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MHG66508 - Turf bank - Balachuirn

Summary

A stone and turf wall.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

A township comprising thirteen roofed, three unroofed buildings, four enclosures, some field walls and a head-dyke is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Inverness-shire, Isle of Skye 1879, sheet xxx). There are three rectilinear plots at the S end of the township which indicates the partial allocation of crofts.
Ten roofed buildings, one of which has an attached enclosure, ten unroofed buildings, four other enclosures, some field walls and the fragmentary remains of a head-dyke are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1988).
Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 31 October 1996

The survey of Balachuirn, Balmeanach, Brae, Inbhire (Inver on OS 1:10,000 map) and the surrounding area was carried out by ACFA in April 1996 as part of a continuing programme of recording the physical remains of human activity on the island of Raasay.

Feature 5. Turf bank. From the northeast comer of structure feature 4 a stone and turf wall runs eastwards, passing 8m from feature 3. and curving to the south for 6m once past the east end of feature 3. Some 2m north of this walling, another wall is built into the hillside and runs eastwards. The initial 12m of this walling are built of very large boulders, almost 1m high and thick, with smaller stone packing between them. The walling, at 12m from the hillside, meets a large stone and turf built bank which runs northwards across the whole site, roughly parallel with the hillside. This bank is, in places, more than 1.5m high and has some very large boulders incorporated into it. The bank cuts uphill, beyond the limits of this site, and continues towards Inbhir. <1>

Note: Site not visible on aerial photographs so location based on grid reference. (28/10/26)

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Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NG 5546 4075 (8m by 8m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NG54SE
Geographical Area	SKYE AND LOCHALSH
Civil Parish	PORTREE

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