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Dun Chathach
Dun (Later Prehistoric)
Site Name Dun Chathach
Classification Dun (Later Prehistoric)
Alternative Name(s) Achnacloich
Canmore ID 23261
Site Number NM93SE 3
NGR NM 96741 34009
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/23261
- Council Argyll And Bute
- Parish Ardchattan And Muckairn (Argyll And Bute)
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Argyll And Bute
- Former County Argyll
NM93SE 3 9674 3401
(NM 9674 3401) Dun Chathach (NR)
This dun occupies the summit of a prominent hill. The approach from the SE is over gently undulating terrain but on the NW, the ground falls steeply down to the shore 50 metres below. The dun is circular on plan and measures 18.3 metres in diameter overall. The wall, which has been about 3.4 metres in average thickness is now reduced to a low grass-grown stony bank but considerable stretches of the outer face are still visible in situ. Many of the facing stones, which lie as much as 1.6 metres below the level of the summit, are of massive proportions. Three gaps in the wall are visible, in the NE, E and SW, but it is not certain which of these indicates the site of the original entrance.
The interior is occupied by the foundations of a roughly circular enclosure of recent date, which has encroached upon the inner face of the dun wall.
RCAHMS 1975.
As described.
Visited by OS (DWR) 18 October 1971.
Surveyed at 1:2500.
Dun Chathach [NAT]
OS (GIS) MasterMap, April 2010.
Field Visit (June 1969)
NM 967 340. This dun (Fig. 62, plan) is situated on the summit of a prominent hill which overlooks the S shore of Loch Etive 630 m E of Auchnacloich railway station. Although the immediate approach from the SE is over gently undulating terrain, on the NW the ground falls steeply down to the shore 50 m below.
Circular on plan, the dun measures 18·3 min diameter externally. The wall, which has been about 3·4 m in average thickness, is now reduced to a low grass-grown stony bank, but considerable stretches of the outer face are still visible in situ. Many of the facing stones, which lie as much as 1·6 m below the level of the summit, are of massive proportions, the largest measuring 1'4 m by 1'3 m and 1'0 m in height. It is uncertain which of the three gaps now visible in the wall indicates the site of the original entrance.
The interior is occupied by the foundations of a penannular enclosure of recent date, which has encroached upon the inner face of the dun wall.
RCAHMS 1975, visited June 1969.
Measured Survey (1969)
Surveyed with alidade and plane-table at 1mm:1ft. Redrawn in ink and published at the reduced scale of 1:1000 (RCAHMS 1975, fig. 62).
