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MHG14694 - Shieling settlement - Allt Beag

Summary

This shieling settlement consists of 5 houses and at least 8 drystone stores.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

This shieling settlement consists of 5 houses and at least 8 drystone stores (see Figs 2 & 3). The site was not accurately surveyed but the following dimensions were noted and a rough sketch is also drawn.
A) A round ended drystone shieling 3m by 1.8m internally, aligned NE/SW. Walls c0.8m thick and survive up to 0. Sm high. There was no obvious doorway.
B) A very tumbled drystone store 0.8m by 1.4m
C) A drystone store built against a large boulder 1.8m by 0.9m. The walls survive up to 0.4m high.
D) A drystone store 1.3m by 0.2m with walls up to 0.7m high.
E) A drystone store 1m by 0.7m with walls up to 0.7m high.
F) A round ended shieling aligned NW/SE 3.2m by 2m. Very overgrown so dimensions uncertain. Walls probably 0.75m wide.
G) A round ended shieling 4.1m by 1.7m aligned NW/SE. Walls are 0.m thick and survive up to 0.7m high. There is a doorway 0.5m wide on the E side.
H) An oval drystone structure 2m by 0.9m maximum width aligned N/S. There is an entrance 0.6m wide at the S.
I) An oval drystone structure 1.2m by 1.2m with walls up to 0.8m high.
J) A round ended drystone shieling 4.5m by 1.6m aligned NW/SE with a doorway 0.6m wide on the E. The walls only survive to 0.3m high, there having been some tumble.
K) A drystone structure 2m by 0.7m built against a large boulder. There is a possible entrance 0.5m wide on the NW opposite the boulder.
L) An oval structure im by 0.7m built against another 1m by 0.5m, possibly replacement structure.
M) A collapsed drystone shieling aligned NW/SE 3m by 1.7m. The doorway is presumed to have been sited on the E. The wall width is uncertain.
N) A drystone structure 3. 6m by 2.3m was built agaist a large boulder and aligne NW/SE'. The entrance was on the E adjacent to the boulder where there has been some wall collapse. The wall is 0.8m thick and survives tip to 1.2m high and from the tumble must have stood higher. This is the best preserved structure on the site. From its width is more likely to have been a store than a dwelling. The survival of the stone work suggests it may have been in use later than the other structures on this site. <1>

NG 744 440 The site W of bridge over Allt Beag is overgrown with heather, with some patches of rough grass. It consists of the footings of five small bothies, four 'dairies' and a possible pen.
M Macdonald 1995.

NG 745 440 Shieling settlement consisting of five houses, 3?4m long by 2m wide, with at least eight oval drystone stores averaging 1.5m wide.
Sponsors: Scottish Woodlands, Applecross Estate.
J Wordsworth 1997

NGR adjusted based on 2009 vertical aerial photographs. <2>

Sources/Archives (4)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NG 7444 4404 (225m by 230m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NG74SW
Geographical Area	ROSS AND CROMARTY
Civil Parish	APPLECROSS

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