Rubh an Dunain

Nearest town:
Mallaig (34km E)
OS reference:
NG39581597
OS sheet:
32
Latitude:
57° 9' 38.25 N
Longitude:
6° 18' 27.22 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Rubh an Dunain (Broch) by drewbhoy

Taken from the west, south of the loch after crossing the canal.

Image credit: drew/AMJ
drewbhoy
drewbhoy Aug 21, 2023
Image of Rubh an Dunain (Broch) by drewbhoy

Looking west, also the end of the Viking Canal as it reaches open water.

Image credit: drew/AMJ
drewbhoy
drewbhoy Aug 21, 2023
Image of Rubh an Dunain (Broch) by LesHamilton

Rubh an Dunain broch, defended on three sides by vertical cliffs.

Image credit: Les Hamilton
LesHamilton
LesHamilton Apr 28, 2017
Image of Rubh an Dunain (Broch) by LesHamilton

The well constructed wall that protected the promontory from the west.

Image credit: Les Hamilton
LesHamilton
LesHamilton Apr 28, 2017
Image of Rubh an Dunain (Broch) by LesHamilton

Viewed from the Rubh an Dunain broch, Loch na h-Airde and the ancient artificial channel connecting it with the sea at high tide.

Image credit: Les Hamilton
LesHamilton
LesHamilton Apr 28, 2017

Articles

Rubh an Dunain

drewbhoy
drewbhoy Nov 13, 2023

Following almost in Les’s footsteps, diversions via a cave and the dog trying to find alternative routes, we eventually made it to the superb galleried dun at Rubh an Dunain.

With A being interested in nausts, this was a superb opportunity to closely look at both, with the cairns afterwards.

The Sound of Soay, Loch Brittle, The Cuillins and Loch na H’Airde along with the island of Rum provide wonderful backdrops to this lonely, but obviously not that lonely in past times, place.

The dun is galleried within its large wall along with a door check, rivalling those near Tayvallich. Sadly erosion will play a role here and perhaps has done so in the past, any surrounding wall has gone.

Entrance to the site is via a small climb up from the Viking canal. Turn round to see the the mountains – stunning.

Visited 04/08/2023.

Rubh an Dunain

LesHamilton
LesHamilton Apr 27, 2017

Visited: May 19, 2012

The Rubh an Dunain promontory semi-broch is a classic site of its type. All that remains to be seen nowadays is a well built drystone wall, 3½ metres tall, that separates the level tip of the promontory from its hinterland. Probably walling was never required around its perimeter, as it is defended by sheer cliffs on all other sides.

You can read an extensive treatise on this site at Canmore.

To access the broch requires a delightful 5½ kilometre walk from the Glen Brittle Campsite, along the southern shore of Loch Brittle, mainly on well-defined paths. Stream crossing can be a problem in wet conditions, but on a sunny day the walk is most enjoyable.

After visiting the broch, further interest is afforded by the Chambered Cairn close to the northwest corner of Loch na h-Airde.

But the highlight of the day is certainly the return walk towards the Campsite, facing the Cuillin Mountains, surely one of the most scenic coastal excursions in Scotland.

Loch na h-Airde and the ‘Viking Canal‘
Immediately below the broch is an artificial channel 100 metres long that links Loch na h-Airde with the sea. Believed to date from the Viking era, this enabled small boats to harbour in the loch at high tide (mediaeval boat timbers were discovered on the northern edge of the loch in 2000 and 2008).

It’s a fascinating story, which is related in detail at Canmore

Further Reading

Rubh an Dunain Data Structure Report 2009

Sites within 20km of Rubh an Dunain

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