Cashel Dhu, Loch Hope
Broch (Iron Age)(Possible)
Site Name Cashel Dhu, Loch Hope
Classification Broch (Iron Age)(Possible)
Alternative Name(s) Strathmore River; Cashel Dubh; Caiseal Dubh
Canmore ID 4892
Site Number NC44NE 4
NGR NC 453 498
NGR Description NC c. 453 498
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/4892
- Council Highland
- Parish Durness
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Sutherland
- Former County Sutherland
NC44NE 4 c. 453 498
From the name, there has probably been a 'Pictish tower' or some sort of stone building, at the head of Loch Hope, called Cashel Dhu.
J Horsburgh 1870.
'Cashel Dubh' or 'Caiseal Dubh': The name means 'the black ford', and applies to a ford on the Strathmore River.
Name Book 1874.
Extensive perambulation in the area of Cashel Dhu (as published on OS 6" at NC 4530 4986) revealed no trace of a structure. A number of rock outcrops may possibly account for the name.
Visited by OS (A C) 3 June 1959.
No change to previous field report.
Visited by OS (N K B) 9 November 1978.
Publication Account (2007)
NC44 1 CASHEL DUBH (‘Strathmore River’)
NC/453498
Site of doubtful possible broch in Durness, Sutherland. The suggestion is based solely on the place name 'Cashel Dhu' at the head of Loch Hope which was thought to refer to a stronghold [2], but the name may be 'Caiseal Dubh', or 'the dark ford' [1]. No trace of any building was found during an extensive search in 1959 [1].
Sources: 1. NMRS site no. NC 44 NE 4: 2. J Horsburgh 1868, 278.
E W MacKie 2007
