The Eildon Hills lie just to the south of Melrose and overlook the town and the Trimontium site at Newstead. The three peaks gave Trimontium the name. The Northern peak was the site of the largest Iron Age hill fort in Scotland, a base for the local Selgovae tribe. The highest point is 422 metres (1,385 feet). It is thought there could have been a population of up to 2000 people, making it one of the largest known in Scotland from this period.
Image shows Eildon Mid and South from Eildon North.
When the Romans built the huge fort of Trimontium they constructed a signal tower on the summit of Eildon North Hill.
It is suspected that the hill fort may have been abandoned by this time.
Today the popular St Cuthbert’s Way walking route, running from Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders to Holy Island off the coast of Northumberland in England, climbs over the ‘saddle’ of the Eildon Hills.
For more information see the Canmore site here
