Dalnaneun Farm, Loch Nell

Also known as:
Dalineun, Loch Nell South and Tomb of the Finn
Nearest town:
Oban (4km NW)
OS reference:
NM880267
OS sheet:
49
Latitude:
56° 23' 5.59 N
Longitude:
5° 26' 4.27 W
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Dalnaneun Farm, Loch Nell

drewbhoy
drewbhoy Jul 24, 2022
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From the crannog I headed west, near the first passing place (there is a submerged crannog just to the north) there is a gate that leads north west straight to the chamber cairn, on this occasion surprisingly dry ground. The massive capstone can be seen from the road.

With the night getting darker, a mist was slowly appearing and the whole atmosphere was beginning to change, Loch Nell’s water turning grey giving an another shade. Mr G mentions in his notes that colour plays a big part here, he’s right, on this occasion it was the reduction in colour as dusk falls.

What appeared to be a cist, perhaps the cist 2m from the chamber?, caught my eye, so did the Serpent Mound and another couple of cairns. However they will be visited next time.

It would be a long trudge /squelch back to the car, I’d completely forgotten that was miles away. However, that was a good thing as I saw the sites I’d visited earlier. I also saw some Highland Coos and their friends who still be appeared to be laughing!

Visited 08/07/2022.

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Dalnaneun Farm, Loch Nell

GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jun 12, 2010
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How good are the substantial remains of this lovely chambered cairn, magnificently positioned upon gently sloping ground, overlooking the southern end of Loch Nell? Perhaps my viewpoint is coloured a little too much by this majestically cloudless evening. But what rich, vibrant colours they are!

Loch Nell is a veritable megarak’s paradise, not only bearing two, clearly identifiable crannogs – those mysterious artificial islands cloaked in folklore when not in opaque vapour – but also, if I am to believe my eyes, a monument bearing comparison, albeit on a much smaller scale, to the great ‘serpent mounds’ of the USA. Can’t be, surely? Not here.

However it is this deceptively large chambered cairn, set not far from Dalineun Farm and shining like a beacon in the evening light, which is the the most obvious prehistoric monument in the locality. OK, the cairn itself is denuded, but the squat orthostats, supporting a large, attractive capstone render the chamber with an aura of subdued, understated power reminiscent, perhaps, of Lligwy in Anglesey. Unlike Lligwy, however, the chamber is too low for me to enter. But with a north-eastern aspect such as this, the only proper place to be is upon the capstone, surely?

The capstone is just about visible from the loch-side road and barbed wire fence. The obvious parking space was unfortunately occupied by some bull-necked muppet who appeared to take umbrage at the sight of my shades/beard/foreign legion hat ensemble. Perhaps he was a fashion designer? Sorry mate, I’m beyond help in that department. I therefore asked a bloke mowing grass beside nearby buildings, who was only too happy to calm any misgivings I had of parking in an official ‘passing space’ and bunking the barbed wire. ‘Don’t forget the Serpent Mound, too’, says he. I check the map. I had. Thanks to him, I didn’t.

The shadows grow longer and I really must go. But not before a quick visit to the Serpent Mound to the north.

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Dalnaneun Farm, Loch Nell

hamish
hamish Nov 10, 2003
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I was on my way to Strotoiller when I spotted this near Dalnaneun Farm. The chamber and capstone are completely exposed and not much of the original cairn is left. It is interesting to see the construction of one of these cairns. Well worth a visit. Lots of places to pull in and the barbed wire fence is just below crotch height so not too difficult to manage if you are of average height.

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Sites within 20km of Dalnaneun Farm, Loch Nell

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