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MHG14963 - Stone dykes - Allt Clais Nan Caorach

Summary

Remains of stone dykes encircling hillside near Allt Clais Nan Caorach.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

A survey of the archaeological and historic features was undertaken within Abernethy Forest Reserve for the RSPB in 1995.

Remains of stone dykes encircling hillside near Allt Clais Nan Caorach. The enclosed area is about 250m long and up to 150m wide. The dykes do not join up to form a continuous circuit, but it seems reasonable to assume that they would originally have completely enclosed the hillside.
There is an extensive area of bracken with patches of grass, within the enclosed area. This differs sharply from the surrounding heather and suggests an agricultural use at one time.
The dyke has 3 gaps on its northern side. The first (NJ 0128 1414) is about lm wide. There is another dyke running uphill from it in a south -westerly direction for about 30m. The second gap is 4m wide and ends at a 3rd. dyke which runs uphill in a southerly direction for about 8m before disappearing in a patch of bracken. There is another gap about 2m wide on the other side before the main dyke continues uphill (NJ 0123 1416).
The main dyke follows a line roughly similar to a boundary shown on the first edition Ordnance Survey Map of 1863. The whole system seems to have had an agricultural use, although it is now in moorland. <1>

Sources/Archives (1)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NJ 0120 1404 (158m by 237m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NJ01SW
Civil Parish	ABERNETHY AND KINCARDINE
Geographical Area	BADENOCH AND STRATHSPEY

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