Scheduled Monument

Huly Hill, cairn & stone circle SW of Newbridge roundaboutSM1160

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
31/01/1931
Last Date Amended
06/12/2005
Type
Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain); stone circle or ring
Local Authority
Edinburgh
Parish
Kirkliston
NGR
NT 12335 72598
Coordinates
312335, 672598

Description

The monument consists of a large central cairn surrounded by three surviving standing stones of a probable stone circle. It was originally scheduled in 1931 and is being rescheduled in order to clarify the extent of the scheduled area.

The cairn is c3m high and c30m in diameter and is surrounded by a modern stone retaining wall c0.75m high. The cairn is grassed over. It was reportedly opened in 1830 where a bronze spearhead or dagger was found together with small fragments of bone.

The NW standing stone is c1.9m high and c0.8m wide in the middle, tapering towards the top. The stone is irregular in shape. The S stone is c1.8m high x 0.8m x 0.5m and is quite regular in shape. The third stone at the NE is c1m high x 0.5m wide at maximum and is irregular in shape on one side. The three standing stones are linked by a modern tarmac path and are surrounded by small plinths of grass.

The area to be scheduled is irregular in plan with maximum dimensions of 154m N-S by 172m E-W. The property boundaries to N, E and S are specifically excluded from the scheduling.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to our understanding of prehistoric ritual and funerary practices. It is part of a larger ceremonial complex, with an outlier (scheduled separately to the east), of a kind unusual in southern Scotland.

References

Bibliography

The monument is recorded by RCAHMS as NT17SW8.

References:

Anderson J 1878c, 'NOTES ON THE CHARACTER AND CONTENTS OF A LARGE SEPULCHRAL CAIRN OF THE BRONZE AGE AT COLLESSIE, FIFE, EXCAVATED BY WILLIAM WALLACE, ESQ., OF NEWTON OF COLLESSIE, IN AUGUST 1876 AND 1877', Proc Soc Antiq Scot 12, 449-50.

Baldwin J R 1985, EXPLORING SCOTLAND'S HERITAGE: LOTHIAN AND THE BORDERS, Exploring Scotland's Heritage series, Edinburgh, 161, No. 97.

Baldwin J 1997, EXPLORING SCOTLAND'S HERITAGE: LOTHIAN AND THE BORDERS, Exploring Scotland's Heritage series, Edinburgh, 202, 2nd.

Childe V G 1935a, THE PREHISTORY OF SCOTLAND, London, 111-12.

Coles F R 1903b, 'NOTICES OF (1) THE CAMP AT MONTGOLDRUM ... IN KINCARDINESHIRE; (2) A STONE CIRCLE CALLED THE HARESTONES IN PEEBLESSHIRE; (3) A CAIRN AND STANDING STONES AT OLD LISTON, AND OTHER STANDING STONES IN MIDLOTHIAN AND FIFE; (4) OF SOME HITHERTO UNDESCRIBED CUP AND RING-MARKED STONES; AND (5) RECENT DISCOVERIES OF URNS', OF URNS', Proc Soc Antiq Scot 37, 201-4.

Fyfe W W 1852, GUIDES TO THE SCOTTISH WATERING PLACES OR SUMMER LIFE ON LAND AND WATER, NO 1: SOUTH QUEENSFERRY, HOPETOUN AND FIRTH OF FORTH, WEST OF EDINBURGH, Edinburgh, 198.

Ordnance Survey (Name Book), ORIGINAL NAME BOOKS OF THE ORDNANCE SURVEY, Book No. 10, 11-12.

OSA 1791-9, THE STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF SCOTLAND, DRAWN UP FROM THE COMMUNICATIONS OF THE MINISTERS OF THE DIFFERENT PARISHES, Sinclair, J (Sir), Edinburgh, Vol. 10, 68-9.

RCAHMS 1929, TENTH REPORT WITH INVENTORY OF MONUMENTS AND CONSTRUCTIONS IN THE COUNTIES OF MIDLOTHIAN AND WEST LOTHIAN, Edinburgh, HMSO, 95, No.131.

Ritchie J N G and Ritchie A 1972, EDINBURGH AND SOUTH-EAST SCOTLAND, Regional archaeologies series, London, 82-3.

Smith J A 1875a, 'NOTES OF ROCK SCULPTURINGS OF CUPS AND CONCENTRIC RINGS, AND "THE WITCHES' STONE" ON TORMAIN HILL; ALSO SOME EARLY REMAINS ON THE KAIMES HILL, ETC., NEAR RATHO, EDINBURGHSHIRE', Proc Soc Antiq Scot 10, 151.

Wilson D 1863b, PREHISTORIC ANNALS OF SCOTLAND, 2v, London, Vol. 1, 81, 2nd.

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.

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Printed: 25/07/2025 03:40