
The cliff-girt plateau of Dun Dearg looms prominently by the roadside, a kilometre south of Loch Mealt and the Kilt Rock viewpoint.
The cliff-girt plateau of Dun Dearg looms prominently by the roadside, a kilometre south of Loch Mealt and the Kilt Rock viewpoint.
The entranceway up easy slopes on the north of Dun Dearg.
Some of the remaining foundation stones in Dun Dearg’s western wall.
Overlooking the plateau of Dun Dearg to Kilt Rock and beyond.
Dun Dearg is a fantastic viewpoint for Kilt Rock and the basalt cliffs of the Trotternish coastline.
Visited: May 16, 2014
Just as you are approaching Loch Mealt on the A855 en route for Staffin in Trotternish, you will see an impressive, flat topped, cliff-girt plateau on the right of the road. This is the site of an Iron-Age fort, Dun Dearg. A car-park on the right, just 100 metres farther up he road facilitates easy investigation. A roadside gate near the northern end of the dun provides easy access.maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/staticmap?center=57.6,-6.1631&markers=size:mid|color:red|57.6,-6.1631&zoom=17&maptype=hybrid&size=300x200&sensor=false&key=AIzaSyCp6JckL_ykPLQNTeiT2zJYsaR9v2NDwpk" border=1 align="right" hspace=10 vspace=5>
The grassy summit of the dun measures 80 x 40 metres, and precipitous crags and cliffs fall on all sides save the north, where the entrance to the fort is to be found. There is little to seen nowadays, but remains of the footings of its western wall are still evident in places.
The best thing about Dun Dearg is that it is a fantastic viewpoint, particularly to the vertical basalt cliffs along the coastline to the north. It’s also a great starting point for coastal walking along the spectacular cliffs nearby.