Monument record MHG8276 - Hut circle - An Torr 1 (AMC137)

A hut circle is situated at an elevation of 25m on a level shelf of ground above and on the east side of the deep gorge through which the river Abhainn Bhad a' Chrotha runs. It lies 30m from the rocky slope of the hill An Torr rising upto the east. The diameter (internal) of the circle is 7m and the walling is of stone covered in places with a little peaty turf. The entrance is at 96 degrees grid, on the opposite side of the circle from the gorge. The ambient vegetation is heather and a little bracken inside and outside the circle. Curiously although a circle is drawn here on the OS map the words "Hut Circle" do not appear. <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 noted as lying on a broad, flat, heather-covered area immediately above the tree line, with an internal diameter of 7m and with an entrance in the east. 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>

178290 873421 An Torr 1 AMC137: 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 structure consists of large boulders forming a double skinned wall submerged in rank heather. It lies on a terrace surrounded by gently sloping ground then a steep drop to gorge all around except E side where there are crags. E orientation of entrance gives shelter from a SW wind. There is a slight extended terminal to N side of entrance. The interior of the HC is dished. The site is a very strategic spot for observation as there is all round visibility. The site terrace is above the E bank of Abhainn Bad a Chrotha giving good access to water routes, sea and inland. The hut circle is not adjacent to any enclosure but there are walls 200m to NE. Average inner diameter is 7.9m, outer diameter is 11m. Wall thickness is 1.5m and maximum wall height is 0.5m. The probable entrance faces East, entrance width is 1m internally and externally. The entrance length is 2m on the N side, indicating an extended terminal. AMC137 may be associated with the cluster AMC107 (see MHG8280), AMC108 (see MHG8281) and AMC109 (see MHG30972), all at a distance of 400m. <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].

Note: NGR adjusted to position as seen on 2010 vertical APs [IS-L 19/04/2017].