EHG4324 - DBA and walkover survey - Burn of Whilk Wind Farm, Latheron

A desk-based assessment and walkover survey was carried out by AOC Archaeology Ltd in 2004 in advance of a proposed wind farm development scheme at Burn of Whilk, Latheron, Wick, to inform a Conservation Plan and subsequent decisions regarding turbine layout. Owing to the density of forestry plantation, it was not possible to undertake a systematic walkover survey within the forested area of the site. Data was sought for all sites, monuments and buildings within the development area and for those lying within 10km of the radius of the development site. Within this region 197 sites were identified, although several of these contain more than one physical feature. These include: two mesolithic flint scatters, 13 chambered cairns, 7 stone rows, 14 hut circles, 14 Bronze Age cairns, 3 standing stones, 2 cists, 12 brochs, 2 forts, 1 Pictish symbol stone, 1 cross marked slab, 136 monuments dating to the late C18, C19 or C20 and 23 undated sites. Of these sites, 39 lay directly within the development area, although none of them were to be directly and physically impacted during any aspect of the development. <1> The survey information was used to inform an environmental statement to support the planning application. <2> The development of the wind farm site was later re-structured and in 2010 new plans were proposed for a smaller number of turbines (see EHG).