Scheduled Monument

Elan-Rossdhu, crannog 250m WSW of Rossdhu HouseSM7772

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
16/10/1998
Type
Secular: crannog (with post-prehistoric use)
Local Authority
Argyll And Bute
Parish
Luss
NGR
NS 35954 89382
Coordinates
235954, 689382

Description

This monument comprises an artificial island, or crannog, in Loch Lomond. The island is roughly circular with a diameter of 30m (when the Loch Level is at its usual 7.5m above Ordnance Datum). There is a large quantity of tumbled masonry on the island which may be the remains of the predecessor to Rossdhu Castle.

The area to be scheduled includes the island and an area of the loch bed surrounding it which contains submerged remains which may include evidence of the island's construction and use. The area is a circle 60m in diameter centred on the island itself and is marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

This monument is of national importance as a crannog, possibly of Iron Age construction date, with medieval remains visible. It is a well-preserved example of a medieval defensive island site and has great archaeological potential to shed light on the crannog's construction and lengthy period of use.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NS 38 NE 3.

References:

FIRAT (1996) 'Loch Lomond Islands (Arrochar; Luss parishes), survey', Discovery Excav Scot, 15.

Fraser, Sir W. (1869) 'The chiefs of Colquhoun and their country, Vol. 2, 143, Edinburgh.

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.

Images

There are no images available for this record, you may want to check trove.scot for images relating to Elan-Rossdhu, crannog 250m WSW of Rossdhu House

There are no images available for this record.

Search trove.scot

Printed: 01/11/2026 19:02