Monument record MHG8628 - Cairn - Scotsburn Wood (Cairn A)

One of a number of cairns in Scotsburn Wood. Originally recorded as Cairn A. Survey after 1963 has failed to find any trace of the site. The NGR is based on its location as seen on the OS 1st Edition map.

". . . Traditionally said to indicate an ancient battle between some Scottish forces and the Danes." <1>

Carn nam Marbh (Dead Men's Cairn): This cairn and those in Scotsburn Wood are almost certain to mark the site of a battle. Neighbouring names are: "Lochan a' Chlaidheimh" - Sword Lochlet, and Bearnas a' Chalaidheimh" - Sword Cleft. <2>

NH77NW 5 726 766.

A: (NH 7304 7644) Cairn (NR), B: (NH 7300 7649) Cairn (NR), C: (NH 7282 7673) Cairn (NR), D: (NH 7260 7687) Cairn (NR), E: (NH 7218 7679) Cairn (NR) and F: (NH 7220 7669) Site of Cairn (NR)
OS 6" map, Ross-shire, 2nd ed., (1907)

In the area centred NH 7261 7667 on the S-facing slopes of Beinn an Lochain are, or have been, six cairns in the positions given. All are in an area that has been fairly recently reafforested.
Cairn A is a heather-covered mound 11m diameter with a maximum height of 2m on W. It has been ploughed and planted with young firs but this has at least served to show the stony content of the mound.
Visited by OS (R D L) 17 May 1963.

Cairn A: Not located.
Re-surveyed at 1:2500. Visited by OS (JS) and (AA) 14 3 1973.

See also <3>

It is worth noting that Cairns C and D to the north appear to be located some 75-80m to the northeast of their positions as shown on the OS 1st and 2nd Edition maps (which is rather odd given the general accuracy of these maps). If a similar distance and direction is applied to Cairn A it would place it on or just to the northwest of what is now a track through the woodland so it may have been removed, perhaps for hardcore, when it was constructed. IS-L 20/10/2017