EHG5036 - Walkover Survey - Torrish Woodlands, Kildonan, Sutherland

An archaeological desk-based study and walk-over survey of part of Torrish Woodlands, in the Strath of Kildonan in the parish of Kildonan, Sutherland, was undertaken in October 2015. The survey was required by Torrish Woodlands in order to establish the extent of archaeological remains along the proposed route of forest tracks, which formed Highland Council Planning Application No 15/01064/PNO. The survey area comprises three distinct areas in mature and semi-mature forest, where a new track is currently being constructed on the east bank of the Gylable Burn and others are proposed. Torrish Woodland is situated on the 319m high Kilearnan Hill to the south of the River Helmsdale, approximately 8km WNW of the village of Helmsdale in east Sutherland (see Appendix I) and the site is accessed from a track leading from an unclassified public road connecting the A897 in the Strath of Kildonan to the A9 through Glen Loth. The survey resulted in the discovery of 74 archaeological features/sites, all of which are covered as a non-detailed group on the Highland Council’s Historic Environment Record. Though some of the features are well-preserved and are reasonable examples of their type and they collectively form a legally protected Scheduled Ancient Monument, there are many examples of better preserved archaeology in other places which are not scheduled. The route of the proposed track (and future tracks) should avoid all of the identified archaeology. <1>