Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

Gowan Hill

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

GOWAN HILL (J4x32) 4C set Norma MacLeod Stirling at 90
2s and 3s start on opposite sides

1- 4 1s cross down RH while 4s cross up (2s/3s step down/up), 1s+4s change places LH on sides
5- 8 4s dance ½ Fig of 8 up round 2s while 1s dance ½ Fig of 8 down round 3s. (2)41(3)
9-16 4s+1s (middle couple) set and dance ½ RH across; 2s+1s (at top) and 4s+3s (at bottom) set and dance ½ LH across. 1234
17-24 All dance reels of 4 on sides (1s+2s and 3s+4s pass LSh to start)
25-28 1s and 4s cross RH with partner, 1s+2s and 3s+4s change places LH on sides
29-32 2s (top) and 3s (bottom) turn partner RH while 1s+4s turn 1½ RH on sides. 2(4)(1)3

(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)


Gowan Hill 4x32 Jig Norma MacLeod 2016, Published In "Stirling at 90".
2s and 3s start on opposite sides

1-8 1s+4s cross up/down RH to 2nd/3rd place while 2s+3s step to ends,1L+4L also 1M 4M change LH on the sides and dance ½ Fig of 8 round end couples
9-16 4s+1s set, RH across halfway, 2s+1s also 4s+3s set, LH across halfway. (1,2,3,4)
17-24 All dance left shoulder reels of 4 on sides
25-32 1s+4s cross RH, 1s+2s also 3s+4s change LH, 1L+4L also 1M+4M turn RH 1½ times while 2s+3s turn RH (2,4,1,3)

(Dance crib compiled by the deviser, Norma MacLeod, 2016)


Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams


Dance Instruction Videos

Gowan Hill - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction Video

Dance Information

Gowan Hill (locally known as "The Gownie") covers about ten acres between Stirling Castle and the River Forth. It is one of Stirling's largest public parks.

Gowan Hill is an area of great historical and ecological interest, as well as affording great views towards the Wallace Monument, Dumyat and the Ochils.

Gowan Hill park includes two distinct hills, Gowan Hill (the larger) and the smaller Mote Hill which overlooks the river.

The Mote Hill (once the site of an Iron Age hill fort) is also known as the Heiding Hill, or Beheading Hill. In the 15th century, public executions were carried out here (the most well-known being the 1425 execution of Murdoch Stewart, the Duke of Albany, and two of his sons, for treason).

(Dance information reproduced here with the kind permission of Norma MacLeod, president of Linlithgow Scottish Country Dance Club, 2020)

Gowan Hill - Information Video

View From Top Of Gowan Hill
View Over Stirling From The Top Of Gowan Hill


Image copyright Lairich Rig under this Creative Commons Licence 2.0.

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