Duntulm
| |
|---|---|
 Tulm Island seen from Duntulm Castle | |
  Duntulm Location within theIsle of Skye | |
| OS grid reference | NG410739 |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | PORTREE |
| Postcode district | IV51 |
| Dialling code | 01470 552 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
| 57°41′N6°20′W / 57.68°N 6.34°W /57.68; -6.34 | |
Duntulm (Scottish Gaelic:Dùn Thuilm) is a township situated on the northwest coast of theTrotternish peninsula on theIsle of Skye, and is made up of Shulista (North Duntulm) and South Duntulm.[1] It is located on the single-trackA855 road about 24 miles (39 km) north of Portree. The township is noted for its long fortified headland, which the ruins ofDuntulm Castle presently sit.[2]
Duntulm is coastally composed of a series of bays and onlooked byCnoc Roll, a small hill standing 122 m above sea level with a radio mast. Duntulm Bay sits north of Duntulm Castle, and contains the 33 m high Tulm Island and smaller Port Duntulm.[3] The bay is overlooked by the abandonedlinear settlement of Erisco - depopulated during the highland clearances.[4] Duntulm features a single small loch, Loch Cleat (meaning Grey Loch).[5]
Immediately south of the castle isCairidh Ghlumaig, a bay which forms part of theyair (Scottish Gaelic for fish trap) of Ghlumaig.[5]Cairidh Ghlumaig is renowned for its outcrop of thetype section of theMiddle Jurassic agedDuntulm Formation (c. 170 million years old), which contains several trackways attributed to long-necked sauropods.[6] The coast fromCairidh Ghlumaig to Score Bay is strictly protected by the Skye Nature Conservation Order 2019, which safeguards Skye's vertebrate fossils.[7]
Duntulm was originally a Pictish fortress, forming one of a chain of duns or forts stretching along the north coast of theIsle of Skye. On the arrival of theNorsemen the fort became the residence of a powerfulViking leader who gave it the name David's Fort.
Trotternish often changed hands. It was not until the 16th century that the Lords of the Isles finally seized the territory and Donhall Gorm (Blue Donald) the chief (great-grandson ofHugh of Sleat), took up residence there and carried out considerable improvements to the fort. In 1730 theMacDonalds moved away from Duntulm and stayed for a time atMonkstadt before building their new castle atArmadale.
Duntulm is home to aclach-ultaich, alifting stone believed to weigh a ton.[8]
