Stronghold Scotland

 My local library has been downsized, and I have been struggling to find my monthly library pick. However, I did spot Geoffrey Williams' book on prehistoric and Roman fortifications in Scotland. Scottish medieval castles are famous, but there are hundreds of earlier fortifications that are dotted around the country.

I suspect the author's chatty, almost quirky writing style will irritate some folks, but I found it very readable. It is also a very solid hardcover that will withstand the heavy handling it is likely to get when used as a guide.

There are two parts to this book. A history and then a gazetteer. The first part is a history of the period and the fortifications that developed during that time. It is shocking to think that the early immigrants probably came from England 😅. Then the Picts, of which we know relatively little, even the name of which was bestowed by the Romans. We are also not sure when the Celts arrived, but they are certainly not indigenous to these isles. By the Iron Age, the population of Scotland was probably around 200,000, and as social structures developed, so did the strength of their fortifications. The Romans came but failed to conquer, though they left behind some fortifications north of Hadrian's Wall.

He then describes the types of strongholds, each with its distinctive style. From simple blockhouses to the early brochs, some of the finest examples are on Orkney. When I was working up there, I usually found an excuse to go and look at them. The best preserved is at Mousa on Shetland.  

Then the water-based crannogs, one of which has been reconstructed on Loch Tay, and it is well worth a visit. The largest fortifications are the hillforts. These are mostly earthworks today because the wooden palisades are long gone, although many had stone walls. Sadly, many of these have been stolen for other building projects. The Roman forts exist as both marching forts and the various walls built across Scotland.

The gazetteer is a fabulous resource, offering alternative days out from the usual historic sites. Around 120 strongholds are covered with references to the others. They are often in scenic spots, making for great walks. Scotland's right to roam makes these more accessible than in other parts of the UK. There is an excellent online resource for hillforts. The Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (ScARF) is also an excellent resource.

This is worth getting for the historical background, but it is also a really useful guidebook.

I haven't got any Picts, too much woad to paint. So, let's have a Roman camp.