Alltdubh

The central of a group of three farmsteads is located above and S of the Allt Dubh and occupies an open flattish area extending for some 500m x 150m across a N facing slope much of which is bounded by a fragmentary head dyke. The hillside is covered in birch woodland and much overgrown with bracken particularly in the E part. The higher slopes have heather and the occasional indigenous Scots pine. There is extensive marshy ground on the SE side of the area that was formerly a dammed body of water.

The central group of structures at Upper Allt Dubh are the most numerous and comprise four farmstead buildings of varying complexity (NOSAS site survey Nos 101, 106, 107 & 116), a kiln barn (105) and at least three associated enclosures (104 , 106 & 108). Two of the buildings are depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Ross-shire 1881, sheet lxxxvii) and are shown as unroofed.

Further details of these and other associated sites can be found in the Strathconon Phase 1 Report (pages 42, 44-46) produced by the North of Scotland Archaeology Society and appended to this record.