Skye, Loch Cuithir
Diatomite Works (19th Century), Tramway (19th Century)
Site Name Skye, Loch Cuithir
Classification Diatomite Works (19th Century), Tramway (19th Century)
Canmore ID 11313
Site Number NG45NE 1
NGR NG 4770 5958
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/11313
- Council Highland
- Parish Kilmuir
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Skye And Lochalsh
- Former County Inverness-shire
NG45NE 1 477 596.
(NG 477 596) Diatomite Works (NAT) Tramway (NAT)
OS 6"map, Inverness-shire, 2nd ed., (1952)
At the beginning of the 20th century Loch Cuithir was worked for diatomite which was carried by tramline to the shore near Inver Tote where it was dried and ground in a small factory.
Although the industry was allowed to die, and the works became derelict, it has now been re-established.
A lower date-bar for the age of this industry is provided by the 1st ed. 6" map (1875/80) which shows nothing here at that time.
O F Swire 1952.
At the time of investigation, the works were being demolished, and no further work is to be carried out. The tramway has been long dismantled.
Visited by OS (A S P) 29 April 1961.
See NG56SW 21 for the Diatomite Works at Inver Tote.
Information from RCAHMS (DHR), July 2001.
Loch Cuithir centred on NG 4749 5972
Loch Cuithir Diatomite Works NG 4770 5958
Loch Cuithir to Invertote Tramway: NG 4772 5959 - NG 5195 6047
Remains of brick and concrete building adjacent to Loch Cuithir - NG 4764 5978
Brick pier forming part of tramway system: NG 4763 5959
Diatomite was extracted from this site from 1886 to 1913, and was transported by a 2'6"-gauge tramway to the coast at Invertote for processing. Extraction was revived between 1950 and 1961, at which time some processing occurred adjacent to Loch Cuithir itself, and the diatomite was shipped away using road haulage. The use of lorries instead of tramway waggons resulted in the establishment of an un-metalled road to the works, erasing the original layout of the track at the works.
Loch Cuithir has itself changed shape as a result of drainage engineered to assist extraction. Surviving physical evidence at the site includes part of the tramway (including some short stretches of steel track), the abutments of a small bridge for the tramway, a small brick-built pier (which again probably supported a branch of the tramway), and a collapsed brick and concrete building (situated at the end of the road leading to the works).
Information from RCAHMS
(MKO) 1994
