Janetstown
Promontory Fort (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Janetstown
Classification Promontory Fort (Period Unassigned)
Alternative Name(s) Janetstown Harbour
Canmore ID 8175
Site Number ND13SE 55
NGR ND 190 320
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/8175
- Council Highland
- Parish Latheron
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Caithness
- Former County Caithness
ND13SE 55 190 320
On sea stack till-plugged to mainland cliff edge immediately south of old herring station lighthouse above Janetstown Harbour, a massive rampart 2 metres high with entrance. Within, four scooped sub-circular huts. On the landward end of till-plug, another rampart and entrance, with possible guard cell on southern side of entrance.
J Smith 1983.
Note (8 March 2016 - 18 May 2016)
This probable fort occupies the stump of a promontory overlooking Janetstown Harbour from the SW. Access to the promontory from the NW is partly barred by a deep cleft, which has acted as a ditch in front of a substantial rampart some 2m in height, and there has possibly been an outer rampart on the landward side of the cleft. The interior is now roughly triangular on plan, now measuring no more than 22m in depth by 45m in breadth (0.06ha), but despite the heavy reduction in its size by erosion four sub-circular structures with scooped interiors are visible (Smith 1983). The entrance is probably midway along the rampart opposite a causeway in the cleft.
Information from An Atlas of Hillforts of Great Britain and Ireland – 18 May 2016. Atlas of Hillforts SC4208
