Monument record MHG12258 - Shieling Settlement, Allt Ardbhair

NC13SE 3 181 331.

(Area centred NC 181 331) on the left bank of the Allt Ardbhair, about 3/4 m above Loch Ardbhair, on a fertile little haugh fringed in with birch woods, are the remains of several small circular huts. One towards the E end of the haugh has an interior diameter of 5'. Another is somewhat larger. They are set on low hillocks. About 80 yards further down the burn is an oval enclosure measuring internally some 18' x 6' and another, about 50 yards onwards, measures 7' x 5'. These are probably the remains of summer shielings.
RCAHMS 1911. <1>

The foundations of ten shielings circular or oval in plan.
Visited by OS (G H P) 18 May 1962.

Old Shielings (NAT)
OS 6"map, (1967)

The shielings are now in many cases almost totally obscured by thick vegetation and trees.
Visited by OS (J B) 14 August 1980.

Six possible shieling huts in ruinous condition are located in Glen Ardbhair.
165A - An oval rubble structure measuring 4m by 2.5m.
165B - An oval structure, 5m by 3m; rubble stands to 0.2m high.
165C -A 2.5m diameter circular rubble built structure.
165D - A sub-circular rubble built structure, measuring 2.5m by 2m N/S, with rubble standing up to 0.5m.
165E - A very ephemeral, 4m by 2.5m structure, aligned N/S. No evidence of walling, single stones only survive.
165F - A sub-rectangular mound measuring 6m by 25m E/W. Several clearance cairns in the vicinity; a mound of stones at E end may indicate structure.
165G - A 20m long earth bank up to 0.6m high (locates 20m SE of GPS reference). <2>