Arkley, S. L. B., Browne, M. A. E., Albornoz-Parra, L. J. and Barron, H. F. 2011. East Dumbartonshire Geodiversity Audit. British Geological Survey Open Report, OR/09/19. 265pp.
EDC 15: Gallow Hill, Milton of Campsie
Grid reference:
Site type: Natural landform
Site ownership: Not known
Current use: Agricultural land
Field surveyor: Sarah Arkley & Luis Albornoz-Parra
Current geological designations: None
Date visited: 10th March 2009
Site map
Summary description
Gallow Hill is a mound of sand and gravel, surrounded by the flood plain of the Glazert Water, the present river course includes a meander within the site.
The ice-contact sand and gravel deposits, from the last glaciation, have been assigned to the Broomhouse Sand and Gravel Formation. The alluvium of the Glazert Water could be assigned to either the Kelvin Formation or Law Formation.
The sand and gravel mound forming Gallow Hill is thought to have ice-contact, glaciofluvial origins due to its 'moundy' nature. However the RIGS site list records the site as 'terminal moraine'. The mound is approximately 300 m x 150 m and up to 10 m high, no exposures of the deposits were found.
The Glazert Water flows immediately to the south of Gallow Hill and its wide flat floodplain surrounds the mound, suggesting that in times of flood the mound would become an island. The resulting fertile land is currently used for grazing livestock. A 'point bar', located on the inside of the river meander, is composed of cobbles, indicating a fairly high energy flow. There is a 'river cliff' at the other side on the outside of the meander. Cobbles on the point bar show imbrication, there are lithologies of various origins, most are subrounded and range from 3–20 cm in diameter, although the largest can reach 75 cm.
However, this sand and gravel mound also has a darker side to it; historical references refer to an event in 1639 when Lord Kilsyth hanged one of his servants here, and is presumably where Gallow Hill acquired its name.
EDC 15: Stratigraphy and rock types
Age: Holocene Formation: Kelvin Formation or Law Formation
Rock type: Alluvial deposits: clay, silt, sand and gravel
Age: Quaternary Formation: Broomhouse Sand and Gravel Formation
Rock type: Glaciofluvial deposits: sand and gravel
Assessment of site value
Access and safety
Aspect/Description
Road access and parking Restricted parking space N of hill on main road with possibly more spaces at Lennoxlea Farm, south of Hill but then access will involve a longer walk as bridge does not exist any more between farm and site. Both rough and good tracks surrounding area. Minor rubbish along river banks.
Safety of access Public footpaths, farm tracks and farmland Safety of exposure Care should be taken at river edge Permission to visit No permission sought
Current condition Good, best definition seen when crops are very young or fields are ploughed, currently grassed.
Current conflicting activities Ploughing will over time 'smooth out' the feature
Restricting conditions Time of year – crop height
Nature of exposure Natural landform
Culture, heritage & economic
Historic, archaeological & literary associations None know (?origin of the name). Rating: 0.
Aesthetic landscape Farmland, good views to the Kilsyth Hills to the north. Rating: 3.
History of earth sciences None known. Rating: 0.
Economic geology None recorded. Rating: 0.
EDC 15: Geoscientific merit
Total Geoscientific merit score 16
Current site value
Community Public track along the dismantled railway to the north of site, 10 gets regular use by dog-walkers, joggers, etc.. Rating: 10.
Education Not very impressive site but displays features important to the 3 local post-glacial history. Rating: 3.
Fragility and potential use of the site
Fragility Development. Potential resource of sand and gravel.
Potential use School
Geodiversity value
The site displays 'hummocky' ground, composed of sand and gravel deposits, and formed in an ice-contact environment during the last glaciation. The site is further enhanced by the modern river features produced by the Glazert Water adjacent to Gallow Hill. Rating: 3.