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Kensalyre, Skye
Burial Cairn(S) (Prehistoric), Standing Stone(S) (Prehistoric)
Site Name Kensalyre, Skye
Classification Burial Cairn(S) (Prehistoric), Standing Stone(S) (Prehistoric)
Alternative Name(s) Kensaleyre Church, Cairns And Standing Stones
Canmore ID 11325
Site Number NG45SW 14
NGR NG 4256 5063
NGR Description Centred NG 4256 5063
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/11325
- Council Highland
- Parish Snizort
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Skye And Lochalsh
- Former County Inverness-shire
NG45SW 14 centred 4256 5065
Cairn [NR] (at NG 4255 5064)
Cairn [NR] (at NG 4260 5059)
Stone [NAT] (at NG 4261 5076)
Standing Stone [NR] (at NG 4262 5048)
OS 1:10,560 map, 1968.
Encroaching on the E side of the road from Uig to Portree, at NG 4256 5065, is a large overgrown cairn partly denuded at various places and at the ends. The main exis of the cairn is almost N-S and it measures 66ft in length, 40ft in breadth, and 7ft in height.
Barely 100 yards SE of this cairn and about 30 yards NE of the road is a denuded small cairn measuring 15ft in diameter and less than 1ft in height. Round the circumference is a curb-like setting of small stones set on edge, rising about 9-12ins above ground, forming a regular curve. In the centre of the cairn is an open cist composed of four slabs set on edge, and measuring 2ft 6ins in length, 2ft 3ins in breadth, and at least 2ft 3ins in depth.
About 50ft the the SE is a stone slab set on edge facing the NW and measuring 3ft 5ins in height, 3ft 6ins in breadth, and from 11-14 ins in thickness.
Some 2 1/2ft in front of it is a prostrate pillar, 3ft 7ins in length, 2ft 11ins in breadth and at least 1ft in thickness.
(RCAHMS 1928).
Cairns and standing stone as described by RCAHMS: good condition.
Visited by OS (A C) 14 April 1961.
Field Visit (25 May 1914)
Cairns near Kensaleyre.
Encroaching on the east side of the road from Uig to Portree, about 6 miles from the latter place, and 200 yards south-east of where the road branches off to Skeabost, at an elevation of 100 feet above sea-level, is a large cairn of stones overgrown with heather, which has been to some extent denuded of stones at various places at the sides and at the ends. The main axis of the cairn runs almost due north and south and it measures some 66 feet in length, 40 feet in breadth, and 7 feet in height.
Barely 100 yards south-east of the large cairn and about 30 yards north-east of the road is a denuded small cairn measuring 15 feet in diameter and reduced to less than 1 foot in height. Round the circumference is a curb-like setting of small stones set on edge, rising about 9 to 12 inches above ground, the flat outer faces forming a regular curve. In the centre of the cairn is an open cist composed of four slabs set on edge, the main axis running north and south and measuring 2 feet 6 inches in length, 2 feet3 inches in breadth, and at least 2 feet 3 inches in depth.
About 50 feet to the south-east is a stone slab set on edge facing the north-west and measuring3 feet 5 inches in height, 3 feet 6 inches in breadth, and from 11 to 14 inches in thickness. Some 2½ feet in front of it is a prostrate pillar 3 feet 7 inches in length, 2 feet 11 inches in breadth, and at least 1 foot in thickness.
RCAHMS 1928, visited 25 May 1914.
OS map: Skye xvii (unnoted).
Field Visit (26 September 1987)
Cairn A has recently been truncated by road improvement, and lost as much as a third of its diameter from its western side. An early cutting from the east towards the centre is visible.
Visited by R Miket, 26 September 1987.
Management (2003)
Scheduled as Kensaleyre Church, cairns and standing stones... comprises two.. cairns and two standing stones..'
[HS definition of the monument includes the stone to the NE not noted by OS or RCAHMS].
Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 26 February 2003.
