Monument record MHG44774 - Sgorr Reidh, Rhum

Summary

No summary available.

Location

Grid reference Centred NM 3119 9829 (20m by 20m)
Map sheet NM39NW
Old County ARGYLL
Civil Parish SMALL ISLES
Geographical Area LOCHABER

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

Ruined, in heath on steep hillslope, with SW aspect and altitude of 250-300m OD.
SMR card.

A wall follows an irregular course for a distance of about 300m along the cliff edge at Sgorr Reidh. Along the wall, usually at corners, there are at least eight structures, the largest measuring about 2.6m by 2.2m within a corbelled wall upto 1.7m high. Only one has an entrance, and most of their floors have been sunk below the surrounding ground level.
Ref unknown.

Sgorr Reidh NM 312 983 to 314 981. Small circular huts connected by a sinuous drystone wall running approximately parallel to the cliff edge and within 20 yds (18.4m) of it. Dimensions of these structures as in NM39NW5. With two exceptions, the huts are all built on the landward side of the wall, usually at an angle in it. The two exceptions are on the seaward side of the wall and about 5 yds (4.68m) from it. Altogether there are 8 certain huts and 4 probable ones.
David GC; 1967; Discovery & Excavation in Scotland; CBA (Scot); pp27

Doubts that it is actually a deer trap - too steep a drop to the trap: - impractical.
Love J A; 1980; Deer Traps on the Isle of Rhum; Deer; Vol 5(3); pp131-2


NM39NW 6 312 983 to 312 981.

(Centred: NM 313 982) A complex of small, circular dry-stone huts connected by a sinuous drystone wall running approximately parallel to the cliff edge and within 20 yds of it. The dimensions of the structure are the same as those of NM39NW 5, to which this complex is very similar.
With two exceptions, the huts are built on the landward site of the wall, usually at an angle in it. The exceptions are on the seaward side of the wall and about 5 yds distant from it. There are 8 certain, and 4 probable huts. (Visible on RAF AP's 106G/Scot/UK53: 3051-2)
G C David 1967

On top of a 1000' cliff and set in a stony block-field totally devoid of pasture. In the centre of the enclosure is a pen 18' by 15' with very open-built walls. It is scarcely possible that this could be a shieling, but it may be an installation from which to stampede deer over the cliff.
R Miller 1967

At NM 312 982, a smaller but similar structure to NM39NW 5, having eight cells built against the wall, mainly oval and measuring c.2.5m by c.1.8m internally, and one free standing enclosure c.4.0m in diameter between the wall and the cliff. It is probably connected with NM39NW 5.
Visited by OS (AA) 14 May 1972

The largest cell had much of its corbelled roof in place. It measured 3.7m E-W by 3m N-S. The structure is partly subterranean, as are most of the chambers in these features.
NMRS MS/868/1

Sources/Archives (4)

  • --- Text/Publication/Article: Miller, R. 1967. ''Land use by summer sheilings'', Scot Stud Vol. 11 1967, p.193-221. Scot Stud. 193-221. 212.
  • --- Text/Publication/Article: David, G C. 1967. 'Rhum; Sgor Reidh, Harris Beach, Glen Shellesder, Guirdil, Loch Scresort, Samhnan Insir', Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 1967, p.27-9. Discovery and Excavation in Scotland. 27-9. 27.
  • --- Text/Publication/Article: Love, J A. 1981. 'Sheilings of the Isle of Rum', Scot Stud Vol. 25 1981, p.39-63. Scot Stud. 39-63. 53, 58.
  • --- Text/Report: RCAHMS. 1983. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. The archaeological sites and monuments of Rhum, Lochaber District, Highland Region. . 24, No.179.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

Jan 28 2008 12:00AM

Comments and Feedback

Do you have any questions or more information about this record? Please feel free to comment below with your name and email address. All comments are submitted to the Heritage Portal maintainers for moderation, and we aim to respond/publish as soon as possible. Comments, questions and answers that may be helpful to other users will be retained and displayed along with the name you supply. The email address you supply will never be displayed or shared.