Monument record MHG1029 - Shieling Hut, Conachreag

Centred ND 1080 3655: At base of steep rocky face of Conachreag is a large mutilated grass-covered mound measuring 13m NE-SW by 17m transversely and 1.1m high. On top of mound are scant remains of a rectangular building, approx 9 to 3.5m, divided into three compartments. Immediately NE of mound is a long, narrow building foundation crudely built of large boulders. It is some 30m long NE-SW by 4m transversely and appears to have been divided into possibly six compartments with a larger compartment (6 by 5m) on its S side towards NE end. A few metres SE of this compartment are fragmentary remains of some small circular enclosures apparently abutting each other, but obscured by reeds and heather. A short distance SW of first structure is a grassy mound measuring some 13 by 14m, with the mutilated remains of a rectangular building on top, and alongside mound on NW are remains of a building measuring approximately 6 by 3m.
Some 22m SE of this, on N bank of a small stream (shown erroneously on OS 6" map on S bank) is a large mound measuring some 40 by 15m with its longer axis parallel to stream. At W end of its summit are the remains of a rectangular building, some 5.6 by 4m, and at E end remains of another building, some 9 by 4m, divided into three compartments. The area on top of the mound between these buildings is very mutilated, and may have contained other buildings. Another mound lies opposite, on S bank of stream; it measures about 10 by 9m and has the remains of a small building, some 4 by 3m on top. In spite of the relatively larger size of the buildings than the normal run of shieling bothies, the situation and siting of the structures on mounds is typical of a shieling group. Visited by OS (W D J) 1 July 1960.

(ND 108 365) Old Shielings (NAT) OS 6" map, (1962)

Four mounds containing footings of shieling bothies, as described in previous field report. The topographic description is quite accurate as stream referred to is not the one published but a dried-up course between the most southerly mound and its neighbour.
The subdivided building foundation with attached compartment is a more substantial long-house. The vicinity is level terrain of grassy texture and appears to have been cultivated. Several cross drains were noted but they may be relatively modern. The alleged circular enclosures are obscure.
Revised at 1:10560. Visited by OS (J M) 4 August 1982.

Three unroofed shieling-huts are depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Caithness 1877, sheet xxxii). 5 unroofed shieling-huts are shown on current edition of OS 1:10,560 map (1962).
Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 23 November 1995