Rubble walls trace an oval fort on a rocky Skye knoll. Dun Cruinn is a prehistoric defended site with an earlier fort and later dun or broch (an Iron Age drystone round tower), meaning a small drystone fortification or broch-like roundhouse.
The site lies on the Skerinish Peninsula between Loch Snizort Beag and Loch Eyre. Its main fort is an irregular oval divided by a rampart and ditch, while the southern part contains the remains of a later dun or broch.
What follows is drawn from published sources, with each claim labelled by how firmly it is established.
History
Dun Cruinn was established as a prehistoric defended site north-west of Portree.
The main fort enclosed an irregular oval area on a rocky knoll.
A rubble band marks the fort wall, best preserved in the north.
A rampart and ditch divide the fort about midway.
A later dun or broch was built in the southern part of the fort.
Connections
-
Portree
Town south-east of the site.
-
Skerinish Peninsula
Peninsula setting between Loch Snizort Beag and Loch Eyre.
-
Loch Snizort Beag and Loch Eyre
Waters flanking the site area.
What to look for
-
Oval fort line
Rubble band marking the prehistoric fort wall.
-
Rampart and ditch
Midway division across the fort.
-
Later dun or broch
Southern round structure built after the fort.
Plan your visit
- Location
- 57.4828°N · 6.3214°W
- Access
- Open access
- Terrain
- Rough ground — reasonable boots advised
Opening & admission
- Rocky knoll fort; access not established.
Nearby places
Questions people ask
- What is Dun Cruinn?
- It is a prehistoric defended site on Skye with a fort and later dun or broch.
- Where is it?
- It lies on the Skerinish Peninsula, north-west of Portree.
- What survives today?
- A rubble wall line, rampart and ditch, and later dun or broch remains survive.
- Which came first, the fort or the dun?
- The source pack says the dun or broch was built later than the fort.
Sources
Explore more: Fortified places · Iron Age · Highland
The Ancient Codex, in your pocket
Get the Pocket Codex app
Carry the directory with you — Dun Cruinn and thousands of ancient places across Britain and Ireland, offline, wherever you roam.