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Dun Daraich is an Iron Age fort situated in Glen Finart, Cowal, Argyllshire, in the southwestern Highlands of Scotland. The site occupies a strategic position within a glaciated valley carved through bedrock of the Southern Highland Group, comprising psammite and pelite formations dating to the Middle Cambrian period. This ancient metamorphic geology underlies much of the surrounding landscape, creating the rugged terrain characteristic of Cowal.
The fort represents a typical example of Iron Age settlement in the Scottish Highlands, constructed to command views across the glen and control movement through this key valley route. Its position reflects the importance of Glen Finart as a thoroughfare in the region during the Iron Age, when such fortified sites served as centres of power and authority. The fort's defensive qualities would have been enhanced by the natural topography and rocky outcrops of the local geology.
Dun Daraich is recognised as a scheduled monument and is protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM9190. The site forms part of the broader archaeological heritage of Cowal, where numerous Iron Age forts and other prehistoric structures document the settlement patterns and social organisation of early Scottish Highland communities.
Dun Daraich, fort, Glen Finart, Cowal is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM9190. View the official record →
Dun Daraich is an Iron Age fort situated in Glen Finart, Cowal, Argyllshire, in the southwestern Highlands of Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM9190.
Dun Daraich, fort, Glen Finart, Cowal dates from the iron age period, and is classified as a fort, glen finart, cowal. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Dun Daraich, fort, Glen Finart, Cowal 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 SM9190.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Carrick Castle (5.4 km), Kilmun Collegiate Church, tower and burial ground (7.4 km), Adam's Cave, chambered cairn, Ardnadam (9.4 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Dun Daraich, fort, Glen Finart, Cowal'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 Daraich, fort, Glen Finart, Cowal stands on Southern Highland Group, bedrock that formed in the Middle Cambrian. The rock here is psammite and pelite.