EHG5923 - DBA and walkover survey - Storr Lochs OHL replacement, Skye

A desk-based assessment (DBA) and walkover survey were undertaken by Mott MacDonald in 2022 on the Isle of Skye (An t- Eilean Sgitheanach) in advance of the network reinforcement of the overhead line feeding the Storr Lochs Hydro Power Station (hereafter referred to as the ‘Scheme’). The DBA was designed to create an historic environment baseline, identifying heritage assets with potential to be impacted. The study area included a 1km buffer of the Scheme area for known heritage assets alongside a 100m buffer for the walkover survey, with this extended along the beach to the north to cover potential working areas. The walkover survey was extensive and identified 23 additional previously unrecorded non-designated heritage assets within the 100m buffer of the Scheme area and along the beach. These included nine sections of peat cutting (MM13 – MM19, MM21 and MM22), one quarry (MM20), and three drystone walls (MM23, MM24 and MM25). The most notable features were identified around Bearreraig Bay and included: a circular stone enclosure (MM27); a building shown the 1st edition OS map (MM35); at least two previously unrecorded structures (MM29 and MM32); associated earth banks (MM28 and MM30); and enclosures (MM31 and MM33). The dates of these features are unknown, but the buildings likely represent a small-scale post-medieval fishing community later replaced in the early modern period. It is anticipated than none of the heritage assets identified within the assessment area will be impacted by the Scheme. <1>