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MHG60861 - Hut circle - Bealach Mor 3

Summary

A hut circle at Bealach Mor near Inverkirkaig.

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Full Description

A hut circle at Bealach Mor near Inverkirkaig.

206302 918767 Bealach Mor 3 MS001: The hut circle was visited by A Welti, G Sleight, M Sutherland and others in 2015 as part of research for a dissertation on hut circles in Wester Ross. This was part of a degree course overseen by Aberdeen University. The Loch Rubha na Breige peninsula has many pre-clearance ruins in sites near freshwater lochans and in gently sloping areas which are infested with bracken. Heather is sparse probably due to a fire a few years ago. There are many platforms which could have been bases for roundhouses, but few seem certain. Stone from these was probably used for the many small circular shielings, most of which have diameter around 2.0m. There are some possible burial cairns and some lazy beds. From Bealach Mor there is a sight line to Achnhaird. Possibly the wee dun on the south side of Achnahaird Bay is in sight. This peninsula would have been a delightful area in which to live, with shelter from the prevailing winds, although there are few burns and water supply could have caused problems. MS001 is a circular stone structure in poor condition. The platform is dug into a moderate slope at the lower end of Bealach Mor. Views from the site are panoramic over the sea. The surrounding landscape vegetation is mainly grass with some heather and bracken. Vegetation in the interior of the HC is a mixture of grass and bracken. The site is 20m from a stream and 200m from the sea loch which is part of Ennard Bay. The only measurement possible was an approximate overall diameter of 5.0m. There are no shielings visible in the immediate vicinity. MS01 is at a distance of 250m from both BB01 (see MHG60858) and DKH002 (see MHG60862). <1> <2>

[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 created in 2019 based on 2016 vertical Aps <3>

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Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 0629 1877 (11m by 11m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NC01NE
Geographical Area	ROSS AND CROMARTY
Civil Parish	LOCHBROOM

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