Creag Gharbh

NC14SE 6 1655 4410.

At NC 1655 4410, at the foot of a W-facing slope, is a hut circle accompanied by a small field system.

The hut, partially heather-covered, measures 11.8m internal diameter and stands at best 0.5m high; intermittent inner and outer boulder slab facings are visible and give a wall width of 1.4m, expanding to 2.3m at the S side of an entrance in the WNW. In the interior an angle of rough, peat-covered walling forms a compartment in the NE sector but its association with the hut is uncertain. In the SW, the remains of a crude lambing pen abut the inside of the hut wall.

The field system is indicated by a scatter of stone clearance heaps and tenuous traces of occasional lynchets; measureable plots are not discernible.

Surveyed at 1:10,000.

Visited by OS (J M) 15 May 1980.

NC 160 440 (centre) A short-notice survey was undertaken of 118ha of land to the SE of Scourie. There are six previously recorded archaeological sites within the area, largely located on the slopes around Loch Leathad nan Cruineachd in the middle of the area (NMRS NC14SE 6-10, 15). The sites comprise five hut circles, a homestead with associated field systems, two burnt mounds and numerous small stone-built shelters.

During the survey a total of 221 archaeological features were located, including six hut circles, two homesteads, two burnt mounds, 17 small stone shelters and 178 cairns. The majority of the sites had been previously recorded. Outside this core area, the remains of a large bank, not previously recorded, were located to the S and SW of the prehistoric settlement.

A full report has been lodged with the NMRS.

Sponsor: Historic Scotland

M Dalland 2000