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Westport
Fort (Prehistoric)
Site Name Westport
Classification Fort (Prehistoric)
Canmore ID 38378
Site Number NR62NE 21
NGR NR 6550 2673
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/38378
- Council Argyll And Bute
- Parish Killean And Kilchenzie
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Argyll And Bute
- Former County Argyll
NR62NE 21 6550 2673.
NR 655 267. A fort occupies the level summit of a low ridge situated on the seashore immediately to the W of the main road leading from Campbeltown to Tarbert, 185m N of Westport cottage. Measuring approximately 61m by 24.5m internally, it has been defended by a continuous rampart drawn round the margin of the summit area, with the addition of two outer ramparts at the NNE end. The main rampart has entirely disappeared on the W. side of the fort and at the S. end, but it is represented elsewhere by a turf-covered stony bank which measures about 4.6m in width and 1.5m in maximum height. It is possible however, that externally at least it was kerbed or revetted with stone, as a row of earthfast boulders situated on the E edge of the plateau is suitably placed to have served as an outer face. Alternatively, since this is the only convenient point of access, it may be that the rampart was replaced by a wall at the entrance.
Both the additional ramparts at the NNE end appear as grass-grown stony banks of no great height, whose eastern ends have been truncated by the building of the road. The interior of the fort is featureless.
RCAHMS 1971, visited 1962
Located at NR 6550 2673. No change to RCAHMS description.
Surveyed at 1:10 000.
Visited by OS (JM) 25 October 1977
Note (10 October 2014 - 23 May 2016)
This small fortification occupies what is in effect a coastal promontory isolated by rock faces and gullies on the E and W, and terminating above the beach at the S end. The rampart is only visible on the N and E, defending the landward approaches and cutting off an area measuring 61m from N to S by up to 24m transversely (0.14ha), and there are also two outer ramparts on the N, both of which have been truncated on the E by the construction of road. The interior is featureless and the entrance was probably on the E, where a row of facing stones is visible outside the general line of the rampart, suggesting that the terminals were staggered to expose the right-hand side of anyone approaching the interior.
Information from An Atlas of Hillforts of Great Britain and Ireland – 23 May 2016. Atlas of Hillforts SC2221
