Sound Of Arisaig, Eilean A'ghaill
Fort (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Sound Of Arisaig, Eilean A'ghaill
Classification Fort (Period Unassigned)
Alternative Name(s) Eilean Na Ghoil
Canmore ID 22533
Site Number NM68SW 2
NGR NM 6269 8253
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/22533
- Council Highland
- Parish Arisaig And Moidart
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Lochaber
- Former County Inverness-shire
NM68SW 2 6269 8253.
(Area NM 627 825) On Eilean na Ghoil, is a fine example of a raised beach on top of which are the remains of a fort with sporadic vitrifaction, with traces of vitrifaction on the low beach as well.
A B M'Hardy 1906.
At NM 6269 8253 occupying the cliff-girt summit of Eilean a' Ghaill, are the remains of a fort, so denuded that its precise shape, overall measurements and wall thickness cannot be ascertained. The footings of the outer wall face can be seen for c. 4.0m in the W, and the inner face can be seen for c. 3.0m in the NW, but no vitrifaction is evident. The extreme N end is isolated by a curving tumbled cross-wall, and within the enclosure thus formed is a stone-lined well. The only possible entry to the fort is up a narrow declivity in the SE.
At the base of the cliffs to the NE of the fort is a gulley running NW-SE, enclosed on the NW,NE and SE by traces of a wall, and in the SW by the cliffs. The outer face is visible in the NW arc. Two lumps of vitrified rock are visible in the SE wall which blocks access from this quarter, and appears to be the only vitrifaction in the whole complex. The interior is strewn with masses of rubble stones forming no intelligible pattern.
Visited by OS (N K B) 1 June 1970.
Note (24 November 2014 - 18 November 2016)
The remains of a small fortification are situated on E part of the tidal island of Eilean a' Ghaill, its defences comprising one wall apparently enclosing the summit area, and a second a lower area extending to the edge of the island on the NE. The irregular upper enclosure may enclose an area measuring as much as 60m in length from NW to SE by a maximum of 18m transversely (0.09ha), though the course of the wall on the SE is uncertain. Elsewhere a band of rubble can be detected on the W and extending round the NW tip of the summit; a short run of the outer face is visible on the W, while the line of the inner face can be seen on the NW. The cliff below the wall on the NE forms one side of a gully, which is sealed off by the outer wall. This not only blocks access to the gully from the NW and SE respectively, but swings around on the cliff-edge on the NE to enclose a further 0.08ha; the line of the outer face can be seen on the N, and the OS identified two pieces of vitrified rock amongst the rubble in the bottom of the gully on the SE. The only access to the summit enclosure is via a gully on the SE. The only feature visible within the interior on the summit as a stone-lined well, while within the lower enclosure on the NE there is a relatively recent pen.
Information from An Atlas of Hillforts of Great Britain and Ireland – 18 November 2016. Atlas of Hillforts SC2540
