EHG659 - Walkover survey - Fort Augustus to Glen Quoich Overhead Power Line

A walkover survey along the route of an overhead power line between Fort Augustus and the east end of Glen Quoich, Highland was carried out by Scotia Archaeology in 2013. The line, which was due to be rebuilt, runs from Auchterawe Power Station, 2.5km south-west of Fort Augustus (at approximately NH 3555 0839) south-westwards as far as Invergarry. From there it continues westwards along the north side of Loch Garry and the River Garry, terminating at NH 0703 0230 near a dam at the east end of Loch Quoich. The length of this line is some 36km although five short branches lead off the main line, adding a further 4km to the overall length of the route. Much of the route ran through commercial forestry plantations and, although the power line was set in a corridor that was clear of trees, the ground within this corridor was covered with bracken. At the time of the field survey the bracken stood to its full height, making it very difficult to traverse on foot but also rendering it impossible to determine what might lie beneath it. Two areas were almost free of bracken, one towards the east end of the route, the other at its west end. There were a few short stretches running through forestry that were relatively free of bracken although nothing of archaeological significance was encountered in any of them. On the evidence gleaned from the walk-over survey there are two sites that could be adversely affected by the line refurbishment: Site 8, the foundations of a pre-Improvement building in Glen Oich and Site 31, the substantial remains of a large structure towards the west end of Glen Garry. <1>