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Ardestie Earth House

Off the B962 to Monikie, Angus
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Open all year round
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Explore an ancient underground passage and trace the remains of long-abandoned buildings at earth house, or souterrain.

Ardestie is an example of an earth house or souterrain, ancient underground structures common to the British Isles and Brittany.

Ardestie Earth House was likely built in the first two centuries AD, and is in a remarkable state of completeness – both in terms of the earth house itself, and the complex of buildings at ground level.

Ground-level view of the stone-lined remains of Ardestie Earth House, showing curved walls forming the outline of the ancient underground passage set within a grassy enclosure. Beyond the site, wide ploughed fields stretch into the distance, with green rolling hills and scattered trees under a bright blue sky.
View of the interior remains of Ardestie Earth House, showing a ring of large, irregular stones forming the outline of a circular chamber in the grass. A curving dry‑stone passage extends from the chamber to the right, with neatly stacked stones lining the walkway. Beyond the enclosure, ploughed fields and green rolling hills stretch into the distance under a bright blue sky.
Close-up view inside Ardestie Earth House, showing a narrow passage lined with stacked dry‑stone walls. Large upright stones form the lower course, with smaller, irregular stones built above them. The floor is covered with loose gravel, and the walls curve gently under a bright blue sky.

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