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MHG34805 - Hut circle - Abhainn Alligin (River Alligin)

Summary

A hut circle on the west side of the River Alligin.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

A hut circle on the west side of the River Alligin.

The site was found during a walkover survey of the Torridon Estate undertaken by J Wordsworth and J Harden in 1996-2002. The bracken-infested remains of a probable round house are sited on a tearrace just above the river. There is a possible entrance in the E. It is at least 7.5m in diameter over walls spread to c.1.2m formed of large boulders in the turf standing to between c.0.3m to 0.6m. <1>

An archaeological and historical assessment of the NTS Torridon Estate has been carried out intermittently over the past two years.
NG 832 585 Substantial roundhouse some 14m in diameter over enclosing boulder wall c 0.6m high and spread to 1.2m, with an entrance to the SE.
Sponsor: National Trust for Scotland.
J Harden and J Wordsworth 1998

NOTE: The diameter of the hut circle given in the DES entry above is incorrect.

183264 858438 CD009 River Alligin: The hut circle was visited by A Welti and C Dagg in 2009 as part of research for a dissertation on hut circles in Wester Ross. This slightly oval stone structure is situated on one of three river terraces beside a break of slope in a steep sided river valley. There are three terraces. The HC seems to be a single structure. The terrain is very rough and rocky with rank heather and bracken both inside and outside the HC. Just to the N is a shieling built into the slope. Other shielings lie upstream on the East side of the river Abhain Alligin. High up on the East bank is a line of rubble, which may be part of a later enclosure (see sketch). There is a boundary dyke to the SE of the HC. The average external diameters are 8.9m and those internally are 4.95m. The double skinned wall is 1.5 m thick with height 0.5m. The inner face is clearly defined by orthostats standing between 0.3m and 0.5m high but the outer face is uncertain.The possible entrance is 1m wide and faces East. <2> <3>

[Note: a database was set up as part of research for the dissertation and was subsequently expanded as an extension of the We Digs Project (see website link below). The full access database can be made available to enquirers/researchers if requested - contact HER for details].

GIS spatial data amended in 2022 to location as shown on 2020 APs. <3>

Sources/Archives (3)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NG 8326 5845 (20m by 20m)
Map sheet	NG85NW
Geographical Area	ROSS AND CROMARTY
Civil Parish	APPLECROSS

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

External Links (1)