Roman Iron Age Ruins in the Rhins

The Rhins of Galloway is rich in Iron Age archaeology and with a few hikes to some of the sites there is easily enough for a day or two of exploration here.

Diehard fans may wish to tick them all off, while others will be happy to observe the more easily accessible. A wealth of promontory forts show the fortifications the local Celts (a tribe known as the Novantae, in this area) relied on to keep them safe in uncertain times. In some cases these fortifications provided the base for later buildings - see what you can spot along this route making use of these Celtic fortified sites! The sheer numbers of promontory forts is unusual, as is their use of the natural features of the coast to increase the security of their defensive strongholds. In addition there are two rare Iron Age Brochs along the route - a broch being a stone tower. These required remarkable engineering skills to build and are unusual for this part of Scotland.

Go prepared for walking in the outdoors over rough terrain with adequate footwear and supplies and appropriate detailed maps and compass. Specific GPS coordinates are given in some cases where the sites are within a larger postcode. Phone signals are not always reliable so please ensure you have a back up.