Skye, Forse Breitheimh
Building(S) (Period Unassigned), Sheepfold (Period Unassigned), Shieling Mound (Post Medieval)
Site Name Skye, Forse Breitheimh
Classification Building(S) (Period Unassigned), Sheepfold (Period Unassigned), Shieling Mound (Post Medieval)
Canmore ID 10908
Site Number NG25NE 4
NGR NG 2928 5810
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/10908
- Council Highland
- Parish Duirinish
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Skye And Lochalsh
- Former County Inverness-shire
NG25NE 4 2928 5810
(NG 293 580) Forse Bhreitheimh: there is a strong local tradition that the inhabitants of the rather barren Ascrib Islands, a few miles off the coast, were resettled on the mainland of Skye in the mid-19th century on what were probably shieling sites here.
The settlement was apparently still occupied 1875-8 (OS 6"map, Inverness-shire, 1st ed., {1878}) but deserted before 1901 (OS 6"map, 2nd ed., {1901}).
Visited by OS (A C) 14 May 1961.
There are two distinct settlements at Forse Bhreitheimh The first at 298 582 is a depopulated 'improvements' township, possibly the site on which the Ascrib islanders were resettled, comprising 4 ruined houses and three outbuildings. The houses are set out in a straight line at the head of regularly laid-out crofts of equal size. The other settlement at 293 580 comprises 2 houses, some yards and a large sheepfold.
Visible on RAF air photograph CPE/Scot/UK/175: 1735-6.
Visited by OS (AC) 14 May 1961.
Field Visit (18 November 1990)
NG25NE 4 2928 5810
The valley of the Allt Forse a'Bhreitheimh and its tributaries the Allt Slugain Dheas and Allt Slugain have largely been afforested. Of a number of structures depicted on the 1st edition of the Ordnance Survey map of 1880 and 2nd edition of 1904 (Island of Skye &c., Inverness-shire 1880, 1904, sheet ix), five have been preserved on the edge of a ride; the others could not be located. In addition a shieling-mound is situated adjacent to a burn that runs into the Allt Forse a'Breitheimh.
4.01 NG 2928 5810 Buildings; Sheepfold
4.02 NG 2952 5796 Shieling-mound
4.03 NG 2975 5825 Building
Visited by RCAHMS (DCC) 18 November 1990.
