Gometra, Dun Eiphinn

NM34SE 5 3588 4027.

(NM 3588 4027) Dun Eiphinn (NAT) Fort (NR)

OS 1:10,000 map, (1976)

Fort, Dun Eiphinn: This fort is situated 600m SSE of Gometra House on the summit of a prominet isolated rock-stack. On the SE the stack rises vertically to a maximum height of 17m, the height of the rock-face decreasing to about 5m in the centre of the NW side.

The fort has measured about 61m from NE to SW by a maximum of 15m transversely, the wall following the irregular margin of the level summit. A considerable stretch of the outer face can be seen along the NW side, accompanied by a band of rubble core material, but elsewhere the wall has been almost totally destroyed. Where best preserved, the outer face stands to a height of 0.8m in four thin courses. The entrance is in the N, at the lowest point of the rock-face. The interior has been under cultivation at some time, and near the SW end there are the turf-covered foundations of a rectangular enclosure of comparatively recent date.

Below the natural rock-face on the NW side of the stack there is an outwork consisting of two independent lengths of walling. There can be little doubt that it was contemporary with the fort, providing additional defence on that side. The N stretch of walling springs from the foot of the cliff below the fort wall on the N and runs obliquely down the flank of the stack almost as far as the level ground at its foot. The outer face is exposed to a maximum height of 0.8m in four courses, and the amount of rubble behind it indicates that the wall was probably at least 2m thick. No inner facing-stones can be seen, as the whole area is strewn with a scree-like spread of stones which have fallen from the fort above. The S portion of the outwork, which is of similar construction, is visible for a distance of only 7.6m, appearing as a band of rubble through which short lengths of the outer face protrude. It seems likely that it originally extended further N, at least as far as the very large natural boulder below the fort entrance; it probably also continued S, finishing against the foot of the cliff somewhere on the WSW.

RCAHMS 1980, visited 1972

Surveyed at 1:2500.

Coins and pottery sherds of Edward I's reign (1272-1307) were dug up by Mr Howard in 1974 on Dun Eiphinn.

Visited by OS (RD) 18 May 1972; Information contained in letter from J Howard, Ulva Ferry, Geometra to Dr J Close-Brooks, National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (NMAS).