Not quite as remote as Carl makes out, but certainly near the end of the road. The chapel is well worth a look, near the door is a wee bullaun stone, it is about 10cm wide and 8cm deep.
No idea why Canmore don’t mention it or the spindle whorl next to it.
Good to see the old ruins of the township being renovated even if it is for holiday homes.
Visited 08/04/2024.
After visiting the cairn at Williamston / Tammieteeth I kept heading north west until a farm track that headed north east.
Jump the dyke, chances are if you jump far enough you’ll end up landing in the site. 10 stones remain, perhaps only 2 remain upright, 8 of them are taking a rest.
Nice way to finish the day.
Visited 05/01/2024.
From Ardgilzean, I headed north on the A93 taking the first minor road east at Newmiln Cottages. Take the first minor road that heads north west, go past St Martin’s Mill, look for clump with tees on top in a field to the west.
Fortunately some frost remained which made the ground easy to walk on. Unlike Ardgilzean, it hasn’t been invaded badly by field clearance. There is some, but much of the original cairn is visible.
It is 12m wide and almost 1m tall, a wall that surrounded the site is in a very ruinous condition.
With darkness on its way it was a good time to visit as the sun hadn’t vanished, instead the light seemed perfect for visiting, almost an otherworldly feel.
Visited 05/01/2024.
With night fast approaching I headed for the huge cairn at Ardgilzean. After being given permission to park I made my way, west, along the farm track. Today the cairn stands at 32m wide and is 2.5m tall (I would think they should add a meter to that. Sadly most of the visible stones are tonnes upon tonnes of field clearance. Not much of the original cairn can be seen.
The north / south east has best views of what originally stood. Future years will, no doubt, see these parts covered up as well.
Still the night hasn’t fallen completely, so a chance to visit a couple of nearby sites.
Visited 05/01/2024.
Three fallen stones, two with cup marks, make up this stone row.
The east stone has a clearly visible cup mark, the west stone has 3 well worn cup marks, and the middle stone missed out on the rock art.
Nearby woods have more cup marked rocks, another day for them.
Visited 05/01/2024.
I parked mid-way between Oliverbank and Arnbathie Cottages near a small wood. Heading straight south I jumped the fence and headed straight for site(s). A nice gentle climb.
The four poster is near a fallen stone row and consists of two larger stones and two earthfast smaller stones, along with some field clearance.
Not much to look at but the cup marks and stone row make it an interesting place to visit.
Great views to south, to north east Law Hill Fort.
Visited 05/01/2024.
Not much remains of the fort at Over Durdie but what a place it must have been if aerial photography is anything to go by.
After the misfortunes of hunting for cairns in the lower regions of Pole Hill, I headed over to Over Durdie where I was given permission to park by the owners.
From the farm I headed east, downhill then uphill via jumping a couple of fences. Not much of the ramparts remain, a broken circular rampart barely exists (bits have been ploughed out), a small patch of erosion shows some stonework, on the south the remains of a wall can be seen. The forts interior is featureless, however there are a load of sites on the other side of the River Tay that can be seen.
After the battering of gorse, furze, anything that has jabby stuff it was good to get some proper walking done.
Worth a look.
Visited 05/01/2024.
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The best preserved of the hut circles. Follow the route to Law Hill Hillfort and this will be the first hut circle seen. Walls are at least 2m wide and stand at an average height of 0.4m, many stones still sit in place, with the entrance in the north west.
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On the slopes leading to the fort, sadly has field clearance or the remains of other hut circles dumped inside. It still stands at 11m wide with walls at almost 4m wide, 0.5m tall. The probable entrance is on the east.
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The furthest north of the hut circles that I visited before darkness descended. It is almost 13m wide and has a well defined wall. What I thought might be an entrance on the west is probably recent damage.
There are a few more hut circles in the area, however by the time I reached the car it was getting dark. A good time to be heading home.
Visited 29/12/2023.
From Shien Hill I headed, west, retracing my easily found steps in the track or mudbath until I reached a track heading south. Follow this until some trees, then follow the fence heading west. A gentle climb to a small ridge gives a superb view of the hillfort plus a couple of hut circles.
I approached through the north entrance which is lined by two small dry stane dykes (the borders of the probable main entrance), cutting through several defences. 5 ramparts plus a cheveaux de frise protect the north, it being the most easiest climb. Entrances can also be found to east, west (very steep) and south. The southern entrance appears to have been quarried almost out of existence.
A 6m wide wall surrounds the hilltop, protecting the 154m by 90m site, the best remnants are on the north west.
A much easier climb than Evelick.
Visited 29/12/2023.
The Arnbathie cairn is situated on the highest point of Law Hill, which is also the highest point of the hillfort. Some stonework remains on the North East and along with, perhaps, a very earthfast sunken kerb.
At just over 7.0m wide and 0.5m tall the cairn is grass covered, superb views as the winter’s sun begins to fade.
Visited 29/12/2023.
Just north of Easthill Farm there is a track that heads east. Follow the track, sometimes mud bath, as it heads east and look for the tree covered hill to the north. Not all of the hill is tree covered, jump the fence and head north through the trees, the north side clear. Glorious views of snow covered mountains to the north. After weeks of rain and flood it’s nice to see the sun.
The cairn is huge, being 34m wide and 6m high. Something is disturbed on top, a marker or walker’s cairn. Some stones do poke through the grass / turf covered site. Canmore says it hasn’t been disturbed, long may that continue to be the case.
Lovely place, very quiet.
Visited 29/12/2023.
Pole Hill can be seen from all surrounding areas, indeed it seemed to keep an eye on me most of the day. From Evelick Hillfort I walked past the Goddens cup marked rock. There is a fence to be contested with, in the end I cheated and rolled underneath.
At 20m wide and 3m high the site has superb all round views, but appears to be built in three sections. As per usual, a trig has been plonked on top. Some stonework can be seen but short grass mainly covers the
The cairn doesn’t seem to have been damaged in any way, apart from the obvious, let’s hope it stays that way.
A stunning site.
Visited 29/12/2023.
From the cup marked rock at Goddens walk south east, you’ll walk straight into the multiple defences of Evelick Hillfort. There are 5 ramparts, some several metres in height, to climb over before getting to the centre of the fort.
Elsewhere, defences are provided by natural features and a single rampart, steep climbs are in place to the east, south and west. There are entrances on the north, a causeway type feature and in the east.
Fantastic views looking south to the multiple forts south of the River Tay in Fife, to north the large cairn on Pole Hill, the next stop.
Visited 29/12/2023.
I was allowed to park at Evelick Farm, next to Evelick Castle (scene of quite a few murders). From there I headed north west to the first gate, jumped it and headed west, climbing the fairly steep slopes of Pole Hill. Easier paths can be found at the summit of the minor road.
5 well worn cup marks are on the rock which is almost between the cairn on Pole Hill and the fort at Evelick. At certain angles they can be made out, and other angles they are barely visible. They are all about 0.65cm wide.
Visited 29/12/2023.
Follow the same directions as Mark, and stop at the same place. The way over to the cairn was kinder to me, there was hardly any seaweed and in any case I’d had my troubles for the earlier at Ardnamonie.
Unlike the previous two sites I could get to this one and there is quite a lot to see. At 20m wide, damage by both humans and erosion has led to stones falling all around the site 13 in total, some of which might be capstones. Thanks to robbing the chamber can be seen and thanks to the robbing its difficult to tell if there are three areas / compartments. Two can be certainly seen, of the third only two stones remain standing.
One of the nicest ‘what ifs’ I’ve seen.
A great way to finish the trip.
Visited 13/08/2023
Slightly to the east Ardnamonie is the much more recognisable broch Dun Buidhe. I walked along the fence line until I reached the site, the ground looked drier so I jumped the fence, walked 8 or 9 paces to end up almost waist deep in the bog.
Sadly it appears that, on drier days, it looks like the site is used as a rubbish tip. Also later buildings have been attached to site, as at Ardnamonie. Even from where I stood or sank, you could see the circular shape of a broch despite being covered vegetation.
Luckily no washer-woman was washing or drying any shrouds on my visit, so all would be fine.
Worth a (re) visit when much, much drier conditions.
Visited 11/08/2023.
From Loch an Daill we headed south on the A865 and took the first road heading west.
Similar to Loch an Daill Mary provided a parking space, or rather her shrine did, at the end of the road, or just before it headed south. From the shine I jumped the gate and headed south east, the site is easily spotted.
It has been a trip in which water levels have featured quite a bit, and this is a massive example of dropping water levels. What used to be loch has vanished and changed into a large marsh, perhaps you can get in from the south but looking at aerial photos on Canmore I’d suggest not trying.
However, I got as close as I could, before deciding it was unsafe.
What remains is a bit of a shambles, it appears to have been used for several functions, the outlines of buildings can be seen. It probably has been a cairn or a dun or a broch. Stones could easily have been recycled but as Canmore suggests a proper excavation is needed.
A bit of a what-if.
Visited 11/08/2023.
Not much to see here, look for the promontory on the north east side of the shrine beside the telegraph poles.
There is a wall amongst the tall vegetation which I found very easily by tripping over it. Further towards the shore there is the remains of another small wall before you are in the fort proper.
Worth looking at it, if looking for the dun.
Visited 11/08/2023.
If there was a causeway here, reportedly seen in 1915 but well submerged – by 2003 it had vanished. By the time of my arrival with reports of water levels being quite a bit lower it would be safe to say it might never be found.
The actual dun is still there clearly visible by looking east from the shrine at Ardmore, if heading north from Daliburgh (South Uist) its just before the causeway to Benbecula, if heading south from Benbecula park at the first shrine.
Not much remains on the ‘high crannog’ except the usual fallen stones and what appears to some kind of standing stone.
Beinn Tairbeirt and Beinn A’ Phortair provide dramatic backdrops to the south east.
Visited 11/08/2023.
The cairn at Tigh Cloiche has seen a lot of damage done to it throughout the centuries. It still stands, grass covered, at 12m wide by 1m high. Stones can be seen in the middle, first thoughts, to me, it might be remains of a cist but more likely a small shelter of some kind. The site is surrounded in fairly marshy ground. It seems Canmore can’t make their minds up also, they didn’t declare if it was Neolithic or Bronze Age, perhaps it might even be an Iron Age Wheelhouse. I’d go for a robbed Bronze Age Round Cairn, an excavation would be interesting.
To the north of the cairn there is a minor road heading east, there is plenty pull over space a short distance from the A865. Not wishing to walk down the busy road I headed cross country, straight south via some marsh and the occasional dry bit.
A but of a what if, but worth a visit to speculate.
Visited 11/08/2023.
We returned to West Loch Ollay from the standing stone at Crois Chnoca Breaca and took the car to Dun Altabrug.
Take the road that swings north, the road we came, and at the junction head west. Keep going, past a minor road, and as the road swings north east take the first minor road south, stopping at the road’s end. We were given permission to park by the occupant at Peninerine.
Head south east up and over a wee hill and the dun will be clearly seen along with the causeway, the causeway being just over 30m in length.
Decent walls still exist on the ‘high crannog’ / dun with the entrance on the east. Most of the site is overgrown. The circular wall is over 1.2m, the island is slightly oval and measures 9.5m by 8m.
Once again it was explained that water levels are low here also, as they are over North and South Uist and Benbecula. The photos proved that when compared with photos taken from 5 years ago, vegetation had grown, the causeway is much more visible and the land from the farmhouse a lot les boggy.
Superb site.
Visited 10/08/2023.
A weird and wonderful stone which could easily be mistaken as a ruined Celtic Cross. Parking is easy as there is a car park at the Ardmichael Cemetery but we headed towards the coast, from West Loch Ollay, to follow the Hebridean Way which gave us a easy walk heading north, and more importantly it led straight to the site.
It stands on a wee mound at just over 2m tall, almost giving a middle finger to time and, perhaps, modernisation. Hopefully a gentle straighten up will save this stone falling as it sits at an precarious angle.
Fantastic site / sight with fantastic scenery.
Visited 10/08/2023.
The following I was up bright breezy and picked up my ‘water expert’ friend for the first of two site visits.
North of the road to An Carra, on the A865, take the first road heading west, the the next road heading south before stopping at the first farm track that leads north.
Jump the gate then head straight north. When you reach the shore the ‘high crannog’ will be in front of you. Not much is left of any buildings that existed, but the tumble down proves that once upon a time something was there. Something that still is exists is a line of stones heading west, a possible mini naust.
Canmore also have a photograph that show this line of stones clearly, on my photographs, grass and weeds are growing and much more of the site can be seen.
It was explained to me that West Loch Ollay was gradually getting lower, vegetation was growing on parts of the loch. This site just highlighted it more accurately with more rocks and bedrock beginning to appear.
Not a lot to look at but interesting given someone had a knowledge of climate change.
Visited 10/08/2023.
Not to be confused with North Uist’s standing stone ot the same name, near the Committee Road, this is a stunning stone. The Who sang you can see for miles and miles and miles, you certainly can, west, north and south.
It stands, like an old wizard, at over 5m tall with a slight angle unlike its northern counterpart’s blind drunk angle.
Another reason to visit this stone was to meet up with a friend who works at the waterworks and asked the question about water levels. To my surprise I was told that the levels that summer were well down, this explained why a lot causeways were appearing that in previous years could not be seen. An example of which I’d be shown the following day.
A tremendous stone.
Visited 09/08/2023.
An incredible 83m long by 1.5m to 2m wide S shaped causeway connects the dun at Loch Cnoc A’ Buidhe, which itself is just over 13m wide. A spectacular view, south west, as I was hastily walking back to the car for a discussion about water levels at An Carra Standing stone.
Closer inspection next time.
Photographed 09/08/2023.
The first impression that jumped into my head about Reineval was that it was ‘this is Dun Bharpa’s smaller relative’.
It is quite a bit smaller but equally impressive, being almost 23m wide and at its highest is over 3.5m. Like Bharpa it is surrounded by tall stones, 12 still stand, also like Barra’s biggest cairn, standing on top of this only seems to encourage the wind to blow harder. However, from this vantage you can see that site has been well disturbed.
Very easy to find, it can be seen from the A865, I parked at the end of minor road and walked up the track past a couple of storage agricultural buildings to climb south up through soggy marshy ground.
It was a reasonably clear day so the views, as always, stunning!
Visited 09/08/2023.
Situated next to the museum car park at Kildonan is a reconstruction of an outline of an Iron Age Wheelhouse. Originally it would have been situated at Cill Donnain, near the vanishing standing stone at Sligeanach. However this one didn’t escape and was captured in 1990.
A nice addition to the museum.
Visited 09/08/2023.
After the failed attempt to find the standing stone at Sligeanach, I headed north following the coastline to the Rudha Ardvule peninsula, the home to the broch / galleried dun Dun Vulan.
It must have been some place when built and would have been seen from afar. Despite being ruinous the 11m oval shape of the site can be seen, building work is best preserved in the North east arc which houses the entrance. A lot of work has occurred to clear stones from in and around the the site making it safer and easier to get around. A defensive wall has also been built to protect the broch from erosion.
Steel mesh gabions are also in place to offer further protection.
Impressive.
Visited 08/08/2023.
After visiting the dun at Upper Loch Bornish I made my way back to minor road I’d left to continue westwards. Parking isn’t a problem, St Mary’s RC Church has a very handy carpark.
From the church head back to the track and keep going west to jump the gate. The cairn is small being 6m wide by 0.4 high. It is grass covered, as usual the local greenkeepers have done an excellent job, with two stones in the middle. These are probably what remains of a cist.
After a quick look round I decided to look for the standing stone at Sligeanach. Heading south I crossed over some sand dunes before heading across some very flat land. After looking around for ages I enlisted the help of two cyclists camping near the Hebridean Way. Even with their help it was a lost cause. The stone is probably hidden beneath the sands.
Nice to find the cairn, frustrating about the standing stone.
Visited 08/08/2023.
After visiting the stone circle at Loch Kildonan I headed back to the A865 and headed north, then took the next minor road heading heading west. Take the first road heading south and park at the first corner.
The causeway has taken a bit of battering but I was able to make my way across quite safely. Enclosures or sheepfolds have completely ruined the dun which has its wall best preserved in the north. From this it can be seen that the wall would have been about 2.5m wide, this surrounds the island which would have made the dun close to 10m wide.
Beautiful location, pity about the rubbish at the nearby empty house.
Visited 08/08/2023.
5 stones make up the stone circle situated to north of the minor road after crossing the causeway to the west site of Loch Chill Donnain (Kildonan).
From the museum / Flora MacDonald memorial on the A865, head north and take the first minor road heading west.
Gorgeous setting, the loch is also a favourite for anglers both local and visiting.
Visited 08/08/2023.
In July 2022 Kildonan was re-classified as a crannog as Neolithic pottery. It sits just over 45 meters from the west bank of Loch a’ Mhuilin, being connected by a surviving. Water levels were slightly higher on my visit so getting onto the crannog was impossible as the last 10m of causeway were below water and I’d on the wrong footwear.
The 20m wide crannog now houses its fallen walls.
Easy to find, I parked at the nearby museum and walked south back down the A865, a small track heading east leads to the causeway.
Bring correct footwear.
Visited 08/08/2023.
When parking the car at the Cladh Hallan Graveyard, returning from Eriskay, car park I noticed a mound, which I presumed was once upon a time an island.
It turned out to be the scant remains of a dun, from the car park look east and walk in a straight line, we had returned from the roundhouses and simply kept going a short distance further.
It would be wrong to say all traces have been removed – several stones remain as well as the mound. One thing I did notice was the level of water in the nearby Loch Hallan – it was very low. Answers to that would explained during a visit to another site.
Visited 07/08/2023.
Most people will now find the now well sign posted Cladh Hallan Round Houses and excellent they are. Walk to the north west and look for a gap in the dunes. Situated in this gap is another roundhouse gradually appearing or vanishing.
A double course of stonework remains on the southside and a single course of stonework marks the rest of the site. In nearby dunes stones are poking out so it would come as no surprise that other sites might one day discovered.
Further up the coast, a site has vanished.
Visited 07/08/2023.
A short walk north from the Balla Cairns is the cairn at Ben Scrien. It is over 3m wide and is almost 0.75m high. 3 kerbs are visible and more are under the vegetation. In the centre of the site three stones might well be on edge, the remains of the cist perhaps. A good look for a capstone revealed nothing, but it could well grown over.
With that it was a soggy walk back to the car, nothing treacherous, wear wellington boots.
Visited 07/08/2023.
Ersikay has several cairns that overlook its famous uneven football pitch on the west flank of Ben Scrien. We parked near the shrine and climbed north east through marshy ground to reach the three small cairns situated near to each other.
NF7902311391 is a small ring cairn no more that 2m wide, it is only 0.5 high. At least 6 kerbs are visible
NF7902211405 is also a small ring cairn that is also 2m wide, 7 kerbs can be seen.
NF7903311399 the largest cairn of the group being almost 5m in wide. Cairn material can be seen, Canmore suggests there are no kerbs but I spied at least 2.
As with a lot of sites covered in heather and peat a proper excavation might reveal a lot more.
Beautiful all round views, including Dun Sgurabhal on the north part of Barra.
Visited 07/08/2023.
Another of these ‘high cairn crannogs’ is situated in Loch An Eilein. Askernish is the name of large house. The biggest island in the loch is home to a ruined dun which was said to have once had a causeway. Sadly the causeway has long vanished.
Parking is available on the north side of the loch, a short walk back down the A865 takes you reasonably close to the island.
Visited 07/08/2023.
Parking is available at a small industrial site to the south of Daliburgh, next to the B888, I headed west across a dried marsh following a fence to reach a small peninsula. This is the closest anyone can get to the well ruined dun, 5 miles of stones are visible. A supposed causeway sometimes appears when the water is low, but on my visit it remained hidden.
Nice to see swans and ducks still using the site.
Visited 07/08/2023.
Loch Dun Na Cille has a much smaller neighbour to the west called Loch Dun an Duichal and like its much bigger neighbour it also has a crannog / dun.
I couldn’t see a causeway, Canmore haven’t seen one but locals suggest that stones from the causeway were removed in the late 1800s. If so, the removed all trace of its existence. On the plus side the island still remains.
I walked south on the slip of land between the two lochs, one or two boggy bits but nothing to worry about. The site is almost 23m wide and only scattered stones remain of the dun.
Beautifully calm waters, and good to see the dun being used by local residents – ducks etc.
Visited 07/08/2023.
From the crossroads at North Boisdale, our base camp, head north until ruined barns / houses, plenty room to park. Cross the minor road heading east and Eilean Chreamh is straight in front.
Canmore also calls this a ‘high cairn crannog’. A magnificent causeway connects the mainland to the site situated in Loch Dun Na Cille. (Nearby is the much larger Dun Na Killie, however this is considered to be medieval). The causeway is almost 37m in length and still can be used.
The island is over 24m wide and is partially overgrown. Remnants, or more likely stones from the dun can be seen on the outer edges. Bizarrely over a century ago it had been used as a garden.
Visited 07/08/2023.
Parking can be found near the causeway that leads to Eriskay and luckily for me as I headed west the tide was out. Unfortunately I had on mountain boots, wellingtons would be a far better option here.
The island nearest the causeway is supposed to have a cairn, sadly after a good look on the small grass area I found nothing that looked prehistoric.
Further west is another island which does have a cairn, which can be seen. Between the two islands is a sea of seaweed and mud, I had on the completely wrong footwear so didn’t chance going further on.
What can be seen is a grass covered cairn that is nearly 7m wide, being almost 0.5 tall.
I made my way back to car via climbing up the side of the causeway. Long legs are a great help.
Visited 06/08/2023.
Also known as The Limpet Hammers, these two fallen standing stones can be found by simply walking straight south and uphill from the The Witches Grave chamber cairn. (or aim for the turbine)
The stone on the west is almost 4m long, the stone on the east nearly 3.5m long. There is also another stone which resembles a small boat, Canmore suggests it might possibly be a capstone, rocking stone or along with the other two stones formed part of the stone circle. Seems unlikely as no cairn material can be seen.
However, the two stones that stood might have been outliers for The Witches Grave and the chamber cairn at Dun Trossary.
Worth a visit if only for the view, and to see incoming rain squalls.
Visited 06/08/2023.
The Witches Grave is a beautiful site in a beautiful location and came as a complete surprise, I’d expected another Trossary. Walking from the church I headed south on B888 and jumped the fence when just about level with the turbine. Head east up the hill, jump a few fences and the remains of the chamber will soon be visible.
To the north east is Loch Aisebhat, straight north is Dun Trossary (near the odd shaped church) and to the east is Coire Bhienn.
Almost all of the cairn material has been removed, a sizeable footprint remains with one or two stones suggesting kerbs. As for the chamber four uprights remain and they are impressive, to me, despite its reasonably small size.
Well worth a look.
Visited 06/08/2023.
I also headed for the odd shaped church and head up the small hill to the badly trashed cairn. Very dry on my visit.
One real feature remains, a standing stone which looks like it will one day as it stands at a precarious angle. Other stones might belong to the site, they might not. Sadly the site has been houked, built on and damaged almost beyond recognition.
However, one thing they couldn’t remove was the view to Eriskay, and perhaps more importantly Barra as the prehistoric folks, like islanders nowadays, rely heavily on water transport. Probably the older methods lasted longer than the mechanics of their modern counterparts.
A pity, but worth a wee look.
Visited 06/08/2023.
A much smaller crannog that its near neighbour this crannog is only 10m wide and has also been called a low cairn crannog.
No visible causeway so short walk heading west, through a wee bog, jump a couple of fences / dry stane dykes to get a better view.
Visited 06/08/2023.
An early morning start and the beautiful calm waters of the loch at South Baghasdal. The crannog, also called Loch An Eilean, nearest the shore has a decent causeway, 20m in length, poking through the water.
Being 30m wide later peoples used the crannog for probable sheep pens and a possible blackhouse. However a survey carried out in 2022 suggests that this site is much older, probably neolithic.
Heading south on the B888 from Daliburgh take the fourth minor road heading west, just before Trossary and stop at the first loch. (I approached from the north from North Baghasdal, our base camp so to speak)
Beautiful morning, great start to the day.
Visited 06/08/2023.
Taking the coastal route on the A855 from Portree to Uig we stopped to give the the souterrain at Kilvaxter another visit. It appears the entrance has narrowed as it seemed a tighter squeeze than my last visit.
The only thing to add to previous fieldnotes is that the site and surrounding area, including the nut circle, needs a good tidy up if it is to pull in a fair number of visitors.
Anyway, onto Uig and ferry to Lochmaddy.
Visited 05/08/2023.
Of the four sites this one probably has the best views of the dun, chamber cairn, cave, naust / canal, loch, mountains and sea. On our visit the sea, Camas a Mhurain – Gulf of the Sea, was an astonishing colour of blue.
The cairn sits at nearly 13m wide and is 1.1m tall. Lots of stonework can be seen poking through the well manicured turf, local greenkeepers do an excellent job. Decent kerbs can be seen situated around the site. Probably a lot of stones have been used in the building of the dyke which seperates the two cairns.
Now we made our way back to the main track via a route suggested by a site that promotes highland treks / walkways. This led us around the west of Carn Mor, there is no path of any kind, it goes near the top of cliffs and in parts is an ankle breaker. Take the main track back, we were mightily relieved to emerge unscathed back to the track along with the dog. That site will never be used again.
Apart from track malfunction everything at Rubh An Dunain was as perfect as perfect could be.
Great weather, great place.
Visited 04/08/2023.
From the dun we crossed the Viking-made canal via handily placed causeway and made our way round the sound side of Loch na h’Airde before heading north towards the cairns that are located in front of the small hill, Carn Mor.
As Mr G said this is an isolated place nowadays but it once appeared to be reasonably populated with the nearby dun, medieval townships and various Nordic visitors. Now the closest people are at Glen Brittle, the most regular visitors being sheep and cows along with people making the trek to the various sites.
The chambered cairn still sits at 20m wide and a good gentle tidy would reveal that a lot of it is still in place. Large slabs and some well built dry stanes remain in place. A gentle restoration would be wonderful to see but given the location, highly unlikely.
The view as ever remains glorious and we’re lucky that we have made it on a beautiful clear day day which seemed unlikely given the previous nights dreich stuff.
Not far to the next site, a wee jump over a wall.
Visited 04/08/2023.
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.