#abernethy

Castlelaw Hillfort and Abernethy Round Tower

We visited the picturesque village of Abernethy recently, for yet another hillfort tour. The sun was already quite warm and you could see many telltale signs of Spring. The hillfort, which thrones above Abernethy, is known as ‘Castlelaw’ and was founded by a Pictish king ‘Nechtan, son of Wirp’, according to the Pictish Chronicle. It was excavated at the end of the 19th Century, as well as, 2017. The items found were of Neolithic and Iron Age origin, among them a quernstone used for milling grain and a crucible for pouring molten metal. 

We also went to see the Round Tower of Abernethy. We already had been up on top during an Open Doors Day tour. The tower is one of only 2 Irish-style round towers found in Scotland, the other one being in Brechin. It was likely built around 1100 and served to protect villagers from Viking or bandit raids. Later it was used as a bell tower for the local church. The treaty of Abernethy was signed near this spot in 1072, after William the Conqueror defeated Malcolm III of Scotland in battle, acknowledging William as the overlord. Malcolm was no other than the one to defeat and kill Macbeth, avenging the death of his father at the hands of Macbeth.