Eskdale Prehistoric Trail

The timescale of these nine sites goes as far back as the Neolithic period (4,500 years ago) when our hunter-gatherer ancestors began to settle down in the Esk valley, and forward from there to the first century AD when the Romans invaded the area.

The profusion of prehistoric remains in these valleys is perhaps because they were well populated from earliest times: perhaps because there was never much intensive agriculture or building in these rocky valleys. Whatever the reason, we are lucky indeed to be able to visit them and wonder what these stones, mounds and enclosures meant to our forebears.

The trail visits nine sites, clockwise up the west side of the Esk valley to Eskdalemuir village and down the east side. It can be "done" in a day, but why not make several excursions at different times of the day or in different seasons? Visit the Loupin' Stanes at dawn on Midsummer Day or sunset at the winter solstice, to get the different feel of these ageworn stones at these times. Archaeology is often better seen when windblown or thawing snow than in summer when all is covered with vegetation.

Our imagination is required, as nowadays the sites are either in grassy fields or hills, or in clearings in conifer forestry. Neither represents what was here 2000 or more years ago.

Today's spruce and larch were very late introductions to Scottish forestry: the native conifers were Scots pine, yew and juniper. Imagine in Neolithic times most of the valleys covered in mixed forest - these three native conifers together with birch, oak, alder, rowan, ash, beech, hawthorn, blackthorn, crab apples, briars, broom, gorse and brambles.

In the second millennium BC the hilltops became barer as trees were cut for firewood, making pasture available for early herdsmen. Despite clearances, wolves would still be a threat to livestock; there may also have been wild cattle and swine, red deer, otters, wildcat, martens.

The creator of the trail:
More than 25 years ago, retired Langholm GP Tom Kennedy created this trail of walks investigating the Prehistoric sites of the Eskdale Valley. The description above was his and today the Langholm Walks group hosts this info on their website and we are grateful to them for their permission to host it here as well.

Handy hints:
To get the best out of this waymarked trail, head to the Langholm Walks website for further info and download the free Prehistoric Eskdale Trail pdf below or pick up a leaflet at the tourism point in Langholm or at the Eskdalemuir Community Hub & Old School Café. This also makes an excellent stop for some much needed sustenance.

Be prepared:
Our ancestors wanted their strongholds to be readily defended, so the approaches are usually steep. Some parts of the Trail can’t be recommended for those with serious mobility problems. Please got ready for any kind of weather, recognising it can change quickly! Ensure you have tough waterproof boots/shoes and the OS Explorer 323 map is helpful. You visit at your own risk.