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MHG7129 - Cille Mhuire

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NH57NW 8.2 5215 7742

About 100m N of the road to Cille Mhuire on the W bank of the Allt na Cille there are the terraced platforms of a group of buildings and enclosures. To the N there are some small cairns, linear banks and trackways. All lie in a narrow strip between Forestry Commission plantations.

(formerly NH57NW 8.02.01)
At NH 5220 7742, two terraced platforms, almost end-on to one another, lie about 10m apart on a S-facing slope to the W of an old trackway which runs up the W side of the Allt na Cille. The terraces are excavated up to 1m into the slope and provide stances for two large buildings. The eastern-most building comprises two compartments and measures 21.5m in overall length by 7m from the scarp at the back to a low bank at the front. At the W end a lateral outshot, possibly a bedneuk, measuring 4.5m by 3m is also cut back into the slope. Two parallel banks, 5m long and 3.5m apart, define a slight declivity at the W end.
The second building is also of two compartments but the remains are more disturbed, probably as a result of demolition. It measures 16m from E to W by 5.5m overall. In front of this building there is a rectangular levelled area 10m by 15m in extent partly defined by banks. To the E there is a terraced platform with a possible kiln at its E end, and a small structure attached to the SE side.
The 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Ross-shire 1880, sheet 52) records two roofed, rectangular buildings at this location of which the easterly has an outshot towards the W end of the N side.

(formerly NH57NW 8.02.02)
To the W of the two terraced buildings are a row of three narrow buildings terraced into the slope (centred at NH 5216 7743), each with an enclosed yard to the front. The remains of the buildings, which are about 3m wide, comprise traces of stonework revetting the scarps at the back and low grass-covered banks along the front. The buildings would appear to be too narrow for domestic housing and some type of storage or animal housing is more likely. The enclosed areas to the front would favour the latter interpretation. An old drystone dyke with a trackway on its N side runs along the front of the enclosures.

(formerly NH57NW 8.02.03)
To the N of the terraced buildings there is a scatter of small clearance cairns up to 3m in diameter and some sinuous low stony banks; the latter may be the result of trackways cutting into the slope.
Visited by RCAHMS (PJD) 15 November 1989

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Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 5216 7742 (60m by 60m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH57NW
Geographical Area	ROSS AND CROMARTY
Civil Parish	ALNESS

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