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Coill'ach A' Chuil, Loch Naver
Broch (Iron Age)(Possible)
Site Name Coill'ach A' Chuil, Loch Naver
Classification Broch (Iron Age)(Possible)
Alternative Name(s) Loch Naver, The Broch; Ach A' Chuil
Canmore ID 5549
Site Number NC63NE 2
NGR NC 6585 3815
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/5549
- Council Highland
- Parish Farr
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Sutherland
- Former County Sutherland
NC63NE 2 6585 3815.
(NC 6585 3815) Broch (NR).
OS 6" map, 1963.
The remains of a broch, situated on a spit of land projecting into Loch Naver, and having an outwork and a causeway on the landward side. The broch has measured 52ft over a wall 12ft wide at the entrance on the SE. Walling is visible only for a short distance to the north of the entrance, but the stones appear to have been very large. The north side of the entrance remains entire to a height of 2ft 9ins externally and contains the entrance to a guard chamber, which shows signs of excavation. The neck of the spit has been marshy and is crossed by a causeway. A wall has run at a distance of 38ft from the broch isolating it on the landward side and apprently curving in towards it on either flank.
RCAHMS 1911, visited 1909.
The broch is generally as described and illustrated. [2 Photos]
Visited by OS (E G C) 9 May 1961.
The broch is 16.6m diameter overall, and the noted entrance to a guard chamber is obscure.
Revised at 1/10,000.
Visited by OS (J M) 16 March 1977.
Publication Account (2007)
NC63 1 COILL ACH a'CHUIL
NC/6585 3815
This probable broch in Farr stands about half a mile from the east end of Loch Naver, on the south shore and on a short spit of land projecting into the water. The structure is almost completely ruined and only a short stretch of the outer wallface is visible on the south-south-east side, at the entrance. The latter is at least 3.7m long [3] and 76cm (2.5ft) wide at the outer end; the majority of the lintels of the passage were still in position in 1910 [2] but have now been pulled off, and the west or left side has been destroyed [3] and a “narrow door rebate” can be seen in the right wall at 1.3m from the outside [3]. There are signs of a guard cell on the right of the passage the probable doorway to which, with one lintel still remaining, was visible in 1985 [3].
.
There are signs of an outer wall 11.6m (38ft) from the broch on the landward side, but no facing stones are visible; it is possible that this joined the broch wall on the west side [3]. The “causeway” south-south-east of the broch [2] may be a the remains of a path to assist the collection of stone from the site in modern times [3].
Dimensions: the external diameter of the broch is about 15.86m (52ft) .
Sources: 1. NMRS site no. NC 63 NE 2: 2. RCAHMS 1911a, 59, no. 176: 3. Swanson (ms) 1985, 746-48 and plan.
E W MacKie 2007
