Print

MHG18281 - Shieling settlement - Cnoc Na Sithean, North

Summary

15 shieling structures along with numerous wee structures have been identified in this area.

Type and Period (2)

Protected Status

Full Description

The site reported consists of;
Bothy at NG 8242 5813, 5.5m by 2.0m. No.15.
Remains of a bothy at NG 8243 5818, 3.5m by 2.0m. No.16.
Circular stone setting at NG 8250 5820, 1.5m in diameter. No.17.
Small bothy/pen 2.0m by 1.5m. Associated with two smaller circular stone settings. No.18.
Group of circular corbelled huts at NG 8262 5825, NG 8261 5828, NG 8246 5831, NG 8246 5833, diameter 2.0m. Nos.19-22 respectively.
Round bothy at NG 8238 5821, entrance to E, 2.5m by 2.0m. No.23.
Group of small settings at NG 8235 5822, circa 1.5m diameter. No.24.
Sub-rectangular bothy structure similar to No.23 at NG 8234 5820, entrance to the E, 2.5m by 2.0m. No.25.
Round setting at NG 8233 5818, main back wall revetted. No.26. A sunken bowl-shaped depression 2m wide (No.27) and a circular stone setting 1m wide (No.28) are both associated with No.26.
A round bothy at NG 8225 5815, internal diameter 2.0m. No.29.
Crescent shaped pile of stone - no discernable structure, 4m wide between horns situated at NG 8255 5819. No.30.
M MacDonald, Torridon Shieling Survey 1992

None of the above appear on the first edition of the OS 6-inch map (Sutherland 1881, sheet lxxxi).
Information from RCAHMS (FO) 18 December 1995

A walkover survey and desk-based assessment was undertaken by J Wordsworth and J Harden at Torridon for the National Trust for Scotland in 1996-2002.

15 shieling structures along with numerous wee structures have been identified in this area. It is potentially of national importance and HS should be invited to consider scheduling it.
014a NG82455835 (MM21-22) two small structures - one measuring c 2.5m in diameter over walls c0.4m thick and standing c0.3m high with an entrance in the SSE; the other being c2.5m by 1.5m aligned SE-NW with walls c0.4m thick and c0.3m high but no obvious entrance.
014b NG82555835 (MM19-20) two structures are immediately adjacent to each other - one c3.2m by c2.5m over walls c0.4m thick and standing up to c2m high, with an entrance in the SSW; the other consists of a boulder-edged rectangular platform immediately to the SW measuring c6.5m by c2.5m and aligned N-S. Nearby is another small structure with no obvious entrance, c3.2m by c2.5m over walls c0.4m thick and c0.5m high. 014c NG824583 (MM18) slight evidence of a rectangular structure c6.5m by c3.2m aligned SSW-NNE, the SE corner of which has been used for a small structure c2.5m in diameter over walls c0.5m thick and c0.3m high.
Immediately SW are two wee stone structures, c1.5m in diameter over walls c0.4m thick and standing c0.3m high.
014d NG824582 (MM23-24) two small structures, one measuring c3.2m by c2.5 over walls c0.5m thick and standing between c0.5m and c1 m high, with an entrance to the E; the other being slightly smaller.
014e NG82355820 (MM25-26) two small structures, one measuring c3.2m by c2.5 over walls c0.5m thick and standing c1m high, with an entrance to the NE; the other being defined by stones marking out an area aligned NE-SW c2.5m by c1m with one end being a large boulder. In the immediate vicinity are two stone 'piles' which could be the ruins of wee stone structures c1m in diameter.
014f NG82455820 (MM16 - the fairy knoll and MM17 & 30) on top of a 2m high natural grassy mound is a small structure c2.5m in diameter over walls c0.4m thick and c0.7w high. Some 15m to either side of this are two wee structures c1.5m in diameter over walls c0.4m thick standing to c0.4m. To the E on a heather-covered ridge, is a boulder setting c1 .2m max dimension that may be a structure, although there is no obvious shape to it.
014g NG824581 (MM15) on another elongated mound just SW of the fairy knoll are 3 abutting wee structures measuring up to c2m in diameter over walls c0.4m thick and up to 0.4m high.
014h NG82255815 (MM29) a stone structure c5.5m by c3.2m over walls c0.4m thick and standing c0.5-0.7m high, aligned NNW-SSE with an entrance to the WSW. AT its N corner is a large boulder and set against its NW side is a small stone structure, c2.4m by 1.5m over walls c0.4m thick standing to c0.3m high.
014i NG822581 two small stone structures are set into the hillside by the burn, the lower one measuring c2.5m in diameter; the upper one only cl m in diameter. There is a slight drystone dyke running up the W side of the burn, from 014i to 014j.
014j NG820582 further up the burn the hillside opens out onto a small plateau and at the far side is a small rectangular structure c3m by c2m over walls c00.3m thick and standing up to c0.5m high. <1>

NGR adjusted based on 2009 vertical aerial photographs. <2>

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NG 8236 5827 (538m by 417m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NG85NW
Geographical Area	ROSS AND CROMARTY
Civil Parish	APPLECROSS

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (2)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

External Links (1)