Crannogs On the Web - Islay

Loch Gorm (Possible) Artificial Island

Surveyed May 8, 1996

NGR: NR 24056 65856

This suspected artificial island is located 136m N of a small spur of land, which juts out into the E end of Loch Gorm. The site is accessed from the E by a causeway of large boulders and medium sized stone which have been placed in a double row to form a platform, measuring 3.4m in average width. The causeway measures 97m in length but terminated 30m short of the E shore of Loch Gorm and 61m short of the artificial island, at the time of survey. A large sand-bar has formed between the E side of the site and the E shore of Loch Gorm.
Although the suspected artificial island is located 181m from the E shore of Loch Gorm, it can be easily waded to without the water ever reaching above the knees. The suspected artificial island is an oval shaped islet which measures 107m N-S by 77m E-W at its base. The outer margin of the islet is ringed by a 20m wide spread of large and medium sized stone which sharply contrasts the surrounding sandy loch bed. The sides of the islet are composed of a scatter of small stone, which rises up gradually at a 4° angle from the loch bed to form an oval shaped platform, measuring 63m N-S by 38m E-W. The surface of the islet was heavily vegetated and covered with dense clumps of willow, briars and turfs of long grass at the time of survey.


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