EHG5828 - DBA and walkover survey - proposed native woodland planting scheme, Couldoran Estate, Applecross

A desk based assessment and walkover survey were carried out by West Coast Archaeological Services in 2021 on behalf of Trees for Life Woodland Services and Couldoran Estate in advance of a woodland creation scheme. The survey area included wild, upland moorland terrain located between the A896 single track road in Glen Shieldaig and the northeast shores of Loch Lundie, around 2.7km to the SW, on the Applecross Peninsula, Wester Ross. The walkover survey recorded 16 archaeological sites comprising a total of 52 individual structures. These included a prehistoric hut circle, a possible farmstead in Glen Shieldaig, and a wide range of structures relating to transhumance activities in the landscape. These included shieling settlements, stone-built storage cells, boulder shelters, a sheepfold, stock enclosures and twinning pens. These structures would have been used in association with summer pastures and the management of cattle and sheep, and for the possible droving of livestock between different communities and to seasonal markets. <1>