Monument record 248 - DUN A' BHEIRGH, RUDHA NA BERIE, LEWIS

NB24NW 2 2367 4733.

"Dun a Bheirgh" or "Dun a Bherigh", Shawbost, Lochs, is "a fortified peninsula on the sea-coast, abut 120 yards long and 50 yards broad, which is naturally defended by cliffs; and was enclosed by a thick wall (of which the remains may yet be seen), across the isthmus: the doorway through the wall was 3 1/2 ft broad and 2 1/2 ft high. Within the wall is another wall, at right angles to the enceinte, 8 yards of which can still be traced, through which was a covered passage, also 3 1/2 ft by 2 1/2 ft, and roofed by flags. There are ruins of 'Boths' against both walls, and Mr Macphail is of opinion that they opened into the mural passages."
F W L Thomas 1890.

(NB 235 475) Promontory Fort, Rudha na Berie: the promontory is isolated by the remains of a stone wall across the isthmus, stretching from the cliff-edge on the N side to within 12ft of the cliff-edge on the S, the gap being the entrance. The N or inner side of this entrance is still visible.
The rampart measures about 102ft in length, and the outer foundation course can still be traced for the greater part of that distance, in a massive tumble of stone 23ft wide.
Some 30ft from the outside of this defence is a shallow ditch 7ft wide with a low bank on either side rising 1 1/2 ft above the bottom of the cut.
A short distance from the inner side of the entrance, almost abutting on the edge of the cliff on the S side of the peninsula, there are traces of the foundations of one, if not two, small enclosures.
RCAHMS 1928, visited 20 June 1914.

A promontory fort, at NB 2367 4733, on the rocky headland of Rudha na Beirghe, generally as described by the RCAHMS. Erosion of the wall at the east end suggests that it was at least 4.0m in width, but no trace of internal features or of the 'covered passage' noted by Thomas, can now be seen.
The outer 'ditch' described by the Commission is the much reduced remains of two boulder-faced walls, spread to c. 3.0m in width, probably representing an earlier phase. A slight hollow in each, a third of the way along from the west end, with set slabs flanking the inner one, probably indicates an entrance, but this could be due to mutilation. Another fragmentary wall between the main wall and the central wall is probably relatively recent. The two enclosures noted by the Commission are too vague for classification.
Visited by OS (R L) 19 June 1969.

The enclosures within the wall number three. Each is rectilinear, two of two cells, one of probably three cells. Approximate measurements, 1.5 x 1.25m (two cell enclosures) and 2 x 0.5m (the three cell structure). The latter has an orthostat at the southern end.
Mick Tighe & Hamish Roberton, 28.5.2001

Flint awl found in the eroding rampart at NB 2367 4733, possibly as late as Iron Age.
MML 29.7.2002

Thomas, F. W. L., 1890, Archaeol Scot, 382 (Bibliographic reference). SWE7756.

RCAHMS, 1928, The RCAHMCS 9th Report & Inventory: Outer Hebrides, Skye and the Small Isles, 6, No. 12 (Bibliographic reference). SWE5587.

Burgess, Christopher & Church, Michael, 1997, Coastal Erosion Assessment, Lewis. A Report for Historic Scotland (Bibliographic reference). SWE41000.