Balna Bodach

NN86SW 7 centred 8234 6069.

At NN 8234 6069 on a slight NW-facing slope, is a large cairn formerly known as An Carn Breac (Watson 1915), with three smaller cairns (A - C) to the NW and one other (D) to the SE.

It consists of a large heap of bare stones, 1.7m high, surrounded at base by a circular turf-covered stony bank 3.0m wide and 0.4m high which appears to be contemporary. The overall diameter is 24.0m. The cairn is howked here and there but the centre appears to be intact. Relatively modern hill dykes join the NW, NE and S arcs. Name not known locally. 'A' is a heather-covered level platform 12.0m in diameter and 0.4m high. 'B' is a bell-type cairn consisting of a circular platform, 17.0m in diameter, levelled into the slight NW slope, 0.3m high in the NW and evident as a scarp into the slope 0.2m deep in the SE. Centrally placed on it is a heather-covered mound 10.0m in diameter and 30.m high, which shows a slight central mutilation.

'C', another bell-type cairn, consists of a circular platform 15.5m in diameter and 0.3m high with a central mound 10.0m in diameter and 0.4m high. The centre is mutilated. The position selected has not required the scarping evident in 'B'.

'D' is a flat-topped mound c. 7.5m in diameter and 0.3m high, with a straight E side. On the NE edge are two earthfast stones, possibly part of a kerb.

To the SW of the group are a few early stone clearance heaps (See

NN86SW 14).

Surveyed at 1:2500.

Visited by OS (A A) 4 November 1974.

W J Watson 1915.