Ground Survey

Date 2010

Event ID 880452

Category Recording

Type Ground Survey

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/880452

This project is part of the Forestry Commission’s management

strategy as described under Kirkhill Forest, Aberdeen City.

[NJ36SE 90] NJ 3716 6271 – NJ 3724 6275 Cowiemuir A denuded earth

boundary forming part of the pre-improved landscape.

[NJ36SE 91] NJ 3793 6189 Moor of Auchenhalrig An oval embanked

depression c9 x 6m internally with c2m wide upcast banks

and a possible entrance in the NW quadrant. The interior

is lower than the surrounding ground surface, which might

suggest it is not a hut circle.

[NJ36SE 92] NJ 3779 6223 Moor of Auchenhalrig A very slight bank

defines a circular enclosure, c70–80m in diameter. It is

centred upon what appears to be a c20m wide natural knoll.

Clay subsoils were recorded in a hole created by a windblown

tree 30m inside the enclosure. No evidence of a ditch was

recorded in a second windthrow immediately outside the

bank on its E side.

[NJ36SE 30.14] NJ 3755 6270 Moor of Auchenhalrig A WW2 brick-built

linear platform with earthen banks, running perpendicularly

to the platform. There were regular iron rings along the face

of the platform providing anchor points.

[Part of NJ36SE 30.2] NJ 3771 6265 Wood of Auchenreath WW2 platform with

perpendicular banks as above.

[Part of NJ36SE 30.14] NJ 3772 6286 Wood of Auchenreath WW2 building with

outer reinforced defensive bank.

[Part of NJ36SE 30.2] NJ 3752 6286 Wood of Auchenreath Ruinous concrete

WW2 building.

[NJ36SE 30.5] NJ 3686 6284, NJ 3664 6263, NJ 3671 6258, NJ 3691 6276

and NJ 3691 6283 (defines area) Cowiemuir Extensive

WW2 remains consisting of defensive structures and

building platforms fill the W end of the wood. They appear

to stop on the NE side where a drain cuts through the wood.

A quarry to the NE may have been enhanced to produce the

water-filled hollow which was linked to the cross-drain to

produce a further defensive feature.

[NJ36SE 30.12] NJ 3616 6164, NJ 3643 6148, NJ 3637 6141 and NJ 3611

6156 (defines area) Gowktree Wood A range of WW2

remains. The drain at the W end may have been deepened

to present an obstacle. Similar use of drainage features has

also been suggested nearby (see above).

[NJ36SE 93] NJ 3604 6206 – NJ 3602 6192 Gowktree Wood A bank

runs SW from the steep scarp above the Gowktree Burn

curving gently to meet the road. There seems to have been a

parallel bank c13m to the NW. The feature appears to define

an area of plantations around the Loch of Bank End.

[NJ26SE 30.8] NJ 3615 6239, NJ 3607 6209, NJ 3612 6200 and NJ 3621

6217 (defines area) Gowktree Wood Extensive remains of

WW2 buildings associated with Dallachy airfield.

[NJ36SE 94] NJ 3706 6104 – NJ 3699 6103 Beldorney Hillocks Short

section of bank that appears to follow the course of one of

the ovid plantations of Gordon Castle depicted on an estate

plan of c1770.

[NJ36SE 95] NJ 3749 6063 Hill of Ordga A large enclosure c70m in

diameter with c3m wide and >1.5m high (in parts) banks.

This may be a modern feature or may have been used for

stock control. It is not depicted on the 18th-century estate

plan or the 1st Edition 6” OS map.

Archive: Aberdeenshire Council SMR and Forestry Commission,

Aberdeenshire

Funder: Moray and Aberdeenshire Forestry Commission