Monument record MHG29081 - Hut circle - Druim an Fhuarain, Skye

A hut circle at Druim an Fhuarain, Strathaird, Skye.

Two hut circles (site 158) were recorded by M Wildgoose in 1998 at Druim an Fhuarain, Strathaird, Skye, during a walkover survey in advance of a proposed forestry Woodland Grant Scheme for the John Muir Trust. <1> NOTE - NGR (NH 5679 1911) appears to be incorrect.

The site was split into two roundhouse records and this hut circle was included (Druim an Fhuarain 3 (158.1)) by M Wildgoose, with a slightly amended grid reference, in a catalogue of hut circles which combined the results of surveys on the Strathaird, Torrin and Sconser Estates. On a level natural platform on the steep east-facing hillside overlooking Loch Slapin and about 40m to the east of and below the power line. The turf covered remains of a circular stone-built wall 1.5m thick and 0.3m high surrounding an interior which measures 8m in diameter. Parts of the southwest and northeast quadrants of the circle have been robbed away to build a stone dyke which runs over the site from southwest to northeast. At a later a date a small two-cell shieling has been constructed on top of the dyke in the northeast half of the roundhouse. <2> NOTE - NGR (NH 5678 1915) appears to be incorrect.

156749 819125 Druim an Fhurainn 3 (MW158.1/3) AMC911: The structure was visited by A Welti and A MacInnes 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 Druim an Fhurain hut circles mostly lie along 70m to 90m contours on natural terraces overlooking Loch Slapin, along the very steep eastern hill slopes of Druim an Fhurain. The structures are roughly 200 m apart. Woodland is planted on slopes below HC which is situated downslope from AMC912 (see MHG57242). The site has become infested with thick bracken making measurements more difficult than in 1998. The HC sits on a levelled natural platform on the steep E facing hillside overlooking Loch Slapin. Under the bracken are turf covered remains of a circular double-skinned stone wall 1.5m thick and 0.3m high. The interior diameter is 8m and exterior diameter averages 11m. Stone has been robbed from the SW and NE quadrants in order to build a stone dyke which runs through the site from SW to NE. A small 2 cell shieling has later been built on top of this dyke (see sketch). No entrance could be discerned. This structure may be associated with other hut circles, AMC906 (800m) (see MHG29076) AMC910 (400m) (see MHG29079), and AMC912 (30m), AMC909 (200m) (see MHG29082) and AMC908 (400m) (see MHG29077) all sited at similar elevations. <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 08/03/2017].