© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic Environment Scotland
Dun Arkaig is a broch, a distinctive Iron Age stone tower that stands on volcanic bedrock of Palaeogene age in Inverness-shire. The underlying mafic lava and tuff of this landscape reflect the ancient volcanic activity that shaped the Scottish Highlands. Brochs were prestigious fortified residences, typically built between the 1st century BC and 1st century AD, characterised by their hollow-walled circular design and commanding positions within the territories they dominated.
The broch at Dun Arkaig occupies a strategic location that would have offered visibility across the surrounding terrain. Constructed from locally available stone, it functioned as both a defensive structure and a symbol of power for an Iron Age elite family. The hollow-wall construction technique, unique to Scottish brochs, provided structural stability whilst requiring less internal space than solid masonry towers.
Today, Dun Arkaig is protected by Historic Environment Scotland as a scheduled monument, recognised for its archaeological and historical significance. The site contributes to our understanding of Iron Age settlement patterns and the sophisticated architectural knowledge of ancient Scotland's northern peoples. The volcanic geology beneath the broch remains a defining feature of this dramatic Highland landscape.
Dun Arkaig, broch is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM13662. View the official record →
Dun Arkaig is a broch, a distinctive Iron Age stone tower that stands on volcanic bedrock of Palaeogene age in Inverness-shire. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM13662.
Dun Arkaig, broch dates from the iron age period, and is classified as a broch. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Dun Arkaig, broch 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 SM13662.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Dun Mor,fort,Struanmore (3.7 km), Dun Garsin,broch,Bracadale (4 km), Abhainn Bhaile Mheadhonaich, broch and standing stone 145m SE of An Cairidh (4.1 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Dun Arkaig, broch'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.
Dun Arkaig, broch stands on Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Palaeogene, bedrock that formed in the Paleogene. The rock here is mafic lava and mafic tuff.