
Aerial view of Dun Vallerain from Meall na Suiramach
Aerial view of Dun Vallerain from Meall na Suiramach
West toward the Quiraing, cloud swirling around the castellated rock formations shielding the lost world of The Table from view.
Northern defences, looking west(ish).
Dun Mor (centre) ... bypassed on the way here, I subsequently discovered it is a fabulous viewpoint.
Looking down upon Loch Vallerian.
Remains of defences to NE(ish)
Southern flank... looking west(ish) across the interior of the enclosure.
Remains of defences to NE(ish)
Approaching from Dun Beag to the south... Dun Vallerian occupies the summit of the centre-right plateau. Eilean Flodigarry lies beyond.
Dun Vallerain viewed from An Digg.
Dun Vallerain viewed from the loch.
The easy eastern upper slopes of Dun Vallerain.
Walling courses at Dun Vallerain.
Part of the residual walling, five courses tall.
The grass-covered summit of Dun Vallerain.
Visited: May 21, 2017
Dun Vallerain stands atop an impressinve, steep conical hill, a little to the west of the tiny community of An Digg. About 70 metres north of the junction where the service road from the A855 enters An Digg, a good track leads west to a white-walled house.
From the start of this path, head slightly left over easy grass till you reach a gate to the moors, just to the left of the house. From here Dun Vallerain looks daunting, rising steeply to crags that gird its summit.
Here, turn to the right and follow a good path that initially heads north towards Loch Vallerain, then starts to contour leftward around the hill, finally petering out when the slope eases on the west flank of the hill. Now make your way up the final grassy incline to the fort.
There is not a great deal left in situ on Dun Vallerain: around its margins stand several short stretches of walling two to three courses high while on the east, abutting the crags, is the remains of a wall standing up to five courses tall. The summit of the hill, precipitous on most sides, is grassed over and shows little evidence of any walling.