Following the launch of trove.scot in February 2025 we are now planning the retiral of some of our webservices. Canmore will be switched off on 24th June 2025. Information about the closure can be found on the HES website: Retiral of HES web services | Historic Environment Scotland
Ascoile
Henge (Neolithic) - (Bronze Age)(Possible)
Site Name Ascoile
Classification Henge (Neolithic) - (Bronze Age)(Possible)
Canmore ID 6630
Site Number NC81SW 4
NGR NC 8309 1058
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/6630
- Council Highland
- Parish Clyne
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Sutherland
- Former County Sutherland
NC81SW 4 8309 1058.
(NC 8309 1058) Earthwork (NR)
OS 6" map, (1969)
On the S side of the roadway, one mile W of Allt Smeorail are the remains of a circular earthwork of which rather less than half has been destroyed by the intersection of the road. It consists of a mound 27 feet in diameter, surrounded by a ditch 6 feet wide. The upcast from the ditch has been heaped on the outer perimeter. In the centre are some large stones suggestive of the interior of a cairn, and large stones remain on the outer rampart and in the ditch.
J M Davidson 1948.
This earthwork was considered to be a henge when visited in summer of 1960.
The ditch is 1-2 feet deep and the bank about 3 feet wide. There is little to suggest an entrance causeway across the surviving portion of the ditch, and it is concluded that a single entrance must have been located somewhere in the sector destroyed by the road.
A A Woodham 1960.
This earthwork is as described by Davidson (1948) and Woodham (1960). It is situated on an old river terrace at the base of a steep SW facing slope. The central area is disturbed, and numerous stones protrude through the turf. However the feature displays the characteristics of a hengiform earthwork similar to those at Migdale (NH69SW 36) and Conon Bridge (NH55NW 1).
Revised at 1:10,560.
Visited by OS (R D L) 28 April 1964 and (J B) 17 December 1975.
A doubtful hengi-form earthwork
G J W Wainwright 1969.
Scheduled as 'Ascoile... a circular enclosure defined by a bank and external ditch, interpreted as a late Neolithic henge monument.'
Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 23 March 2005.
