale’

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Recent years have also seen the remarkable phenomena of vast numbers of painted lady butterflies descending on the rig.

 

In Scottish and Celtic Mythology the soul of a Scot is said return in the form of a butterfly, and for this reason the site has gained futher reverence and respect, and it is proposed that one environmental element should include butterfly conservation.

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In addition the Trust has identified and safeguarded the medieval homestead of Blackcleuch, as far as is possible in the context of forestry plantation, as shown on Timothy Pont's late 16th century map.

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