EHG5619 - DBA and walkover survey - proposed forestry, Moine Thorranach, Braemore Estate

A desk-based assessment and walkover survey were carried out by C Dagg in 2021 for an area of proposed woodland creation north of Loch Droma and the A835, part of Braemore estate in the parish of Gairloch, Ross-shire. This evaluation revisits archaeological features noted during these previous work, places them in a more detailed context and offers recommendations for their protection within the planting scheme according to present guidelines on forests and archaeology. No evidence was found for prehistoric settlement or land use, probably reflecting the lack of suitably drained soils for cultivation. However, there are traces of continuing but changing land use from, probably, the mediaeval period and the development of the seasonal shieling system, through population expansion in the 18th century bringing more marginal lands into use, then the complete disruption of the introduction of commercial sheep farming, its eventual economic failure and the reserving of the hills for sporting activities. <1>