A promontory near Ugadale carries Dun Ugadale above Kintyre’s coast. The site is an Iron Age fort, a defended place from later prehistory, whose name is translated as Fort of the valley of the owl.
Later family history attaches the fort to the Mackays and MacNeills. The source also preserves a tradition that the Ugadale brooch was given to the Mackays by Robert the Bruce near Mackay’s Cross at Arnicle.
What follows is drawn from published sources, with each claim labelled by how firmly it is established.
History
Dun Ugadale is an Iron Age fort on a promontory near Ugadale in Kintyre.
Its name is translated as Fort of the valley of the owl.
The fort was owned by the Mackays from the 14th century.
It passed by marriage in the 17th century to the MacNeills.
The Ugadale brooch was allegedly given to the Mackays by Robert the Bruce near Mackay's Cross at Arnicle after they transported him to Arran.
People
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Portrait: S.A.Farabi / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Robert the Bruce
Said in tradition to have given the Ugadale brooch to the Mackays.
Connections
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Ugadale
The fort stands on a nearby promontory.
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Mackays
Owned the fort from the 14th century.
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MacNeills
Received the fort by marriage in the 17th century.
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Mackay's Cross, Arnicle
Place connected with the Ugadale brooch tradition.
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Arran
Destination named in the Bruce transport tradition.
What is said
Folklore and tradition, recorded as what is said — not as established fact.
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Ugadale brooch
It is said that the brooch was allegedly given to the Mackays by Robert the Bruce after they transported him to Arran. (tradition)
Plan your visit
- Location
- 55.5000°N · 5.5083°W
- Terrain
- Rough ground — reasonable boots advised
Opening & admission
Check locally before travelling
- The fort is on a promontory near Ugadale, but the source gives no access details.
Nearby places
Questions people ask
- What is Dun Ugadale?
- It is an Iron Age promontory fort near Ugadale in Kintyre.
- What does the name mean?
- The name is translated as Fort of the valley of the owl.
- Who owned it later?
- The Mackays owned it from the 14th century, and it passed by marriage to the MacNeills in the 17th century.
Sources
Explore more: Building or ruins · Medieval · Argyll and Bute
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