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Cnoc Donn is a broch situated 600 metres east-south-east of Dale Farm in Halkirk, Caithness. Built during the Iron Age, this circular stone tower represents one of Scotland's most distinctive prehistoric structures, constructed to command views across the surrounding landscape. The broch stands on bedrock of Middle Old Red Sandstone, formed during the Middle Devonian period, comprising conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone that would have provided ready building stone for its Iron Age inhabitants.
Brochs are robust double-walled towers unique to Scotland, typically measuring between 12 and 15 metres in external diameter. Their walls contain a void space between inner and outer faces, creating exceptional strength whilst economising on stone. The tapering profile and narrow entrance characterise the type, features that scholars believe served both defensive and communal purposes within Iron Age society.
Cnoc Donn is now protected as a scheduled monument under the care of Historic Environment Scotland, reference SM541, recognising its importance to understanding Iron Age settlement patterns in the north of Scotland. The Caithness landscape contains numerous brochs and related Iron Age structures, testament to sustained human occupation and investment in monumental architecture during this period.
Cnoc Donn, broch 600m ESE of Dale Farm, Halkirk is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM541. View the official record →
Cnoc Donn is a broch situated 600 metres east-south-east of Dale Farm in Halkirk, Caithness. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM541.
Cnoc Donn, broch 600m ESE of Dale Farm, Halkirk dates from the iron age period, and is classified as a broch 600m ese of dale farm, halkirk. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Cnoc Donn, broch 600m ESE of Dale Farm, Halkirk 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 SM541.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Dale Farm,broch 800m SE of (0.3 km), Tulach an Fhuarain,cairn 310m NW of Bridge of Westerdale (1.7 km), Tulach Lochain Bhraseil,cairn 310m WNW of Bridge of Westerdale (1.7 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Cnoc Donn, broch 600m ESE of Dale Farm, Halkirk'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.
Cnoc Donn, broch 600m ESE of Dale Farm, Halkirk stands on Middle Old Red Sandstone (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Middle Devonian. The rock here is conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone.