Mingary Fort

Distinct from the famous castle of the same name on the Ardnamurchan peninsula, Mingary Fort on Mull (also known as Dun Sgaillean) is located 365 meters south-south-east of Mingary farm buildings. It sits on an isolated rocky knoll that rises 11.5 meters above the surrounding landscape, providing excellent natural protection on its north-east and south-west sides via sheer rock faces.

The fort is small and oval, measuring 30 meters by 15 meters within a single stone wall that varies between 2.1 and 2.8 meters in thickness. A later stone-and-turf dyke has been built directly over the original wall for its full circuit, obscuring much of the ancient stonework. Inside the fort, there are remains of a rectangular building and two enclosures, which are likely of a later date than the original Iron Age defences.

This site offers a compelling example of continuity of use, where a prehistoric defensive site was adapted for agricultural purposes in later centuries. Intermittent stretches of the original internal and external wall faces can still be spotted by the keen-eyed observer. It is a quiet, less-visited site that offers a peaceful connection to the past.