Monument record MHG24966 - Shieling Settlement, Coire Osgaig

NC01SW 9.01 centred on 0498 1074

This group of shielings, associated with Achiltibuie, were is use c.1870.
Info from I Crawford, School of Scottish Studies to Ordnance Survey, September 1961.

Remains of sixteen rectangular and circular stone shielings, generally very small.
Visited by OS (FRH) 7 June 1962.

There are at least 41 shieling-huts, which can be divided into two loose groups, scattered across the well-drained, grass- and bracken-covered terraces to the E and W of the Allt Coir Osgaig.
To the S (NC 050 105) there are at least five huts (ACHIL94 328-331) situated along the crest of a ridge in a clearing in the birch woodland. The northern group (centred on NC 049 107, ACHIL94 101-104, 107-119, 327, 332-348) covers an area of about 16 hectares within which there are clusters of between two and five huts. Within the area occupied by the huts there is a series of field banks which define oval enclosures measuring up to 200m across (see below, NC 01SW 9.02), some of which pre-date at least three huts (ACHIL94 104, 107, NC 0490 1059).
The huts range from 1m across (ACHIL94 348), within stone footings up to 0.9m in thickness and 1.2m in height, to 5.6m by 2m internally (ACHIL94 113), with half measuring less than 1.9m by 1m internally. The majority are roughly built, often utilising large earth-fast boulders, others have coursed, or faced-rubble, footings (ACHIL94 101, 108, 109, 111, 112) while one has footings of turf-and-stone (ACHIL94 103). Many have been levelled into the slope (ACHIL94 108, 111, 114, 116, 117, 119, 336, 342) and three of the huts (ACHIL94 107, 111, 330) display evidence of phasing. Only one hut has two compartments (ACHIL94 111), and this structure also has opposed entrances. Four of the huts have outshots (ACHIL94 102, 108, 111, 342).
The 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Cromartyshire 1881, sheet iii) shows one roofless structure (possibly ACHIL94 113) in this area, while May's survey of 1758 (SRO, RHP 85395) depicts two structures at roughly the same location. May outlines an oval area containing two buildings to the W of Loch Oscaig and the Allt Coir Oscaig.
(ACHIL94 101-104, 107-119, 327-348)
Visited by RCAHMS (DCC) 23 June 1994