South Uist, Snishival, Abhainn Roag
Battle Site (Period Unknown)
Site Name South Uist, Snishival, Abhainn Roag
Classification Battle Site (Period Unknown)
Canmore ID 9889
Site Number NF73SE 2
NGR NF 7797 3479
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/9889
- Council Western Isles
- Parish South Uist
- Former Region Western Isles Islands Area
- Former District Western Isles
- Former County Inverness-shire
NF73SE 2 7786 3481.
Name (NF 778 348) Battle fought here between the Macleods and Clan Ranald (NAT)
OS 6" map, Inverness-shire, 2nd ed., 1928.
The date of the conflict could not be ascertained - ' two old entrenchments' are noted on the site.
Name Book 1878.
About 3/4 mile east of the road at Snishival, South Uist, the burn Abhuinn Roag makes a sharp bend to the south. Here, on the right bank, a raiding party of Macleods from Skye were defeated by the local MacDonalds who are said to have entrenched themselves, while waiting for the invaders, in a position defended on three sides by the burn. "There is a circular excavation about 5 feet deep and 70 feet across, with a slight bank concentric with the outer rim of the hollow on the north and east, which gives this part the appearance of a trench some 18 feet wide. On the east it is some 35 feet from the bank of the burn, but towards the south-west the stream has cut into the edge of a hollow. RCAHMS 1928.
The 'two old entrenchments' at NF 7795 3479 and NF 7783 481 are 'ox-bows'. No local information could be gained about the battle.
Visited by OS (N K B) 13 May 1965.
Field Visit (29 June 1915)
Entrenchment, Abhuinn Roag, Snishival.
On gently falling moorland, about ¾ mile east of the road at Snishival, the burn Ahhuinn Roag makes a very quick bend to the south, within which, on the right bank of the stream, a raiding party of Macleods from Skye were encountered and defeated by the local MacDonalds. The latter are said to have entrenched themselves here while waiting the approach of the invaders, who had landed at Loch Skiport. The position is defended on three sides by the link in the burn, and is open to the north-west. There is a circular excavation about 5 feet deep and 70 feet across, with a slight bank concentric with the outer rim of the hollow on the north and east, which gives this part the appearance of a trench some 18 feet wide. On the east it is some 35 feet from the bank of the burn, but towards the south-west the stream has cut into the edge of the hollow.
RCAHMS 1928, visited 29 June 1915.
OS map: South Uist l.
