Bennachie
Encyclopedia
Bennachie is a range of hills in Aberdeenshire, Scotland
. It has several tops, the highest of which, Oxen Craig, has a height of 528 m (1733 feet). Though not particularly high, even compared to other peaks within Scotland, the mountain is very prominent, owing to its isolation and the relative flatness of the surrounding terrain, and dominates the skyline from several viewpoints.
The most prominent peak, Mither Tap (518 m, 1699 feet) provides good views of the county to the north and east. Most of the tops lie along an east / west ridge
, with the exception of Millstone Hill (409 m) an outlier or spur which is separated from and to the south of the main ridge. Mither Tap has an Iron Age
fort on its summit. Unlike with many other hilltop forts in the area, there are no signs of vitrification
in the stone. Bennachie is visible from a number of distant points; to the north it is visible from Longman Hill
, a point considerably to the north.
significance to the Bronze Age
people who inhabited this area. This theory is supported by the large number of standing stone
s in the surrounding area. The significance is believed to be connected to the profile of the hill, which is shaped like a female breast
, which is reflected in the name "Mither Tap" (Mother Top) and "Bennachie" (Beinn na Ciche: 'hill of the breast'). It has been suggested as a possible site of the battle of Mons Graupius.
From 1800 to 1859 common land on the east side of Bennachie was home to a community of squatters known locally as the Colony. A small number of families led a Crofting
life often doing skilled work, such as dyking and quarrying, for local landowners. After 1859 the Colony dwindled as the common land was broken up and divided amongst the local estates. However, the last of the original colonists, George Esson, lived on the hill until his death in the 1930s. Visitors to Bennachie can explore the remains of the Colony and extensive work is being done on site and amongst local parish records to determine the history of the Colonists.
. The Gordon Way
is a waymarked trail that traverses the Southern flank of Bennachie between the Visitors Centre in the East and Suie Car Park to the West. Most of the Bennachie range is owned by the Forestry Commission
, who maintain a network of paths on and around the hills, several car parks and a visitor centre which is located at the eastern foot of the range. There are several marked paths, including fairly easy ascents of Oxen Craig and Mither Tap that start from the centre.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It has several tops, the highest of which, Oxen Craig, has a height of 528 m (1733 feet). Though not particularly high, even compared to other peaks within Scotland, the mountain is very prominent, owing to its isolation and the relative flatness of the surrounding terrain, and dominates the skyline from several viewpoints.
The most prominent peak, Mither Tap (518 m, 1699 feet) provides good views of the county to the north and east. Most of the tops lie along an east / west ridge
Ridge
A ridge is a geological feature consisting of a chain of mountains or hills that form a continuous elevated crest for some distance. Ridges are usually termed hills or mountains as well, depending on size. There are several main types of ridges:...
, with the exception of Millstone Hill (409 m) an outlier or spur which is separated from and to the south of the main ridge. Mither Tap has an Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
fort on its summit. Unlike with many other hilltop forts in the area, there are no signs of vitrification
Glass transition
The liquid-glass transition is the reversible transition in amorphous materials from a hard and relatively brittle state into a molten or rubber-like state. An amorphous solid that exhibits a glass transition is called a glass...
in the stone. Bennachie is visible from a number of distant points; to the north it is visible from Longman Hill
Longman Hill
Longman Hill is a prehistoric monument in northern Aberdeenshire, Scotland near Banff Bay. Due to the low lying coastal plain characteristics, the elevation of Longman Hill affords a long distance view as far as the Moray Firth....
, a point considerably to the north.
History
Some believe that the peak had religiousReligion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
significance to the Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
people who inhabited this area. This theory is supported by the large number of standing stone
Standing stone
Standing stones, orthostats, liths, or more commonly megaliths are solitary stones set vertically in the ground and come in many different varieties....
s in the surrounding area. The significance is believed to be connected to the profile of the hill, which is shaped like a female breast
Breast
The breast is the upper ventral region of the torso of a primate, in left and right sides, which in a female contains the mammary gland that secretes milk used to feed infants.Both men and women develop breasts from the same embryological tissues...
, which is reflected in the name "Mither Tap" (Mother Top) and "Bennachie" (Beinn na Ciche: 'hill of the breast'). It has been suggested as a possible site of the battle of Mons Graupius.
From 1800 to 1859 common land on the east side of Bennachie was home to a community of squatters known locally as the Colony. A small number of families led a Crofting
Crofting
Crofting is a form of land tenure and small-scale food production unique to the Scottish Highlands, the Islands of Scotland, and formerly on the Isle of Man....
life often doing skilled work, such as dyking and quarrying, for local landowners. After 1859 the Colony dwindled as the common land was broken up and divided amongst the local estates. However, the last of the original colonists, George Esson, lived on the hill until his death in the 1930s. Visitors to Bennachie can explore the remains of the Colony and extensive work is being done on site and amongst local parish records to determine the history of the Colonists.
Ascents
The range of hills is a popular destination for walkers since it is relatively close to AberdeenAberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
. The Gordon Way
Gordon Way
The Gordon Way is a waymarked hiking trail in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It runs for through the Bennachie Forest. The route is one of series maintained by the Forestry Commission and Aberdeenshire Council.-Route:...
is a waymarked trail that traverses the Southern flank of Bennachie between the Visitors Centre in the East and Suie Car Park to the West. Most of the Bennachie range is owned by the Forestry Commission
Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. Its mission is to protect and expand Britain's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment....
, who maintain a network of paths on and around the hills, several car parks and a visitor centre which is located at the eastern foot of the range. There are several marked paths, including fairly easy ascents of Oxen Craig and Mither Tap that start from the centre.
See also
- MacaulayiteMacaulayiteMacaulayite is a red, earthy, monoclinic mineral, with the chemical formula 24Si4O432. It was discovered in the 1970s by Dr Jeff Wilson and named after the Macaulay Institute in Aberdeen, Scotland...
, a mineral known from only one place in the world, at the foot of Bennachie. - Breast shaped hillBreast shaped hillA breast-shaped hill is a mountain in the shape of a human breast. Such anthropomorphic geographic features are to be found in different places of the world and in some cultures they were revered as the attributes of the Mother Goddess, like the Paps of Anu, named after Anu, an important goddess of...
External links
- Computer-generated virtual panoramas Oxen Craig Index
- Flickr Group devoted to Bennachie photos Flickr Bennachie Group
- Forestry Commission Website for Bennachie
- Baillies of Bennachie a Bennachie Voluntary Conservation Society Baillies of Bennachie
- Stuart McHardy, The Goddess in the Landscape of Scotland