Scheduled Monument

Rubha Cladh Eoin, fort, KnapdaleSM10343

Status: Designated

Documents

Where documents include maps, the use of this data is subject to terms and conditions (https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/termsandconditions).

The legal document available for download below constitutes the formal designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The additional details provided on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not form part of the designation. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within this additional information.

Summary

Date Added
12/12/2001
Supplementary Information Updated
27/09/2017
Type
Prehistoric domestic and defensive: fort (includes hill fort and promontory fort)
Local Authority
Argyll And Bute
Parish
North Knapdale
NGR
NR 76123 85999
Coordinates
176123, 685999

Description

The monument comprises a prehistoric promontory fort, sited on the SW point of one of the narrow fingers of land extending into the head of Loch Sween. The promontory known as Rubha Cladh Eoin is cut off by a massive drystone wall, which springs from a rock on the NW flank, to run E for 20m, before turning sharply S to demarcate an area measuring about 55m by 30m.

The wall is well-preserved, standing to a height of 1m and a width of up to 2.5m, with three to four courses visible at the NE angle. There is a break in the walling on the E side, which may mark the original entrance. The interior was at one time planted with conifers, now removed, but trees still grow close to the wall.

The area to be scheduled is irregular in shape, measuring a maximum of 75m NE-SW by 65m transversely, to include the fort wall and the area enclosed by it, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as an example of a prehistoric promontory fort, an unusual monument type in mid-Argyll. Despite some forestry planting in the interior, now removed, it retains the potential to provide important information about defensive architecture and contemporary economy and land use.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NR 78 NE 7.

References:

Campbell, M. and Sandeman, M. (1964) 'Mid Argyll: an archaeological survey', Proc Soc Antiq Scot, Vol. 95, 59, No. 383.

Ordnance Survey (1867) Object Name Books of the Ordnance Survey, Book No. 57, 46.

RCAHMS (1988) The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Argyll: an inventory of the monuments volume 6: Mid-Argyll and Cowal, prehistoric and early historic monuments, Edinburgh, 167, 169, No. 263 Plan, 167.

About Scheduled Monuments

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Scheduling is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for monuments and archaeological sites of national importance as set out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

We schedule sites and monuments that are found to be of national importance using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Scheduled monument records provide an indication of the national importance of the scheduled monument which has been identified by the description and map. The description and map (see ‘legal documents’ above) showing the scheduled area is the designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The statement of national importance and additional information provided are supplementary and provided for general information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within the statement of national importance or additional information. These records are not definitive historical or archaeological accounts or a complete description of the monument(s).

The format of scheduled monument records has changed over time. Earlier records will usually be brief. Some information will not have been recorded and the map will not be to current standards. Even if what is described and what is mapped has changed, the monument is still scheduled.

Scheduled monument consent is required to carry out certain work, including repairs, to scheduled monuments. Applications for scheduled monument consent are made to us. We are happy to discuss your proposals with you before you apply and we do not charge for advice or consent. More information about consent and how to apply for it can be found on our website at www.historicenvironment.scot.

Find out more about scheduling and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

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Printed: 05/11/2026 07:53