Cairn Vaich

Remains associated with a short-lived ironstone mining operation can be identified on the south-east slopes of Cairn Vaich.

Several shafts can still be identified, along with several adits, that is, workings dug horizontally into the hillside. The largest of these is a trench 30m long and 9m wide, which reaches a depth of 4m at one end. A dump of ironstone lies at its eastern end.

There were two phases of ironstone mining in the area around the Lecht. The first took place in the early eighteenth century, the second in the mid- to late nineteenth century. These particular workings may represent test-workings of nineteenth-century date.

Text prepared by RCAHMS as part of the Accessing Scotland's Past project

NJ21SW 17 2432 1026 and 2427 1024

For ironstone mine and 'smithy' at NJ 2491 1226, 2493 1224 and 2493 1226, see NJ21SW 16.

The remains of ironstone workings are situated in deep heather on the E side of the ridge of Cairn Vaich, at a height of about 520m OD. The remains include what may have been the beginnings of both adits and shafts, but appear only to represent a short-lived operation. The largest trench (NJ 2432 1026) measures 30m from ENE to WSW by up to 9m transversely and is dug into the hill to a maximum depth of about 4m; there is a substantial dump of ironstone at its E end. What appears to be a small test-pit, measuring about 4m in diameter and 1m in depth, is situated about 50m upslope to the WSW (NJ 2427 1025). These workings are not depicted on either the 1st or 2nd editions of the OS 6-inch map (Aberdeenshire, sheet lxviii, 1869 and 1902).

The largest trench and its spoil tip are recorded on vertical air photographs (106G/SCOT/UK 82 4377-8, flown 10 May 1946; NMRS D28293-6 ), but the smaller features are obscured by deep heather.

Visited by RCAHMS (RJCM, JRS), 16 July 1997.