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Latitude: 58.5466 / 58°32'47"N
Longitude: -4.7777 / 4°46'39"W
OS Eastings: 238445
OS Northings: 965402
OS Grid: NC384654
Mapcode National: GBR G6L4.D8Z
Mapcode Global: WH26Q.LF3Y
Entry Name: Cape Wrath Hotel, dun 930m SSE of
Scheduled Date: 24 December 1975
Last Amended: 29 May 2003
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
Source ID: SM3798
Schedule Class: Cultural
Category: Prehistoric domestic and defensive: dun
Location: Durness
County: Highland
Electoral Ward: North, West and Central Sutherland
Traditional County: Sutherland
The monument comprises the remains of a dun, a late prehistoric fortified settlement, with outer defensive works. The dun is set on a spur of land about 25m above sea level, with extensive views over the Kyle of Durness. It survives today as a substantial albeit heavily quarried mound, but was originally about 22m in external diameter. Curving around the W side of the dun and cutting across the spur is a substantial ditch, on average about 5m wide and 0.7m deep, which, together with the steep slopes to N and S, would have helped to add protection to the site. The scheduled area is irregular in shape, with maximum dimensions of 80m WNW-ESE by 39m NNE-SSW.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
The monument is of national importance as a good example of a prehistoric fortified settlement. It has the potential to provide important information about the history of settlement and land use in an area which was formerly much more intensively populated than it is today.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
Bibliography
RCAHMS records the monument as NC36NE 10.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
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