Teroy Broch

About Teroy Broch

Teroy fort or broch is an Iron Age fortified site, situated atop a rocky spur, with panoramic views across Loch Ryan. Access is difficult and even the approach is on farm tracks; after that, it is probably easiest to access the fort up a woodland track on the side of a dyke to the west of the fort and avoid the young fir plantation. The top of the outcrop has been fortified by a ditch which is still very evident, and the rocky faces artificially steepened. There has been excavation here in the past and it is now a Scheduled Monument, reflecting the fact that brochs - stone towers of the Iron Age, requiring remarkable engineering skills to build - are unusual outliers in the South West of Scotland - another may be visited at Ardwell (Doon Castle) on the Rhins. There is an intramural chamber on the North East of the entrance, perhaps a guard cell. The views are certainly commanding : you can see the Bay of Luce on the east, the Rhinns of Galloway on the west, and look down on Loch Ryan.
You are near the lost mediaeval town of Innermessan on the shores of the Loch - now represented by a motte which is around 30 foot high above its encircling ditch and situated on a raised beach - and the well-preserved (privately owned) 16th Century Craigcaffie tower. For military archaeological interest, visit the important site of the Cairnryan Military Railway at Innermessan shore, where there are concrete, iron and wooden remains of a World War I and World War II ship building yard and slipway with ruins of a red brick winch house on the slipway. The military site and Innermessan Motte are near the Loch Ryan Coastal Path, which covers a fascinating and scenic section of coastline between the Rhins Coastal Path and the Ayrshire Coastal path.