Scotsmill

NF 7794 7041–NF 9514 7096 During 2021 a concentrated effort was made to complete a survey record of all 110 or so shieling sites so far identified on the island of North Uist. Recording had started in 2014 and continued over the following six years as part of other general field surveys – mainly in upland areas along the island’s east coast. Around six of the remotest sites remain to be surveyed. Around 82 shielings are included in the Canmore record of North Uist, of which around five are believed to be incorrectly classified. These include a 19th-century farmstead (Canmore ID: 123318), two huts on the shores of tidal islands which are likely to relate to kelping activity (Canmore ID: 10279 and 10280), a hut on a non-causewayed island dun (Canmore ID: 10259), and one where such limited remains exist that it is impossible to classify

them accurately (Canmore ID: 10413).

Twenty-seven new sites have been located on North Uist, which meet the accepted criteria for shieling classifications viz a hut, or a group of huts, sometimes on mounds, usually near a freshwater source, located in hill grazing locations at appropriate distances from townships or farmsteads. These are listed below.

Site NameNGR

Aird na Muile* NF 9219 7717

Airighean an Pollaig NF 8330 7187

Bealach na Beine NF 9028 7671

Bearranan NF 9174 7655 Beinn na h-Aire E NF 8950 5878 Buail’ Aird NF 9186 6653

Buail’ Ernikater NF 7794 7041

Ceallasaigh Beag** NF 9132 7167

Ceallasaigh Mor** NF 9115 7192 Druim na h-Uamh N NF 9153 6148 Druim na h-Uamh S NF 9152 6145 Druimanan Dubh* NF 8395 7485

Flodaigh N* NF 9042 7024

Honary NF 9055 7507

Honival NF 9060 7536

Lamacleit NF 8193 7295

Loch an Iasgaich NF 8260 6244

Loch Crogabhat NF 9237 6235

Loch Grota E NF 9514 7096

Loch Obasaraigh NE NF 9042 6114

Loch Tormasad* NF 8204 6544

Mol Teiltein* NF 9350 6416

Ob a’ Ghibhte S NF 8641 6458

Ragarigh NF 8267 7209

Sgal-Sàile N NF 9321 6490

Sgal-Sàile S NF 9310 6460

Tobhta Hundair S NF 9107 6498

(*Possible **Awaiting survey at the time of reporting)

Within the 25 new shieling sites so far surveyed are 127 built structures, of which 109 are large enough to have been huts for habitation. Of these, 64 are rectangular or sub-rectangular in plan and 45 circular or sub-circular. A further 18 ancillary structures, nearly all sub-circular in plan, are likely to have been stores or other subsidiary uses. Seven of the sites included animal folds and at least nine show signs of re-use after their abandonment as shieling sites, activities most likely related to 19th-century sheep management. Those marked ‘possible’ either relate to the same period or may from their location be related to fishing or kelping activity.

The most likely reason for the lack of recording of these 27 sites is their remoteness from modern centres of population, especially in upland areas like the Lochportain, Lees, and Eaval peninsulas on the E side of North Uist, which have never been the subject of systematic field survey. The few that are less remote are often now buried in heather and hidden to the casual observer. The list includes a number of well-preserved examples of this site class including at Sgal-Sàile North in the glen running between North and South Lee and Airighean na Pollaig that lies in the common grazings attached to Sollas township.

A field survey report on all the shieling sites on North Uist is being published in 2022.

David Newman – Uist Community Archaeology Group