Tall drystone walling still makes Dun Telve one of Scotland’s most imposing broch (an Iron Age drystone round tower) ruins. Dun Telve is an Iron Age broch, a circular drystone tower, in Gleann Beag near Glenelg.
The tower stands beside the minor road, close to Dun Troddan and downstream from Dun Grugaig. Inside, a doorway leads into cells, wall passages and a winding stair, while stone ledges show where upper floors once rested.
What follows is drawn from published sources, with each claim labelled by how firmly it is established.
History
Dun Telve was built in the Iron Age in Gleann Beag.
The broch became a noted visitor attraction by the late 18th century.
Stone was probably robbed from the tower in 1722, likely for Bernera Barracks.
Henry Dryden surveyed Dun Telve in detail between 1871 and 1873.
The building came into state care between 1882 and 1901.
Office of Works repairs around 1914 cleared the interior and consolidated parts of the wall.
Connections
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Dun Troddan
Neighbouring Glenelg broch a short distance to the east.
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Photo: Otter / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 Dun Grugaig
Semi-broch farther up the same valley.
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Photo: Sandy Gemmill / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 Historic Environment Scotland
Current caretaker of Dun Telve.
What to look for
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High tower wall
One of the best-preserved broch elevations in Scotland.
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Winding stair
Accessed from the interior wall passage.
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Scarcements
Stone ledges mark former upper floors.
Plan your visit
- Location
- 57.1946°N · 5.5947°W
- Access
- Open access
- Terrain
- Easy going
Opening & admission
- Historic Environment Scotland cares for the broch beside the minor Glenelg road.
Nearby places
Fortified place · Medieval
Eilean Donan Castle
Highland
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Questions people ask
- What is Dun Telve?
- It is an Iron Age broch in Gleann Beag near Glenelg.
- Is it well preserved?
- Yes. The source pack describes it as one of Scotland’s best-preserved brochs.
- Who cares for it?
- Historic Environment Scotland cares for the broch.
- Has it been excavated?
- No formal archaeological excavation is recorded in the source pack.
Sources
Explore more: Fortified places · Iron Age · Highland
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