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MHG63308 - Souterrain - Skriag Burn, Glenmore

Summary

A souterrain close to the Skriag Burn, Glenmore, Skye.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

A souterrain close to the Skriag Burn, Glenmore, Skye.

The site is included in an inventory of the souterrains on Skye by R. Miket. The site is located close to the Skriag Burn below Glenmore where it is met by a rough cart-track converging from the south. Recent improved drainage and a realignment of the burn at this point have caused considerable damage to surface features, including rig and furrow and a rectangular stone structure. Some 7m to the east of the latter and 8m from the bank of the stream lie the badly mutilated remains of the souterrain. Only a short section of the inner face of the north wall of a gallery is visible, standing to a height of lm. A lintel lies fallen at its base, and other lintels have been cast up to the north¬east. A general east-west alignment for the gallery can only be inferred from the debris, with a possible original passage width of around 0.7m. <1>

The feature is visible in vertical aerial photography. <2> <3>

The site was visited and photographed by M Ritchie of Forestry and Land Scotland during which time the remains of an immediately adjacent hut circle were also discovered (see MHG64475). [Awaiting details as of 04/07/2025]

The site was submitted to HES for Scheduling. A site visit was carried out by F. O'Shea and E. Cobo on 02/04/2025: The remains of a roundhouse and souterrain are situated on the S bank of the Skriaig Burn, at the N edge of a block of post-medieval lazy bed cultivation. The N half of the roundhouse has been truncated by the Skriaig Burn and what survives comprises an arc of stoney bank 15m long by 1.2m wide. Roughly 1m from the W end of the surviving section of the roundhouse wall a dip in the ground surface may mark the original entrance to the souterrain. The souterrain follows the S arc of the outer side of the roundhouse wall for almost 7m. It then extends straight towards the NE. Overall the souterrain extends for 16.5m in length, with the passage measuring 1m high and increasing in width from 1.5m to 1.8m at its E end. Many of the stone lintels which roofed the structure have been removed but a section towards the middle remains intact. Here a collapsed lintel and the N internal face can be clearly seen. It is of drystone construction and survives to six courses high with an indication of corbling towards the roof. <4>

The site visit confirmed that although the site met the criteria for scheduling the advanced stage of development proposals for the proposed nearby Glen Ullinish Wind Farm meant that for the moment it would not be Scheduled, but would be revisited once the wind farm prposals were concluded.

Sources/Archives (4)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NG 4308 4058 (19m by 18m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NG44SW
Geographical Area	SKYE AND LOCHALSH
Civil Parish	PORTREE

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

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External Links (1)