
From St Clements Church, Rodel.
From St Clements Church, Rodel.
From beneath the eastern wall.
Looking back north.
From the southernmost tip looking back.
Looking back along the eastern defences.
The southernmost tip of the fort, bad erosion has occurred.
South east tip of the walls, St Clements Church sneaking into the background.
The remains of the wall on the western side.
The front door.
The north east tip of the fort.
Defences on the east.
This near the front door looking west.
Note the remnants of defences on the top of the cliffs, eastern side.
This from the north, natural harbour both sides.
The fort is the bit at the end.
From the north east.
After the stunning day at St Kilda and, for me, life changing events a next day early morning walk was required. The walk to Dun Stuaidh was perfect for the job, so I set of in the drizzle which soon turned into a beautiful Harris morning.
From our chalet I walked south towards St Clements Church taking the first tarred road heading south west. This crosses over a causeway/reservoir with beautiful views looking back north up the Abhainn Thorro Burn and the Rodel Valley.
As the road reaches the west end of the reservoir go onto the track which heads uphill to give glorious early morning views of Loch Roghadail, St Clements Church, Rodelpark Dun and the islands to the south. The track follows the coastline looking down onto the fort. Follow this until a dry stane dyke heads south, follow this downhill to the shore. All sorts of very old fishing boat material, long deserted houses and enclosures can be seen. In the bay can be seen several very expensive yachts.
The fort and its front door is straight south. A short climb through ancient walls leads to the northern end of this spectacular site. Erosion has played a big part in the forts history but there is plenty left to admire. Walls, especially on the eastern side, surround the fort. The western side is greatly eroded whilst to the south the fort is almost completely gone. Only a small finger of land, no more than a foot wide remains, with no one watching it is much easier to take chances so I walked to the end to get pictures looking back north. The northern defences still survive if somewhat crumbled. Near the entrance are a couple of enclosures. It appears to me that the sea doesn’t seem to be affecting this area quite so much as grass and weeds appear to be fighting back on the low lying area just to the north of the fort.
A beautiful start to another wonderful day which would include Luskentyre Bay and the walking of ‘The Coffin Road’.
Visited 3/8/2017.