Coirein Na Leacainn
Cairnfield (Post Medieval), Enclosure (Post Medieval), Pen(S) (Post Medieval), Platform(S) (Post Medieval), Shieling Hut(S) (Post Medieval)
Site Name Coirein Na Leacainn
Classification Cairnfield (Post Medieval), Enclosure (Post Medieval), Pen(S) (Post Medieval), Platform(S) (Post Medieval), Shieling Hut(S) (Post Medieval)
Canmore ID 71740
Site Number NG80NW 3
NGR NG 8255 0817
NGR Description Centred NG 8255 0817
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/71740
- Council Highland
- Parish Glenelg (Skye And Lochalsh)
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Skye And Lochalsh
- Former County Inverness-shire
Field Visit (5 June 1991)
NG80NW 3 8255 0817
Disposed over the boulder-strewn slopes of Coirein na Leacainn, ranging in height from 76m to 152m OD, there are the wasted remains of at least twelve shieling-huts, an enclosure and several possible pens. Downslope (generally between 53m and 83m OD) and principally grouped on the SE-facing slope to the N of Allt Coirein na Leacainn, there are at least seven platforms and a clearance cairn. The remains are as follows:-
1: Situated on a terrace, there are the remains of what may be a shieling-hut (NG 8234 0826), its rear-wall formed by a large boulder, measuring 4.3m from WNW to ESE by 1.5m transversely internally.
2: Immediately to the east of (1), there are the remains of what may either be a hut, or a pen (NG 8235 0826), reduced to its turf-covered stone wall-footings and measuring 4.1m overall.
3: About 5m to the NNE of (2), there are the partial remains of a possible hut (NG 8235 0827), defined by a crescentic rickle of stones, measuring 5.2m overall.
4: To the SE of (3), there are the remains of a subrectangular structure, probably a hut (NG 8238 0824), measuring 3.2m by 6.1m overall.
5: Formed around a slight depression, there are the remains of a hut (NG 8243 0819) measuring 2.5m in diameter overall.
6: Formed around a second depression there are the turf-covered wall footings of a hut (NG 8244 0819) measuring 2m in overall diameter, and beside it those of another with a diameter of 2.6m.
7: The remains of what may be either a hut or a pen (NG 8245 0819), measuring 1.5m in diameter.
8: The remains of a hut (NG 8247 0816) measuring 5m from N to S by 3.5m transversely over turf-covered stone wall-footings 0.9m in thickness; the entrance was probably in the W wall.
9: This roughly D-shaped hut (NG 8249 0815) measures up to 2.4m overall. Its WNW wall is formed by a large boulder and on the S side of the hut there is an enclosure measuring 9m by 5m.
10: The remains of a shieling-hut (NG 8250 0816) measuring up to 4m in diameter over stone wall-footings up to 1m in height, where best preserved on the E; the entrance was on the N.
11: This hut (NG 8248 0817) measures 2m in overall diameter.
12: These are the wasted remains of a sub-rectangular hut (NG 8250 0814), measuring 5m by 3.3m overall.
13: A platform (NG 8255 0812) with a roughly crescentic setting of stones on its E side.
14: A platform (NG 8256 0812) roughly 3.5m in diameter.
15: The shieling-hut (NG 8257 0814), immediately to the E of (14), is roughly circular on plan. It measures 2.7m in diameter over stone walls reduced to their turf-covered footings and is a particularly fine example of its type.
16: This is a subrectangular hut (NG 8259 0818), with rounded end walls. It measures 3.2m by 5m overall and there is an entrance in the S wall.
17: This hut (NG 8260 0817) measures roughly 3m in overall diameter with an entrance on the S.
18: This subrectangular hut (NG 8261 0815) measuring 4m by 3m overall, has an entrance on the W.
19: This hut (NG 8258 0820) is roughly circular and measures 3.5m in overall diameter.
20: A group of at least five platforms disposed over a SE-facing slope. On average the platforms measure 3m by 2m overall. These are located as follows:-
NG 8268 0817
NG 8270 0820
NG 8270 0819
NG 8271 0820
NG 8267 0821
21: These (NG 8264 0823) are the turf-covered remains of a wedge-shaped enclosure measuring up to 4m overall, which is open on the ESE.
22: This clearance cairn (NG 8268 0820), measures 2m in diameter.
Visited by RCAHMS (IMS) 5 June 1991.
RCAHMS 1991.
