Saddle Hill (Aberdeenshire)

Saddle Hill is a low lying mountain in eastern Aberdeenshire, Scotland within the Mounth Range of the Grampian Mountains. [United Kingdom Ordnance Survey Map Landranger 45, Stonehaven and Banchory, 1:50,000 scale, 2004] The peak elevation of this mountain is approximately 235 metres above mean sea level. This hill is immediately north of the Roman Camp of Raedykes.Archibald Watt, "Highways and Byways Round Stonehaven", Gourdas House Publishers, Aberdeen (1984)] [Hogan, C. Michael, "History of Muchalls Castle", (2005)] The major Roman Camp of Raedykes is situated about three kilometres to the west. From Saddle Hill there are expansive views to the North Sea facing east and the valley of the Burn of Monboys to the east and southeast.

Geology and hydrology

Saddle Hill is situated approximately 5.1 kilometers to the northwest of Stonehaven; surface runoff and drainage from the easternand southern slopes of Saddle Hill flow to the Burn of Monboys, a very slightly alkaline stream These low pH levels (compared to other area streams) may be caused in part by the peat drainage from the moorland on Meikle Carewe Hill and Curlethney Hill.

Prehistory

Neolithic traces of civilisation appear on the southwest flannks of the lower slopes of Saddle Hill in the form of cairns and standing stones.Archibald Watt, "Highways and Byways Round Stonehaven", Gourdas House Publishers, Aberdeen (1984)]

Wind farm proposal

Renewable Energy Resources has an application pending before the Aberdeenshire Council to create a windfarm for electrical power generation using Saddle Hill, Curlethney Hill, Meikle Carewe Hill (the two latter hills situated slightly to the west of Saddle Hill to install 12 wind turbines. Each turbine would reach a height of 70 metres above grade level, and the entire complex could generate enough power to supply the equivalent of 5000 homes. Environmental concerns over the proposal include noise pollution, visual impact [ [http://mcwag.members.beeb.net/ Meikle Carewe Windfarm Action Group website] ] and ecological disturbance.

ee also

*Fetteresso Castle
*Megray Hill

References