Scheduled Monument

Ernespie, remains of stone circle 200m E of Erne Hill, Castle DouglasSM1011

Status: Designated

Documents

Where documents include maps, the use of this data is subject to terms and conditions (https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/termsandconditions).

The legal document available for download below constitutes the formal designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The additional details provided on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not form part of the designation. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within this additional information.

Summary

Date Added
06/02/1928
Last Date Amended
14/11/1995
Type
Prehistoric ritual and funerary: stone circle or ring
Local Authority
Dumfries And Galloway
Parish
Kelton
NGR
NX 77475 63204
Coordinates
277475, 563204

Description

The monument consists of the two surviving stones, and the site of the remainder of, a prehistoric stone circle.

The two stones are each about 1.5m high, and stand 2.1m apart. The E stone is triangular in section, the other being four-sided. Although there is no written description of the circle when complete, its former existence is attested by persistent local tradition.

The area to be scheduled is a circle centred on the two surviving stones and measuring 25m across, to include the visible stones and the site of those now removed, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a remnant of a stone circle which, although reduced, may retain important information about its construction, plan and use, shedding light on prehistoric ritual beliefs. Evidence from other sites in the region, notably at Park of Tongland, indicates that good preservation of archaeological evidence can occur around such reduced stone circles.

References

Bibliography

The monument is recorded in the RCAHMS as NX 76 SE 15.

About Scheduled Monuments

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Scheduling is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for monuments and archaeological sites of national importance as set out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

We schedule sites and monuments that are found to be of national importance using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Scheduled monument records provide an indication of the national importance of the scheduled monument which has been identified by the description and map. The description and map (see ‘legal documents’ above) showing the scheduled area is the designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The statement of national importance and additional information provided are supplementary and provided for general information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within the statement of national importance or additional information. These records are not definitive historical or archaeological accounts or a complete description of the monument(s).

The format of scheduled monument records has changed over time. Earlier records will usually be brief. Some information will not have been recorded and the map will not be to current standards. Even if what is described and what is mapped has changed, the monument is still scheduled.

Scheduled monument consent is required to carry out certain work, including repairs, to scheduled monuments. Applications for scheduled monument consent are made to us. We are happy to discuss your proposals with you before you apply and we do not charge for advice or consent. More information about consent and how to apply for it can be found on our website at www.historicenvironment.scot.

Find out more about scheduling and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

Images

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Printed: 19/10/2026 15:05