EHG5979 - DBA and walkover survey - Lochailort to Arisaig and Mallaig 33kV Circuits refurbishment

A desk-based assessment and walk-over surveys were undertaken by Scotia Archaeology in 2020 to assess sites of archaeological and historical significance along the route of a 33kv overhead power line from Lochailort to Arisaig and another from Lochailort to Mallaig, both of which are to be refurbished. The line to Arisaig runs from a power distribution point at approximately NM 77160 82810, a short distance north of the small village of Lochailort, to approximately NM 66400 86730, near Arisaig Railway Station, Highland District. The Mallaig line starts at the latter point, terminating at NM 67640 94810 at an electricity distribution site 2km south of Mallaig. Very few archaeological sites and monuments were found to be located close to these overhead power lines. Most were some distance from the lines and, although some types of sites such as pre-Improvement townships can spread over a considerable distance, there was little evidence of many of them extending into the routes of the power lines. It was recommended that the two sites identified by the desk study and walk-over survey should be afforded some protection from the development process, with works around one potentially requiring on-site monitoring. <1>