Arran, Dippen
Fort (Prehistoric)
Site Name Arran, Dippen
Classification Fort (Prehistoric)
Canmore ID 40132
Site Number NS02SW 8
NGR NS 0443 2191
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/40132
- Council North Ayrshire
- Parish Kilmory
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Cunninghame
- Former County Buteshire
NS02SW 8 0443 2191.
(NS 0442 2193) Fort (NR)
OS 6" map, (1924)
An uneven plateau, measuring 122ft N-S by 54ft E-W has almost perpendicular cliffs on its S and E sides. The remaining sides have been defended by a wall, apparently 8ft thick, now much robbed.
Source: J Balfour 1910.
NR 0443 2191. The remains of a fort occupying 1/3 hectare on the uneven top of a cliff edge knoll which lies between two deep ravines. It comprises a ruined curvilinear wall approximately 40.0m long, around the top on the north and west sides of the knoll; steep slopes and the coastal cliff form a natural defence on the seaward side. The walling, with some outer facing stones remaining, is 3.5m wide and up to 1.0m high, and has a central 2.0m wide mutilated entrance. A pathway built on to the side of the knoll (with facing material remaining to a height of 0.8m) forms a narrow guarded approach to this entrance from the north east.
Surveyed at 1:10 000.
Visited by OS (T R G) 10 November 1977.
Note (8 July 2014 - 23 May 2016)
This fort occupies a hillock forming a promontory between the high coastal cliffs to the W of Dippin Head and a deep gully formed by a burn cutting down through the coastal escarpment. Bounded by the gully on the NE, and the cliffs on the SE, a rampart has been built to cut off the easiest line of approach from the W, swinging in a gentle arc from the N flank of the hillock round to the cliff-edge on the S. The rampart is about 3.5m in thickness by about 1m in height, and several outer facing stones remain in place; a gap midway along the W side is probably the entrance. The featureless interior is roughly oval on plan, measuring 37m from N to S immediately to the rear of the rampart by about 17m transversely (0.05).
Information from An Atlas of Hillforts of Great Britain and Ireland – 23 May 2016. Atlas of Hillforts SC1147
Note (30 January 2018)
The location, classification and period of this site have been reviewed.
HES Survey and Recording 30 January 2018
