Monument record MHG26113 - Hut circle - Achiltibuie

A hut circle near Achiltibuie.

(Formerly NC00NW 9 0281 0889)
(NC 0281 0889) Hut Circle (NR)
OS 1:10,000 map, (1971)

A circular stone-walled hut measuring 12.5m in diameter within a wall whose inner face of contiguous stones on edge is well defined. One or two stones possibly of the outer face, suggest a wall of 1.2m thickness. The hut is bisected by the footings of a later wall crossing from N to S and the N arc has been further mutilated by excavations for a water tank just outside it. The entrance is not evident.
Resurveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (F R H) 22 June 1962 and (J M) 16 July 1974.

In the rough ground surrounding a post-medieval enclosure on the ridge, which is known as Bad a' Chotair, there are nine hut-circles which have previously been described under NC00NW 8, 9, 13, 14, 15 and 16. Four measure about 12m in internal diameter, one is 9.2m, and the remaining four are about 7.5m; all are surrounded by banks up to 1.5m in breadth and, where visible, the entrances lie on the S or SE. Two (ACHIL94 362, 378) have baffle walls at the entrance. What may have been other hut-circles, identified by the OS (NC00NW 16 B and D), were not located on the date of visit whilst a third (NC00NW 14 B) is no more than a small enclosure.
Juxtaposed, but not necessarily associated, with the hut-circles, there are numerous stretches of stony field banks and small cairns. The banks occasionally form enclosures or fields but are often little more than linear clearance heaps. The banks to the N of Bad a' Chotair were previously described under NC00NW 21.

ACHIL94 355, NC 0269 0901 (formerly NC00NW 13)
ACHIL94 362, NC 0281 0889 (formerly NC00NW 9)
ACHIL94 371, NC 0295 0893 (formerly NC00NW 14A)
ACHIL94 373, NC 0295 0874 (formerly NC00NW 8)
ACHIL94 375, NC 0317 0882 (formerly NC00NW 15)
ACHIL94 378, NC 0308 0895 (formerly NC00NW 14C)
ACHIL94 382, NC 0307 0874
ACHIL94 383, NC 0305 0866 (formerly NC00NW 16C)
ACHIL94 384, NC 0312 0849 (formerly NC00NW 16A)

(ACHIL94 355, 362, 371, 373, 375, 378, 382-4)
Visited by RCAHMS (JBS) 9 August 1994

As described above, RCAHMS has now merged a number of individual records. All the old Sites and Monuments Record cards can be viewed from this current record. <1>

The decision to replicate what was carried out by the former RCAHMS has been revoked. All previously merged records have been re-instated. <2>

202818 908880 Achiltibuie Post Office 11 CM001 (ACHIL94 NC00NW?): The hut circle was visited by A Welti and C MacNeilage in 2010 as part of research for a dissertation on hut circles in Wester Ross. This was part of a degree course overseen by Aberdeen University. CM001 is one of a cluster of 12 circular stone structures on gently sloping ground near to Alt Bad a Chotair. Field systems both ancient and more recent are visible, and there is a burnt mound close to CMM002 (see MHG57343). The terrain consists of well grazed rough heather/ grassland with marshy areas. All the structures have panoramic views both inland and to the sea and are around 2000m north of the broch at Achlochan. This HC is 30m from Alt Bad a Chotair. The HC is on a level grassy platform built up from very slightly sloping surroundings. A built stone embankment can be seen showing through the vegetation on the N side of the HC. The platform is dry, in wet surroundings. Many facing stones are visible showing the double skin construction of the walls. Average inner diameter is 12.35m, external diameter is 14.25m. The double skinned wall is 1.3m thick with maximum height 0.2m. A probable entrance faces south and has passage length 2.5m, indicating extended terminals. Recent waterworks have been dug at the north edge of the HC. A stone and turf wall runs west/east 15m to the south of the HC, leading down to the stream Alt Bad a Chotair. A further turf and stone wall runs north/south to the west of the HC. CM001 is distant 65m from CM002 (see MHG7157), 200m from both CMM001 (see MHG57344) and CMM002. <3> <4>

[Note: a database was set up as part of research for the dissertation and was subsequently expanded as an extension of the We Digs Project (see website link below). The full access database can be made available to enquirers/researchers if requested - contact HER for details].

NGR adjusted to position as seen on 2009 vertical APs. <5>