Maiden Castle

Above, the castle mound as it's seen from the coastal footpath.

Move away from the footpath toward the cliff face, looking left and toward the castle mound.

Move slightly toward the mound and the ditch can clearly be seen.

Once down in the ditch the mound looks a lot bigger and steeper. You can also see how the earth is riddled with rabbit holes.

before climbing up if you look beyond the mound and left over the cliff this is what you can see.

This is the view to your left from the very top of the castle mound, its like sitting on top of the world. The rock formation is called The Three Sisters.

I decided to stand up on top of this ancient mound turn full circle taking photos as I turned. this is the starting point. Looking inland, my back toward the castle mound  and away from the sea.

Turning a little toward the right in a clockwise direction.

A little futher to the right, the sea and the three sisters come into view again.

Turn a little more and begin looking out to sea.

And this is the North Sea in all its glory stretching out in front of the little castle mound.

Continuing to turn in a clockwise direction this is the view to the right of the mound.

Turning slightly to the right we have almost come full circle and now see the farmers fields at the back of the mound again.

Turned full circle and back to the Three sisters.

This is part of a conversation on Emmas page, I mentioned Maiden Castle and one of her friends immediaty googled it.............so;

the googled bit is from  ''Stillwandering'' (thank you) and the pictures are mine from a visit last summer. I climbed to the top of the old fort and turned full circle taking pictures as I went, you can see from these pictures what an amasing site these ancient people chose for their cliff top fort.

Stillwandering wrote on Jan 11
forgetmenot525 said

''There is a ''grassy mound'' known as Maiden Castle which is supposed to be an ancient iron age fort about 2000 years old and it sits over looking the sea on the cliff tops just outside the town (Arbroath).''

had to google it: (wrote Stillwandering)

And this is her googled findings.

Maiden Castle (Arbroath)
This promontory fort had little worry of attack on its seaward side, as it's protected by 80 foot cliffs. And on the other side, it's defended by an impressive 11m high rampart. There are several caves beneath it:
There are several caves in the rocks, along the W. between Arbroath and Auchmithy, one of which can be entered only at low water. When seals abounded on this coast, it was customary to let people down to this cave with a rope round their body, to the depth of 40 feet, with ropes of straw rolled round their legs, and bludgeons in their hands, in order to kill seals.

There is another, called the Maiden Castle cave, the entry to which is about 10 feet above high water-mark. The mason-lodge of Arbroath built a gate to it, and gave it a door many years ago. They walked in procession every year on St. John's day* from Arbroath to this cave, where they admitted new members. It is about 231 feet long, and from 10 to 24 feet broad. At the farther end there is a spring of fine water, but exceedingly cold.

Above the cave are the vestiges of a fort, about 100 feet above the level of the sea, and on the land side the remains of the fosse and rampart are still visible.

There is another cave, which appears as if it had been cut out of the face of the rock, the entry to which is about 40 feet above the sea. It is about 12 feet long, 10 broad, and 8 high. The access to it is difficult and dangerous.
This is from v12 of the Statistical Account of Scotland of the 1790s.

*This has got a curious tale as well. Because the Masons (still?) celebrate John the Evangelist's day, which is the 27th of December, and (more recently?) John the Baptist's day, which is the 24th June - that is, basically the winter and summer solstices.