A boulder causeway leads to an island where a prehistoric dun was remodelled by a medieval settlement, placing two periods of building on the same defended site.
Quick facts
- Date
- Late prehistoric dun; medieval reoccupation
- Architect / designer
- Unknown
- Type
- Oval island dun, causeway and later rectangular settlement
- Designation
- Scheduled monument (SM5855)
- OS grid reference
- NF 95109 71983
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
The oval dun measures about twelve by fourteen and a half metres, with walling up to 1.8 metres thick. A substantial causeway reaches the island, where short hornworks frame the entrance and later rectangular buildings overlie or abut the earlier defensive circuit.
Its story
A fortified settlement occupied the island in later prehistory. During the medieval period the entrance was modified and two substantial rectangular buildings were inserted into the ruined dun, demonstrating deliberate re-use rather than simple abandonment.
Why it is included
Scheduling recognises a well-preserved reoccupied dun with potential to compare defensive architecture, domestic buildings and material culture across later prehistoric and medieval phases.
What to notice
- The raised boulder causeway crossing the loch edge.
- An oval defensive circuit beneath later building lines.
- Hornworks narrowing the shoreward entrance.
Reading the surroundings
Do not cross the causeway or enter the island without confirmed permission and safe conditions. Water, loose boulders and buried archaeology present risks; observe without climbing or moving stone.
Timeline
- Later prehistory An oval defended settlement occupied the island.
- Medieval period Rectangular buildings and entrance works reused the ruined dun.
- Present designation The island, causeway and surrounding loch bed remain protected.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The reviewed sources do not provide excavated dates for either phase or confirm current public access across the causeway.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Loch na Caiginn Dun and Settlement, SM5855 — Designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Trove: Loch na Caiginn — National-record identity, location and wider archaeological references for the island site.
Location
OS grid reference NF 95109 71983 · Location confidence: High: the national designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference; an additional source confirms the Place relationship, history or current identity. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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