Arran: Kilpatrick Dun (General view) - with northern granite in background


This monument comprises the ruins of a circular thick-walled dun built about 1800 years ago with a more recent enclosure wall. It was partially excavated in 1909 but is still poorly understood and difficult to interpret. Most probably it was a defended farmstead.
The dun is surrounded by a more recent wall of turf about 360m long, which varies in thickness and has an average height now of slightly over 1.2m It occupies almost one hectare and probably relates to exploitation of hill land during the post-medieval period.
Duns were built throughout western and northern Scotland in the 1st or 2nd centuries AD, although many have a later history. They share some architectural features, for example wall chambers, with brochs.

SCRAN ID: 000-000-004-085-C; Historic Scotland