Go to the Main Scottish Cave and Mine Database Search Page

Portnealon Mine

Islay, NE of Loch Finlaggan, Argyllshire.

Mine. Workings lie 150m adjacent to SE shore of Loch Finlaggan,Low trench transected by dry-stone boundary wall, adjacent is a shaft & series of drifts with depth of about 1m surrounded by spoil 1m to 2m high. Trench may have been adit, draining shaft, seepage evident. On same line as shaft is second shaft 2m deep with surrounding spoil. To S of workings limestone outcrop has two deep open cast cuts that traverse upsweep for about 47m. Rig & furrow in parts overlain by earthworks.

Alternative Names: None recorded.

Notes: Remains of Portnealon Mine NE of Loch Finlaggan, either side of stone dyke separating farms of Finlaggan & Kepolls. Drift mine, or adit, 2 shafts & several linear opencast quarries. Veins of lead, exposed on surface, mined & left deep scars in limestone outcrop. Drift mine, or adit, traddled by wall, comprises broad trench driven into slope, with banks of spoil either side. Opens NW to loch & surrounding ground boggy (NR 3932 6813). On line of trench, 16m to SE, shaft encircled by spoil dump (NR 3935 6811). Spoil overlies lazy-bed cultivation to W. 2nd shaft & attendant spoil dump, some 60m to S, in area of rig-and-furrow cultivation (See NR36NE 70). In all instances where relationship could be observed, mining appears to belong to most recent phase of activity. Visited by RCAHMS (ARW/SPH), 9 Sept 1993.

Named after 18th-century 'tack' called 'Port Nealon' refers to 'the port serving the islands of loch Finlaggan'.