English: Loch Kinord and the crannog The vegetation at the edge of the loch has been flattened in places by recent visitors. Through the gap can been seen a crannog. This is an artificial island created around 2,000 years ago. The island was created by pushing large oak trunks into the loch bed and piling layers of stone, earth and timber on top to form the base. A large hut was then built on stilts above the water. Its purpose was defensive. Normally, a causeway would lead from the crannog to the mainland. However, in times of attack, the causeway would be destroyed, leaving the occupants on the island on the loch and the attackers on the mainland. It is thought that many of the lochs in Scotland would have had such dwellings on them, but very few have survived.