Ordnance gazetteer of Scotland > Volume 2

DUNAIDH
at the southern extremity. Its flattish summit, retain-
ing vestiges of an ancient vitrified fort, supposed to be
Scandinavian, commands an extensive view along Eil-
brannan Sound and the Firth of Clyde.
Dunaidh, a large, high, almost inaccessible rock in
Eillarrow parish, Islay island, Argyllshire, near the
Mull of Islay. An old castle or fort on it, that seems to
have been a place of remarkable strength, is now an utter
ruin, without any characters of architectural interest.
Dunain or Dunean, an estate, with a mansion, in
Inverness parish, Inverness-shire, 3 miles SW of Inver-
ness town. It anciently had a baronial fortalice ; and
to the N rises Dunain Hill (940 feet).
Dun Alastair or Mount Alexander, a fine modern
Scottish Baronial mansion in Fortingall parish, Perth-
shire, on the left bank of the Tummel, 3 miles E of
Kinloch Rannoch, and 17 W of Pitlochry. Its prede-
cessor was the seat of the Struan Robertsons, and it owes
much of its ornamental planting to the Jacobite poet-
chieftain of Clan Donnachie, Alexander Robertson (1670-
1749), the prototype of Scott's ' Baron of Bradwardine.'
The present house was built by Gen. Sir John Mac-
donald, E.C.B. (1788-1866). There is a post and tele-
graph office of Dun Alastair. See Dalchosnie.
Dunamarle. See Dunimarle.
Dunan, a bold promontory (100 feet) on the Atlantic
coast of Lochbroom parish, Ross-shire, on the northern
side of the entrance to Loeh Broom, 10J miles NW of
Ullapool.
Dunan-Aula, a tumulus in Craignish parish, Argyll-
shire, in the valley of Barbreck. It is said to have
been formed over the grave of a Danish prince of the
name of Olaf or Olaus, who led an invading force into
sanguinary battle with the natives on ground in its
vicinity ; and J mile distant are a number of rude monu-
ments erected in memory of the warriors who fell in the
battle.
Dunans, an estate, with a mansion, in Eilniodan
parish, Argyllshire, near the head of Glendaruel, 4 miles
NNE of Glendaruel House, and 23 NNW of Rothesay.
Dunaskin, a post office, with money order, savings'
bank, and telegraph departments, in Dalmellington
parish, Ayrshire, near Waterside station.
Duuaverty, a quondam castle in Southend parish,
Argyllshire, on a small bay of its own name, 5 miles E
by N of the Mull of Eintyre, and 10J SSW of Campbel-
town. Crowning a steep pyramidal peninsula (95 feet),
with cliff descending sheer to the sea, and defended on
the land side by a double or triple rampart and a fosse,
it appears, both from its site and from its structure, to
have been a place of uncommon strength, and com-
manded the approach to Scotland at the narrowest part
of sea between Scotland and Ireland. An early strong-
hold of the Lords of the Isles, said to have given shelter
to Robert Bruce at the ebb of his fortunes, it was cap-
tured and garrisoned by James IV. in 1493, and in the
following year recaptured by Sir John of Isla, who hanged
the governor from the wall, in the sight of the Eing
and the fleet. In 1647 it capitulated to General David
Leslie, who put every mother's son of its garrison to the
sword, instigated thereto by Mr John Nave, his excel-
lent chaplain, who ' never ceased to tempt him to that
bloodshed, yea, and threatened him with the curses
befell Saul for sparing the Amalekites.' The castle has
been so completely demolished that scarcely a vestige of
it now exists.
Dunavourd. See Donavourd.
Dunbar (Gael. dnn-Tiarr, 'fort on the point'), a town
and a parish on the north-eastern coast of Haddington-
shire. A royal and parliamentary burgh, seaport, and
seat of considerable traffic, the town by road is 11 miles
ENE of Haddington, and llj ESE of North Berwick,
whilst by the North British railway it is 29^ E of Edin-
burgh, and 28J NW of Berwick-upon-Tweed. It
stands, Carlyle says, ' high and windy, looking down over
its herring-boats, over its grim old Castle now much
honey-combed, — on one of those projecting rock-pro-
montories with which that shore is niched and vandyked,
as far as the eye can reach. A beautiful sea ; good land
402
DUNBAR
too, now that the plougher understands his trade ; a.
grim niched barrier of whinstone sheltering it from the
chafings and tumblings of the big blue German Ocean.
Seaward St Abb's Head, of whinstone, bounds your
horizon to the E, not very far off ; W, closeby,isthedeep
bay and fishy little village of Belhaven ; the gloomy Bass
and other rock-islets, and farther the hills of Fife, and
foreshadows of the Highlands, are visible as you look
seaward. From the bottom of Belhaven Bay to that of
the next sea-bight St Abb's-ward, the town and its
environs form a peninsula. . . . Landward, as you
look from the town of Dunbar, there rises, some short
mile off, a dusky continent of barren heath hills, the
Lammermuir, where only mountain sheep can be at
home.' To which need only be added that the town
itself chiefly consists of a spacious High Street and two
smaller parallel streets.
At the foot or N end of the High Street stands Dunbar
House, within the old park of the castle, exhibiting to
the street a large couchant sphinx with extended wings,
and to the sea a handsome facade with central circular
portico. Built by the Messrs Fall, and thereafter a
mansion of the Earl of Lauderdale, it was purchased in
1859 by Government, and converted into a barrack.
The park around it, which serves as the parade-ground
of the Haddingtonshire militia, contained, till its
levelling in 1871-72, two large artificial mounds, sup-
posed to be of prehistoric origin. The castle, founded
at an early period of the Christian era, but many times
reconstructed in the course of wellnigh a thousand
years, bore for a long time prior to the invention of
gunpowder the reputation of impregnability, and was
one of the grandest fortresses of the Border counties,
exerting a powerful influence on the national history
down to its demolition in 1568. Its ruins, already
grievously dilapidated, were still further reduced by ex-
cavations for the Victoria Harbour ; but Grose has left
us two views, and Miller a full description, of them
in their more perfect condition. Of Miller's description
the following is a summary : — The castle is founded
on a reef of trap rocks, which project into the sea,
and, in many places, rise like bastions thrown up
by nature to guard these stern remains of feudal
grandeur against the force of the waves. The body
of the buildings measures 165 feet from E to W,
and in places 207 from N to S. The South Battery —
by Grose supposed to have been the citadel or keep, and
now converted into a fever hospital — is situated on a
detached rock, which, 72 feet high, and accessible only
on one side, is connected with the main part of the castle
by a passage of masonry 69 feet long. The citadel mea-
sures 54 feet by 60 within the walls, and in shape is
octagonal. Five of the gun-ports, or so-called ' arrow-
holes,' remain, and measure 4 feet at the mouth, but
only 16 inches at the inner extremity. The buildings are
arched, and extend 8 feet from the outer walls, and look
into an open quadrangle, whence they derive their light.
About the middle of the fortress, part of a wall remains,
through which there is a doorway, surmounted with
armorial bearings, and leading seemingly to the prin-
cipal apartments. In the centre are the arms of George,
eleventh Earl of Dunbar, who succeeded his father in
1369 ; and who, besides the earldom of Dunbar and
March, inherited from his heroic mother the lordship of
Annandale and the Isle of Man. The towers had com-
munication with the sea, and dip low in many places.
NE from the front of the castle is a large natural cavern
of black stone, supposed to have formed part of the
dungeon, which, Pennant observes, ' the assistance of a
little art had rendered a secure but infernal prison.'
But as it has a communication with a rocky inlet from
the sea on the W, it is more likely that it is the dark
postern through which Sir Alexander Ramsay and his
brave followers entered with a supply of provisions to
the besieged in 1339. It was a place also well suited for
securing the boats belonging to the garrison. The castle
is built of a red stone like that of the neighbouring
quarries. Part of the foundation of a fort, which was
begun in 1559 for the purpose of accommodating a