{{Short description|Hill fort in Highland, Scotland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}} {{Use British English|date=January 2018}} {{Infobox historic site | name = Dunearn | image = File:Colindoune - geograph.org.uk - 540928.jpg | alt = | caption = Dunearn from the south west in winter | image_map = | map_type = Scotland Nairn | map_alt = | map_caption = | map_relief = 1 | coordinates = {{coord|57.4505|-3.7836|display=inline,title}} | map_dot_label = Dunearn | location = | region = | type = Hill fort | length = {{convert|245|m}} | width = {{convert|45|m}} | area = | volume = | diameter = | circumference = | height = {{convert|266|m}} AOD | builder = | material = Stone, earth | built = | abandoned = | epochs = Iron Age, Pictish }} '''Dunearn''' is a hill fort located {{convert|15|km|mi}} south south east of Nairn in Highland, Scotland. It is situated on a steep-sided hill called Doune rising to approximately {{convert|266|m}} above ordnance datum just south of Dulsie Bridge (which provides a modern crossing of the River Findhorn) in the parish of Ardclach.<ref name=Canmore>{{Historic Environment Scotland|cat=PLA |num=15497 |num2=NH94SW 1 |desc=Dunearn |access-date=1 July 2025}}</ref><ref name=OS>{{Ordnance Survey|access-date=28 May 2018}}</ref>
The site commands uninterrupted views in all directions of the valley of the Findhorn including towards the pass of Streens in the west, which leads to upper Strath Dearn.<ref name=Canmore/><ref>[https://ancientmonuments.uk/124591-dunearn-fort-510m-south-of-nairn-and-cawdor-ward#.WwwA2akh1Yc “Dunearn“] Ancient Monuments, quoting Historic Scotland. Retrieved 28 May 2018.</ref>
==Etymology== The modern name, which is shared by a nearby farm<ref name=OS/> is from the Scottish Gaelic, ''Dùn Éireann'' meaning "Hill(fort) on the Findhorn".<ref>Mac an Tàilleir (2003) p. 43</ref> Although Gaelic in origin the derivation of the name of the River Findhorn itself is not absolutely clear. Watson (1926) states that it is derived from ''Fionn Èire'', meaning "white Ireland" which "doubtless refers to the white sands of the estuary". The dative ''Èireann'' gave rise to the use of the anglified 'earn' or 'erne' in other local names such as Invererne, Cullerne and Earnhill.<ref>Watson (1926) pp. 229-230</ref>
==Structure== The slopes up to the fort are steep from all directions save the west. The summit is S-shaped and was surrounded by two parallel walls<ref name=Canmore/> which closely followed the contour that delineates the summit plateau.<ref>RCAHMS Emergency Survey (1943) p. 185</ref> The visual evidence of the inner rampart is simply scattered stones and boulders along with some evidence of vitrification,<ref>Historic Environment Scotland: NH94SW 1, quoting Feachem.</ref> suggesting that the fort may have been burned at some point in its history. The outer wall lies about {{convert|20|ft|m}} beyond the inner and is a "mere crest-line, dotted rather sparsely with stones and boulders".<ref name=Canmore/> The proximity of the two walls to one another suggests it was designed as a single structure with stabilising timbers in the centre. The entrance lies to the south west<ref name=Canmore/> and the enclosed area is roughly {{convert|.75|ha|acre}} in extent.<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|cat=IMG |num=1323333 |num2=DP 149872 |desc=Plane table survey: Dunearn Fort. |access-date=1 July 2025 |fewer-links=yes}}</ref> thumb|left|From the south east in the summer. The lower, grassy slopes lie below the remains of the ramparts in the upper wooded area.
==Local comparisons== Dunearn is one of a group of larger, more open, structures such as Craig Phadrig, which is thought to have been constructed in the 4th Century CE<ref name=Craig/>{{efn|Craig Phadrig, which is much smaller than Dunearn,<ref name=Canmore/> is popularly believed to have been the site of the Pictish king Bridei's conversion to Christianity by Columba in 565 CE, although there is no real evidence for this.<ref name=Craig>{{Historic Environment Scotland|cat=PLA |num=13486 |num2=NH64NW 6 |desc=Craig Phadrig |access-date=1 July 2025 |fewer-links=yes}}</ref>}} and Ord Hill of Kessock, both to the west near modern-day Inverness. There are various smaller structures in the area, such as Doune of Relugas,<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|cat=PLA |num=15755 |num2=NJ04NW 5 |desc=Doune Of Relugas |access-date=1 July 2025 |fewer-links=yes}}</ref><ref name=Canmore/> and Dun Earn<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|cat=PLA |num=15564 |num2=NH95SE 1 |desc=Dun Earn |access-date=1 July 2025 |fewer-links=yes}}</ref>{{efn|The small fort of Dun Earn is located, rather confusingly, above the Dunearn Burn near its confluence with the River Findhorn about {{convert|2|km}} south of Conicavel and {{convert|12|km}} downstream from Dunearn.}} lower down the Findhorn valley and Dun Evan and Castle Finlay in the Nairn valley.<ref name=Canmore/> The existence of another large hill fort at Cluny Hill<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|cat=PLA |num=15818 |num2=NJ05NW 4 |desc=Cluny Hill |access-date=1 July 2025 |fewer-links=yes}}</ref> in Forres, which extends to {{convert|3.6|ha|acre}} was confirmed in 2017.<ref>Isaksen (2017) p. 37</ref>
==Modern uses== It is thought that the relatively level summit of the hill was farmed for many years until 1906, including ploughing and it is likely that the stone remains of the fortification are "slight" as a result.<ref name=Canmore/>
An artillery base was established in the fort during the Second World War.<ref name=Canmore/>
==References== === Notes === {{notelist|notes=}}
===Citations=== {{reflist|30em|refs=}}
===Bibliography=== * {{Historic Environment Scotland|cat=ARC|num=1517230|num2=MS 36/275|desc=RCAHMS Emergency Survey; manuscripts 1943 (vol.2)}} * Feachem, R. (1963b) A guide to prehistoric Scotland. 1st. London. Page(s): 140 RCAHMS Shelf Number: E.2.FEA * Isaksen, Leif (2017) [https://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/85498/1/Cluny.compressed.pdf The Hilltop Enclosure on Cluny Hill, Forres description, destruction, disappearance".] Lancaster University. Retrieved 28 May 2018. * {{Gaelic Placenames}} * Watson, W. J. (1994) ''The Celtic Place-Names of Scotland''. Edinburgh. Birlinn. {{ISBN|1-84158-323-5}}. First published 1926.
{{River Findhorn}}
Category:Hillforts in Scotland Category:Vitrified forts in Scotland Category:Archaeological sites in Highland (council area) Category:Iron Age sites in Scotland