Description

This monument comprises the remains of a shieling group, dating probably from the 17th and 18th centuries. The group is situated on the SW bank of an unnamed burn 640m to the NNW of Meall Odhar and comprises at least twenty-six huts and two enclosures. Several amorphous mounds in the area may mark the sites of further huts.

The shieling huts can be divided into two groups: eleven of them are subrectangular turf-walled structures; while the others are built of stone, often with turf banked against the outer faces of their walls. The turf huts range from 1.4m to 4.7m in length and from 1.3m to 2.3m in width, within walls reduced to spread banks up to 1.1m thick and 0.5m high. The stone huts tend to be larger, measuring between 1.3m and 6.4m in length and between 1.2m and 2.3m in width, within walls up to 1.7m thick and 0.9m high.

There are upright stones, possibly parts of fireplaces, set into the floors of three huts, in each case to one side of the entrance. Finally, one stone hut situated next to a trackway has had its NE end wall removed, possibly for re-use of the hut as a peat store.

Amongst these huts there are at least two subrectangular enclosures, and possible fragments of others. The largest enclosure is set into the burn gully and measures about 12m by 8m within a stony bank.

The area to be scheduled encompasses the visible features and the area immediately around and between them within which related remains may be expected to survive. It is irregular on plan with maximum dimensions of 255m from NW to SE by 130m transversely, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of the social and economic conditions of the 17th and 18th centuries in the locality. Its importance is enhanced by its association with well-preserved contemporary structures in the wider landscape, and with the fine collection of contemporary plans and documents in the Breadalbane Muniments.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NN 64 SE 13.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland