Monument record MHG7669 - Hut circle - Lochan Fuar

Within a heather covered field enclosure 0.3m. high constructed of large boulders, at NG 7965 7102, on a sheltered slope 80.0m. from the shore of Loch Fuar, there are the grass and bracken-covered footings of a hut circle, measuring 9.0m. internal diameter. The dry-stone walls are 2.5m. thick and 0.9m. max. height and the faces are defined by orthostats. The 1.2m wide entrance is in the SE. The amorphous remains of a small dry-stone building, probably a shieling has been constructed within the circle, and post-dates it.
Visited by OS (N K B) 26 March 1965; Visible on RAF air photographs CPE/ SCOT/UK 246 4387-8.

NG 7965 7103. A hut circle is situated at an elevation of 100m on a southeast facing hillside 100m west of the north end of Loch an Uidhear (called "Lochan Fuar" on the OS map). The diameter of the circle is relatively large being 15m (external) and the walling is of stone. The entrance is at 113 degrees grid, with a structure visible external to it. There are the remains of a bothie size 6m x 3m built inside the circle. A setting of isolated stones, starting and finishing in the vicinity of the entrance runs round and behind the circle to enclose a bean-shaped area of extent 130m by 60m. The hut circle is shown on the OS map but not the setting of stones. <1>

The hut circle was included in a desk-based assessment by C Dagg in 2010 for a proposed woodland planting scheme for Shieldaig Farm, in an area to the east of the Badachro River. <2>

179659 871007 Lochan Fuar AMC111: 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 circular platform is dug into and built out from a gentle SE facing slope, about 80m from Loch Fuar. The view is panoramic to E and S, but limited to N. It is a very solid and well constructed circle. The interior is 'bowl shaped' and has sunk down. Average inner diameter is 9.8m, outer diameter is 14.2m. The double skinned wall is 2m wide and maximum height is 1m. The entrance faces SE and has width 1.5m externally, 1m internally, and appears extended on S side. Roy Wentworth describes orthostats. Certainly very large boulders are partially visible in the outside walls. The entire site is covered in thick bracken and moss. There is much tumbled stone in the centre and obscuring the entrance. There is a probable small enclosure to N of circle (the 1965 record indicates that the HC is also surrounded by a larger enclosure). A field boundary (possibly part of the larger enclosure) runs downhill to NE towards the loch. A probable shieling (4mx2m) is dug in to W side of the interior. This HC appears to be on its own but may be linked to the group around AM114 (see MHG49724) (1500m distant). <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].

The site was visited by AOC Archaeology Group in 2015 during a walkover survey in advance of the proposed Badachro Hydro Scheme, located between Loch Braigh Horrasdail and the Badachro River near Gairloch. Although within the survey area the hut circle would not be impacted by the proposed scheme. <5>