Harlosh Island

The end of the peninsula, with Harlosh Island beyond.

The beach in the foreground and the skerry beyond are the only bits of land in this square.

The southern extremity of Harlosh Point in Loch Bracadale.

A pretty impressive stack to be unmarked on the OS. Looking NW up Loch Caroy.

Another Camas Ban - this time at Harlosh. A snow topped Healabhal Beag is in the distance.

The outline of the building is clear in the recently fallen hail. Looking NW toward Loch Bharcasaig.

Viewed from a hilltop in Greep, the small rock in Loch Bracadale is Harlosh Skerry, with Harlosh Island behind it. On the horizon is the Isle of Rùm, looking close in spite of being some 25 miles to the south.

On the summit of a small hill to the south of the township of Balmore, at about 100' above sea-level is the site of a chapel and burying ground. Two rectangular foundations of buildings can be traced lying almost parallel to each other about 4' apart. The smaller building measures 31' in length and 18' in breadth externally, the larger structure measures externally 54' by 29'. The smaller of the two buildings is a chapel. It is orientated NW - SE with walling of roughly squared masonry, approx 0.8m wide, bonded with shell-lime mortar. The possible footings of the altar are visible at the E end. The other 'building' is a disused graveyard. No graves survive and according to local tradition they were removed many years ago for reburial at Kilmuir, Dunvegan. The small hill on which the chapel and graveyard are situated is called Cnoc a' Cladh. (Source - Highland Environmental Record)

The small hill in the centre of this picture is Cnoc a' Cladh. On the top of it are remains of a chapel and burial ground. More information: NG2840 : Chapel remains on Cnoc a' Cladh .

The line of an ancient wall leads to the rock on top of which lie the more ancient remains of Dùn Neill.

Dun Neill, a dun overlying the scant remains of a fort on a cliff girt coastal rock. The dun, oval on plan, measures 24.0m ENE-WSW by about 12.0m overall, with the wall 2.8m thick at the E end where parts of both the inner and outer wall faces can be seen. Four base stones of the outer face survive in the W and others are visible intermittently along the edge of the cliff in the S with the wall core suggesting a similar wall thickness for most of the extent. In the N the wall is a confused turf-covered spread of stones which have encroached well into the interior of the dun. A well-defined straight wall face visible intermittently within the core of the wall in the W may be a stabilizing wall, or possibly part of a later structure. The entrance passage in the NE, 1.4m wide, is visible at its outer end only, with the base course of the outer wall face continuing across it forming a level threshold. The access route to the entrance up a gap in the crag to the N shows signs of lateral revetment, and one step of a stair remains in situ. Within the dun is a turf-covered circular structure, 3.0m internal diameter, with an ill-defined entrance in the E it is uncertain whether it is built against the inner face of the dun wall or overlies it, and is of uncertain period or purpose. Outside the dun in the W, a heavily robbed wall encloses the remainder of the summit of the rock. No wall faces survive and its thickness cannot be ascertained. Traces of what is probably the same wall are visible outside the dun in the E and there is little doubt that this represents the remains of an earlier fort measuring about 43.0m ENE-WSW by c.12.0m, transversely, robbed to build the dun. (Source - Highland Environmental Record). (See also NG2840 : Remains of Dùn Nèill ).

Just a few stones of the wall of the dun remain in place. More information - NG2840 : Site of Dùn Nèill .

Harlosh Point provides well drained soil, and sheltered coves. It has been inhabited on and off for centuries. Here can be seen remains of two rectangular buildings enclosed by an almost circular wall. The water beyond is Loch Bracadale.

Here, a rectangular enclosure contains the ruins of two rectangular buildings. There are other ruins of similar age nearby as well as a more ancient dun, fort and chapel. The water is Loch Bracadale, and the small island is Harlosh Skerry.

This sheep dip is located on the shore of Loch Bracadale, on the eastward facing side of Harlosh point. The dip looks to have been in use until fairly recently, though the stone barn at the side has been a ruin for many years.

This basalt dyke resists erosion on the eastern side of Harlosh Point. The water is Loch Bracadale.

This basalt dyke stands some 15 feet high above the slightly softer rock that surrounds it. Its height is sufficient to keep the top above the high tide mark, and grass is growing well there. The water is Loch Bracadale. The island in the background to the right is Tarner. See also NG2840 : Dyke on the shore .