Gleann Beag, Cloichiernoch

NO17SW 17 1246 7354.

From Craig-Derig (NO 17 SW 15), for a distance of about 240m to the NE, the head-dyke traces a course moving gradually upslope from the main terrace (420m OD). At this point it stops abruptly and turns sharply downslope to pick-up its course in conjunction with a second terrace (about 400m OD). At the NNE end of this terrace there are the remains of the farmstead of Cloichiernoch (later Wester Craig-Derg), comprising at least three buildings (A-C), two enclosures and two kilns (D,E), while upslope and set on a narrow shelf amid uncleared ground there are the remains of at least four more (F-I).

Building (A) is noteworthy as it is proportionately larger than the rest and has an unusually thickened end-wall.

Depicted as Cloicheruim by Roy (1747-55, sheet 18/5), it is Cloichiernoch on Stobie (1783) but Wester Craig-Derg on Brown's 1808 survey. Miller suggests a derivation of Clachnahernan, or Clacherna 'the burial-place of the lairds' (1929).

A. NO 1246 7355 This substantial rectangular building is set end-on to a dry gully, which has been intentionally dammed higher up the slope to direct run-off from the hill away from the cultivatable soils of the terrace. The building measures 13.4m from NNE to SSW by 5.3m transversely over walls reduced to their boulder-footings up to 0.9m in thickness and 0.7m in height. The entrance is central to the E wall and the turf-covered remains of the SSW wall is unusually thick, though the reason for this is unclear. Adjoining the NW side of the building there is a well-formed enclosure (17m from NW to SE by 13.5m transversely internally), whose interior, which is relatively stone-free and slightly hollowed, may once have been cultivated. Buildings (B) and (C), lying to the SSW of (A) appear to form a common unit on two sides of a yard (on the NW and SW respectively).

B. A two-compartment rectangular building measuring 12.7m from NE to SW by 4.7m transversely over turf-covered stone wall-footings spread up to 1.3m in thickness.

C. A rectangular building measuring 12.8m from NW to SE by 4.7m transversely over turf-covered stone wall-footings up to 1.1m in thickness. Coterminous with (B) and (C), and extending along the edge of the terrace, there are traces of an enclosure (34m from NE to SW by 18m transversely internally).

D. Contained within the enclosure are the remains of a bowl-kiln (2.6m in diameter with a flue on its S side). The entire area of the terrace extending to the S of the farmstead has been cultivated and there are extensive traces of rig-and-furrow. On the N the cultivated area is contained by a bank which extends upslope from (B) to join the head-dyke.

E. About 20m to the N of (A) there are the remains of a kiln (2.1m in diameter) with a flue on its SE side opening to a chamber measuring 7.4m from NW to SE by 4.3m transversely over walls spread up to 1.7m in thickness.

F. This three-compartment building interrupts the course of the head-dyke upslope from (B). It is rectangular (16.5m from SW to NE by 4.4m transversely over turf-covered boulder-footings 1m thick and 0.5m high) and has a drainage-hood to the rear. On the E there is a yard (20m from SW to NE by up to 9m transversely internally).

G. Peripheral to the yard there is a building measuring 9m from NNW to SSE by 4m transversely over turf-covered stone wall-footings up to 1.1m in thickness.

H. End-on and to the S of (F) there are the remains of a rectangular building of a rather irregular build, measuring 8.2m from SW to NE by 4.9m transversely over turf-covered stone wall-footings 1.1m in thickness and up to 0.6m in height; it has a drainage-hood to the rear. A track leads up from this building to the following.

I. Situated on a narrow grass-covered shelf there are the turf-covered remains of a rectangular building (7.5m from NNE to SSW by 3.7m transversely over turf-covered stone wall-footings 1.1m thick and 0.3m high) with a drainage-hood on the W.

Visited by RCAHMS (IMS/JP) 24 August 1987.

RCAHMS 1990