Bot Nan Creagan

NS 0642 7981 (vicinity of) On a narrow N–S terrace 100m E of and parallel to the Loch Striven shore is a group of three rectangular dry stone structures standing up to 1.5m high. To the S of these and at a lower level is an enclosure system. Between the terrace and the shore is a broad, relatively flat cultivable area which is now largely covered with bracken. To the W of this, nearer the shore, is a corn-drying kiln.

At NS 06418 79812 is the main structure, a long house measuring internally 15.8 x 3.2m with long axis along the

terrace at 340°. The walls are 0.7m wide, and up to 1.1m high. There is a doorway 0.8m wide flanked by flat stones in the W wall facing the shore, 6.7m from the S end wall. A short curved section of external walling is attached to the N end of the doorway, possibly as a windbreak.

Close to it on the NE is a smaller two-compartment structure, overall 8.3 x 3.8m externally, with the long walls E–W. The walls are 0.7m wide. Externally, the W compartment is 4.9m long and the E 3.4m long with a narrow 0.4m wide doorway in its S wall. The W chamber has no doorways, but the two compartments are connected by a sheep creep in the dividing wall.

The third structure lies to the NW of the above and is roughly perpendicular to it, with its long axis at 345°. It is 6.6 x 3.8m externally, with a doorway 0.6m wide in the E long wall. The walls are 0.7m wide. Two short straight sections of wall connect the three structures at their nearest points, and the E wall of the N structure continues N as a dyke.

The corn kiln is situated on lower ground near the shore at NS 06352 79781 and sits on a small hillock with natural rock on the shore side. It is oval, 4.2 x 3.5m externally overall. There is an outer rim about 0.3m wide. About 0.2m below the rim is an inner ledge 0.6m wide. The oval bowl is 2.0 x 1.5m. The flue opening is visible outside on the SE.

A sheepfold at NS 0641 7976 is roughly L-shaped, and incorporates two rectangular structures on the E side which may have been houses. Its overall N–S length is 19m and it is 13m wide at the N end. The middle of the E wall consists of the N, S and W walls of a rectangular structure 4m long N–S and 3m E–W; the E wall is absent. A twinning pen is built up against the NE corner. The S wall extends E to meet the short N wall of a long 8.7 x 4.0m rectangular structure with an entrance in the W wall, which also contains a very sizeable boulder. The

enclosure has a single 4m wide entrance in its S wall.

David Dorren and Nina Henry