Monument record 1199 - LOCH BRU, NORTH UIST

NF87SE 7 8956 7390.

(NF 8956 7390) An 'island-fort' has stood near the centre of Loch Bru, a branch of Loch an Duin. The dun itself only occupies a part of the islet and is about 30-33ft in diameter. There appears to be an outer rampart on the SE probably to guard the entrance at the end of a now ruinous causeway from the shore. (E Beveridge 1911)
Visible on A/Ps. (Dun visible on RAF air photograph 540/509: Pt II: flown 23 May 1951.
E Beveridge 1911.

A rocky islet, measuring 18.0m E-W by 11.0m transversely, on which there is a tumbled mass of stone (probably the collapsed walling of a dun). The possible remains of a submerged causeway are visible on the SE. Visited by OS (R D) 21 June 1965.

The islet appears to be a natural modification, positioned on a natural shallowing in the loch with exposed outcropping appearing in several places within and around the islet and causeway. Larger boulders are evident to the south and east of the islet where the loch bed deepens, and smaller portable stones have been placed around and on top resulting in a height of around 3.5m above current loch levels. Some modification is evident around the eastern and western margins, and there is evidence for structures built upon its surface although these are obscured by vegetation. No materials were recovered from the site and no causeway was observed. The nature of the islet (clear lack of artificiality) suggests a site outside our scope of interest, although the date of construction and use of the structure on the island and the modifications around it remain unknown.
Blankshein.S et al (2022).

Erskine Beveridge, 1911, North Uist: its archaeology and topography, 152 (Bibliographic reference). SWE12876.

Stephanie Blankshein, Angela Gannon, Duncan Garrow, Fraser Sturt, 2022, UIST CRANNOG SURVEY (Monograph). SWE41375.