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Barra and Vatersay: Latest Posts

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Loch Nic Ruaidhe (Stone Fort / Dun) — Fieldnotes

Loch Nic Ruaidhe has been near the top of the places to visit list for a long long time. From Nam Bodach I headed back up to my parking place and then headed west. This proved be a slog through fairly boggy ground with dry parts every now then. Despite the fairly short distance it is an exhausting walk, it is all worth while when you reach the shores of Loch Nic Ruaidhe.

The dun is in front, despite the clouds the weather had held, it was a glorious sunny evening. Better still, the walk round the north of the loch proved to be dry. Remaining traces of built wall can be best seen on the west side, the rest has fallen but indicates that an impressive wall was here at some stage.

From my position on the north bank I could see the boulders mentioned by Canmore that could indicate a causeway. A causeway that looks like it was never completed.

Looking west the hills of Bhirisig and Corra Bhienn behind which are some of Barra's best prehistoric sites.

Making my way back I chose an alternative route nearer the River Ob, this proved equally boggy, worse was to follow as I fell down one of these holes which seem to be only wide enough for one person. A nasty scare when you end up waste deep in an ancient bog. A slow trudge back to the car where fortunately I had dry boots and clothes.

Still, a great site, stunning scenery.

Visited 13/07/2022.
drewbhoy Posted by drewbhoy
24th October 2022ce

Nam Bodach (Promontory Fort) — Fieldnotes

Plenty room to park at the entrance to some masts at Balnabodach. From here I walked back north on the A888 and headed north east to the promontory at Bodach/ Loch Ob.

For a change Brannigan, or more likely Canmore managed, to find proper grid refs.

There appears to be a wall in the north bank, and a wall to the south. Sadly ferns and other long vegetation cover the interior. Watch conditions underfoot as boulders make an excellent trip hazard.

Visited 13/07/2022.
drewbhoy Posted by drewbhoy
24th October 2022ce

Dun Chlif (Cup Marked Stone) — Fieldnotes

On the rocks at the bottom of the dun / broch's east side there are at least 7 cup marks approximately 7cm wide by 1cm deep.

Report sent to Canmore.

Visited 13/07/2022
drewbhoy Posted by drewbhoy
24th October 2022ce

Dun Chlif (Stone Fort / Dun) — Fieldnotes

After parking at Barra (International) Airport I walked back down the road and retraced my steps back to the cairn at Suiachan, then jumped the fence and followed the coast line south. With heavy overnight rain I'd put on wellingtons and heavy duty wets to keep myself dry as the route to Suiachan had long grass. This proved to be a slice of good fortune as when I reached Dun Chlif the tide was still high. It didn't stop me, I waded across onto the island dun.

Another of these possible dun or brochs, I thought the walls wide enough for a broch but the location maybe to small. It is impressive and with a carnyx, Iron Age wind instrument, shaped stick stuck in the middle making the the site feels old. However, it was a long way from being isolated as cairns to the north and south prove.

On leaving something caught my eye, cup marks.

Visited 13/07/2022
drewbhoy Posted by drewbhoy
24th October 2022ce

Eoligarry (Cairn(s)) — Fieldnotes

A couple of days before I parked in the same place, on that occasion to walk south to climb up to Dun Sgurabhal, which confusingly isn't on the hill of the same name. On the north side of Beinn Sgurabhal there is a small cairn with stunning views. From my parking place I jumped the gate and climbed Beinn Sgurabhal accompanied by several very polite cows and squally showers.

Immediately north is the island of Fiaraigh, and further North East - Eriskay and South Uist.

The cairn is suffering with erosion caused by high winds, torrential rain and various cows. A kerb remains on the north side, however some stones have fallen down the rock plate immediately in front. What remains is over 4m wide and stands at 0.5m high.

Time and nature might reclaim this site but at the moment it has stunning views.

Lovely.

Visited 12/07/2022.
drewbhoy Posted by drewbhoy
9th October 2022ce

Dun Ban (Promontory Fort) — Fieldnotes

We parked at Tangasdale and followed the Hebridean Way, west, heading towards the coast and dunes. Following various marker posts we headed south via various inlets and very odd rock placements, oddly not noted by Brannigan etc. Other rock settings they did note, once again where not found.

Still Dun Ban is a fantastic site, it probably is a promontory fort, once again it could be described as broch, the walls are wide enough, in parts still in good condition.

We had the good weather, which luckily had accompanied us on the days before and after.

On returning to the car we walked up to Loch Tangasdale to have a look at Castle Sinclair / Dun Mhic Leoid, a tower built on top of an island. Sadly no dun or crannog, no sign of a chamber cairn also despite a good look.

Visited 12/07/2022.
drewbhoy Posted by drewbhoy
5th October 2022ce

Breibhig (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Fieldnotes

Heading south from Bruernish, on the A888, I parked just beyond the junction to the houses of Breibhig near quite a severe corner. People have used this space to head south west on a small track that leads straight to the stones, one up and one down.

One of the best settings for views east, back then and more recently as the concrete block shelter proves.

Once again I provided a masterclass of being unable to find invisible sites, including a supposed stone circle, a case of Canmore's favourite phrase 'no trace'.

Still the standing stones and scenery make it all worthwhile.

Visited 12/07/2022.
drewbhoy Posted by drewbhoy
5th October 2022ce

Borve Valley 2 (Kerbed Cairn) — Fieldnotes

Slightly wider than it's near neighbour this site sits at 9m wide and is 0.7m in height. There is a kerb on the south east.

Now another nearby cairn could not be found as the jinx of Brannigan and co re-appeared. The mound to the north east could also not be found in a masterclass of not finding the invisible sites. This had already happened a few times and I can guarantee that this wouldn't be the last hunt for the invisible.

Still we headed up Beinn Mhartainn, by which time the weather had cleared.

Visited 11/07/2022.
drewbhoy Posted by drewbhoy
4th October 2022ce

Borve Valley (Cairn(s)) — Fieldnotes

From Taigh Talamhanta we headed back west via the fallen standing stone and Dun Bharpa to visit the first of two cairns, I could find, near the track/fence south of massive chamber cairn.

The grass covered site is 8m wide and in parts 1m high. Interestingly it appears to have a double kerb on the south side. Infuriatingly someone plonked a fence on the site's south east.

Not the biggest site in the area, but another indicator that this was perhaps used as a path to and from both sides of Barra.

Visited 11/07/2022.
drewbhoy Posted by drewbhoy
4th October 2022ce

Tigh Talamhanta (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) — Fieldnotes

Like the T's I found this is a hard place to describe and at the same time found it to be reasonably similar to nearby Balnacraig or Aird Veenish - multi purpose and oft used sites.

We came down the hill from Dun Bharpa were it was almost dry, trying to find a place to cross the marsh to Talamhanta proved a difficult task. Eventually we found a place we could get across and jumped a stream which thanks to the previous nights rain had grown a bit larger in size. The dog was delighted to have a paddle ;-)

Traces of roundhouse, wheelhouse, souterrain, enclosure everywhere. I had read about this place but that made it even more confusing.

Now if the place was to get a good excavation and allowed onlookers I'd be straight over. Great views north and east.

Confusing and interesting at the same time.

Visited 11/07/2022.
drewbhoy Posted by drewbhoy
4th October 2022ce
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