Field Visit

Date 14 July 1915

Event ID 1103669

Category Recording

Type Field Visit

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1103669

RCAHMS Inventory: Outer Hebrides, Skye and the Small Isles.

Dun Buidhe, Loch Dun Mhurchaidh, Knock Rolum.

In Loch Dun Mhurchaidh, which lies to the east of Knock Rolum, is Dun Buidhe, built on a small island near the centre of the southern portion of the loch and lying at the south end of a larger island, Eilean Dubh, which through the lowering of the level of the water is now practically joined to the north-western shore of the loch. Eilean Dubh had been reached by a causeway, about 70 yards in length, and about 5 feet broad at the top, which now stands some 4 feet above the water. About half the length of this causeway is now on dry land. At the island end it has been defended by a transverse stone wall running north and south for a distance of about 35 yards. Very little of the wall remains, but a few stones at the northern end show that it had curved inwards to meet some sloping rocks on the shore of the island, while the southern end seems to have extended into the water. Before the level of the loch was lowered, the water, perhaps in times of flood, had evidently penetrated inland beyond the wall, as there are evidences of a continuation of the causeway on to the land for some 35 yards. Between Eilean Dubh and the dun there is a second causeway nearly 150 yards in length, about 4 feet 6 inches broad at the top, and about 4 feet in height. It is a massive structure and in places the stones cover a space 12 feet in width. The greater part of this causeway is now on dry land, only some 40 yards near the outer end being in the water. The highest part of this causeway is towards the northern end, and before it could be submerged a rise of 6 feet 6 inches in the loch would be necessary. It runs first towards the south-east and then curves round towards the south. The small island occupied by Dun Buidhe is nearly circular, and measures some 50 yards in diameter; it has been surrounded by a wall built on the water's edge. As the debris of this wall covers a space measuring about 25 feet in width it must have been of considerable strength. It is entirely destroyed except on the south, where for a length of about 20 feet it shows the outer face standing some 6 feet above the fallen stones outside, and the inner face about2 feet above the interior. At its present summit it is 3 feet thick. The main building has been almost entirely swept away, many of the stones having been used to build the later structures which encumber the islet. It has an external diameter of some 55 feet from east to west. On the south-western arc there is about 2 feet of the outer face in position, built with a distinct inward batter, and on the eastern side a few of the outer stones can be traced. The doorway lies to the north-east, but only the southern wall of the entrance can be discerned, and this shows the wall to be some 13 feet 3 inches thick at this place.

RCAHMS 1928, visited 14 July 1915

OS map: South Uist xliv.