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MHG64630 - Field System - Leathad Cruineach

Summary

The field system comprises numerous stone clearance heaps.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

Centred on NC 159 440 along a SE-facing hillside, is a settlement of four hut circles (A-D), and a homestead (E) within an extensive associated field system.

The field system comprises numerous stone clearance heaps, spaced on average 10.0m to 20.0m apart, occasional lynchets and, E of the homestead, an appreciable length of consumption walling; in the last feature several crude, bothy-type structures have been built. A plot 15.0m by 20.0m was noted.
Surveyed at 1:10,000.
Visited by OS (J M) 15 May 1980.

5b) A two-celled stone structure is situated at the foot of the promontory near the hut-circle (5a). Its collapsed stone walls are 0.4 to 1 m wide and up to 0.5 m high. The cell to the west is set up against the rock-face to the north-west. It is sub-rectangular and measures 1.6 by 2 m internally. The cell to the east is set out from the rock-face and measures 1 by 1.7 m internally.
5c) A circular stone platform, 2.2 m in diameter. Believed to be a base for a peat-stack.
5d) An oval stone platform, 2 m by 3 m and 0.2 m high. Probable peat-stack base.
5e) Remains of a small rectangular building? Defined by an L-shaped line of stones visible through the turf. Possibly the remains of a small shelter measuring 2 by 2.

The small cairns, which measure up to 5m in diameter and are up to 0.6m in height, are spread over an area measuring 350m by 110m. Within this area there is a small circular platform, measuring 2.2m in diameter and an oval platform measuring 3m by 2m and 0.2m high. These are possibly bases for peat stacks.
A two-celled structure (NMRS MS 1039/52 no.5b), defined by collapsed stone walls spread from 0.4m to 1m in width and up to 0.5m in height, lies at the foot of the promontory below the northernmost hut-circle. The W cell is subrectangular and measures 1.6m by 2m internally. The E cell measures 1m by 1.7m internally. A second small rectangular structure, comprising an L-shaped line of stones in the turf lies 75m to the S. It measures 2.5m by 2m.

6a) Small sub-rectangular dry-stone structure set in open hillside. It measures 0.8 by 1.5 m internally. The walls are 0.7 m wide and up to 0.5 m high. It is likely to have been built as a shelter.
6b) Possible remains of an irregular stone structure 3.5 m long and 1.2 to 2 m wide. Marked by ill-defined rows of stones.
6d) Circular dry-stone structure, 0.9 m in diameter internally. The walls are 0.4 m wide and 1 m high. The structure has no entrance. Possibly a shepherds shelter?
6e) A two-celled rectangular stone structure. The room to the north-east measures 1.5 by 2 m internally with the entrance to the south. The room to the south-west is rectangular and completely infilled. It measures 1.8 m by 2 m externally.
6f) A two-roomed rectangular stone structure aligned east to west. The room to the west measures 1.5 by 2 m internally with the entrance to the south. The room to the east measures 1.8 by 2.5 m internally with the entrance at the north-east corner. The walls are 0.8 to 1 m wide and up to 1 m high. The size of the structure suggests that it was built as a shelter.

The S part of an area of settlement, small cairns and cultivation remains, spread over the slopes to the N of Loch nan Cruineachd was recorded during a pre-afforestation survey of Scourie and Badcall common grazings.
The homestead (NMRS MS 1039/52 no.6c) comprises a rectangular hollow, measuring 13m in length by 7m within low stony banks up to 2.5m in width and 0.3m in height, cut into the top of a low ridge. There is a cut on the S side and the entrance is in the short wall on the N. The homestead lies between two groups of small cairns and cultivation remains. There are about twenty-eight small cairns spread over a broad terrace to the W and a further twenty-one cairns, situated to the S of a stony bank, to the E. Further isolated small cairns are dispersed over the remainder of the area. The stony bank runs W from the loch for about 160m and is spread up to 3.5m in width and stands up to 0.5m in height. On either side of the bank there are two small, stone-free areas, possibly cultivation plots. That to the N of the bank measures 16m by 4m to 10m whilst that to the S measures 30m by 13m. There are also three stony lynchets up to 26m in length.
There are three small structures towards the N of the eastern group of small cairns. Two of these structures comprise two cells. The NE structure (NMRS MS 1039/52, no.6f) comprises cells measuring 1.5m by 2m and 1.8m by 2.5m internally, defined by walls up to 1m in width and 1m in height. That (NMRS MS 1039/52, no.6e) to the S of the low bank, comprises a cell measuring 1.5m by 2m internally and second, completely choked cell measuring 1.8m by 2m overall. The third structure (NMRS MS 1039/52, no.6d) measures 0.9m in diameter within 0.4m wide walls standing up to 1m in height. There is no entrance.
The possible remains of a fourth structure (NMRS MS 1039/52, no.6b) lies isolated to the N of the homestead. It measures 3.5m by 1.2m to 2m in width and is defined by ill-defined rows of stones. A fifth structure (NMRS MS 1039/52, no.6a) lies towards the E end of the W area of small cairns. It is rectangular and measures 1.5m by 0.8m within 0.7m wide walls standing up to 0.5m in height. <1>

Note; Althought details of individual structures for the field system are included in the report, no grid reference nor map positions are provided. (TB 29/8/25)

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Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 1605 4409 (708m by 706m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NC14SE
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	EDDRACHILLIS

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