EHG6230 - Walkover survey - proposed Camster II Wind Farm

An archaeological walkover survey was undertaken by AECOM in 2019 of the proposed development site for the Camster II Wind Farm in order to inform an Environmental Impact Assessment. The development site was located within an area that had been used as a managed forestry plantation for over 50 years, and lay approximately 7 km south-west of Wick. The surrounding landscape was moorland to the south and west and agricultural land to the north and east. An attempt was made to examine all turbine locations, as well as associated infrastructure including new access tracks, quarries, and compounds. However, the presence of mature plantation as well as areas of previous felling and replanting meant the majority of areas within the red line boundary of the development site were unsuitable for walkovers. A possible former course of the Achairn Burn which ran through the red line boundary of the development site was noted in the areas of possible shielings (29 & 30), although variations in the course of the river/burn may have been natural rather than man-made, and this area would not be the subject of any development such as turbines, compounds or new access tracks. This small area represented one of the only sections of the moor that had remained free from planting, and turbines or associated infrastructure were not proposed in this area. No further features were recorded. <1>