The White Horse on Mormond Hill

The White Horse on Mormond Hill as seen from the distance

History of the White Horse on Mormond Hill

The white horse on Mormond Hill in Aberdeenshire can be seen for miles around. Constructed of white quartz, the horse is said to have been built by a Captain Fraser in the 1790s after the Flanders campaign. His own horse was shot from under him in battle and his sergeant offered his mount as replacement and was shot in the process. The white horse is a memorial to Sergeant Henderson.

Visiting the Horse

I have visited the horse a few times, by car a long time ago, and also on foot. It’s quite a long walk. From the village of Strichen, you head up Hospital Road and keep going. The road becomes a track which leads to fields. You cross a stile at one point. Then there’s a wee path, and it all gets rather steep.

But it’s worth it. Look at the views!

Views of Aberdeenshire.

And. of course, the horse itself:

Ear of the white horse on Mormond Hill

Folklore

According to a local saying, if you turn round three times in the horse’s eye (just visible in the lower right corner of the above photo), your wish will be granted!

The nose of the white horse on Mormond hill.
The nose.

Do be careful if walking on the hill. Parts of it are boggy, and the ground once swallowed a whole tractor.

The remains of an 18th century hunting lodge in Aberdeenshire.

The aforementioned Captain Fraser is also credited with the hunting lodge on top of the hill, now a ruin.

View from the hunting lodge on top of Mormond Hill in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
View from the lodge.

A Pirouette and a Wish

So, let’s perform a triple pirouette in the eye of the white horse as we make our wish. There’s just time for one more gaze across the countryside while we try to pinpoint which village is which… and then we head back down to earth.

Countryside views from Mormond Hill.

Naughty Contemporary Fiction

Book covers of A Dancer's Journey series by Ailish Sinclair: celebratory dance.

Scotland’s all misty lochs and magical forests and perfect boyfriends, right?

When dance student Amalphia Treadwell embarks on a secret relationship with her charismatic new teacher, she has no idea of the danger that lurks in his school in Scotland…

My dance background and love of history and spicy stories are what inspired this heady mix of contemporary romance and ballet set in a castle. Readers of my historical fiction will recognise the castle and stone circle that feature in these books.

There are no cliffhanger endings in this series; each book completes a story, but then there is more. So much more. Read all the blurbs here

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Series on Amazon worldwide

My Latest Historical Novel

From the provocative opening scene to the later dramatic and devastating events of the story, SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD is a book that will continually surprise, delight, and sometimes shock the reader. The novel features the beautiful hill of Bennachie, and the stone circles of Aberdeenshire along with the cliffs and caves of Cullykhan Bay.

“Ethereal and spellbinding….” Historical Novel Society

Review from Terry Tyler: “It’s a fabulous story, a real page-turner and so well written. It made me think about the passage and circle of time, of the constancy of the land on which we live and the transient nature of human life. Loved it.” See the whole review here.

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Read the article Aberdeenshire in Roman times takes centre stage in author’s latest book from AberdeenLive.

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ballet novel, TENDU, by Ailish Sinclair

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Writer’s Tip Jar

51 Replies to “The White Horse on Mormond Hill”

  1. I find the photo through the window of the lodge the most evocotive of all. And now I know not to go there on my tractor. You earned your ale and bread after this walk. Thanks.

  2. Oh my goodness what fabulous photos. The sweep of the white horse against the sweep of fields and patches of trees all the way to the horizon and the vast sky – you capture the beauty of the landscape wonderfully. I want to go there. A bit far from the south of England but something to aim for!

  3. I grew up in Oxfordshire – they have a white horse (at Uffington) on the side of a hill that dates back to neolithic times. I had completely forgotten about it until I read your post – I’ll have to take the kids to visit it one day.

  4. Great photos and article, thanks for the trip to the White Horse, Ailish! And…,, if you turn round three times in the horse’s eye” …WOW…its a LEGEND:)

  5. Interesting story, Ailish. I always wondered what such hillside images were made of but never really thought it was rocks!

    1. Further south they’re often carved directly into hillsides that are chalk. I think the stone construction of them is unusual.

  6. Thank you for a fun virtual vacation! You have such a great gift. I gave you a little reblog at my place because I liked your story so much and I’m a fan of your blog. I really do enjoy your posts so much.
    Happy THER’sDay #LadyPower
    XO

  7. Great article. I was trying to find out who looks after the white horse. I remember it from childhood. We were always so excited to see it. One day I must walk up to it. I didn’t realise this was the only one in Scotland (according to Wikipedia if it’s right) so special if that’s the case.

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