Prehistoric Scotland - Part 2 - Dun Telve and Dun Trodden Brochs

Dun Telve Broch

It was another overcast day when we drove on a one-lane road down the eastern side of the Isle of Skye to take the car ferry across from Kylerhea to Glenelg on the mainland.

Once on the mainland, we followed a one lane track to the Glenelg Hotel for lunch, with stops for livestock. This cow completely ignored our car -- feeding her calf was all-consuming.

Until a car coming toward us stopped and a man got out to disperse the small herd.

What we'd come searching for was the Dun Telve and Dun Trodden Brochs. They lie east of Glenelg, near a stream, in a lovely and fertile appearing glen. Isolated now.

Another American couple at Dun Telve

Because these huge brochs dot only Scotland, mostly in the western highlands and Hebrides, and have a close resemblance to one another, it is thought that artisan craftsmen traveled about, building them. The stately homes of the Iron Age, about 2000 years ago. This one was torn apart by the English army in 1720-22 to construct the Bernera Barracks in an effort to subdue any Jacobite uprisings after the one in 1715 (and that's another story).

This broch was built with outer and inner rock walls, with stairs between, opening out on a higher floor, which would have been made of wood. There would have been some type of roof, also.

We're allowed to clamber about at our peril, there being no official present.

After Jay and I had satisfied ourselves exploring this broch, we found the nearby broch, Dun Trodden,  on a flat shelf above the road. We'd missed seeing it on our way in. There is no place to park except in a small turnout.

Dun Trodden

View of glen from Dun Trodden looking west toward the sea. If you have a stately home, you would want to protect it from invaders.

I do like old stone steps

Instead of taking the car ferry back to the Isle of Skye, we drove inland, avoiding more livestock in the road.

And found a wonderful view of the beautiful Five Sisters mountains (Bealach Ratagan) overlooking Loch Duich.