Grianan of Aileach
Built high atop a hill outside the village of Burt, this beautifully preserved ring fort can be seen from miles away, a crown made of stone. Experts think the existing structure was built in the 6th or 7th century A.D., although the site had already been used for many centuries by then. There’s evidence it may have originally been a temple of the sun as long ago as 1700 B.C. From the mid-5th century A.D. to the early 12th century A.D., this was the seat of the kingdom of Aileach, home to the O’Neills, the chieftains of this area. The view from the top is spectacular. The waters of the two lakes—Lough Swilly and Lough Foyle—sparkle in the distance, and you can make out the shape of the entire peninsula. The round fort is made of stone without mortar; the walls are terraced, giving access to the top.
Built high atop a hill outside the village of Burt, this beautifully preserved ring fort can be seen from miles away, a crown made of stone. Experts think the existing structure was built in the 6th or 7th century A.D., although the site had already been used for many centuries by then. There’s evidence it may have originally been a temple of the sun as long ago as 1700 B.C. From the mid-5th century A.D. to the early 12th century A.D., this was the seat of the kingdom of Aileach, home to the O’Neills, the chieftains of this area. The view from the top is spectacular. The waters of the two lakes—Lough Swilly and Lough Foyle—sparkle in the distance, and you can make out the shape of the entire peninsula. The round fort is made of stone without mortar; the walls are terraced, giving access to the top.
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