button to main menu   West's Guide to the Lakes, 1778/1821

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Page 125:-
in full view of Blatumbulgii (Bowness) and Olenacum (old Carlisle); and commanding the whole extent of the Solway firth, would receive the first notice from any frontier station, were (sic) the Caledonians might make an attempt to cross the Firth, or had actually broken in upon the province; and notice of this might be communicated by the beacon on Caer-mot to the garrison at Keswick, by the watch on Castle-crag, in Borrowdale. The garrison at Keswick, would have the care of the beacon on the top of Skiddaw, the mountain being of the easiest access on that side. By this means, the alarm would soon become general, and the invaders be either terrified into flight, or else the whole country quickly in arms to oppose them.
Whether these camps are the Arbeia, I pretend not to say, but that they were of use to the Romans is evident; and what the Britons thought of them, is recorded in the name they have conferred on the hill where they are situated.
The larger camp has no advantage of site, and is but ill supplied with water. The ground is of a spongy nature, and retains wet long, and therefore could only be occupied in the summer months. They seem to have the same relation to old Carlisle and Keswick,
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gazetteer links
button -- (beacon, Bewaldeth and Snittlegarth)
button -- (beacon, Skiddaw)
button -- "Caer mot" -- Caermote

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