Barra Hill Fort
We start our journey through history with a visit to Barry Hill fort. Hillfort structures that are dotted around Aberdeenshire and are built on higher ground, many would have included wooden or stone enclosures to create a settlement where people lived and worked. These early communities were found Scotland hundreds of years ago and formed the early Aberdeenshire towns and villages.
During our visit, we will walk along the earthworks and foundations, and begin to get a sense of how these communities were formed and get a feel for what life would be like living on these hills.
*To visit the site we will be walking through fields and off road paths.
Insch
A short walk up a low hill, from where we see the ruins of Dunnideer Castle. The castle was a tower house located near the village of Insch. It was built c. 1260 partially from the remains of an existing vitrified hill fort in the same location. Standing a short distance away from from the Hillfort are the remaining stones of Dunnideer Stone Circle.
Rhynie
The area around Rhynie was a Pictish stronghold. The Tap O'Noth, has Scotland’s largest hillfort, that at its height, rivalled the largest post-Roman settlements in Europe. Researchers believe to be a community with over 5,000 residents!
There is a collection of Pictish carved stones, and we will hear more about their symbols and meanings. A lone standing stone, the Crawstane was once at the centre of a settlement which had trade across the Mediterranean and great wealth. We will learn about the King of the Scots and how he changed the cultural landscape of Scotland which ultimately led to the downfall of the Picts.
Easter Aquhorthies & Loanhead of Daviot Circles
Located near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire, is one of Scotland's best-preserved recumbent stone circles, dating back over 4,000 years to the late Neolithic or early Bronze Age. This ancient monument consists of a distinctive recumbent stone flanked by two tall standing stones, with a nearly perfect ring of smaller stones encircling them.
Inverurie’s the Bass & Symbol Stones
The Bass offers a layered historical experience—from organic mound to medieval stronghold—while the Pictish stones bring an even deeper, artistic connection to Scotland’s early medieval past. The Bass (Motte & Bailey) is a natural mound about 15 m (50 ft) high, scarped into a classic medieval motte in the 12th century by the Earls of Garioch, with the adjoining “Little Bass” forming the bailey. There are four Class I Pictish stones now sheltered in a glass case between the Bass and Little Bass.
Dyce Symbol Stones
The Dyce Symbol Stones are two remarkable Pictish stones located in the old churchyard of St. Fergus’ Chapel in Dyce, near Aberdeen. Dating back to around the 6th to 8th centuries, these stones feature intricate carvings that are characteristic of Pictish artistry, including symbols such as a mirror and comb, a double-disc, a crescent, and unique animal figures.
