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MHG58301 - Dyke - Allt Loch a Chuirn

Summary

A dyke was identified in the National Trust for Scotland's DBA and walkover survey 1998.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

A dyke was identified in a DBA and walkover survey undertaken by the National Trust for Scotland at their Inverewe Estate in 1998.
(INVG029) The Inverewe Estate is crossed by a number of broad, straight turf dykes which are presumed to be contemporaneous with each other. It seems likely that they date to the late 18th or 19th centuries.
This dyke is c1.2m wide and c0.8m high and runs in a SE-S-SSW arc from the dam at Loch a Chuirn (MHG58295) to the turf dyke that runs by the Alltan a Mhaide (MHG58305).
It was considered to be ins stable condition with photography recommended once every five years. <1>

This dyke is clearly visible in 2009 aerial photography, but as one continueous linear feature from Loch a Chuirn to Loch Kernsary, and has been mapped according to this, and not as identified in 1998 by NTS in their DBA and survey. <2>

It is possible that this feature, and other 'dykes' identified by the 1998 Survey by NTS of their Inverewe estate, are not dykes; as they have noted, these dykes are usually broad and straight and likely to be contemporaneous with each other. It is possible that they are the upcast from drainage ditches dug throughout this area. NTS noted in their survey that many lochs had been damed, but were unsure why, with a possible explaination that they were constructed to temporarily control water flow whilst draining land down stream around Loch an Dailthean. These a lot of these 'dykes' have been constructed between lochs, connecting then, and may thus relate to the same activity, or to a similar purpose.
GW 23/07/18

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NG 8835 8092 (207m by 1254m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NG88SE
Geographical Area	ROSS AND CROMARTY
Civil Parish	GAIRLOCH

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