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MHG57355 - Hut circle - Achiltibuie ('B')

Summary

A hut circle near Achiltibuie.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

A hut circle near Achiltibuie, 'B' in the original OS survey.

NC00NW 14 030 089
In the area centred on NC 030 089 are 3 circular stone-walled huts ('A' - 'C') within a contemporary field system marked by ruinous walls, stone clearance heaps and occasional slight lynchets.
'A' measures 11.5m in diameter between the centres of a wall spread to 2.0m with an entrance gap in the SE.
Surveyed at 1/2500.
'B' measures 8.5m in diameter between the centres of a wall spread to 1.5m. There are 2 gaps; one in the SW and one in the SE, either of which may represent the entrance.
'C', poorly preserved, measures 7.5m between the centres of a wall mutilated by erosion. Entrance not evident.
Surveyed at 1/10,000.
Visited by OS (J M) 16 July 1974.

Settlement of three huts and field system - surveyed at 1:1500. <1>
K Sabine, 1980.

A fourth hut also much spread and poorly defined, lies about 50m to the NW of 'b'.
R. Gourlay 24.8.1988

In the rough ground surrounding a post-medieval enclosure on the ridge, which is known as Bad a' Chotair, there are nine hut-circles which have previously been described under NC00NW 8, 9, 13, 14, 15 and 16. Four measure about 12m in internal diameter, one is 9.2m, and the remaining four are about 7.5m; all are surrounded by banks up to 1.5m in breadth and, where visible, the entrances lie on the S or SE. Two (ACHIL94 362, 378) have baffle walls at the entrance. What may have been other hut-circles, identified by the OS (NC00NW 16 B and D), were not located on the date of visit whilst a third (NC00NW 14 B) is no more than a small enclosure.Juxtaposed, but not necessarily associated, with the hut-circles, there are numerous stretches of stony field banks and small cairns. The banks occasionally form enclosures or fields but are often little more than linear clearance heaps. The banks to the N of Bad a' Chotair were previously described under NC00NW 21.

ACHIL94 371, NC 0295 0893 (formerly NC00NW 14A)
ACHIL94 378, NC 0308 0895 (formerly NC00NW 14C)
Visited by RCAHMS (JBS) 9 August 1994

As described above, RCAHMS has now merged a number of individual records. All the old Sites and Monuments Record cards can be viewed from this current record. <2>

The decision to replicate what was carried out by the former RCAHMS has been revoked. All previously merged records have been re-instated. <3>

203084 908944 Achiltibuie Post Office 8 CMM008 (ACHIL94378 NC00NW14B) (K Sabine): The hut circle was visited by A Welti and C MacNeilage in 2010 as part of research for a dissertation on hut circles in Wester Ross. This was part of a degree course overseen by Aberdeen University. CMM008 is one of a cluster of 12 circular stone structures on gently sloping ground near to Alt Bad a Chotair. Field systems both ancient and more recent are visible, and there is a burnt mound close to CMM002 (see MHG57343). The terrain consists of well grazed rough heather/ grassland with marshy areas. All the structures have panoramic views both inland and to the sea and are around 2000m north of the broch at Achlochan. K Sabine recorded a contemporary field system enclosing CMM008 (see MHG57355) and CMM009 (see MHG57356) and CMM216 (see MHG57358). The walls of CMM008 are heather covered mounds with occasional visible stones, and the HC is 'dished' in the centre, (see section in sketch). The structure is 150m from Alt Bad a Chotair ansd 1000m from the sea. Average inner diameter is 6.15m, outer diameter is 10.15m and the double skinned wall thickness is 1.5m, with maximum height 0.25m.The probable entrance is southeast facing. Its width is 2m and passage length 2.8m, indicating extended terminals. CMM008 is distant 15m from CMM009, 30m from CMM216 and 150m from CMM007 (see MHG57349). <4> <5>

[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].

NGR adjusted to position as seen on 2009 vertical APs. <6>

Sources/Archives (5)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 0308 0895 (14m by 14m)
Map sheet	NC00NW
Geographical Area	ROSS AND CROMARTY
Civil Parish	LOCHBROOM

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