Pricing Change
New pricing for orders of material from this site will come into place shortly. Charges for supply of digital images, digitisation on demand, prints and licensing will be altered.
Torbhlaran
Dun (Prehistoric)
Site Name Torbhlaran
Classification Dun (Prehistoric)
Alternative Name(s) Torr A'bhlarain; Torbhlaren
Canmore ID 39562
Site Number NR89SE 9
NGR NR 8668 9423
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/39562
- Council Argyll And Bute
- Parish Kilmichael Glassary
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Argyll And Bute
- Former County Argyll
NR89SE 9 8668 9423.
(NR 8668 9423) Fort (NR)
OS 6" map (1900)
This dun occupies a strong site, protected by a very steep slope on three sides, that on the E being a jagged rock face over 100' high, but there is easy access from the NNE along the crest of the ridge.
It is oval, measuring c.50' x 40'. The wall has been heavily robbed, and all that remains is a low stony mound of debris, now grass-grown and not more than 1' high, in which the robber-trenches are clearly visible. In the absence of facing stones, the wall thickness is uncertain, but it was probably c.10'. There is no trace of an entrance. Close by on the NE and 6'-10' below the level of the dun, there are the vestiges of an outer wall. Starting on the precipice NE of the dun, it runs in a straight line across the ridge, turns sharply SW on meeting the crest- line and continues along it for c.15 yds. This wall is also very wasted, and shows no trace of an entrance or facing stones.
RCAHMS MSS, visited 1959
The remains of a dun, generally as described by RCAHMS. A break in the outwork wall on the NE probably indicates the entrance.
Resurveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (DWR) 8 May 1973
NR 8669 9423. The remains of this dun are visible as a turf-covered stony bank enclosing an area 14.0m N-S by 12.5m. The wall, approximately 3.0m wide, 0.3m high internally and up to 1.3m high externally, has no apparent entrance. The outwork, generally as described by the RCAHMS, survives as a turf-covered stony bank 2.5m wide and 0.3m high with no apparent entrance.
Surveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (TRG) 17 March 1977
Measured Survey (8 May 1092)
RCAHMS surveyed Torbhlaran dun on 08 May 1982 with plane-table and alidade producing a plan at a scale of 1:100. The plan of the dun was redrawn in ink and published at a scale of 1:250 (RCAHMS 1988a, 197).
Field Visit (May 1982)
This severely ruined dun is situated 230m NE of Torbhlaran farm on the summit of the rocky massif known as Torr a' Bhlarain, a position of strong natural defence on all sides except the NE, where an outwork was built to provide additional protection. (Campbell and Sandeman 1964) The sheer rock faces on the SE, some 10m in height, are particularly impressive. The dun measures about 14m by 11m internally, but its wall has been heavily robbed, and the trenches from which the outer facing-stones have been removed are perhaps the most remarkable feature of the site. The break in the outer work on the N may indicate the position of the entrance, but it has probably also been used to provide access to the site during its destruction.
This severely ruined dun is situated 230m NE of Torbhlaran farm on the summit of the rocky massif known as Torr a' Bhlarain, a position of strong natural defence on all sides except the NE, where an outwork was built to provide additional protection (Campbell and Sandeman 1964). The sheer rock faces on the SE, some 10m in height, are particularly impressive. The dun measures about 14m by 11m internally, but its wall has been heavily robbed, and the trenches from which the outer facing-stones have been removed are perhaps the most remarkable feature of the site. The break in the outer work on the N may indicate the position of the entrance, but it has probably also been used to provide access to the site during its destruction.
Visited May 1982
RCAHMS 1988
