EHG6417 - Walkover survey - proposed woodland creation, Aberarder Estate, Strathnairn

An archaeological desk-based assessment and walkover survey were carried out by West Coast Archaeological Services in 2025 on behalf of Aberarder Estate and TreeStory Ltd in advance of proposed woodland creation across the Aberarder Estate, upper Strathnairn. The survey area comprised a mixed environment from improved in-byre fields, rough grazing associated with former townships and farmsteads, and more upland moorland and heath, areas of existing woodland, and deep river valleys and glacial moraines. The walkover survey recorded 32 archaeological sites, some of which included multiple structures and features. Post-medieval features included townships, farmsteads, steadings, stock enclosures, pens, a shieling site, field enclosures defined by stone and turf banks, grain-drying kilns, and a bridge. Prehistoric structures included a cairn, two burnt mounds, hut circles and field systems comprising boundary dykes, lynchets and stone clearance cairns, and a fort located just outside the survey area. The prehistoric sites spanned the Bronze and Iron Age periods. Features associated with the development of a sporting estate at Aberarder included grouse shooting butts. <1>