Castle Hill

Image: © Lairich Rig Taken: 7 Apr 2011

This knoll, located at the north-eastern corner of the Image, has many rock outcrops on its sides. It used to be thought (mainly on account of its name) that the hill had been the residence of King Robert the Bruce in his later years. That traditional association is no longer in favour, but it does explain the presence of Image nearby. Castle Hill gives the Castlehill area of Dumbarton its name. I took another photograph from much the same spot, less than a month later; on that occasion the hill looked considerably less bleak: Image A similar knoll not far to the west is called Image; again, see Image The name Castle Hill is an old one: a charter made in 1542 grants to Archibald Campbell, master of the King's wine-cellar, the "terras de Kirktoun de Cardros, Dalmowok, Weltoun et molendinum earundem, terras de Castelhill, Hole, et Hawthornehill, vic. Dunbertane", etc.; that is, the lands of Kirkton of Cardross, Dalmoak, Walton, and their mill, the lands of Hole and Hawthornhill in the Shire (Sheriffdom) of Dumbarton [charter #2630 in RMS Vol. 2]. "Kirkton": near Image, the ancient Cardross Parish church, in what is now Levengrove Park. "Dalmoak", "Walton", "Hawthornhill": these names (all originally of farms; see Image) are still in use, and they can be found on the map. "Hole" (sometimes "Hoill"): for Easter or Foul Hole, sometimes called Hoill of Cardross, see Image; Wester Hole was near Ardoch, and was sometimes called Hoill of Ardoch.

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