Vol 17 - Dumfriesshire & Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian ...

ExcevnrroNs AT ENocn CasruB. 3l
as he states, of the castle mound.*
I imagine that the true
explanation of this trench is as a defensive measure against
attack from the southermost mound, which probably offered
an easy slope to the central mound or early mote.
On the east the three mounds fall rapidly some 7o f.eet
to the ll.iver Carron, which tnakes the site easily defensible
on that side. The west of the present forecourt is only
about six feet above the modern road, but the same side of
the castle mound varies from zo f.eet at the north end to
about Zo feet at the south-west corner, where it drops
abruptly to the Collium Burn. Apart from the 5o yards of
the west face of the forecourt, then, the mounds are nowhere
less than zo f"eet high and precipitously steep, and the site is
thus exceedingly strong and easily defended.
I am indebteci
to \'{r R. C. Reid for a very likely suggesti'on as to the
defences