Totamore dun facts for kids

Location of duns, hillforts, and crannogs, on Coll.

Totamore Dun is an ancient stone fort, called a dun, found on the island of Coll in Scotland. It sits near the small village of Totamore. This old fort is built on top of a rocky hill, close to some sand dunes.

What is Totamore Dun?

Totamore Dun is a type of ancient fort. People built these forts a very long time ago, often on high ground. They used them for protection. This particular dun is located about 300 meters (about 984 feet) north of Totamore village.

Where is Totamore Dun Located?

The dun is built on a rocky area. It's on the eastern side of some sand-hills. This spot was chosen because it offered natural protection. The fort is surrounded by steep cliffs that are up to 19 meters (about 62 feet) high. This made it very hard for enemies to attack. However, one side, the north-northeast, was flatter and easier to approach.

How Was Totamore Dun Built?

The people who built Totamore Dun constructed a strong wall around the top of the rocky hill. This wall was once about 3 meters (about 10 feet) thick! It went all the way around the highest part of the hill. The wall created a protected space inside, which was about 25 meters (about 82 feet) long and 20 meters (about 66 feet) wide.

What Remains of the Wall Today?

Today, the wall is mostly gone. Only small pieces of it are left. It's hard to see how grand it once was.

The Entrance to the Dun

The entrance to Totamore Dun was about 3.3 meters (about 11 feet) long and 1.2 meters (about 4 feet) wide. On the northern side of the entrance, there were large stone blocks. These blocks were up to 0.7 meters (about 2.3 feet) long and 0.4 meters (about 1.3 feet) high. On the southern side, only one stone from the entrance remains.