Swan Isle, Ardlochlay, Loch Lomond

NN39SE 69 361 914

The crannog is in a bay on the W shore of the loch opposite Inchtavannach island. The bay is heavily silted, particularly between the island and the shore. Upon landing on the island on the day of survey a number of large timbers were observed in a very small island, 3m to 4m long and c.1.5m wide. The next day, after a night of rain, the feature did not appear as an inlet as it was submerged under the higher water level. The timbers all appear to be oak and the biggest looks to be the top of a large tree with radial splits down it. Potentially it could be the bottom of a logboat lying upside down but if so it is very thick.

It is not possibly to say whether this large timber is just a fallen tree or part of an artificial structure but three other smaller timbers lying parallel to each other and projecting from beneath the stones of the island are not a natural formation. Since they are at a higher level than the large timber they were presumably, though not certainly, deposited later.

Many other timbers were observed and planned, mainly on the N side of the site in water less than 0.5m deep. One timber lay embedded on the E shore of the island but was under waterafter a night of rain. Halfway along the island, and about 20m out from the E shore, the top of a substantial oak pile was discovered. This pile and arrangements of timbers lying parallel to each other, are the best evidence that the structure is artificial.

In a number of places underwater the chains of moored boats are disturbing the lochbed and the sides of the crannog. A video record shows the conditions of the site, the main features and the drainage being caused by boats as well as the modern rubbish which litters the lochbed round the site.

STUA and FIRAT 1997; NMRS MS 993/5, no.9

Site recorded during the third and final phase of fieldwork of the Loch Lomond Islands Survey project which took place in September 1997:

NS 361 914 Swan Island. Distance to shore 44m; diameter 56m; height 1.9+m; depth underwater - above surface. Several timbers located, both piles and horizontal timbers. Also boulders in construction. Well-preserved but suffering active damage from boat moorings.

Sponsors: Historic Scotland, Friends of Loch Lomond, Dunbartonshire Enterprise, Loch Lomond Park Authority/SNH.

F Baker and N Dixon 1998.