Discover a crannog
In medieval times, crannogs were used not only as homes, but also as fishing stations, a place to keep hunting dogs, and especially as refuges in times of trouble. Often castles were built on islands which may have been the remains of earlier crannog dwellings, and family papers may contain valuable clues.
'... the island was granted to the monks of Scone Abbey in 1122 by Alexander I ...'
Priory Island in Loch Tay, Perthshire (or the Isle of Loch Tay as it is also known), is one example of a clan stronghold being constructed upon earlier remains. It is recorded that the island was granted to the monks of Scone Abbey in 1122 by Alexander I, after his queen, Sybilla, reputedly died on the island. The Campbells of Glenorchy constructed a fort on the island in the 16th century, the ruin of which still stands today.
Practical search methods are also used to determine the likely presence or absence of one or more crannogs in a loch. These methods include aerial photography, remote sensing using sonar from a boat, and snorkelling or diving to take a closer look. The landscape offers clues as well, for most crannogs were built in shallow water near good arable land.
Published: 2005-01-25
