Arran, Glenashdale

NS02NW 3 0308 2520.

(NS 0308 2520) Fort (NR)

OS 6" map, (1924)

Trees have been planted around and within the "fort" at Glenashdale. It is bounded by a precipice on one side, and by a semi-circular wall, about 15ft thick, with an entrance in the NE. The greatest width enclosed is 80ft, at the extreme points of the wall, now in places over 5ft in height, though, from the mass of tumble lying around, it must originally have been a considerable height. The remains of a bloomery were noted in the enclosed area, where a small excavation was carried out. The slag found had much of the ore still retained in it.

Source: J Balfour 1910.

A promontory type fort occupying a natural "V" shaped shelf on a steep SE-facing slope under forestry.

It comprises a roughly semi-circular tumbled stone wall 5.0m thick, enclosing an area of approximately 400 sq metres. The N arc of the wall is partially intact with both internal and external faces surviving to a maximum of 5 courses or 1.5m. Large boulders partly form the facing of a 2.0m wide straight entrance on the NE side which is devoid of doorcheck, chamber, annexe or any form of outwork on the uphill side. There is much tumble on the external W side, but around the perimeter of the precipitous S side no stonework or sign of tumble is evident. The interior is uneven and probing revealed a stone scatter under the dense bracken cover.

No trace of slag or vitrified material was found here or in the vicinity and no further information of a possible bloomery obtained.

Surveyed at 1:10 000 and 1:650.

Visited by OS (J R L) 31 October 1977.