Drove Hill, Campsie Fells [as described in the Ordnance Survey Book, 1854]:
“A small projecting brow on the northern ascent of ‘Lecket Hill’, having a large whinstone called the ‘Gray Stone’ near the top or brow. There is scarcely anything level between the “Gray Stone” and the extent of the flat of this object shewn by a yellow shade on the Trace. It is merely a prominent portion of the ‘Lecket Hill’, near its bottom or foot, on ascending it from the north side.”
The two shepherds, who were the sources of information on Drove Hill, continued:
“The name is taken from the Drove Road which passed it forming a very curious curve between the two ‘Drove Gates’ at the Boundary Burns of the Parish on the east and west sides, No track of this Road is to be seen between the ‘Drove Gates’, which have been written upon the authorities quoted, and which are good and well kept objects so generally known in connection with this ancient Road for Cattle from the north of Scotland to England, that the Gates ought to be shown as they are the only visible remains of the ‘Drove Road’ in Campsie Parish.”
The Drove Gates are [almost] marked on the 6″ first edition OS map:
But the gates do not appear on the 25″ first edition OS map:
Nearby there was a milestone that was marked:
I have always been fascinated by gates and gateways. It is sad that these Drove Gates do not survive, particularly as they were the final symbols of the ancient Drove Road. I do like the idea that between the gates there was a curve, even if the shepherds considered this ‘curious’.