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Abhainn Bhaile Mheadhonaich is a Bronze Age broch and standing stone situated in Inverness-shire, 145 metres south-east of An Cairidh. The broch is built upon bedrock of Palaeogene mafic lava and tuff, the volcanic material that forms the underlying geology of this part of the Highlands. This ancient igneous foundation would have provided substantial stone suitable for drystone construction, making the location naturally advantageous for builders of the Iron Age roundhouse tower that succeeded the Bronze Age settlement.
The broch itself represents a distinctively Scottish form of fortified residence, a circular stone-built structure with hollow walls and internal chambers. Its presence alongside the Bronze Age standing stone reflects the long continuity of human occupation and ceremonial activity at this site across multiple millennia. The co-location of prehistoric monuments suggests the location held enduring significance for successive communities.
The monument is protected by Historic Environment Scotland under the reference SM13664, recognising its archaeological importance as evidence of Bronze Age and Iron Age settlement patterns in the central Highlands. Such multi-period sites provide valuable insight into how communities exploited the highland landscape across different prehistoric eras.
Abhainn Bhaile Mheadhonaich, broch and standing stone 145m SE of An Cairidh is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM13664. View the official record →
Abhainn Bhaile Mheadhonaich is a Bronze Age broch and standing stone situated in Inverness-shire, 145 metres south-east of An Cairidh. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM13664.
Abhainn Bhaile Mheadhonaich, broch and standing stone 145m SE of An Cairidh dates from the bronze age period, and is classified as a broch and standing stone 145m se of an cairidh. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Abhainn Bhaile Mheadhonaich, broch and standing stone 145m SE of An Cairidh is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM13664.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Dun Feorlig,broch 230m NNE of Feorlig Farm (1 km), Ardmore,chapel & burial ground 230m SW of (3.1 km), Dun Neill,dun 420m SW of Ardmore (3.3 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Abhainn Bhaile Mheadhonaich, broch and standing stone 145m SE of An Cairidh's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Abhainn Bhaile Mheadhonaich, broch and standing stone 145m SE of An Cairidh stands on Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Palaeogene, bedrock that formed in the Paleogene. The rock here is mafic lava and mafic tuff.