Monument record MHG30972 - Hut circle - An Torr 3 (AMC109)

NG 7867 7311. A hut circle is situated on a small shelf on the south slope of An Torr. This is the middle of a group of three hut circles here and it lies 20m to the west of circle An Torr 2. The diameter of the circle is relatively large at ca. 10m and the walling is of stone. At the north part the wall is dug into the rising ground. The entrance is at 103 degrees grid and there is a stone structure immediately outside the wall at each side of the entrance. On the opposite side from the entrance a small pen (1m internal) has been built just outside the wall. The ambient vegetation is fine grass, moss, bracken and birch saplings inside the circle. The same plus heather (down the slope) outside. <1>

The site was visited by C Dagg in 1998 during a walkover survey in advance of a proposed Woodland Grant Scheme plantation at An Torr. It was found to be as previously recorded. It was recommended that the area be excluded from the proposed scheme. <2>

The hut circle was included in a desk-based assessment for a proposed woodland planting scheme for Shieldaig Farm, in an area to the east of the Badachro River. <3>

178679 873107 An Torr 3 AMC109: The hut circle was visited by A MacInnes in 2010 as part of research by A Welti for a dissertation on hut circles in Wester Ross. This was part of a degree course overseen by Aberdeen University. The slightly oval stone structure is situated in birch woodland. It is dug into and built out from a moderate S facing slope. The wall boulders are moss covered. The view is panoramic to S but limited to N. Inner diameters of the structure are 8.3m and 9.9m, outer diameters are 11.4m and 12.7m. The double skinned wall is 1.5m thick with maximum height 0.8m. The entrance faces SE and has width 1.5m externally, 0.9m internally, with passage length 2.7m. This indicates two extended entrance terminals. A small later structure measuring 3m x 2m adjoins the western wall. AMC109 may be associated with AMC107 (see MHG8280) (10m distant), AMC110 (see MHG8282) (20m distant), and AMC108 (see MHG8281) (50m distant), There may also be an association with AMC137 (see MHG8276), 400m distant. <4> <5>

[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].