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Skye, Dun Mor, Torrin
Cattlefold (Post Medieval), Fort (Prehistoric)
Site Name Skye, Dun Mor, Torrin
Classification Cattlefold (Post Medieval), Fort (Prehistoric)
Canmore ID 11451
Site Number NG52SE 4
NGR NG 57407 20182
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/11451
- Council Highland
- Parish Strath
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Skye And Lochalsh
- Former County Inverness-shire
NG52SE 4 5740 2015.
(NG 5740 2015) Dun Mor (NR) (Site of)
OS 6"map, Inverness-shire, 2nd ed., (1903)
To the S of the township of Torran, on the summit of a long, elevated, rocky ridge rising from the E side of Loch Slappin, is Dun Mor. It stands about 100ft higher than the loch to the W, and about the same height above a hollow on the E, which cuts it off from the hills behind. The ridge is difficult of access except from the N, at which end is the entrance to the dun. The main axis of the fort runs N and S, along which it measures some 330ft internally, while it is some 120ft in breadth.
It has been defended by a massive stone wall, which far the greater part has been demolished to provide building material for a very large cattle-fold erected within its boundaries. So complete has been the destruction of this wall, that while it can be traced for nearly its entire length, only at the S end, on the SE arc and at the N end is any of the original building in position. A few of the larger foundation stones on the outer face of the wall remain undisturbed at the S end, and a short section of building to the SE has been preserved by being utilized as the foundation of the modern wall at this part. At the N end is a mass of tumbled stones 10ft in breadth and 3ft in height. The entrance is quite obliterated.
(RCAHMS 1928).
Dun Mor is as described by RCAHMS.
Visited by OS (C F W) 19 June 1961.
Field Visit (13 May 1914)
Dun Mor, Torran.
To the south of the township of Torran, on the summit of along, elevated, rocky ridge rising from the east side of Loch Slapin, is Dun Mor. It stands about 100 feet higher than the loch to the west, and about the same height above a hollow on the east, which cuts it off from the hills behind. The ridge is difficult of access except from the north, at which end is the entrance to the dun. The main axis of the fort runs north and south, along which it measures some 330 feet internally, while it is some 120 feet in breadth. It has been defended by a massive stone wall, which for the greater part has been demolished to provide building material for a very large cattle-fold erected within its boundaries. So complete has been the destruction of this wall, that while it can be traced for nearly its entire length, only at the south end, on the south-eastern arc, and at the north end is any of the original building in position. A few of the larger foundation stones on the outer face of the wall remain undisturbed at the south end, and a short section of building to the south-east has been preserved by being utilised as the foundation of the modern wall at this part. At the north end is a mass of tumbled stones 10 feet in breadth and 3 feet in height. The entrance is quite obliterated.
RCAHMS 1928, visited 13 May 1914.
OS map: Skye xlvi.
Note (19 January 2015 - 18 May 2016)
This fort occupies the elongated crest of a steep-sided ridge lying roughly parallel to the shore of Loch Slappin, which lies at the foot of the W flank some 40m below, while equally steep slopes drop away down into a valley on the E. The fort measures about 100m from N to S by up to 30m transversely (0.25ha), within a single wall, though large sectors of this have been demolished to build a large cattle fold which occupies the southern two thirds of the interior. Elsewhere around the N end the band of rubble is about 3m in thickness by 0.9m in height, while a few outer facing-stones remain in place on the SE and S. The entrance is probably at the N end. The interior is featureless.
Information from An Atlas of Hillforts of Great Britain and Ireland – 18 May 2016. Atlas of Hillforts SC2718
