Monument record MHG28979 - Hut circle - Slat Bheinn, Skye (Cille Mhaire 13 (52), (SG002))

A hut circle (52 - No.13 of 14) was recorded by M Wildgoose in 1999 at Cille Mhaire Glen, Strathaird, Skye, during a walkover survey in advance of a proposed forestry Woodland Grant Scheme for the John Muir Trust. The remains of a 7m diameter hut circle, a small burn passes close to its east side. <1>

The site was included by M Wildgoose, with a slightly amended grid reference and diameter, in a catalogue of hut circles which combined the results of surveys on the Strathaird, Torrin and Sconser Estates. It is situated on a natural platform at the foot of the southeast facting slope of Slat Bheinn. A poorly preserved turf dyke passes close to the upslope side of the remains. The turf-covered remains of a circular stone wall which varies in thickness from 1m to 1.6m and stands nowhere more than 0.3m high surrounding an interior which measures 4.5m in diameter. The wall expands to 2m in thickness at the southeast facing entrance, only one side of which survives to its full width. <2>

153827 818091 Cille Marie Glen 13 (MW52) SG002: The hut circle was visited by A Welti and S Glover in 2009 as part of research for a dissertation on hut circles in Wester Ross. This was part of a degree course overseen by Aberdeen University. The Cille Mhaire hut circles lie on similar contour lines around the well drained lower flanks of surrounding hills. Vegetation is mainly rough grassland and the slopes are covered with a mosaic of ancient land divisions.The floor of the glen, into which many small burns tumble, consists mainly of blanket bog and contans the remains of a stone circle. This is site 52 in M Wildgoose survey of Strathaird for John Muir Trust, 1999. This circular stone structure is set on a platform built out from a gentle slope at the foot of the SE facing slope of Slat Bheinne. The walling is submerged in turf and heather. Outer double skinned wall diameter averages 8.7m, inner diameter is 4.4m. The wall is 1.3m thick and 0.3m high. The MW survey found that at the S side of the SE facing entrance there is an extended entrance terminal where the wall is 2m thick (see sketch). This was difficult to discern in 2009. A degraded turf dyke runs close to the up-slope of the HC. This HC may be associated with SG003 (see MHG28978) at 100m distance and WAK001 (see MHG28982) at 300m. <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]

Note: NGR adjusted to position as seen on 2010 vertical APs [IS-L 01/03/2017].