
Caisteal Grugaig’s forestry commission notice board.
Caisteal Grugaig also known as Dun Totaig sits half way up a hill at the meeting of three lochs. Loch Duich, Loch Long and Loch Alsh and also has spectacular views of Eilean Donan castle to the east and the Isle of Skye to the west and north with its iconic bridge away in the distance.
It’s a lovely walk to Totaig along the west side of Loch Duich from Shiel bridge, about 8 miles approximately. There is a single track road, peppered with lonely crofts, cottages and holiday homes, which you can drive along to the old (disused) ferry slipway at Totaig. Though parking there is very limited and it is better to park about a mile back and walk the last part. It is a heavily wooded area all along the road and around the area of the broch itself. The Ratagan forest covers most of the journey and many of the trees around the broch have been culled in recent years. From the Totaig slipway you have a mile long walk up a constantly rising pathway uphill to the broch and above, where you can see the many wonderful views in the area. The hill is called ‘Faire an Duine’ or the Watchplace of the Tower.
On the way to the broch before you pass Totaig you will see at the lochside some ancient cup marks and a lovely view of the backside of Eilean Donan castle… see pictures below.
Eilean Donan Castle
Cup marks at Totaig
Being situated on forestry commission land the broch is under their care and is not maintained in the way some commonly known historic properties are, which may not be a bad thing. In summer you will have to trudge through the bracken for the last 50 yards or so, but as the visitor numbers rise in spring and summer much of the bracken around the broch gets flattened, making a visit easier.
There is a tale of the Witch of Grugaig who lived in the broch and had two (giant) sons, Telve and Troddan, which is the name of the two brochs in Glenelg over the other side of the hill.
Caisteal Grugaig is a great visit especially if you enjoy a walk, which is superb, take a packed lunch and make the best of it. Below is a map to the broch..
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=186672&y=825116&z=0&sv=57.26677,-5.53950&st=7&searchp=ids.srf
You can find more in-depth historical data on Caisteal Grugaig by visiting Camore’s webpage..
http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/11812/details/caisteal+grugaig/
Caisteal Grugaig slideshow…
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Some of the spectacular views from Caisteal Grugaig…
Isle of Skye and Skye bridge
Dun Totaig (Caisteal Grugaig)
Dun Totaig (Caisteal Grugaig)
Loch Long and Eilean Donan Castle
Here is a laser scan survey undertaken for Forestry Commission Scotland of the broch…. see below…
57.257515
-5.513274
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