Dun Dornaigil Broch – Alltnacaillich, Scotland - Atlas Obscura

Dun Dornaigil Broch

Alltnacaillich, Scotland

Unusually, this ancient Iron Age broch has never been excavated. 

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Dun Dornaigil, which is sometimes referred to as Dun Dornadilla, are the impressive remains of a drystone roundhouse known as a broch. The structure sits just above the Strathmore River. 

Broches can only be found in Scotland and usually date back more than 2,000 years. Many researchers believe these massive roundhouses were defensive structures. Other opinions suggest they were symbols of prestige and power to showcase the wealth of the local chieftain. These structures were probably served multiple purposes.

The remaining stone walls of this broch tower stand at an impressive seven meters high in some places. The entrance is on the northeast side, but is closed due to a collapsed upper section of the broch. There is a triangular lintel over the entrance. It’s thought this lintel stood as a status symbol. 

Know Before You Go

About ten miles from Hope to Dun Dornaigil, and the road is very narrow, with only infrequent passing places. The road condition is poor and is overrun with vegetation. 


Would not recommend this trip in a vehicle that does not have reasonably high clearance and definitely not in bad weather, this is not somewhere you want to get stuck.

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December 7, 2020

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