Dun Grianan

Visited: May 16, 2014

After reading what Carnmore has to say about Dun Grianan, I was in for a pleasant surprise: there was much more to see than I had imagined, with several courses of white stones forming an almost complete circle around this broch. Dun Grianan lies very close to a major tourist attraction on Skye, the Kilt Rock viewpoint beside Loch Mealt. In fact, Dun Grianin actually lies in the loch itself, on a tiny peninsula, just a one kilometre walk from the car-park (red line on map below).

To reach the broch, head left from the Staffin Museum and continue to the croft gate (3rd on the left on the Ellishadder township road) from where you can walk down to Loch Mealt. Just follow the shore to your left and you will soon emerge at the broch.

It seems amazing that the small peninsula has survived for two millennia, as the south wall of Dun Grianan stands virtually on the water line. This is a site that has clearly been neglected, but which is easily accessible and stands in a splendid location. Yes, the broch has seen better days, but just to stand inside it generates a feeling beyond description.