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Lynchat (Souterrain) — Fieldnotes

Next to Brochs souterrains are pretty cool (in both meanings of the word) and this one, as Rhiannon suggests is superb. We had been trying to get around to a visit for a couple of years and as the photos suggest we managed to take a peek.
I believe it is possible to walk from Kingussie but we took the lazy option and took the farm track off the A9 and parked at a place suggested by the homemade P for parking sign.
It’s a short walk following the track and across a field to the site. The souterrain is much as described, crescent shaped and quite large. Unfortunately the middle section has collapsed and been robbed away, a shame but this does permit a closer examination of the construction method.
At the time of our visit (November) the backdrop to the site was a snow covered Cairngorm, this site is well worth a look.

Lynchat (Souterrain) — Images (click to view fullsize)

<b>Lynchat</b>Posted by broch the badger<b>Lynchat</b>Posted by broch the badger<b>Lynchat</b>Posted by broch the badger<b>Lynchat</b>Posted by broch the badger

Sidhean Mor Dail A' Chaorainn (Enclosure) — Images

<b>Sidhean Mor Dail A' Chaorainn</b>Posted by broch the badger<b>Sidhean Mor Dail A' Chaorainn</b>Posted by broch the badger<b>Sidhean Mor Dail A' Chaorainn</b>Posted by broch the badger

Sidhean Mor Dail A' Chaorainn (Enclosure) — Fieldnotes

Sat at the eastern end of Glen Banchor, one of my favourite places on earth, is the delightfully named Sidhean Mor Dail A’ Chaorainn (The fairy knoll of the glen of the Rowan trees). How could you resist that?

Marked on the OS map as a fort, Canmore has it as a “Palisaded Enclosure”.
The remains of the palisade trenches are faint but visible as lumps ‘n bumps in the heather. The tennis court sized level top is featureless apart from a circular turf enclosure that Canmore ascribes no great age.

The best reason to visit this site is of course the views, which are spectacular in all directions. It’s also relatively easily to reach, just take the Glen road out of Newtonmore, there are a couple of car parks at the top of the glen. Leaving the car park continue along the road till you cross the bridge over the Allt a’ Chaorainn then turn right and follow the burn up to the site visible in front of you.

Knock and Maize (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Fieldnotes

On our return from a visit to the promontory fort “Kemp’s Wark” a couple of miles up the road, a glance at the OS map indicated a “Standing Stone” this is on the left hand side of the road as you head toward Port Patrick about 300 yards past Knock & Maize farm.

It's a delightful chunk of grey sandstone sitting quietly in the field quite close to and visible from the road, but as with all stones you have to touch!
We parked just up the small side road and climbed over the farm gate for a closer inspection.

“.....Standing stones on the vacant wine-red moor,
Hills of sheep, and the howes of the silent vanished races,
And the winds austere and pure…”

Kemp's Wark (Promontory Fort) — Fieldnotes

Not knowing whither or not it would be possible to drive down the track to the fort from the road, and be able to park, we left the car on the roadside and elected to go on foot.

As it happened, it would have been possible to park close to the base of the fort. However at the time of our visit (July 2012) some sort of civic construction project was in progress so proceed with caution.

The description of the remains I shall leave to Canmore, save to say I was impressed. For a promontory fort in this part of the country it’s big (real big) with loads of stuff to explore and on a nice sunny day well worth the walk down.

Kemp's Wark (Promontory Fort) — Images

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Knock and Maize (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Images

<b>Knock and Maize</b>Posted by broch the badger<b>Knock and Maize</b>Posted by broch the badger<b>Knock and Maize</b>Posted by broch the badger

Dun-Da-Lamh (Hillfort) — Links

Am baile


A wealth of stuff on the Highlands & Islands.

Killantringan Bay (Stone Fort / Dun) — Images

<b>Killantringan Bay</b>Posted by broch the badger<b>Killantringan Bay</b>Posted by broch the badger<b>Killantringan Bay</b>Posted by broch the badger<b>Killantringan Bay</b>Posted by broch the badger

Killantringan Bay (Stone Fort / Dun) — Fieldnotes

There is a small car park with access to the beach located just short of the Killantringan lighthouse and it is a short walk along the beach (tide permitting) to the Dun.
There isn’t a great deal of the fortification left but a couple of courses of stone on the SE side This is also the easiest way up to the level interior, there may be more masonry visible under the heavy covering of gorse but we didn’t linger to explore more than a few minutes. We had intended to continue up the coast to visit the more substantial “Kemp’s Walk” Promontory Fort. The weather however had other ideas and this was abandoned till another day!

Although not a great site it is well worth the short coastal walk to the Dun particularly along the beach, it is possible to reach the site from above along the escarpment (with care) we returned this way.

Bennen of Garvilland (Hillfort) — Fieldnotes

This site is reasonably easy to find, follow the minor road from Glenluce toward Three lochs for a couple of miles. Where on your left you will see a sign for the fort at the start of the lane to Garvilland farm. We parked prettily just off the road and walked up through the yard by the side of the farm and out onto the moor, the fort is visible as you go through the gate slightly to your right. The path is actually way marked with posts but these are not easy to see on the way, but quite obvious on the way back!!

Canmore has little to say about the site beyond describing what is visible and what is vague. Yet enough remains for the hill fort fan to explore and enjoy the views.

Bennen of Garvilland (Hillfort) — Images

<b>Bennen of Garvilland</b>Posted by broch the badger<b>Bennen of Garvilland</b>Posted by broch the badger<b>Bennen of Garvilland</b>Posted by broch the badger

Dun Grianan (Broch) — Fieldnotes

Visible from the road close to the car park for the Kilt Rock viewpoint the broch stands on a promontory at the north end of the loch. Now much reduced and largely converted into a sheep fank

Kilvaxter (Souterrain) — Fieldnotes

Sighted in the field next to the road and its own handy little car park this souterrain is well worth exploring. The site is complete with info boards explaining the souterrain itself, its discovery and excavation also its associated Round House the remains of which are close by. For the adventurous: hard hats and instructions on where to obtain a torch are available.

Kilvaxter (Souterrain) — Images

<b>Kilvaxter</b>Posted by broch the badger<b>Kilvaxter</b>Posted by broch the badger

Trusty's Hill (Hillfort) — Fieldnotes

I liked Trusty's Hill, unusually for an iron age hill-fort or any hill-fort for that matter it feels cosy. I know that sounds daft, but it does feel cosy. It doesn't take much imagination to see the original occupants of this small fort sitting quite smugly looking out at the surrounding landscape. The fort was excavated in 1960 and this revealed evidence of two periods of activity, the original Iron Age construction and later work dating to the 6th-7th centuries of poorer quality. There is not a lot to see but there are remains of an oval stone built guard hut close to the entrance and the usual ramparts and ditches to examine. As a bonus there is, close to the entrance and the guard hut, some Pictish symbols carved into a rocky outcrop. A double disc and Z rod and a beastie thing that is less distinct these are under the protection of what looks like a tank trap!

Trusty's Hill (Hillfort) — Images

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Auchindoun (Hillfort) — Fieldnotes

A bivallate Iron Age hill fort or a least that is what most authorities consider it to be, (there is some discussion as to whether it may be medieval). What is certain, is a 15th century L-plan tower house stuck in the middle of the fort which in my humble opinion doesn't detract too much from the feel of the place, in fact it gives an air of continuity to the site. It is a bit of a lonely spot, and judging by the delight of the local sheep to see visitors, doesn't receive much attention, a shame because it is no great hike from the main road.

Auchindoun (Hillfort) — Images

<b>Auchindoun</b>Posted by broch the badger<b>Auchindoun</b>Posted by broch the badger

Kildonan Bay (Stone Fort / Dun) — Images

<b>Kildonan Bay</b>Posted by broch the badger<b>Kildonan Bay</b>Posted by broch the badger

Teroy (Broch) — Images

<b>Teroy</b>Posted by broch the badger<b>Teroy</b>Posted by broch the badger<b>Teroy</b>Posted by broch the badger

Barsalloch Point (Cliff Fort) — Images

<b>Barsalloch Point</b>Posted by broch the badger<b>Barsalloch Point</b>Posted by broch the badger<b>Barsalloch Point</b>Posted by broch the badger

Dun-Da-Lamh (Hillfort) — Images

<b>Dun-Da-Lamh</b>Posted by broch the badger<b>Dun-Da-Lamh</b>Posted by broch the badger<b>Dun-Da-Lamh</b>Posted by broch the badger
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