Field Visit

Date 21 May 1973

Event ID 606984

Category Recording

Type Field Visit

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/606984

The wall barring the approach averages 3.5m thick and may be earlier than the monastery (i.e. the outer face well down the slope is of typical Iron Age architecture indicating a defensive structure rather than a "vallum monasterii"). No inner face is evident and there is too much turf to confirm Anderson's observation of "5ft of earth backing the outer face." The chapel and monastic settlement are mainly as described and planned by the RCAHMS, but several other buildings can be identified.

The plan of the enigmatic building in the SW is not clear but there are indications of other walls in its vicinity and it may form part of a gatehouse immediately behind the entrance through the main wall (now collapsed and visible as a hollow.)

The two 'huts' on the W cliff could not be located.

Resurveyed at 1:2500.

Visited by OS (ISS) 21 May 1973