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Rispain Camp is situated in Galloway
southwest Scotland, 24 miles southeast of
Stranraer, 66 miles southwest of
Dumfries, 1 miles west of Whithorn
village off the A746. The post code link is for
Rispain Farm, where the car park is
situated.
This is another interesting attraction on
the Whithorn peninsular (the Machars). The
drive around the peninsular is about 45 miles,
a full day if visiting all the attractions.
The image top is of the path round from the
car park at Rispain Farm to the camp. The car
park in the farm yard has no signs, head north
then you will see the path leading uphill to
the camp. It is about 300 yards from the car
park to the camp.
The information board states:
This ancient monument is a spectacular example
of a fortified iron age farm. Its defenses are
so well preserved that archaeologists once
thought it to be a Roman fort or medieval
moated homestead. But recent excavations (1978
& 1981) left no doubt that it was built and
inhabited between 100BC and AD200 by local
Celtic farmers.
The name Rispain may derive from a local
equivalent of the Old Welsh word, rhwospen,
meaning the chief of the cultivated country,
which would certainly be appropriate for this
prestigious iron age farm..
The bottom image is looking east to Whithorn
village, with Rispain Farm down to the right.
This would have been a fairly impressive fort
with a wooden fence and deep ditch all
around.
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