Dun Troddan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Dun Troddan | |
  Shown within Highland | |
| Alternative name | Dùn Trodan |
|---|---|
| Location | Scottish Highlands |
| Coordinates | 57°11′41″N 5°35′12″W / 57.19466°N 5.586708°W |
| Type | Broch |
| History | |
| Periods | Iron Age |
| Site notes | |
| Ownership | Historic Scotland |
| Public access | Yes |
Dun Troddan (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Trodan) is an iron-age broch located about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) southeast of the village of Kirkton,Glenelg, Highland, in Scotland. It is one of the best-preserved brochs in Scotland.
Dun Troddan (grid reference NG83401724) stands on a level rock platform north of the Abhainn a’ Ghlinne Bhig, in the lower reaches of Gleann Beag. It lies just north of the minor road leading south from Kirkton, Glenelg. It can be accessed via a steep path. The neighbouring broch of Dun Telve lies 470 metres (510 yd) to the west, whilst the "semi-broch" known as Dun Grugaig is around 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) to the southeast.[1]
History
The brochs date from the Iron Age, approximately 2000 years ago.[2]
Dun Troddan was first sketched in about 1720, when it was still an intact tower.[3] It is thought that it was over 12 metres (39 ft) high in 1720, and it was described as being "by far the most entire of any in that Country".[3] It was robbed for stone in 1722 during the construction of Bernera Barracks in Glenelg.[3] The broch was visited by Thomas Pennant in 1772, and it was still a substantial structure, although it had lost the upper gallery by this time.[3] It was cleared of "debris" without any supervision and consolidated by the Office of Works in the years between 1914 and 1920.[3] The broch is now in the care of Historic Environment Scotland.
