Monument record MHG38906 - Ranachan dyke

A drystone dyke extends along the shore for a distance of c.250m from ngr:17991 76133 to ngr:17971 76120. It stands 1.3m high, 0.7m wide at the base and 0.5m wide across the top. It is built of large granite boulders taken from the beach, many of which have been split by 'feather and plug'. It terminates at a wharf, although a line of boulders extends a further 110m to the west where there is a gateway leading to the jetty. The dyke is thought to have been constructed to restrain animals walking along the shore from entering the land above. It was possibly built in conjunction with the fence NM76SE0033. It would have been impossible to prevent stock from the neighbouring township of Ardnastaing from straying along the Ranachan shore. The wharf stands high and dry at low water and the dyke would have had to extend to the jetty in order to form a 'proper kinmara'.
Information supplied by J Kirby - (Ranachanmore survey, site RM003 - SMR report 1366).

(KC 11/2004)