EHG5838 - DBA and walkover - proposed Speyside Distillery, Strath Mashie

A desk-based assessment (DBA) and walkover survey were carried out by Highland Archaeology Services in 2022 in advance of the development of a distillery at Strath Mashie, Speyside on behalf of Speyside Distilleries Company Ltd. The DBA identified only one previously recorded feature within the site boundary together with a possibly significant place name ‘Dail-na-ceardach’ or ‘field of the smith’. A total of 25 sites were noted within 0.5km of the site boundary or 150m of the access track. The walkover survey identified four features within the site boundary including two clearance cairns, a tumbled wall and the previously recorded military road. Two more features were also noted close to the site in the location of the former St Michael's Chapel. Due to the features noted on the site together with the place name and nature of the ground a program of trial trenching in advance of development has been recommended, focusing on the areas of open fields on the site located close to the river. <1>