Blairmore

NC70SW 6 7465 0421

(Centred NC 746 042) Tumuli (NR) : Hut Circle (NR)

OS 6"map, Sutherland, 2nd ed., (1907)

On the N slope of a low hill at Blairmore, is a large group of small mounds.

Some 100 yards NE of the hill are the remains of a hut circle of the ordinary character with entrance from the SE, and a group of ten or twelve mounds lying near. One mound lies directly opposite the entrance and within 20ft of it. Some 30ft SW of the entrance is a long low mound lying N-S, measuring 27ft by 16ft tapering towards each end, and 2 1/2ft high. About 40ft S is another, not quite so high, lying N-S and measuring 22ft by 9ft.

On the E flank of the hill are a further two hut circles. The larger of the two measures 33ft by 34ft internally, with entrance, 4ft across, from the SE. Some 30ft S is another hut circle measuring 18ft by 15ft internally with entrance, 3 1/2ft wide, in the SE. In both huts the banks, 6ft to 8ft across and some 3 1/2ft high, project to flank the entrances on the NE.

RCAHMS 1911, visited 1909.

Three hut circles (A, B and C) and an associated field system. Huts A and B are as described by the RCAHMS.

Hut 'C' (probably the first mentioned) is 9.0m in diameter internally, with a turf-covered wall 4.0m thick and 1.0m high. The entrance, 1.0m wide, is in the SE.

The field system, approximately 160m NW-SE by 90m transversely, is delimited by lynchets, field banks, and clearance heaps.

Hut circles surveyed at 1:2500.

Visited by OS (N K B) 15 February 1966.

(NC 746 042) Settlement (NR) (Three hut circles, A-C)

OS 1:10,000 map, (1971)

On the E flank of a hill is a settlement of three hut circles (A-C) accompanied by a field system.

'A', heather-covered, measures 11.0m in diameter inside a collapsed wall 0.6m high with a general spread of 3.0m expanding to 4.0m in the sides of a slubbed entrance in the SE.

'B', set into the slope and completely heather-blanketed, measures 5.0m in diameter within a wall spread to 2.5m on average and up to 0.5m high; the entrance is in the SE.

'C', levelled back into the slope and turf-covered, measures 20.0m N-S overall; the E wall arc is mutilated and only a conjectural, transverse length of 17.0m is indicated. The entrance is in the SE. Large blocks are evident in the hut build, in particular two contiguous slabs in the N, one up to 1.0m high, that may be inner facing-stones in situ. The collapsed walling where not disturbed is 4.0m broad and up to 1.0m high. In comparison with huts A and B, hut C, notwithstanding the poor state of preservation, presents a markedly more robust construction.

The field system is evident in numerous field clearance heaps, spaced on average from 8.0m to 20.0m apart, No measurable plots are discernible. interspersed with occasional signs of lynchets and banks.

Revised at 1:10,000.

Visited by OS (J M) 12 March 1981.