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Dun Borodale is a small Iron Age dun situated 160 metres west-southwest of the Old Free Church Manse on the Isle of Raasay, Inverness-shire. This defensive settlement stands upon bedrock of Middle Jurassic mudstone, sandstone and limestone, characteristic of the Hebridean geology. Like other duns of the Atlantic seaboard, it represents a form of fortified domestic architecture unique to Iron Age Scotland, typically comprising a circular or sub-circular stone-built structure with thick walls designed for both defence and display of status within the community.
The dun's location on Raasay reflects the settlement patterns of Iron Age communities in the Hebrides, who utilised prominent positions across the archipelago's varied terrain. Such structures served as residences for elite families and would have functioned as focal points for social and economic activity within their territories.
Dun Borodale is afforded statutory protection as a scheduled monument under Historic Environment Scotland reference SM12900, recognising its significance as a surviving example of Iron Age settlement architecture in the Western Isles and its contribution to understanding the defensive and domestic practices of Hebridean Iron Age society.
Dun Borodale, dun 160m WSW of Old Free Church Manse, Raasay is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM12900. View the official record →
Dun Borodale is a small Iron Age dun situated 160 metres west-southwest of the Old Free Church Manse on the Isle of Raasay, Inverness-shire. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM12900.
Dun Borodale, dun 160m WSW of Old Free Church Manse, Raasay dates from the iron age period, and is classified as a dun 160m wsw of old free church manse, raasay. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Dun Borodale, dun 160m WSW of Old Free Church Manse, Raasay 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 SM12900.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Inverarish, iron ore mine, kilns and associated remains, Raasay (0.4 km), Cave of Oars,souterrain 250m SE of Raasay House (0.5 km), Raasay House,St Maol-Luag's Chapel,110m NE of (0.7 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Dun Borodale, dun 160m WSW of Old Free Church Manse, Raasay'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 Borodale, dun 160m WSW of Old Free Church Manse, Raasay stands on Middle Jurassic Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Middle Jurassic. The rock here is mudstone, sandstone and limestone.