EHG6209 - Walkover survey - proposed community woodland project, Torgarve Woods

A walkover survey was undertaken by C Dagg in 2019 in order to inform the proposed development of a community woodland project at Torgarve Wood near Applecross. It was intended that the results of the survey would inform plans for future use of the woodland area, including felling and replanting with minimal damage to the archaeological record and development of the archaeological assets identified within the woodland as resources for teaching or tourism with possible extensions to the existing archaeology trail and interpretation. The survey was intended to expand on the results of a brief survey carried out in 2004 (see EHG1057). The surviving archaeological features within Torgarve Woods represent several periods of human occupation and activity and demonstrates that although Torgarve is relatively poor ground, it has formed a part of the history of Applecross. This survey located only one new feature, the hut circle site 3b, to add to the known distribution of prehistoric settlement, but concluded that it was unlikely that further settlement remains of any period have been located within the woods but damaged or removed beyond recognition. It was considered that all the recorded archaeological features were in a stable condition and relatively visible within the forestry. However, the trees were mature and at risk of beginning to fall by wind blow, which would potentially damage archaeological sites. It was suggested that removal of some or all trees may be being considered as an option for management of the Torgarve Woods area, but any removal of tree cover would in the long run lead to the spread of bracken which would obscure, although not damage, features, or require potentially expensive and time consuming management. <1>