Dun Sleadale is unlike other brochs we have visited. Most of the brochs we have seen either have a clear view of the sea or are in line of sight of other brochs which do have views of the sea. Dun Sleadale is a mere 1.2 km from the sea but the sea is not visible at all and there is no clear line of sight to the nearest brochs (as shown on modern OS maps) . On the other hand the broch is not visible from the sea either which, in itself, is a useful defence from any sea invasion.
For plan and background information see
Dun Sleadale - part 1
First things first - a bite to eat and drink before scrambling over the broch
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| Location of Dun Sleadale and other nearby brochs/duns |
The trek up to the site was interesting after several days of
wet weather – a very, very muddy stretch between gorse bushes, followed by a
rather boggy stretch, followed by a steep trackless climb and the broch doesn’t
come into view until the last minute.
Access to the broch was possibly never easy as the original entrance
is on a steep and craggy slope.
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| Entrance as seen from lower down the slope |
Today,
it is rather easier to enter via the west – via the entrance to the later
sheiling constructed inside the broch.
RCAHMS and Mackie (on Canmore) say the original entrance is
on the east-north-east, Swanson says the entrance is on the east. Our compasses say it is pretty well due East.
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| Entrance |
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| Possible lintel from entrance - recumbent |
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| Su expounds her theories on the orientation of broch entrances |
The “fine scarcement” described by Mackie is not easy to
identify but is probably most clearly seen just to the north of the western
entrance, ie the entrance made by whoever constructed the sheiling. The gallery described by Mackie and Swanson
is clearly visible and other hollows within the walls indicate further
stretches of gallery or a cell.
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| Lintels of gallery |
Outside the broch, to the north there is a well defined trench,
which looks man-made. This is described
by Swanson and shown on her plan as “quarry trench”.
Recycling stone seems to have been very popular in the post broch period - as well as two sheilings constructed inside the broch, there are also a few outside.
Having
looked at the broch, we spent some time watching a couple of eagles across the valley
and trying to decide – without binoculars – whether it was a golden or a sea
eagle. The one thing we all agreed on
was that it was not a “tourist eagle”. Final decision - white tailed!
Leaving
the broch we made observed several circular shapes on the other side of the Sleadale
Burn and we wondered whether these might be enclosures or hut circles. A little later we saw three workmen clearly
puzzling over another circular structure – this one did not appear to be prehistoric.
Gradually
we made our various ways down. Hoping to
avoid the mud bath, some took the high road and still got muddy; some took the
low road and had to climb a fence but we all got down without mishap and
retired to the Old Inn to discuss our theories.
Su had re-produced plans of all the brochs we have visited – but all to
same scale and all pointing north so we could compare the orientation of the
entrances (evidence not very conclusive).
Steve T produced maps to illustrate his hypothesis that the entrances
overlooked the likely broch territory.
References:
Carol Swanson
References:
Carol Swanson
