Dun Grugaig (or Caisteal Chonil) is a D-shaped

dun A dun is an ancient or medieval fort. In Ireland and Britain it is mainly a kind of hillfort and also a kind of Atlantic roundhouse. Etymology The term comes from Irish ''dún'' or Scottish Gaelic ''dùn'' (meaning "fort"), and is cognat ...

, or "semi- broch", located about 7 kilometres southeast of the village of

Glenelg, Highland Glenelg ( gd, Glinn Eilg, also ''Gleann Eilg'' is a scattered community area and civil parish in the Lochalsh area of Highland in western Scotland. Despite the local government reorganisation the area is considered by many still to be in Inv ...

, in Scotland ().

Location

Dun Grugaig stands on the north bank of the Abhainn a’Ghlaine Bhig, in the upper reaches of Gleann Beag. It is in the same valley as the two Glenelg brochs of

Dun Telve Dun Telve ( gd, Dùn Teilbh) is an iron-age broch located about southeast of the village of Glenelg, Inverness-shire in the Highland Region of Scotland. It is one of the best preserved brochs in Scotland. Location Dun Telve () stands on the ...

and

Dun Troddan Dun Troddan ( gd, Dùn Trodan) is an iron-age broch located about southeast of the village of Glenelg, Highland, in Scotland. It is one of the best-preserved brochs in Scotland. Location Dun Troddan () stands on a level rock platform north of ...

. Unlike those two brochs which are in the valley close to flat ground, Dun Grugaig is situated on rugged rising ground. It should not be confused with the broch known as Caisteal Grugaig a few miles to the north.

Description

Dun Grugaig is a D-shaped fortification (

) of a type commonly regarded as a prototype broch or "semi-broch". It was built with the straight side of the fort facing the edge of the precipice on the east. It measures about 17 by 12 metres. It has the hollow-wall construction which is characteristic of later brochs. The partly lintelled southeast doorway appears to be the main entrance into the building; there is a second entrance at the west end of the wall. The interior is full of rubble. Three doorways can be seen in the inner wallface. Traces of an upper intramural gallery can be seen on the high wallhead on the south side.

History

Dun Grugaig has not been excavated. The earliest record of the broch seems to be by

Alexander Gordon Alexander Gordon may refer to: * Alexander Gordon, 1st Earl of Huntly (died 1470), Scottish magnate * Alexander Gordon (bishop of Aberdeen) (died 1518), Precentor of Moray and Bishop-elect of Aberdeen * Alexander Gordon, 3rd Earl of Huntly (died ...

in 1720 who refers to a 'Castle Chonil' in the east part of the glen and as being distinct from the other two brochs. The first modern survey was conducted by Henry Dryden in 1871.

References

External links

{{Coord, 57.183555, -5.556823, display=title Archaeological sites in Highland (council area) Brochs Scheduled monuments in Scotland