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Just to the north west of Lintrathen Reservoir on the B951 take the minor road heading north. Head to Wester Coul farm for permission to walk around the site.

The site itself is a very short walk west from the first corner on the minor road, the road to Wester Coul farm is an offshoot.

It looks in pretty good condition and appears to be undisturbed except for some field clearence and animal damage. Cairn material also pokes through the turf covered site which sits at 15m wide, being 2m tall.

A very good cairn in a very good area for prehistory.

Visited 4/01/2020

Parking at the sharp corner just to the east of the small village of Kirkton of Kingoldrum we made our way up the fairly steep Kirkton Hill heading north west. We jumped a couple of fences on the way to reach the top of a small wood. The cairn is on top of hill just beyond a small dry steen dyke.

Turf covers the remains of the cairn which sits at nearly 10m wide and 0.4m tall. One or two bits of cairn material can be seen amongst the grass whilst a couple of larger stones suggest a kerb.

Impressive all round views await the visitor in an area full of prehistoric monuments. Beware the electric fence might switched on!

Visited 4/01/2020.

It took three visits to eventually get photographs anywhere near worthy of posting. We parked just to the west of Dalrossach Farm and made our way back up the hill via the kerb cairn at NJ 4148 1479 and continued to the summit which houses a more modern cairn. From there we followed the track north beside the deer fence.

Just beyond the track heading west look for a clearing in the woods, the cairn is housed underneath the trees just beyond.

The cairn has taken a severe battering but still survives, just. Sitting at 9m wide and 0.3m tall the trees now protect the remnants. I thought there might be two possible cists, then again they simply could be displaced stones.

Various smaller cairns are nearby, some of which we found as we took the long way back to the car via the Bridge of Buchat.

Visited 3/1/2020.

Battle Hill is the scene for quite a few prehistoric monuments, the hut circle and ring cairn are there but have been covered in turf until more digs later this year. What can be seen is the remains of a fort on top of the small hill.

Take the first road heading north east, on the A97 heading into Huntly near the petrol station, which leads to a small car park. Head up to the woodland walks taking a good look at the info board as the grid refs in Canmore are miles out. Follow the track that also heads north East, look for the the second gate in the deer fence. This path leads to a hut which leads to the top hill. Signs of the archaeological dig can be seen. Hopefully more info to come later in the year.

Visited 3/1/2020.

Having climbed Clashmasch Hill several times looking for the nearby ring cairn and the cairn much further on at Allrick I was always surprised that the cairn near the trig wasn’t mentioned in Canmore.

That has now been corrected after the Christmas Day (2019) visit. Some of the stones have been used to erect a walkers cairn next to the trig. The ancient cairn still has at least 4 kerbs in place in a footprint at least 6m wide being 0.4m at its highest.

Tremendous views all round views to the Tap O Noth, Bennachie, Knock and the town of Huntly in the valley below. Unlike the 2017 visit when it was snowy, Christmas 2019 was mild.

Visited 2/1/2017

Re-visited 25/12/2019.

As the crow the flies it is 1.5km from Breakachy Cairn to the stunning fort at Dun Garbhlaich, there is a certain amount of ‘aye right’ at the distance.

The trek from the cairn includes the climbing of several small hills, picking the way through bogs, jumping a fair amount of streams, avoiding falling into peat cutting holes and, today, an ever increasing wind. However the sun remained out till we reached the final climb.

The first view of the fort shows the well preserved walls of the south west, follow the ridge up which leads the southern entrance. As soon as we entered the fort the heavy snow from the west arrived. To the north and south east the wall has tumbled over the edge. However the entrance does remain in place with upright slabs still in place. The forts interior wall to the east is also in a ruinous state. After a good look round in conditions that were atrocious we headed back to the valley below.

After crossing the first marsh the weather relented but not on the fort, it was shrouded in snow. On the hill to the west a row of about 30 deer watched us as we picked our way through the bogs. Eventually we made it back to the track near the Breakachy Cairn, drenched but intact.

We retraced our steps back to Leanassie and the car. Behind was white with snow in the higher places, we’d probably got down just before a complete whiteout.

Another great day in the hills around Beauly, safe bet a few more coming up.

Visited 2/11/2019.

After returning to the car we headed west via a few twists and turns ending up at Upper Leanassie where we were allowed to park, even better there is a sign saying walkers welcome.

Follow the track west going through several gates, jumping a couple of streams until the trees finish. Look west and the tremendous Dun Mor can be seen. Unfortunately reaching the fort from this north east point is almost impossible thanks to the Breakachy Burn. However that is a target for another day, looking west we could see the weather had plans for us as well.

The cairn at Breakachy has an impressive kerb consisting of 11 stones to the south west. It is 9m wide and 0.5m high. Sadly the site has been affected by the scourge of depopulation and the remains of a depopulation steading.

Still, despite this, this is a superb site, the views are stunning, across the burn Dun Mor and further west, snow covered mountains. We were going to head North East.

Visited 2/11/2019.

It is very difficult to find places to park on the minor roads amongst the hills above Beauly. However we eventually parked between Ruisuarie and Drumindorsair. The track heading north, on this day, is a mud bath but leads to the much better forestry track, after jumping a small burn, which leads to the fort after taking the track heading north at the T junction.

As the track veers west head south west cross country to the fort, therefore enter the fort from the north east. The trees are well spaced so access to the fort is relatively, beware of fallen trees.

Stone defences which surround the fort are well covered in turf and heather but must have been impressive as they are well over 3m wide. Some built areas survive especially in the west. No entrance seems clear but facing stones to the south east suggest entry to me. Anybody attacking from from the south east would be sore pushed as it is very, emphasis on very, steep.

So we left the fort via this steep route back to the track. A and B managed perfectly well, whilst I perfected some forward rolls.

Visited 2/11/2019.

A magical cairn to finish the last day of October, Carn Challard. Canmore doesn’t say to much about this site, only saying that it’s possibly a ring cairn.

To me, it looked like a normal upland cairn for the area. It is approximately 16m wide and its 1.5m tall. As usual its been houked and trees are growing in the damaged area.

From Carrbridge I walked on the minor road heading west past the railway station, what looks like an industrial estate until I reached a track heading north west which eventually crosses the River Dulnain via the beautiful Sluggan Bridge. Just after the bridge follow the river east until the deer fence and follow it uphill until its junction with another fence. At this point, it is relatively easy to get over. On the other side follow the fence west, which leads straight to the cairn.

Despite being fairly difficult to reach, a tremendous site.

Visited 31/10/2019.

Torran Ban is a beautifully located fort, resting in the neuk between the hills of Tom Mor (north) and Clais Gharbh (east) next to Ballinlagg Wood.

Plenty of parking just before the farm at Ballinlagg near a track that veers east giving wonderful views south to the Cairngorms.

As you arrive at the fort watch for the sign that puts occupation possibly starting at the late Bronze Age. Keep following the track until a gate is found, a track of sorts leads to the forts front door. No defences surround the top of the fort which is an empty 44m wide, natural defences north and east are steep. Defences that remain are to the south and west with fairly wide ramparts that taper away as they reach their outer edges.

I loved this place, completely unexpected and when you see it an obvious place for a fort. Superb!

Visited 31/10/2019.

Head west and uphill from Balnallan cairn and you’ll come across another deer fence, you will also come across an unrecorded cairn. It was also had the first hint of winter with a small sprinkling of snow.

The cairn sits at 4m high and is 0.5m high, some kerbs remain and the centre has been houked. Possible evidence of a cist remain, sadly its stones have been removed probably to be used as small lintels.

A nice small cairn and a report sent to Canmore.

Visited 31/10/2019.

Just to the west of the Mains of Dalvey, on Speyside (A95), there is a minor road heading south. Take it and pull in just as the west side of the road becomes treeless. At the south end of the field there is gate, cross the field and head up the short but steep climb to the west. Head slightly south, at the top, until a place is reached where the deer fence ends. Cross the field heading north west to another gate and simply follow the fence south for a few metres until you walk straight into the cairn.

Discovered in 1989, the cairn is apparently undisturbed being 10m wide and over 1m high. Some kerbs remain on the south side. After a wee look round I ventured uphill and west for a short distance to discover the remnants of an unrecorded cairn.

A beautiful place to start the day.

Visited 31/10/2019.

The last site of a day that consisted of long walks and beautiful scenery. Beautiful site cannot be applied to the Hill Of Cally, despite stunning views it is a tragedy of huge proportions, in short a disgrace. It would be better, in my opinion, to completely remove the site than leave it like this :-(

The cause of this clear, it is the meeting place of four fences and a gate. A track has been ploughed through the eastern half, the north west quarter has been flattened but kerbs still stand, this in turn is a bog and cows trample all over the remaining kerbs. Only in the south west does the cairn retain some of its original size, at least ten kerbs remain in place, almost a miracle. Sadly even here is a shambles with rusting gates thrown on top. Out of the 45 kerbs mentioned in Canmore I counted 22, the cist cover seems to be still there but the other kerbs have been flung over the fence to the east. The one thing the carnage couldn’t destroy was the view, especially to the south east to the Lomonds in Fife.

It all started well, parking just to the north (about 1 mile) of the Bridge of Cally to have wee walk through some barns before meeting the Old Military Road. When I reached the second wood I headed west and uphill, few fences to jump but nothing too difficult.

Informed Canmore, but I don’t think they can do much.

Sad end to a lovely day.

22/10/2019.

Just west of the Parkneuk Stone Circle I pulled into a very large passing place. Luckily just a few yards down the road there is a gate which I promptly climbed and headed west and uphill. As the track ends it becomes more of a fire break which leads straight to the White Hillocks or Heatheryhaugh cairn.

Almost hidden from view the small cairn nestles in the west side of a junction in the forest. It is now turf covered keeping the stones in the 7m wide site hidden from view, the site stands at 0.4m tall.

I like wooded sites, they tend to be peaceful and sometimes not having a view is a good thing, you can just appreciate the site itself.

Nice place.

22/10/2019.

At over 17m wide and almost 1m tall this must have been an impressive site going by the size of the kerbs, six of which still remain in place. The site is certainly impressively located with magnificent views south and west. Several displaced kerb boulders have been scarred by ploughing. The upright slab in the middle of the cairn was found by tripping over it.

Leave the Happy Hillock, head south east (downhill) and go the roads end, I parked at the junction. There are paths leading uphill which lead straight to the site. However, be careful, there are many paths. One leads up the side of a quarry, one is very steep, the correct one heads west swinging round the steep / quarry obstacles.

Lovely site!

Visited 22/10/2019.

After visiting Drumderg, head south east, downhill, on the minor road until just beyond Tullymurdoch Farm. Look west at this point and the cairn will be spotted, an easy walk with just one fence to jump.

At one time this was a very large site being over 21m in width, now it is surrounded by an equally ruinous dry steen dyke. A large slab in the middle of the cairn maybe all that remains of the rumoured three cists. Some cairn material still pokes thru and what might kerbs might well be field clearance.

Still after seeing some of sites on this days hike, the Happy Hillock is aptly named.

Visited 22/10/2019.

The cairn at Rannagulzion is a short walk east from the standing stone at Drumderg. Follow the track, head south east at the crossroads into the heather.

Turf covers the site but one or two bits of cairn material poke through. It sits at nearly 7m wide being 0.5 tall.

Sadly the cairn at NO 1747 5494 could not be found.

Visited 22/10/2019.

Head south on the minor road from Cairn Gleamnach and you’ll reach the the Drumderg Wind Farm. I parked at the large area near the locked gates. It says danger to walkers, I ignored this thinking it highly unlikely a turbine would land on my head.

The standing stone is about a 400m walk from the road and is to the north side of the track. It is impressive, well shaped and stands at 2m tall. Well positioned it has fantastic views, the Lomonds (in Fife) to the south, west to Gleamnach, east to the Angus hills and north to Glenshee.

Impressive!

Visited 22/10/2019.

Cairn Gleamnach is an almost unbelievable site, almost 20m wide, in some parts 1m tall, it has been quarried and it has been houked. I counted 64 kerbs, 40 of which were earthfast in kerb that surrounds the entire site except for the entrance for the houking and quarrying.

Take the minor road heading south east from the A93 heading south from the B950 junction. After a long straight, I pulled in at a small wood near the Hill Of Kingseat, the site is a short walk of 100m behind.

Tremendous site!

Visited 22/10/2019.

Set amongst ruined hut circles and numerous clearance cairns, the Mains of Persie cairn is quite an impressive site.

It stands at 13m wide, being 0.5m tall. Intermittent kerbs surround the site especially on the south and east were at least 10 stones are still earthfast.

I parked about a 1/2 mile north of Persie House on the A93s western side at the entrance to a field. The cairn is up the hill which, on the 22nd, was reasonably dry until the wood that obscures the site. Walking to the south of the wood is quite a boggy affair until swinging north west were being uphill it becomes drier.

Visited 22/10/2019.

The last stop on this trip was Pobuill Fhinn, a place I last visited when playing gigs at Lochmaddy and Lochboisdale many years ago.

Its a beautiful oval shaped site and there’s no need for me to add anything else.

However if looking for Fionns Grave, you’ll struggle as it is well covered in heather which is perhaps a good thing as it can observe the beautiful view looking south undisturbed.

With that, it was back to Lochmaddy to catch a ferry.

Visited 30/7/2019.

An attempt to walk to the dun proved futile as a few steps from the road, heading west, led to ‘that sinking feeling, as wellington boots began to fill with water. Incessant rain had made the grass look greener it also had made sure the marsh was working well, so I beat a hasty retreat to the safety of the road.

Go to the end of road, instead of turning east to Dun Thomaidh, keep going. The dun is to the west, a further dun further west will have to wait till he next time.

Apparently a causeway was on the east side as described by Beveridge, no chance of looking for that.

Visited 24/7/2019.

A final trek up to Clettraval led to an unexpected discovery of the remains of another chamber cairn, a conversation with our new found friends at Berneray helped.

About 300m short of the view point look west and downhill, the site can be clearly seen. Just beyond is the cairn at Corary.

Being 20m wide and 4m tall, several huts presumably shooting butts have been made. However on the south side at least 5 kerbs remain providing evidence of the cairns existance.

On a really clear day St. Kilda can be seen from here, makes you wonder if that was the reason for its positioning.

Visited 29/7/2019

Not to much to see at this heather and turf covered cairn which sits at 12m by 6m by at least 0.5m high. The fence is still just the south east, in area that is a maze of fences.

A few bits of cairn material can be seen and if you tap your foot round the edge of the site you will find some kerbs.

Worth seeing if visiting the nearby chamber cairn.

Visited 29/7/2019.

Two days previous I’d driven past some of the fields and probably spied some of the Highland Cattle that Postie had spied during an earlier visit so we decided not to investigate from the direct south. Instead we parked near some masts just to the north of Loch Fada, south west of the site.

The weather had become summery and the ground heathery but dry plus we won medals at jumping and climbing fences, the dog, however, was not impressed. No cattle of any kind was seen but we found and stood in plenty of evidence that they had been moved very recently.

Geirisclett is as close to the sea as you can get being at the high water mark. The chamber is in superb condition with what looks a fallen standing or entrance stone. Part of the cairn remains to the west, most of the eastern side has given way to erosion. Beveridge had made efforts to protect the site by clearing the chamber and placing sill stones to prevent further damage, with some success.

Across on Vallay Island, Beveridge’s house can easily be seen, as can the remarkable colour of the sea which was doing a good job of impersonating Luskentyre in Harris.

Superb site, a privilege to see such a place.

Visited 29/7/2019.

The entrance to this dun, in my opinion, is in the north east as a line of turf covered stones, not the wall, lead to dun. They also lead to the part of the dun which is still built. The small hillock is about 20m wide with the site sitting on top being 10m wide. As usual, someone thought it a good place to build a dry stone dyke.

From Dun A Dise head back along the minor road taking the first road south west, follow the road as it veers north then take the road the heads west and follow it until it ends. In front of the farmhouse there is a track that almost leads straight to the dun via jumping a couple of gates.

The light that night was of the type that that made everything appear black with an orangey backdrop. Looking west we got very lucky, the outline of St. Kilda could clearly be seen, a sign that I must really go back there as well.

Visited 28/7/2019.

I wanted to get across to this dun but was warned by locals the sands were hard to judge and that the previous evening someone, not me, had had to rescued from the sands slightly further to the north. When I’m here next, I’ll try again.

However like Beveridge, even looking from a safe distance, this looks like it might have been a Broch, the builders taking advantage of stones already there.

Next time.

Visited 28/7/2019.

An update to Greywether’s fieldnotes.

It is now on Canmore, has its own website and even better still there are guided tours of the wheelhouse by the excavators. Sadly for us, the chap at Port Nan Long informed us that he had been on the tour the previous night. These must be reasonably well known as the people at Grimsay Knitwear seemed to all about it as well.

The loch just to the south of the wheelhouse, Loch Honoray, contains two duns.

Go via the cottage mentioned by GW, follow the path over the hill, down the other side, jump a wee burn, climb up the other side, head east, over the gate, keep going and in a short time you’ll looking down on top the wheelhouse. The outside wall was built by the excavators who picked up non site stones to create a dry stone dyke.

We loved it, like the dun at Sticir, it was near the top of the must visit sites.

Visited 28/7/2019.

Dun An Sticir was near the top of the list for visiting. A stunning site with stunning surrounds.

From the B983 follow the path to the first causeway, onto a wee island, a second causeway to the island of Loch Sticir and then a superb causeway heading north to the site. Another causeway or stepping stones leads to the eastern shore. Looking at the maps on Canmore it looks like a space ship more commonly found on Star Trek.

Galleried dun or broch, it doesn’t really matter as the remnants are stunning, a testament to the building skills of the Iron Age stone masons. There is far to much going on here for me to describe, check the Canmore link below. What a vibe there is here, a sort of elation for me. Maybe for MacDonalds the excitement might not be so great, but for Murrays like me, no problem :-)

A superb end to a very long day which had started at 4.30am, my legs were done, no idea how far I’d walked but I knew I was in need of a few drams.

Visited 27/7/2019.

Like Carl and Postie described the stones are on mounds next to one of the house in the small hamlet Port Nan Long, Harbour of the Ships.

The stone nearest the house still stands whilst the southern stone has fallen. Luckily I was spied by the occupant of the house who mentioned a famous wheelhouse.

Visited 24/72019.

After the chamber cairn and possible chamber cairn on the south side it was time to head to the top of the hill to meet the spectacular standing stone of Cladh Maolrithe.

My first thought when clambering towards the site was that I’d entered a henge. According to Canmore it might be a very well houked cairn or a burial yard. There might well have been a very very small chapel built right next to the stone. The aerial photo on the aforementioned site looks like huge basin.

It is a stunning standing stone with stunning views. Time to splash my way back downhill, at least the rain had stopped.

Visited 24/7/2019.

Just a short distance before I reached the chamber on Beinn A’chlaidh I found what looked the remnants of chamber cairn or cist looking down on Loch Borve. The capstone is supported by slabs on both sides and appears to set within a small mound. Some cairn material does remain around the central area to a distance of 5m to 6m.

Like the other prehistoric sites in the area most of the stones have been removed to make roads, dykes and blackhouses. Not many people would approach by this route so maybe no surprise it hasn’t been noticed.

All the details, grid ref and photos have been sent to Canmore.

Visited 24/7/2019.

After a good look at the remains of Sgalabraig I headed back to the village hall and retraced my steps back to the coastal road and headed back towards the ferry terminal. Instead of going to the terminal I headed straight on to the roads end to climb Beinn A’chlaidh from the south east in an effort to the find the chamber cairn.

Finding the chamber cairn was reasonable enough, however there is no path and underfoot conditions, on this day, were marshy until the reasonable dryness of the heather.

Two slabs remain in place and at least three other stones would have also stood. Magnificent views south and west especially over to Boreray.

Great wee site.

Visited 24/7/2019.

Head west from the cairn / stone and you’ll walk straight to the scant remains of a souterrain. Most of the site has been used as lintils and in various buildings.

What does remain is the outline of the souterrains start and end indicated by some stones still in place. The hollowed out section being the actual souterrain minus stones.

If visiting Sgalabraig Cairn you might as well take the short stroll to the nearby earthhouse.

Visited 24/7/2019.

Heading back down the ‘Hillock of the Sun’ I walked back along the road heading east, then take the first minor road heading south which ends at the village hall.

From the hall head straight west along a track of sorts and look slightly to the south for a stone shaped a chair. This, the Chair Stone, was once used by the Vikings as a court and by others as a place of execution.

Canmore say its a cairn and some say its the remnants of a stone circle. Personally I think its both, no reason why not. Not much remains but several stones are set on edge and earthfast. Probably like a lot sites in the Uists / Benbecula / Beneray this site had multi purposes.

Visited 24/7/2019.

By the time we’d reached Berneray the weather eventually caught us up and it decided to chuck it down. However we went through the village of Borve until we parked near the United Free church.

Upwards to not so aptly named ‘Hillock of the Sun’, supposedly were sun worship happened. I could have been done with these guys, the rain kept falling.

4 stones can be seen, a glacerial, 2 chamber stones and a further stone which perhaps might have been a kerb. More stones, possibly the rest of the chamber lay beneath the surface. Canmore give a width of 14m which would match the remaining stone scatter. The bulk of the stones probably went into the making of the islands roads.

Good site despite the drenching.

Visited 24/7/2019.

The walk from Sagairt to Dun Rosail is very short indeed, walk east and jump the fence to the south.

The entrance is probably in the east as a row of stones seem to indicate some kind of defence. Very little remains of the dun except for odd mounds, the dun itself is almost 12m in diameter. Nature aids the defences in the south west but this would be a hard place to defend.

Interesting place.

Visited 24/7/2019.

Like Postie I was intrigued by Clach An T-Sagairt and wondered its purpose. It is set just to the north of Dun Rosail.

The ‘sinister’ cross is still there and that could mark the edge of various Saints influences or a meeting place.

However the stone has been standing there for thousands upon thousands of years, no reason why the prehistoric peoples didn’t help it stay up.

After a good look round I had look at the ground on the west side. To me there appears to chocks helping keep the stone erect so possibly it isn’t a natural setting. It certainly is an impressive stone that looks far into the west and the Atlantic.

Makes you wonder!

Visited 24/7/2019.

It appears that the only causeway at this site was the one I took the photos on. This is the first water that the B893 crosses heading north from the A865.

The causeway to the dun might well be covered in mud according to Beveridge. There isn’t much left of the dun except for the ruined wall that surrounds the island.

Still it’s a lovely location despite the fact there isn’t much left.

Visited 24/10/2019.

From Dun Thomaidh head back to the main road and head west on the A865 for a short distance to Loch Nan Gearrachun, just before the road reaches the banks of the loch there is a track heading north. I parked here and walked along the road until the dun was visible.

The island is connected to the north shore by an impressive causeway and is 10m by 8m. A ruined wall surrounds the site.

Beautiful scenery, beautiful site.

Visited 24/7/2019.

Just to the east of Loch Olavat there is a minor road heading north, take it and then take the first road heading east. This, unsurprisingly, leads to a small harbour. Walk to the north side for a clear view of Dun Thomaidh.

What may or may not have been a broch but definitely a dun is in the Caolas Bhalaigh waters. It is connected to the island of Vallay by a large causeway. The small harbour is in the east presumably as it would be more sheltered.

It had been my intention to get to Vallay Island but there is hardly any information on safe crossing times. We couldn’t find a signpost for the track across for this also. So a proper visit to Dun Thomaidh will happen in the future.

Next time we will get across!

Visited 24/7/2019.

By the time we reached Olavat the weather had taken a turn for the worse, it wasn’t raining but the clouds were getting lower and lower. Like Scolpaig the tracks leading to Olavat had been flooded in the previous two days, earlier we had been warned against walking to the site if the weather closed in. For a change I did as I was told.

More of a crannog than a dun, perhaps more of a settlement than a dun. One thing for certain the original assertion that this site was Iron Age was miles out as discoveries date back to Neolithic times. The causeway is also in very good condition. Aerial pics in the Canmore page are brilliant.

From Scolpaig simply head east on the A865 and take the next minor road north.

Visited 24/7/2019.

Dun Scolpaig has become quite famous as the tower built on top of the dun is the picture in Ordnance Survey 18. They had a far sunnier day than us.

We didn’t attempt to cross as the causeway seems to be falling apart, besides that the area near it thad been flooded the previous day and it was still decidedly very wet underfoot.

The tower which was erected in 1830 appears to have been built from the stones of the dun.

Follow the A865 from the Clettraval road north and pull in just after the Cross (on the OS map). A minor road indicated is in a ruinous condition and the farm at the end of the road in a similar state.

Visited 24/7/2019.

Greywether’s fieldnotes pretty much describe the chamber cairn perfectly.

However next the cairn there is a wheelhouse which was probably made the Iron Age folks recycling the nearby stones. Two of the wheel spokes or spokes almost remain in place.

To complicated for me describe, the best thing to do is to put up the Canmore link below.

24/7/2019.

Like Greywether I thought the Canmore fieldnotes a tad harsh as it looks like, to me, that someone (must have been a giant) has roughly pushed the whole thing side ways. Capstones have been scattered but the chamber appears ‘reasonably’ all there but fallen in. Side stones, as described by Greywether, remain in place.

Both of us seem to agree more with Henshall’s description :

Tigh Chloiche, South Clettraval, a chambered cairn, has been much disturbed by secondary buildings and its present form bears little relationship to its original plan.

The narrow and almost parallel-sided chamber is surrounded on the N, E and S by traces of what appear to be circular buildings. Four orthostats of the chamber remain on the SW but the northern part cannot be traced. The entrance was from the E but nothing can be seen of the passage walls. Large flat stone slabs lie displaced outside the chamber and, whereas the extent of the cairn is fairly well marked to the N. and E., it drops to an extensive low spread to the S and SE.

Finds of potsherds are in the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (NMAS).

A S Henshall 1972, visited 2 May 1962.

The size of the site, almost 19m wide and 1.5m tall, suggest cairn. Nobody can dispute the views!

Visited 24/7/2019.

The second standing stone at Clettraval is short walk of about 300m south west. Sites uphill i.e. the wheelhouse/chamber cairn/standing stone can all be seen.

Absolutely fantastic views of Baleshare, Pabeil and loch after loch after loch. The single hill on Benbecula can also be seen.

The granite stone stands at almost 1.2m, as well as the views it points the way to Tigh Cloiche.

Visited 24/7/2019.

This ‘forgotten’ standing stone is only a short distance to the north west of the wheelhouse/chamber cairn. Only a small fence to jump.

Standing at 2m wide and 1.5m it gives us clear views to the cairn at Corary and the possible chamber cairn at Cleitreabhal A Tuath. Also on a very clear day, St. Kilda.

A fine start to wandering about the Clettraval sites.

Visited 24/7/2019.

Corary is a massive cairn that stands over 27m wide and is 1.5m tall. Most of the stones have been recycled to make a very large sheepfold, being plonked on top of their original position. Two upright slabs remain at the edge of the cairn, others have been built into the walls or used as entrances.

From Dun Grogary I returned to the minor road and headed straight across A865 onto the tarred road opposite. This leads to the Clettraval viewpoint and various military stuff at the top of Cleitreabhal A Deas. Pass the quarry and look for a gate on the west side of the road. This has a track, of sorts, which leads straight to the site via a bog.

A bit of a ‘what if’ but worth a visit whilst on the way to the more well known sites further uphill.

Visited 24/7/2019.

Dun Grogary appears to be on a promontory but it is a case of landfill being put in and around the causeway, traces of which can still be seen heading west to higher ground.

The site is 13m wide and 1.5m tall, the surrounding wall having fallen. Be sure if visiting this site you take appropriate footwear as the approach is extremely boggy.

From Dun Scarie follow the road as it briefly nears the coast and head back east. I parked at the stream at the north west of Loch Grogary.

Lovely site but boggy approach.

Visited 24/7/2019.

The Iron Age people built a dun on the island in Loch Sgaraigh and later people used the site to build three further buildings.

Sadly not much else remains on the turf covered site except the causeway heading to the west, mostly submerged.

After Balranald on the A865, head north and take the first minor road heading west (this leads to a camp site). Loch Scaraigh is the first loch to the south, a track just beyond the loch on the minor road leads straight to the site.

Visited 24/7/2019.