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MHG58305 - Dyke - Alltan a' Mhaide

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.
(INVG031) 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 1 8th or 19th centuries.
This dyke is c1.2m wide and c0.8m high and runs in a NE-SE-S arc from the source of the Alltan a Mhaide to Loch Kernsary. It has been cut by the right of way that passes along the E side of Loch Kernsary.
It was considered to be in stable condition with photography recommended once every five years. <1>

This dyke is visible in 2009 aerial photography, to the left of another dyke (MHG58301), but does not extend southwards down to Loch Kernsary, as identified in 1998 by NTS in their DBA and survey. It seems instead to terminate before, to the left of MHG58301, which instead extend southwards to Loch Kernsary. <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 8814 8103 (183m by 186m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NG88SE
Geographical Area	ROSS AND CROMARTY
Civil Parish	GAIRLOCH

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