Discover 5 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Coll (United Kingdom). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Breachacha Castle, Dùn Anlaimh, and Dùn Beic. Also, be sure to include Dùn Dubh in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Coll (Scotland).
Table of Contents
Breachacha Castle
Breachacha Castle is either of two structures on the shore of Loch Breachacha, on the Inner Hebridean island of Coll, Scotland. The earlier is a 15th-century tower house that was a stronghold of the Macleans of Coll, the island having been granted to John Maclean in 1431. This castle was superseded by a new dwelling in 1750 but continued to be occupied for a time, falling into a ruinous state only in the mid-19th century. Although work was performed in the 1930s to prevent further dilapidation, the castle was restored to livable condition only in the 1960s, by Nicholas MacLean-Bristol and his wife Lavinia. It is a Category A listed building.
The Project Trust had the old castle as their original base until a custom built location on the west of the island was created in 1988.
The newer Breachacha Castle (also known as Breachacha House), which is also a Category A listed building, was constructed in the mid-18th century 140 metres (460 ft) northwest of the old castle (56.5917°N 6.6297°W / 56.5917; -6.6297 (Breachacha House)). Samuel Johnson and James Boswell stayed at the newer castle on their tour of the Hebrides.
As of June 2017 the newer castle is for sale as a listed property in need of great repair.[1]
Dùn Anlaimh
Dùn Anlaimh, also known as Dùn Amhlaidh, and Eilean nan Cinneachan, is a crannog, located within Loch nan Cinneachan on the Inner Hebridean island of Coll. Upon the crannog there are the remains of walls and several buildings. These remains are not unlike those of other fortified islands found throughout the Outer Hebrides, and it is likely that Dùn Anlaimh dates from the late Middle Ages. According to local tradition on Coll, the fort was once the home of a Norse chieftain who was defeated in battle somewhere nearby. The early 20th century antiquary Erskine Beveridge considered it as one of the four most interesting fortifications, on Coll. The site of Dùn Anlaimh is located at grid reference NM18845684. The RCAHMS classifies the site as a 'crannog' and an 'island dwelling'.[2]
Dùn Beic
Dùn Beic is a dun located on the Inner Hebridean island of Coll. It is located at grid reference NM15495644 and is thought to date to between 1000 BCE to 1000 CE. The etymology of the dun's name is uncertain; one possibility is that it could be made up of a personal name. The dun appears in local legend as being one of several fortresses held by Norsemen, who were defeated in battle against the ancestor of the Macleans of Coll. There have been several archaeological finds at Dùn Beic; these include pieces of flint, burnt bone, and fragments of incised pottery.[3]
Dùn Dubh
Dùn Dubh is a hillfort, located on the Inner Hebridean island of Coll. The fort is one of three associated with a local tradition which states that they were once the fortresses of Norsemen before being defeated by a Maclean chieftain. The early 20th century antiquary Erskine Beveridge considered it as one of the four most interesting fortifications, on Coll. The site is located at grid reference NM18365942.[4]
Dùn Morbhaidh
Dùn Morbhaidh, also known as Dun Borbaidh, is a hill fort located on the Inner Hebridean island of Coll. The early 20th century antiquary Erskine Beveridge considered it as one of the four most interesting fortifications on Coll. The site is located at grid reference NM23456331.[5]