Dunbeg (Scottish Gaelic: An Dùn Beag), formerly known as Dunstaffnage (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Stafhainis[2] or Dùn Staidhinis[3]), is a village about 2+1⁄2 miles (4 km) outside of Oban, Scotland.[4][5] It has a population of just under 1,000. It is home to the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), one of the primary marine science centres in the UK. Also near Dunbeg is Dunstaffnage Castle, part of the Campbell Clan and is owned by the Captain of Dunstaffnage.
Dunbeg
| |
|---|---|
 Scottish Association of Marine Sciences labs | |
  Dunbeg Location within Argyll and Bute | |
| Population | 720 (2022)[1] |
| OS grid reference | NM881334 |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | OBAN |
| Postcode district | PA37 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
Archaeology
editArchaeological excavations in 2010, by Argyll Archaeology, in advance of the development of the European Marine Science Park found evidence that people were also living in the area from the Neolithic to the Early Historic periods. The archaeologists discovered funerary pyres, and an infant burial, that were in use for several generations during the Late Iron Age and a farmstead in use sometime between the late 7th to 9th centuries AD. The end of activity on the site roughly coincides with documented attacks on Iona by Norse invaders in 795, 802, 806 and 825. A Norse presence in the areas was found in the form of a fragment of copper alloy Viking ring money by a metal detectorist before the excavation.[6]
Landmarks
editPrimary School
editDunbeg Primary School is a single storey building originally opened in 1960. In 2021 it had places for 141 children of all denominations from P1-7, it also provides preschool education with spaces for 20 3–5 year olds.[7]
The Scottish Association for Marine Science
editIt is one of Europe's leading marine science research organisations, one of the oldest oceanographic organisations in the world and is Scotland's largest and oldest independent marine science organisation.
Dunstaffnage Castle
editThe castle dates back to the 13th century, making it one of Scotland's oldest stone castles, in a local group which includes Castle Sween and Castle Tioram.
Climate
edit| Climate data for Dunstaffnage climate station (3m elevation) 1991–2020 averages | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 7.5 (45.5) |
7.8 (46.0) |
9.3 (48.7) |
11.9 (53.4) |
14.9 (58.8) |
16.8 (62.2) |
18.2 (64.8) |
18.1 (64.6) |
16.2 (61.2) |
13.1 (55.6) |
10.0 (50.0) |
8.0 (46.4) |
12.7 (54.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.7 (36.9) |
2.6 (36.7) |
3.4 (38.1) |
5.0 (41.0) |
7.1 (44.8) |
9.6 (49.3) |
11.4 (52.5) |
11.4 (52.5) |
9.9 (49.8) |
7.5 (45.5) |
5.0 (41.0) |
2.9 (37.2) |
6.5 (43.7) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 206.2 (8.12) |
156.0 (6.14) |
137.1 (5.40) |
91.6 (3.61) |
94.9 (3.74) |
95.8 (3.77) |
109.9 (4.33) |
129.9 (5.11) |
140.9 (5.55) |
189.3 (7.45) |
178.3 (7.02) |
197.9 (7.79) |
1,727.9 (68.03) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 20.5 | 17.4 | 17.4 | 13.8 | 13.8 | 14.2 | 15.7 | 16.8 | 16.3 | 19.0 | 19.7 | 19.6 | 204.0 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 32.4 | 62.6 | 94.9 | 147.2 | 192.1 | 171.0 | 135.0 | 135.4 | 99.1 | 77.7 | 46.3 | 33.3 | 1,227 |
| Source: metoffice.gov.uk[8] | |||||||||||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ "Scottish Parliament: Placenames collected by Iain Mac an Tailleir" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
- ^ "Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland database". Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
- ^ Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 49 Oban & East Mull (Map). Ordnance Survey. 2007. ISBN 9780319229774.
- ^ "Ordnance Survey: 1:50,000 Scale Gazetteer" (csv (download)). www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk. Ordnance Survey. 1 January 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
- ^ "Vol 60 (2016): Multi-period activity, the European Marine Science Park, Dunstaffnage, Argyll | Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports". journals.socantscot.org. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
- ^ Council, Argyll and Bute (3 November 2010). "Dunbeg Primary School". Argyll and Bute Council. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ "Climate Normals 1981–2010". Met Office. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
 | This Argyll and Bute location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |