Across the loch from Eilean Donan Castle - a visit to Caisteal Grugaig (Castle of the Witch)

Описание: Caisteal Grugaig (The Witch's Castle), also known as Totaig Broch, stands on a rocky knoll overlooking Eilean Donan Castle at the head of Loch Alsh, Loch Duich and Loch Long in the Scottish Highlands. It is an example of an iron age broch tower, structures unique to Scotland which date from the last century BC to first century AD. Remains of these mysterious dry-stane buildings can be found from the Borders to the Shetland Isles. Caisteal Grugaig is one of my personal favourites, a place of incredible atmosphere, rugged beauty and sublime views. The original building stood three, possibly four stories high and was undoubtably a dwelling place of great status in its day. Much of the original stone work has been removed for other buiding purposes over the centuries, including the original construction of nearby Eilean Donan Castle in the 13th Century. The name of the hill on which the broch stands is 'Watchplace of the Tower' or in Gaelic 'Faire an Duine' which, legend has it, was the domicile of the witch Grugaig. The story goes she bore two sons, Telve and Trodden, whose names are given to the perhaps more famous brochs Dun Telve and Dun Trodden over the hill in Glen Beag, Glenelg. The walk to the broch begins at the old white ferry house at Totaig. Please note cars should be parked in the car park in nearby Letterfearn. The track can be muddy but is fairy straightforward and easy. It is also possible to follow the trail a few hundred yards beyond the broch, past a decent Forestry Commission information board, to the top of a rise where spectacular views can be had of the mountains of Skye and Lochalsh. A treck to the top of 'Faire an Duine' is also possible, offering a superb overhead view of the broch. However, this is slighly more arduous and potentially dangerous so care should be taken.
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Special thanks to the Forestry Commission for permission to use footage from a 3D laser scan of the broch undertaken on their behalf by AOC Archaeology Group.
Music is 'Cylinder Nine' by Chris Zabriskie, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/icenses/b...)
Source: http://chriszabriskie.com/cylinders/
Artist: http://chriszabriskie.com/