MHG11279 - Shielings - Ruigh Ruadh

Summary

Four stone built structures probably sheilings 4m by 3m, standing to 0.3m in a sheltered part of the site.

Type and Period (1)

  • SHIELING HUT (Post Medieval - 1560 AD? to 1900 AD?)

Protected Status

  • None recorded

Full Description

NC12NW 10 145 260.

Ruigh Ruadh. Complex of old field walls enclosing strip cultivation. One or two stone footings, 2m to 3m in diameter, of shieling-type bothies.
Visited by OS (JM) 15 July 1980.

A rapid walk-over survey was conducted over an area affected by the proposed Woodland Grant Scheme at Little Assynt by C. Dagg in 1999.

Site no. 21: Enclosed area of cultivation. A high area of the ridge running NE-SW, which is grassy rather than rocky and heathery, is enclosed by a meandering stone and turf dyke. Within this area are 5 storage structures. Between this site and Site no. 22 are more small areas of cultivation, with enclosing dykes and storage structures. Below these, to the SW, is a small area of lazybeds. <1>

Visited by the Assynt's Hidden Lives project in December 2009. Improved areas of ground are visible lying within field boundaries and enclosures, rough hill grazing around elsewhere. Bracken and grass denotes the improved areas. The banks are constructed of stone and turf. Two enclosures/field systems are located to the S of MHG53699, the outermost contains four stone built structures probably sheilings 4m by 3m, standing to 0.3m in a sheltered part of the site. One further structure at the W end of the enclosure is possibly a clearance cairn or ruinous stone platform. Two further structures are located towards the centre of the enclosure; these measure c.2m in diameter.<2>

Note: Site not visible on aerial photographs so location based on grid coordinates. (TB 7/6/25)

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred NC 1450 2600 (10m by 10m) (2 map features)
Map sheet NC12NW
Geographical Area SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish ASSYNT

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Investigations/Events (2)

External Links (1)

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