MHG32325 - Causeway or ford - Kyle of Tongue
Summary
A pedestrian causeway across the low-tide sand-flats of the Kyle.
Type and Period (2)
Protected Status
- None recorded
Full Description
A rapid coastal zone assessment survey was conducted by GUARD in the Autumn of 1997 commissioned by Historic Scotland from the Viking and Early Settlement Archaeological Research Project based at the University of Glasgow.
In the intertidal zone between Ard Thunga and Eilean Thunga is a pedestrian causeway across the low-tide sand-flats of the Kyle. The ferry across the Kyle left from the east side at Ard Thunga or at Tongue House at high-tide and carried people straight across to Achuvoldrach ). At low-tide the same channels were no longer open and so people had to walk across this causeway to Eilean Thunga in the middle of the Kyle to then take a ferry across the last deep stretch of water to Achuvoldrach (pers comm Gordy Mackay at Achuvoldrach house). The causeway consists of angular blocks of stone, several courses high and wide. This causeway is now entirely covered in seaweed and is partially ruinous in stretches, making it very treacherous to approach and also masking detail of its construction. <1>
Structure in Kyle of Tongue
Site recorded and photographed by Mr R Mackay, Strathy, May 2003.
'Causeway' shown on the 1:10000 OS map. This is shown as a ‘ford’ on the 1st edition OS 6” map (c.1870) '
It is not clear when the ford was built up but it may have ancient origins. It is likely to have been maintained by the occupants of Tongue House - the Reay family and from 1829, the Sutherlands.
The causeway was photographed during Aerial survey by RCAHMS in 2012. See link below to HES Canmore record for photos. <2>
GIS spatial data altered from indicative grid reference NC 5799 5869 to extent of the feature based on the causeway as seen in aerial photography. <3>
Sources/Archives (4)
- <1> SHG21099 Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: Brady, K. & Morris, C.D.. 1997. North Sutherland Survey: Coastal Zone Assessment Kyle of Durness to Torrisdale Bay. Glasgow University (GUARD). 30/01/1998. . p.210 Site 55.
- <2> SHG23282 Interactive Resource/Online Database: Historic Environment Scotland. Canmore. 319490.
- <2> SHG29866 Interactive Resource/Online Database: Historic Environment Scotland. National Record of the Historic Environment (on Trove.scot). 319490.
- <3> SHG27491 Image/Photograph(s)/Aerial Photograph/Vertical: Get Mapping. 1999-2001. Get Mapping colour vertical aerial photography 1999-2001 (The Millennium Map). XY
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NC 5805 5871 (272m by 158m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NC55NE |
| Geographical Area | SUTHERLAND |
| Civil Parish | TONGUE |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Investigations/Events (1)
External Links (0)
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