Description

The monument comprises a promontory fort of prehistoric date. It is in the care of the Secretary of State for Scotland and is being re-scheduled to clarify the extent of the protected area.

The monument occupies a small headland on the E side of a coastal promontory known as Ness of Burgi. It comprises a fort, defined on the landward side by two rock-cut ditches on either side of a broad rampart which spans the neck of the headland. The entrance through the rampart and ditches is central, aligned with that of a large rectangular stone blockhouse, which stands beyond the inner ditch. The blockhouse, the SW end of which has been destroyed by erosion, stands to a height of about 1.2m, though its original height may have been as much as 3m. It contains three cells, and many of the lintel-slabs covering the passage through the centre of the blockhouse remain in position or have been replaced. Forts of this type are characteristic of the Iron Age, and another example, of remarkably similar plan, stands not far to the N, on the same stretch of coastline.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to be found. It is irregular with maximum dimensions of 140m NW-SE by 120m transversely, bounded on all sides except the NW by mean high water mark of ordinary spring tides, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

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Historic Environment Scotland Properties
Ness of Burgi
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/ness-of-burgi
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Source: Historic Environment Scotland