The oaks are real and among the oldest trees in Scotland, and heritage writers describe individual trees as some 700 to 800 years old, although tree-ring dating has been reported to place them in the 15th century. The planting story is a folk explanation that ties the trees to a famous date. The park is now a country park with a visitor centre near Hamilton.
Folklore & legend
The Cadzow Oaks and the Slowest Crop
Cadzow Oaks, Chatelherault Country Park, Hamilton
Legend set in 1314
Chatelherault Country Park is open to walkers. Opening times of the visitor centre vary.
- Evidence
- Long-standing local tradition
- Access
- Open ground
- Location
- 55.752, -4.012 (Parish-level only, treat as an area)
Sources: The Scotsman, "Oaks rooted in 700 years of Scots history" [other]; Cadzow family history, "The coming of the Hamiltons" [other]
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