Tread the track of the Neolithic

Cleaven Dyke, Meikleour, Perth and Kinross

Hidden away in woodland near the Perthshire village of Meikleour, the Cleaven Dyke is a vast prehistoric earthwork stretching over a mile and a half in length. Its origins and purpose, however, remain something of a mystery and despite undoubted historical significance, it is overlooked by many visitors to the area whose attention is grabbed by the famous record-breaking Meikleour Beech Hedge.

Originally thought to be a Roman defensive structure, due to the proximity of a legionary fortress at Inchtuthil, near Spittalfield, a few miles to the west, and a signal station at Black Hill, to the south, carbon dating by archaeologists revealed the dyke was actually much older, dating from the Neolithic period.

Straight as a runway and cutting diagonally through a broad clearing in the north and south plantations of Meikleour Woods, it was built as two parallel ditches with a raised bank between them.

Why? No one knows, but the huge scale of the construction project, undertaken with the most primitive of tools, suggests the surrounding land was well populated during Neolithic times.

There are various entry points to Meikleour Woods; I started on the western fringe of North Wood, at a gate branching off the single-track road to Lethendy, just north of Meikleour.

Passing to the right of a wooden post, I hiked east along the southern edge of the plantation of tall pines, bearing left around the remains of an old fenced enclosure littered with rusty wire and metal to reach a crossroads of tracks.

Here, I turned south, the trail running parallel with, although straying away from, the western periphery of the woodland, the pair reconvening at Carsie Road, a long-established byway linking Meikleour with Carsie, a hamlet on the outskirts of Blairgowrie.

Crossing the old road, I delved into South Wood, the path continuing along the boundary of the forest initially before curving gently east towards the A93, the rush of traffic reverberating through the trees.

The highway slices the Cleaven Dyke in half, as does the trail I was following.

To my right, across the A93, the southern portion extends for a way through the forest before petering out, ploughed up and lost beneath arable land.

It is believed it may have stretched as far as the River Isla, perhaps beyond.

A path branching left tempted me to join the dyke here but, enjoying the sheltered woodland wander, I pressed on ahead, looping through South Wood to pick it up from Carsie Road, which separates South Wood from North Wood.

Obvious from the air, there is no doubting the Cleaven Dyke’s presence on the ground, the low, grassy embankment bristling with broom and heather, a path, as straight as the monument itself, leading along the left flank.

At more than 50 metres in width, it cuts a broad swathe through the forest and, with views north towards distant Benachally, I savoured the open aspect before finally leaving the dyke and dipping back into the trees, blossoming snowdrops concealed in woody hollows a more delicate treat on the return to Meikleour.

ROUTE

1. Go through gate and progress straight ahead along southern edge of North Wood. Bear left around old fenced enclosure to reach junction.

2. Turn right and follow path southeast, bearing right at next junction to reach junction with Carsie Road by gate and bench.

3. Cross track and continue straight ahead, past waymarker post, initially along western edge of plantation. The path soon curves left towards A93 then runs parallel with road, crossing Cleaven Dyke to reach gate and track.

4. Cross track and continue straight ahead, the path soon curving left to reach junction below power line.

5. Go left along Carsie Road path. Ignore paths branching left then right and continue ahead to Cleaven Dyke.

6. Turn right and follow path northwest along line of dyke.

7. Where trail forks, bear left on main path, crossing ditch and entering forest to reach crossroads. Continue straight ahead to western edge of forest.

8. Turn left and follow path running parallel with minor road back to start.

Pictures: James Carron. Clockwise from top: Snowdrops concealed in woody hollows; trail through North Wood; and forest bordering field near Meikleour.