Dun Leigh
Dun (Later Prehistoric)
Site Name Dun Leigh
Classification Dun (Later Prehistoric)
Canmore ID 23492
Site Number NN03SW 1
NGR NN 01825 32438
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/23492
- Council Argyll And Bute
- Parish Ardchattan And Muckairn (Argyll And Bute)
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Argyll And Bute
- Former County Argyll
NN03SW 1 0181 3243
(NN 0181 3243) Dun Leigh (NR)
OS 1:10,000 map, (1976)
This dun is situated on a rocky ridge overlooking the south shore of Loch Etive and the mouth of the River Awe. It stands on a knoll about 10 metres above the surrounding ground which has been quarried close to the dun on the south side. The dun measures 9.8 metres in diameter within a massively built wall between 2.4 and 3.4 metres thick, and a considerable number of both inner and outer facing stones still survive. The wall is best preserved in the NE where the outer face attains a height of 1.2 metres in three courses. The entrance is on the SW and the inner corner stone of the north side of the passage is still in place.
RCAHMS 1975, visited June 1969.
The outer face of the wall can be traced almost in its entirety, but is best preserved on the north where it stands 1.2 metres high. There are virtually no inner faces and the entrance could not be identified. The name could not be confirmed.
Surveyed at 1:2500
Visited by OS (R D) 21 October 1971 and (F R H) 7 April 1962).
Field Visit (June 1969)
NN 018 324. This dun (Fig. 66, plan) is situated on a rocky ridge (45 m OD)overlooking the S shore of Loch Etive and the mouth of the River Awe. It occupies a knoll, about 10 m above the surrounding ground, which has been quarried close to the dun on the S side. The dun measures 9.8 m in diameter within a massively-built wall between 2·4 m and 3·4 m in thickness, and a considerable number of both outer and inner facing stones still survive. On the NE, where it is best preserved, the outer face rises with a distinct batter to a height of 1·2 m in three courses. The entrance is on the SW, and the inner corner-stone of the N side of the passage is still in place.
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. 66).
Watching Brief (19 January 2011)
NN 01618 32399 A watching brief was undertaken on 19 January 2011 during groundworks associated with the construction of a new driveway. The site is in the vicinity of a number of known sites, including a dun (NN03SW 1) the farmstead of Balure (NN03SW 49) and a possible medieval motte (NN03SW 4). No finds or features of archaeological significance were recorded.
Archive: RCAHMS
Funder: Mr and Mrs Preston-Campbell
Argyll Archaeology, 2011