Monument record MHG8382 - Hut circle - Glac Shildeag

NG 8038 7180. A hut circle is situated at an elevation of 55m on a dry shelf about 100m to the southeast of the Shieldaig path and 40m to the west of the Allt Glac Shildeag. There are clumps of birches round about. The diameter of the circle is ca. 10m (mid wall) and the walling which is exceptionally substantial is of stone with a great many small stones visible in places on the wall top. The entrance is possibly at 319 degrees grid where there is a gap with thicker walling on either side of it. The ambient vegetation is fine grass and bracken inside the circle, heather, Molinia and bracken on the outside. A setting of isolated stones runs at 324 degrees grid from the hut circle entrance some 30m down the hillside. Not shown on OS maps. <1>

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. <2>

180371 871779 Glac Shieldaig 1 AMC112: 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 is in poor condition and is built up from a natural terrace on a gently sloping hillside. It is overrun by bracken and moss. Birch trees are growing in the walls and inside the HC. Average interior diameter is 8.35m, exterior diameter is 11.0m. The substantial double skinned wall is 1.5m thick; the wall thickness increases on E side. The entrance faces W and the passage is 1.3m wide externally and 1m wide internally. The passage length is 1.5m. The interior has much tumble and and contains several stone structures, possibly shielings or animal pens. Abutting the S side of the HC are remains of three stone structures. An orthostat stands in east side of circle. This HC appears to be on its own but may be linked to the group around AM114 (see MHG49724) (1500m distant) and/or around AMC128 (see MHG6334) (700 m distant), or AMC111 (see MHG7669) (1000m 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].

Note: NGR adjusted to position as seen on 2009 vertical APs [IS-L 19/04/2017].