Scheduled MonumentsScotlandLoch na h-Airde canal, harbour and noosts, Rubha an Dunain, Isle of Skye
Iron Age · Harbour and noosts, rubha an dunain, isle of skye

Loch na h-Airde canal, harbour and noosts, Rubha an Dunain, Isle of Skye

Scotland
HES SM13676
Period
Iron Age
Site type
Harbour and noosts, rubha an dunain, isle of skye
Nation
Scotland
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic Environment Scotland

Overview

History & significance

Loch na h-Airde canal, harbour and noosts at Rubha an Dunain on the Isle of Skye is an Iron Age maritime installation consisting of an artificial channel, harbour works, and boat-hauling slips known as noosts. The site demonstrates sophisticated coastal engineering adapted to local tidal conditions, with the canal providing protected anchorage and the noosts serving as facilities for beaching and maintaining vessels. The archaeological evidence suggests this was a substantial harbour settlement, reflecting the maritime economy and seafaring capabilities of Iron Age communities in the Scottish Hebrides. The site represents an important example of prehistoric harbour infrastructure in Scotland, preserving material evidence of Iron Age navigation, trade, and settlement patterns in the western isles.

Loch na h-Airde canal, harbour and noosts, Rubha an Dunain, Isle of Skye is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM13676. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Loch na h-Airde canal, harbour and noosts, Rubha an Dunain, Isle of Skye?

Loch na h-Airde canal, harbour and noosts at Rubha an Dunain on the Isle of Skye is an Iron Age maritime installation consisting of an artificial channel, harbour works, and boat-hauling slips known as noosts. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM13676.

What period does Loch na h-Airde canal, harbour and noosts, Rubha an Dunain, Isle of Skye date from?

Loch na h-Airde canal, harbour and noosts, Rubha an Dunain, Isle of Skye dates from the iron age period, and is classified as a harbour and noosts, rubha an dunain, isle of skye. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across Britain.

Who is responsible for protecting Loch na h-Airde canal, harbour and noosts, Rubha an Dunain, Isle of Skye?

Loch na h-Airde canal, harbour and noosts, Rubha an Dunain, Isle of Skye 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 SM13676.

What other scheduled monuments are near Loch na h-Airde canal, harbour and noosts, Rubha an Dunain, Isle of Skye?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Rubh an Dunain,dun on S side of Soay Sound (0.2 km), Rubh'an Dunain,chambered cairn,Soay Sound (0.3 km), Creag a' Chapaill Cave, Rubha an Dunain, Isle of Skye (0.5 km).

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