Deil's Dyke, Pict's Dyke or Celt's Dyke in south-west lowland Scotland is a linear

earthwork Earthworks may refer to: Construction *Earthworks (archaeology), human-made constructions that modify the land contour *Earthworks (engineering), civil engineering works created by moving or processing quantities of soil *Earthworks (military), mi ...

that roughly follows the contours that divide upland pasture from lowland arable land, effectively acting like the head-dykes of medieval and later times although its true purpose has not been settled. The Deil's Dyke, sometimes written as 'dike', is formed from an earthen

berm A berm is a level space, shelf, or raised barrier (usually made of compacted soil) separating areas in a vertical way, especially partway up a long slope. It can serve as a terrace road, track, path, a fortification line, a border/ separation ...

of rounded form that varies from 2.0-4.0m wide and a maximum of 0.7m high sometimes having a stone core. Where a fosse accompanies the bank it is usually an inconsequential 0.5m or so in width on average and around 0.4m deep, more often located on the uphill or outfield side. As a defensive structure the dyke has no obvious military value and its erratic route militates against it being a practical political boundary.

Location

The earthwork is not continuous however it is generally regarded as running from east of

Afton Water The River Afton (or Afton Water) is a small river in Ayrshire, Scotland, which flows north from Alwhat Hill in the Carsphairn and Scaur Hills, through Afton Reservoir and then for eight miles down Glen Afton before joining the River Nith at New ...

() near

New Cumnock New Cumnock is a town in East Ayrshire, Scotland. It expanded during the coal-mining era from the late 18th century, and mining remained its key industry until its pits were shut in the 1960s. The town is southeast of Cumnock, and east of Ayr. ...

to Burnmouth () in the parish of

Durisdeer Durisdeer is a small village in Dumfries and Galloway, south-west Scotland, and in the historic county of Dumfries-shire. It lies north of Thornhill, above the Carron Water, a tributary of the Nith. History A Roman road once passed through t ...

, having passed through the parishes of

Kirkconnel Kirkconnel ( Gaelic: ''Cille Chonaill'') is a small parish in Dumfries and Galloway, southwestern Scotland. It is located on the A76 near the head of Nithsdale. Principally it has been a sporting community. The name comes from The Church of S ...

and

Sanquhar Sanquhar ( sco, Sanchar, gd, Seanchair) is a village on the River Nith in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, north of Thornhill and west of Moffat. It is a former Royal Burgh. It is notable for its tiny post office, established in 1712 and con ...

. A detached section ran from the site of the old Durisdeer Castle to the Kirk Burn above

village, ending short of the Durisdeer Roman fortlet. The dyke follows contours that lie typically from 500 to 900 ft above sea level.

History

In 1824 the Deil’s Dyke is first recorded in print by Chalmers in his ‘Caledonia’ where he credits

Joseph Train Joseph Train (6 November 1779 – 7 December 1852) was a Scottish excise officer, antiquarian, writer and poet. He corresponded with Sir Walter Scott, and his local knowledge provided Scott with ideas for his novels. Life Train was born in 1779 at ...

, amongst others, for the description of what survived at the time and for recognising its significance, ambiguous as that remains. In 1841 a second report was published as an appendix in MacKenzie’s ‘History of Galloway’. Originally it was said to run from

Loch Ryan Loch Ryan ( gd, Loch Rìoghaine, ) is a Scottish sea loch that acts as an important natural harbour for shipping, providing calm waters for ferries operating between Scotland and Northern Ireland. The town of Stranraer is the largest settlemen ...

to the shores of the inner Solway and was a boundary between the

Pict The Picts were a group of peoples who lived in what is now northern and eastern Scotland (north of the Firth of Forth) during Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages. Where they lived and what their culture was like can be inferred from ea ...

s and the Britons of

Strathclyde Strathclyde ( in Gaelic, meaning "strath (valley) of the River Clyde") was one of nine former local government regions of Scotland created in 1975 by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and abolished in 1996 by the Local Government ...

with a defensive palisade, watchtowers and forts however this has been shown to be incorrect as a number of the linear features included were shown to be head-dykes and other unrelated landscape features. A

Dumfries and Galloway Dumfries and Galloway ( sco, Dumfries an Gallowa; gd, Dùn Phrìs is Gall-Ghaidhealaibh) is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland and is located in the western Southern Uplands. It covers the historic counties of Dumfriesshire, Ki ...

survey of 1956 proposed that the dyke runs along a 16 miles route from near Burnmouth Farm (), north of Enterkinfoot to Dalhanna Hill,

, beside the

(), south-west of

. This section is considered to have some credibility as a single structure constructed and planned through the control of a single controlling authority. Windy Gill, Water of Fail, Tarbolton

In 1981 a section was excavated and was shown to consist of an earth bank only, likely to have been constructed on one single occasion. The turves used in its construction were taken from either side giving a width of 4.5 feet (1.4m) at the base with a maximum original height estimated at around 6.5 feet (2m). although both late Iron Age and medieval dating evidence was found it was not conclusive. No one single feudal land holder is known to have controlled such a large area so its construction as an estate boundary is implausible, but a mediaeval head-dyke function or a deer hay wind function or a hunting forest demarcation fits the evidence better. It has been noted that a considerable number of similar earthworks exist in the vicinity of the dyke making interpretation a challenge. The name 'Deil's Dyke' or 'Devil's Dyke' is commonly associated in myth and legend with structures of this scale however it has also been noted that a name similar or identical to 'Deil's Dyke' can mean a 'march dyke'. Some of the gaps in the course of the dyke may be due to the historical presence of dense woodland. Areas of once extensive woodland in Nithsdale are indicated on old maps such as in the 1660s when a Cashogill Wood (sic) is recorded near

Enterkinfoot Enterkinfoot is a small village or hamlet which lies north of Thornhill on the A76 on the route to Sanquhar, in Dumfriesshire, Durisdeer Parish, in Dumfries and Galloway, south-west Scotland. Its original nucleus was the old mill with associate ...

, extending at least as far as Kilbryd Kirk (sic). The RCAHMS have mapped sections of the Deil's Dyke near

Morton Castle Morton Castle is located by an artificial loch in the hills above Nithsdale, in Dumfries and Galloway, south-west Scotland. It lies north-east of Thornhill, and once formed part of a chain of castles along the strategically important Nith Valley ...

and near

Gatelawbridge Gatelawbridge is a hamlet in the region of Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It is situated two and a half miles east of Thornhill and near the gorge Crichope Linn. The origin of the name is unknown though in the past the locals called it Gateley B ...

. In the parish of

Eskdalemuir Eskdalemuir is a civil parish and small village in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, with a population of 265.

are sections of another similar linear earthwork there known as the 'Deil's Jingle'.

Function

Local tradition states that the dyke was used to hide cattle from raiders or to interfere with raiders returning with stolen sheep, cattle, horses and other goods, delaying them long enough for pursuers to catch up with them. Glen of the Bar - geograph

In a number of places along its route it has been utilised and modified or possibly originally built as a head-dyke which physically separated the arable lower lying land from the upland pastures which were grazed by sheep and cattle which would have otherwise eaten any arable crops. The terms 'in-field' and 'out-field' are sometimes applied and both are clearly marked on the landscape as green lush vegetation on lower lying land against the more complex colours of bare rock, heather, bracken, etc. on the moors or out-fields. The development of field boundaries meant that head-dykes were no longer necessary and they fell out of use in the 18th and 19th centuries. The often erratic route may be explained by the need to enclose as much good quality arable land as possible. The dyke has also been proposed as a tribal territorial boundary or as a medieval land boundary however the irregular course of this linear feature makes this unlikely. The course of the Deil's Dyke is not noticeably associated with the many defensive features that exist in Nithsdale, such as Iron Age forts, medieval mottes, etc. although the linear earthwork near

is linked with the site of the medieval castle. The

Catrail The Catrail is a linear earthwork in Roxburghshire, southern Scotland. It runs from Robert's Linn (), a burn (stream) flowing into the Slitrig Water, westward and north-westward to the head of the Dean Burn (), a tributary of the Borthwick Water ...

Roxburghshire Roxburghshire or the County of Roxburgh ( gd, Siorrachd Rosbroig) is a historic county and registration county in the Southern Uplands of Scotland. It borders Dumfriesshire to the west, Selkirkshire and Midlothian to the north-west, and ...

, southern Scotland, has a number of similarities with the Deil's Dyke and consists of a bank and a ditch and runs for . It is considered to be a territorial land boundary dating from the

Early Middle Ages The Early Middle Ages (or early medieval period), sometimes controversially referred to as the Dark Ages, is typically regarded by historians as lasting from the late 5th or early 6th century to the 10th century. They marked the start of the M ...

and was once considered to link up with the Deil's Dyke. Some deer hay winds or elricks may have consisted of banks and ditches several kilometres long that were used to direct deer for the purpose of capture and the Deil's Dyke fits this description.History of the Parish of New Cumnock
/ref> "''Deer hunting has left physical traces on the landscape in the form of banks and dykes used either as park boundaries or for trapping the deer''".

The surveyed section of the New Cumnock to Durisdeer Parish route

In 1956 much of the route was walked and the following observations recorded - a. to : In 1985 this section had been removed by ploughing and was indistinguishable in other sections. Ardoch Farm and the A76 lie to the east. b. to : In 1978 this length consisted of a stone and earth bank, 0.5m high and 4m wide. c. : In 1978 this section had a bank that on the north or downhill side enclosed an area of rig and furrow and lies close to the Hawkcleuch Burn. d. : In 1978 modern drains obscured the junction and the bank was 0.4m hugh and 2m wide. e. to : In 1978 on the steep burn side slope the dyke was mostly obscured. f. to : The route was not possible to follow. A 230 yard gap may have existed if the OS route is ignored. g. to : In 1978 this section was hard to follow with minimal evidence. The Cowan Burn lies near by. h. : No evidence of the route remained. i. to : The Dyke ran from the Cowan Burn to the northern side of Giengenny Hill. j. to : In 1978 little of the route remained. k. to : A contemporary wall runs along the route of the Dyke. The site is close to the Glengenny Burn. l. to : Arable land is taken in here and the dyke course was rather random. m. to : In 1956 this section had no fosse, but it did have a clearly visible bank, 6 ft-9 ft thick and up to 3 ft high. n. : No sign of the dyke survived here. o. to : In 1978 This section had a clear profile, 2m wide and 0.7m high. p. to : Visible here in 1950. q. : In 1978 the course was not discernible from more recent dykes. r. : In 1956 the Dyke could be followed from the start of a sike tributary to Cubie's Cleuch. s. to : In 1978 the 2m wide bank of the dyke ran to the burn. t. to : Nothing remained of the dyke. u. to : A farm track had obscured the dyke's course. v. : The dyke is thought to have started on the left bank of the Burnsands Burn in the area of its confluence with the

River Nith The River Nith ( gd, Abhainn Nid; Common Brittonic: ''Nowios'') is a river in south-west Scotland. The Nith rises in the Carsphairn hills of East Ayrshire, more precisely between Prickeny Hill and Enoch Hill, east of Dalmellington. For the ...

Cartographic evidence and place names

In 1328 Durisdeer was recorded as ''Durrysder'' which in

Gaelic Gaelic is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". As a noun it refers to the group of languages spoken by the Gaels, or to any one of the languages individually. Gaelic languages are spoken in Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Ca ...

may derive from ''dubhros'' 'a dark wood' and ''doire'' 'an oak copse', literally the "dark wood of the oak copse." This description would be relevant in terms of the termination of a detached section of the Deil's Dyke in a wooded area. As a common place name the name 'Deil' can mean the 'Devil' who together with the semi-mythological

s were credited with building many unusual or megalithic structures; as previously stated it can also be a variant of a word meaning a march or head-dyke that divides or separate into one or more parts. The term 'Pict's Dyke' is mainly applied in the parish of

. Areas of once extensive woodland in Nithsdale indicated on old maps such as in the 1660s a Cashogill Wood (sic) is recorded near

and extended as far as Kilbryd Kirk (sic). A 'Priest Wood' is recorded on a map of 1832 lying below the old church. The March Cleugh is a small burn with a name meaning 'boundary' that flows from near Kirkbride Hill. A March House stands near the dyke at Burnmouth and the name 'Eliock' is given to the nearby wood. The word 'Elerc' in Gaelic originally meant 'ambush' and later meant a 'deer trap' described as a funnel-like defile, artificial or natural into which deer were herded so that they could be contained and then killed. The personal or place name '

Elrick Elrick ( gd, An Eilreig) is a small village on the A944 road west of the city of Aberdeen, Scotland. The name derives from a Gaelic word meaning a place where deer Deer or true deer are hoofed ruminant mammals forming the family Cerv ...

' is linked to such deer traps.Taylor, p.51 A section of the dyke here is recorded by the RCAHMS in 1920 as having a foundation of large stones that indicate a width of seven feet.

References

Bibliography and further reading

*Chalmers, George (1824). ''Caledonia: Or, An Account, Historical and Topographic, of North Britain.'' London : T. Cadell. *Gilbert, J M. (1979). ''Hunting and hunting reserves in medieval Scotland''. Edinburgh. RCAHMS Shelf Number: C.3.52.GIL *Hewison, James King (1912). ''Dumfriesshire - Cambridge County Geographies''. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press. *Jackson, Kenneth H. (1972). ''The Gaelic Notes in the Book of Deer''. London : Cambridge University Press. *RCAHMS. (1920) ''The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of Scotland. Seventh report with inventory of monuments and constructions in the county of Dumfries''. Edinburgh : HMSO. *Taylor, Simon (2009). ''Ayrshire Place-Names : a rich seam still to mine''. Ayrshire Notes. No. 38. ANHS. *Wood, Rog (2010). ''Old Sanquhar Tales - A Collection of Folklore''. Dumfries : Dumfries & Galloway Council. .

External links

Durisdeer Roman Road, Fort and the Well Path
{{DEFAULTSORT:Deil's Dyke Nithsdale History of Dumfriesshire Dumfriesshire Archaeological sites in the Scottish Borders Ancient dikes Linear earthworks