Turin Hill

Rising above the Angus landscape near Forfar, this prominent Marilyn is defined by its extensive archaeological heritage and industrial past. Topped by the remains of two Iron Age forts, the grassy summit offers a clear, commanding perspective over the fertile Strathmore valley toward the distant, rugged peaks of the Angus Glens.

• •The name likely derives from the Gaelic 'torr', meaning a hill or mound, often interpreted as 'the fair hill' or 'white hill' due to the character of the stone or vegetation.
• •The summit is home to Kemp's Castle, a complex Iron Age hillfort consisting of an inner citadel and massive stone ramparts, indicating the hill's historic strategic importance.
• •Historically significant for its 'pavement' quarries, the hill produced high-quality Old Red Sandstone flagstones that were once shipped across the country for use in urban architecture.
• •The local quarries are a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to the discovery of rare Devonian fossils, including early jawless fish and prehistoric sea scorpions.
• •Despite its modest height, its isolation provides an excellent vantage point to spot the prominent Munro of Mount Keen to the north and the nearby Lunan Valley to the east.
• •Those arriving in search of a cosmopolitan Italian city will be sorely disappointed to find that the local nightlife is strictly limited to grazing livestock and the occasional geologist.