Monument record 765 - DUN BUIDHE, LOCH DUN MHURCAIDH, BENBECULA

NF75SE 1 7942 5458

(NF 7942 5458) Dun Buidhe (NR)
OS 6"map, Inverness-shire, 2nd ed., (1903)

Dun Buidhe is built on a small island near the centre of the southern part of Loch Dun Mhurchaidh, Benbecula, to the south of a larger island, Eilean Dubh, which is connected to the north-west shore of the loch by a causeway (at 'A') 70 yards long by 5ft broad at the top of which about half is now (1915) on dry land owing to the lowering of the water level. At the island end, the causeway is defended by a transverse stone wall running north/south for about 35 yards. The north end curves inwards to meet some rocks on the shore of the island while the south end appears to have extended into the water. A second causeway, nearly 150 yards long by 4 1/2ft broad at the top, connects Eilean Dubh to the dun. Most of it is now on dry land.
The dun occupies the island, 50 yards diameter, surrounded by a strong wall built at the water's edge which survives in part on the S. The main building (55' diameter E-W) has been almost entirely destroyed (part survives on the SW arc, and to the E & NE) and its stones used to build the later structures on the island.
RCAHMS 1928

Dun Buidhe is generally as described by RCAHMS. The dun is sub-circular, c.18m diameter over a wall from 3.0m to 6.0m thick; there is evidence of a gallery in the N and W sides. The interior is almost square, the entrance being from the NE. Where best preserved the outer face of the wall shows four courses and is c.0.8m high.
The tumbled defensive wall around the island varies from 2.1m to 1.4m in thickness and stands to a maximum height of 2.3m. There is evidence of at least two phases of later occupation on the island in several buildings and enclosures, some of which overlie the others.
The causeways are as described by RCAHMS, but the transverse wall mentioned is clearly a much later addition and is probably contemporary with the more recent occupation.
Re-surveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (J T T) 26 May 1965

Three unroofed buildings and an enclosure, all within a larger enclosure, are depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Inverness-shire, Hebrides, North & South Uist etc. 1880, sheet xliv) and on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1972).
Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 6 May 1997

RCAHMS, 1928, The RCAHMCS 9th Report & Inventory: Outer Hebrides, Skye and the Small Isles, 102, No. 349 (Bibliographic reference). SWE5587.

R W Feachem, 1963b, A Guide to Prehistoric Scotland, 179 (Bibliographic reference). SWE2141.

H N Hawley, 1970b, Discovery and Excavation, Scotland, 25-6 (Bibliographic reference). SWE12998.