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MHG65762 - Trackway - Kyle of Durness

Summary

A narrow trackway with boulders on either side forming a bank on the west and at the base of the slope to the east.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

A rapid coastal zone assessment survey was conducted by GUARD in the Autumn of 1997 commissioned by Historic Scotland from the Viking and Early Settlement Archaeological Research Project based at the University of Glasgow.

A narrow trackway with boulders on either side forming a bank on the west and at the base of the slope to the east. The ground surface between these two banks is 3 m wide. The bank at the east is constructed of massive boulders up to 1 m in diameter and appears to serve as revetment of the hillside to protect the road surface from hill-wash and tumble. This track continues to the north where it cuts through a dyke constructed of large, undressed boulders which runs downslope from the east. The trackway becomes a narrow footpath/ sheep track with no delineating banks immediately to the NE of the dyke before resuming again. This second stretch has a ground surface of only 1-1.5 m between a stone revetment at the east and a stone and earth bank at the west. This section continues for some 11 m before curving NE and disappearing below the modern road. This site is heavily covered in gorse and bracken which would need to be cleared to define its full extent. <1>

NGR adjusted based on 2016 vertical aerial photographs. <2>

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 3758 6380 (81m by 132m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NC36SE
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	DURNESS

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

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