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MHG62585 - Hut circle - Choire Mhoir (B, P)

Summary

Hut circle at Allt a' Choire Mhoir in Glen Loth.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

Hut circle at Allt a' Choire Mhoir in Glen Loth, originally recorded by the OS as NC91NW25 [B], subsequently renumbered by the OS as NC91NW1 [P].

NC91NW 25 915 185.
On crest of a gently sloping NE- facing ridge is a settlement of three hut circles and a sub-rectangular footing ('A'-'D').
Hut 'A' the largest and best preserved is 9.5m in diameter within a wall spread to 2.5m. Occasional inner facing stones are visible around wall and two outer facing stones at entrance in E give wall a width of 3m at this point. Within the hut a denuded wall running from N side of entrance bisects hut.
'B' is a slight ill-defined hut of 9m internal diameter, with occasional inner facing stones visible. The wall is of indeterminate thickness with the entrance in the E.
'C' is set on a small knoll and is severely denuded with intermittent traces of walling and two inner facing stones visible. It measures about 8.5m in interanl diameter and was probably entered from E.
'D', the sub-rectangular footing has same appearance and construction as hut circles 'B' and 'C' and may be associated. It does not resemble an 18/19th century deserted house. It measures 9m E-W by 4m within a wall spread to 2m. The wall is bowed at either end and slightly curved along flanks. The entrance is at E end.
See NC91NW 1 for details of the field system.
Surveyed at 1:10,560. Visited by OS (J B) 4 May 1976.

291514 918494 Glen Loth 3 AW203: The hut circle was visited by A Welti, A MacInnes and A Coombs in 2016 as part of research for a dissertation on hut circles in Wester Ross. This was part of a degree course overseen by Aberdeen University. This circular stone structure is one of a group of around 14 HCs sited in Strath Kildonan. Some of these are oval, some circular. In the wider area in the vicinity of the Strath there are numerous other similar stone structures interpreted as brochs, cairns and groups of hut circles. Two brochs sit within 11000m of this group. AW203 sits in a gently NE sloping grazed landscape, surrounded by field walls and some clearance cairns. Surrounding vegetation is mostly grass with some heather and rushes. Inside the structure vegetation is similar. The HC is in poor condition and sits on a platform built out from the slope with panoramic views inland. The HC is 300m from a stream and 1800m from the navigable river Helm which flows eastwards. The ring bank is visible as are some wall facing stones both on the interior and exterior walling. The average inner diameter is 9.5m and the exterior diameter is 15.05m. The double skinned wall is 2.3m thick. The definite entrance faces E and is 2.3m thick.The entrance has passage width of 1.5m both externally and internally, and the passage length is 3.4m, indicating extended terminals. The HC is 300m from a stream and 1000m from the river Helm which flows eastwards. The ring bank is visible as are some wall facing stones. There is a line of stones, probably of later origin, running in an E/W direction across the centre of the HC. AW203 is in a cluster of 4 closely located HC's, being 25m from AW202 (see MHG9982), 20m from AW204 (see MHG) and close to AW213 (see MHG). <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 2022 according to location of feature as seen on 2009 vertical APs. <3>

Sources/Archives (3)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 9151 1850 (24m by 24m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NC91NW
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	KILDONAN

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