Heights Of Brae

NH56SW 3 514 613.

(NH 51346134) Enclosure (NR).

OS 6"map, (1967)

In an areas of rough grazing and recent cultivation is a settlement of four hut circles ('A'-'D').

Hut 'A' published on the OS map as an enclosure measures about 13.0 m in diameter within a wall which is mutilated on all but the N side of the entrance in the SE, where it is spread to about 3.0 m. The inner face is visible intermittently in the S, E, and W arcs, and probable displaced facing stones lie within the hut. A field wall extends from the S side of the entrance as far as a later track to the SE of the hut.

The remaining three huts were discovered by NKB (OS field surveyor 1 July 1965). 'B' is about 10.5 m in diameter within a denuded wall of 2.5m average spread. Its NE arc is the best preserved. The entrance was probably in SE. The hut is partially obscured by whins.

'C' is approximately 11.5 m in diameter within a slight bank, severely obscured by peat "build up". The W arc has been destroyed. The entrance is not obvious but was probably in the SE arc.

'D' set into the slope in the SW is 15.0 m in diameter within a turf covered wall of 3.0 m average spread. The entrance is in the SE. A large pile of modern clearance has been dumped within the huts E arc. In the vicinity of the huts are traces of contemporary field walls, largely obscured by later cultivation.

Surveyed at 1:2500.

Visited by OS (J B) 15 November 1976.

In addition to the four known hut-circles there is an enclosure which may mark the position of a fifth house. It lies on a slight rise above, and c 87m NW of hut-circle 'A', and is crossed from NNW to SSE by a fence-line. It measures 8.5m in diameter over a shallow penannular

ditch measuring about 2m in breadth; there are traces of a very low bank on the outer edge of the ditch and there is a broad entrance gap on the SSE.

Visited by RCAHMS (JRS) 3 March 1989.