Archaeology Notes

Event ID 690933

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/690933

NO64NE 7 6972 4643.

(NO 6972 4643) Prail Castle (NAT) Fort (NR)

OS 6" map (1970)

The fortifications of a castle known as Cuithal or Prile Castle lie on Caircock Head. The ditch, rampart and the foundation of the tower and other buildings are visible.

J Carrie 1881; G Cumming 1843

The few earthworks that exist here seem to be the remains of a promontory fort. A long, narrow promontory bounded on three sides by precipitous cliffs, forms the main enclosure. At its W end is a short rocky scarp 2.5m high, on the crest of which is a mutilated bank on 0.3m high on the N and 1.0m high on the S, running to the cliff edge on either side. A causeway 3.0m wide and 0.3m high runs from the foot of this scarp to a rampart 12.0m distant. This rampart is 1.0m high and 3.0m broad, rising to 3.0m at the southern cliff edge, making use of a natural ridge as it rises. The course of the northern part of this rampart is uncertain.

A natural hollow 6.0m wide SW of this leads to another rampart 2.0m high at its S end and 1.0m high towardss its northern limit. It is 4.0m - 6.0m broad. The northern part of this bank has been destroyed. At a point c.14.0m N of the causeway and at the cliff edge is what may be a fragment of bank 6.0m long and 1.0m high - possibly the end of the medial bank.

A disturbed area c. 20.0m x 18.0m, E of the innermost rampart may denote the sites of buildings as mentioned by Cumming, but nothing definite can be made out. Two rectangular hollows, each 8.0m x 5.0m, at the extreme end of the promontory, are simply the site of a wartime Home Guard post.

Visited by OS (JLD) 10 June 1958

The remains of this promontory fort are generally as described. The headland is known locally as "Prail Castle".

Surveyed at 1:2500.

Visited by OS (JTT) 20 October 1965