
First sight of Dun Connavern after a northern approach from the Ben Edra Hotel.
First sight of Dun Connavern after a northern approach from the Ben Edra Hotel.
A stitched panorama of the dun’s north western profile.
The steep western prow of Dun Connavern.
Looking southwest past Dun Connavern’s southern flank towards the Trotternish mountains, with Sgurr a’Mhadaidh Ruadh (the pointy hill) prominent.
Looking over tumbled walling blocks on the dun’s northern flank towards the Cuiraing.
A section of the northern flank of Dun Connavern, including the only remaining discrete walling courses.
Looking south past the flank of Dun Connavern towards The Storr.
A close-up shot of the only remaining part of the defences, consisting of just two courses.
This is the only remaining stretch of discrete walling courses at Dun Connavern.
This is a view along the interior of Dun Connavern, looking almost due north towards the Cuiraing.
Visited: April 29, 2018
Dun Connavern sits just 2½ kilometres south—as the crow flies—of the well-known Loch Mealt Kilt Rock viewpoint.
The starting point for the one kilometre walk to Dun Connavern is from the prominent roadside sign on the A855 advertising the Ben Edra Hotel at NG 5144 6341. Here, a small section of old road near the entranceway affords a parking space (marker ‘P’).
Next, walk 50 metres north along the main road to the sign for the Taigh nam Brathrean self-catering cottage and follow the path that leads between it and the hotel to a gate (marker ‘G’).
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The path beyond this gate, though overgrown, still provides excellent walking, and continues for some 250 metres before curving left (south) for a similar distance before finally making a sharp turn to the right. From here, a prominent fence-line leads directly to Dun Connavern (marker ‘D’), first ascending a very steep but short grassy slope, 100 metres beyond which, at an altitude of 140 metres, lies the dun, on the summit of an oval rocky knoll.
Little structure remains of the encircling walls of Dun Connavern, save for a section of walling blocks, two courses high, on its northeast facing slope. But visiting the dun is greatly rewarding, its modest elevation providing unsurpassed views towards the Trotternish mountains from the Storr in the south to the Cuiraing in the north.