Allt Bad A Chrasgaidh

NC70SW 35 7467 0205.

(NC 7467 0205) Stone Circles (NAT)

OS 1:10,000 map, (1971)

This is a homestead on an exposed rise in high ground. It is sub-circular, and measures approximately 13.0m across within a wall ranging in thickness from 1.4m to 1.6m, and distinguished by a fairly complete inner face, up to 0.7m high, of contiguous slabs. There is an entrance in the south south east. Encircling the homestead at a distance of 4.0m to 9.0m are the remains of a wall; in the east margin between the homestead and this wall, and outside the latter in the north west, are further walling remains. Extending from the north east sector of the encircling wall in a sinuous north west direction, is the peat covered course of a field wall. A stony mound overlies the homestead wall in the north. Some 15.0m south south east down the slope is what appears to be another homestead, but it is almost certainly later, probably contemporary with a deserted post Medieval settlement to the east. It comprises a 'D' shaped enclosure 10.0m by 7.0m internally, and recessed in the straight north side. A sub circular enclosure measuring 4.0m across internally abuts on the east, and no entrance is evident in either. The walling is of boulder slab construction but is now mainly visible as a peat covered spread 1.0m to 1.3m broad and up to 0.5m high. About 25.0m west is a sub oval enclosure of similar mature appearance but slight build, it measures 9.5m by 3.5m within a peat covered wall spread from 0.7m to 0.8m and 0.2m high. It too may be associated with the neighbouring settlement.

Planned at 1:500.

Surveyed at 1:10,000.

Visited by OS (J M) 18 March 1981.

An unusual enclosure, possibly a homestead, occupies the top of a heather-covered, craggy knoll to the SW of the Allt Bad a' Chrasgaidh. An irregular two-compartment enclosure and a building lie on the SE and S slopes of the knoll respectively.

The homestead (ROG95 538-9), which may never have been completed, is defined by two concentric circles of orthostatic stones, 1.5m apart and up to 0.6m high, measuring 13m in diameter within the inner ring, with a lined entrance on the E. An oval heap of stones, measuring about 6.5m from E to W by 4.5m transversely and 1m in height, overlies the outer ring of stones on the N arc. Outside the enclosure there is an another ring of stones, which is not concentric to the main structure, but it may have been intended as an outwork to the homestead.

The irregular enclosure comprises two unequal compartments, of which the larger is D-shaped and measures 9.1m from NE to SW by 5.2m transversely within stony banks spread to 1.5m in thickness, with a small recess like a bedneuk on the W, 2.3m in length by 1.3m in breadth. The second compartment adjoins it to the SW and measures 4m across, but displays no visible method of access (ROG95 537).

The building measures 9m from NNE to SSW by 3m transversely within faced-rubble walls, 0.7m thick by 0.4m high, with what may be an entrance on the ESE (ROG95 135). It may be an outlying structure of the township to the NE (NC70SE 55.01).

(ROG95 135, 537-9)

Visited by RCAHMS (PJD) 6 June 1995