Record of visible Archaeological Remains in Upper part of Gallowhill Wood, North Kessock, Ross-shire, GR NH602498 25th January 2003

1. Building - SMR NH64NW0088
2. Enclosure (SMR NH64NW0088) - previously unrecorded
3. Enclosure (SMR NH64NW0088) - previously unrecorded
4. Building - previously unrecorded
5. Building - previously unrecorded
6. Building - SMR NH64NW0089
7. Cairn and Enclosure - SMR NH64NW0100
8. Hut circles - previously unrecorded
9. ?Shieling - previously unrecorded
10. Cairn - previously unrecorded
11. Cairn - previously unrecorded
12. Cairn - previously unrecorded
13. Hut circle - NH 59513 49242 - previously unrecorded
14. Building - NH 59598 49291 - previously unrecorded
15. Hut circle - NH 59892 49255 - previously unrecorded

Archaeological Sites Record

Site name and SMR or NMRS No.
Gallowhill Wood - GW1 SMR - NH64NW 0088

Location
Highland Region - Knockbain Parish

NGR NH 606 497

Site type/class Structure

Situation and surroundings
On a southeast facing terrace. In a clearing in a mature coniferous plantation.

Description
The ruined moss-covered walls of a rectangular building lie on a NE-SW axis, at the back of the terrace. Measurements roughly 16m x 5.5m externally No recognisable internal features. But overall drop of 0.5m from west to east end. The NW (back) wall is 1.2m in width, 1.5m max. height, and comprises roughly 6 courses of local rounded stone with rubble infill. Much tumble into the building. The SE (front) wall rises to 0.5m in height and has much tumble both inside the building and out. Two entrances in this wall. Two enclosures are associated with this building (see separate recording sheets). One lies immediately adjacent and to the NW. The other is ?10m to the east. The building and enclosures are situated at the west end of the terrace which is roughly 18m wide (SE to NW) at this point. The terrace is c. 150m - 200m in length and becomes wider at its east end. There is a well defined edge to the SE where the slope drops away steeply. A section of constructed track is located on a steep slope 50m to the north. It is roughly 30m in length.

On 1st Edition OS map or others Yes

Sketches Yes
Photographs 1. View looking east. 2. West end. 3. NW wall. 4. Entrance at east end.

Recorder, Date and Weather - L & P Draper, S. Miles - 25.01.03. Weather - showery.

Comments, associated features, possible interpretation
Two ruined structures and a pit may be associated with this settlement :-- Building, 150m to the NE (see separate recording sheet)- Building, 80m to the north (see separate recording sheet)- Pit, 1m deep and 4m diameter, is located 50m to the NE .

Archaeological Sites Record

Site name and SMR or NMRS No.
Gallowhill Wood - GW2 (SMR - NH64NW 0088)

Location
Highland Region - Knockbain Parish

NGR NH 60640 49727

Site type/class Enclosure

Situation and surroundings
On a southeast facing slope, adjacent to and associated with a building SMR - NH64NW 0088 situated on a terrace. Mature coniferous plantation.

Description
Rectangular enclosure. Measurements roughly 25m x 10m (see sketch over)A ruined mainly stone enclosing wall, reaches max height of 0.5m and is generally 1m in width, Although indistinct in places, it is generally well-defined. A barely discernable "link" may connect the south end of the east wall to the NE corner of the building (see sketch over)Vegetation cover is predominantly grass/moss. Planted with trees.The adjacent building to the south and a further enclosure to the east are almost certainly associated with this enclosure (see separate recording sheets).

On 1st Edition OS map or others No

Sketches Yes
Photographs No

Recorder, Date and Weather - J. Marshall, A. Mackenzie - 25.01.03. Weather - showery

Comments, associated features, possible interpretation
Associated building, SMR - NH64NW 0088

Archaeological Sites Record

Site name and SMR or NMRS No.
Gallowhill Wood GW3 (SMR - NH64NW 0088)

Location
Highland Region - Knockbain Parish

NGR NH 60625 49717

Site type/class Enclosure

Situation and surroundings
On a southeast facing terrace. Partly in the clearing in a mature coniferous plantation and partly planted with trees. Almost certainly associated with building, SMR - NH64NW 0088

Description
The low moss-covered banks of a sub-rectangular enclosure lie on a NE-SW axis. Measurements roughly 20m x 12m. Turf and stone banks are well defined but much degraded. Roughly 0.1 - 0.2m in height, but 0.4 at outer SE edge. Generally 1m in width. Vegetation cover is predominantly moss with some bracken patches and mature trees. A building and a further enclosure are associated with this enclosure (see separate recording sheets).

On 1st Edition OS map or others No

Sketches Yes
Photographs No

Recorder, Date and Weather M. Marshall, A. Wakeling & A Wilson - 25.01.03. Weather showery

Comments, associated features, possible interpretation
Associated building, SMR - NH64NW 0088

Archaeological Sites Record

Site name and SMR or NMRS No.
Gallowhill Wood GW4

Location
Highland Region - Knockbain Parish

NGR NH 6060 4980

Site type/class

Situation and surroundings
At the top of a south-east facing slope. In open mature coniferous plantation. Probably associated with building GW1 and enclosures GW2 and 3, situated 80m to the south.

Description
A rectangular building, lying on a NE-SW axis, is recessed into the slope. Internal measurements roughly 8m x 3m. The line of 3 of the walls - the SW, NW and NE, are easily discernable as steep earth slopes 0.5 - 0.8m in height. That of the SE is not traceable. A short length of constructed track lies to the south.

On 1st Edition OS map or others No

Sketches Yes
Photographs

Recorder, Date and Weather M. Marshall - 21.02.03. Weather - showery.

Comments, associated features, possible interpretation
Unrecorded to date.
Possibly a timber building associated with SMR NH64NW 0088, 80m to the south.

Archaeological Sites Record

Site name and SMR or NMRS No.
Gallowhill Wood GW5

Location
Highland Region - Knockbain Parish

NGR NH 6075 4980

Site type/class Structure

Situation and surroundings
On a southeast facing slope. In an open mature coniferous plantation.

Description
The moss-covered banks of a rectangular building lie on a NE-SW axis. Internal measurements roughly 8m x 3m. Remains of the stone walls are made up of undressed largish stones. Walls are roughly 0.3 - 1m in height and more substantial in west, less distinct at east corner where there appears to be an entrance. Generally 1- 1.5m in width and heavily covered in moss. No internal features noted. Planted with trees. A building and two enclosure 150m to the SW may be associated (see separate recording sheets).

On 1st Edition OS map or others No

Sketches Yes
Photographs No

Recorder, Date and Weather M. Marshall, A. Mackenzie. - 25.01.03. Weather - showery.

Comments, associated features, possible interpretation
Unrecorded to date.
Possibly associated with building, SMR - #1 situated 150m to the SW.

Archaeological Sites Record

Site name and SMR or NMRS No.
Gallowhill Wood - GW6 SMR - NH64NW 0089

Location
Highland Region - Knockbain Parish

NGR NH 60379 49985

Site type/class Structure

Situation and surroundings
In a mature open coniferous wood, in a small east facing shallow valley.

Description
The ruined moss-covered walls of a rectangular building lie on a NE-SW axis. Comprises 2 compartments - east one measures 5m x 3m, west is 3m x 3m. Both have entrances in SE corner. Walls are roughly 0.3 high, amorphous in places, but more substantial in the west, 1 - 1.5m in width and heavily covered with moss.

A depression, 1m deep, lies 2m to the SE of the east corner.

A further man-made depression 2m deep and 6m in diameter lies 50m to the NE. It may be associated and it may be for water collection.

On 1st Edition OS map or others Yes

Sketches Yes
Photographs No

Recorder, Date and Weather M.Marshall and members of NOSAS - 25.01.03. Weather showery.

Comments, associated features, possible interpretation
May be associated with a building (SMR NH64NW 0088) and two enclosures lying 700m to the SE.

Archaeological Sites Record

Site name and SMR or NMRS No.
Gallowhill Wood - GW7 SMR - NH64NW0100

Location
Highland Region - Knockbain Parish

NGR NH 5998 4991

Site type/class Cairn

Situation and surroundings
In birch wood, quite close to summit of Gallowhill Wood.

Description
Previously recorded by MM 1999.

Visited 25.01.03. by MM and NOSAS. It was noted that the two trailing stone banks to the east of the cairn were joined by a third low turf and stone bank (see alterations to previous plan), forming an enclosure. The whole enclosure and the banks were elevated at the north and east sides by ?0.5m to form a level platform.

On 1st Edition OS map or others No

Sketches Attached
Photographs No

Recorder, Date and Weather M. Marshall, 25.01.03. Weather showery.

Comments, associated features, possible interpretation
It would seem that the enclosure has been constructed out of material from the cairn (probably Neolithic) and may be associated with a building, SMR - NH64NW 0089, situated 400m to the east.

Archaeological Sites Record

Site name and SMR or NMRS No.
Gallowhill Wood - GW8 OS sheet NH64NW

Location
Highland Region - Knockbain Parish

NGR NH 60593 49352

Site type/class Hut Circle

Situation and surroundings
On a gentle south-east facing slope, in a quite dense young coniferous plantation.

Description
Well defined encircling embankment, generally 0.6m in height, but 0.8m in the NE where it is recessed into the slope.
Internal diameter of area is 12m, external is generally 17.5m.
Possible entrance in the south sector.

Possible further hut circle at GR NH 60545 49424, (100m to the NW of recorded hut circle). On an east facing "spur", in light mature pine wood. A low incomplete encircling bank encloses an area with diameter of 14m. A possible entrance is to be found in the south-east sector.

On 1st Edition OS map or others No

Sketches No
Photographs No

Recorder, Date and Weather M.Marshall and members of NOSAS - 25.01.03. Weather showery.

Comments, associated features, possible interpretation
Unrecorded to date.

Archaeological Sites Record

Site name and SMR or NMRS No.
Gallowhill Wood - GW9

Location
Highland Region - Knockbain Parish

NGR NH 5994 4968

Site type/class Structure, ?sheiling

Situation and surroundings
In light birch woods, on a south facing slope quite close to the summit of the hill.

Description
A roughly rectangular structure with very rounded corners on a N - S axis.
Internal measurements roughly 5m x 2.5m (see sketch over).
Moss and grass covered ?turf banks rise to 0.5m, few stones in evidence apart from at the north end. A large boulder measures 1m and rises to 0.4m.
Open at the south end.
A depression 1.2m in diameter and 0.4m deep lies 2m to the west of the SW corner.

On 1st Edition OS map or others No

Sketches Yes
Photographs Yes, from the south

Recorder, Date and Weather M. Marshall - 21.02.03. Weather - sunny and cold.

Comments, associated features, possible interpretation
Unrecorded to date.
Possible sheiling.

Archaeological Sites Record

Site name and SMR or NMRS No.
Gallowhill Wood - GW 10, 11 and 12

Location
Highland Region - Knockbain Parish

NGR NH 5984 4966, NH 5989 5011,
NH 5977 5005

Site type/class Cairns

Situation and surroundings
In light birch woods, at or near the summit of the hill.

Description
GW10. NH 5984 4966 - Cairn, 5m in diameter and rising to 0.8m height. Moss and grass covered.

GW11. NH 5989 5011 - Elongated cairn on a NW - SE axis. 7m x 5m x 0.8m in height. Moss and grass covered.

GW12. NH 5977 5005 - Cairn, 9m in diameter and rising to 1m in height. Moss and grass covered.

On 1st Edition OS map or others No

Sketches No
Photographs No

Recorder, Date and Weather M. Marshall - 23.02.03. Weather - sunny and cold.

Comments, associated features, possible interpretation
Unrecorded to date.

Archaeological Sites Record

Site name and SMR or NMRS No.
Gallowhill Wood - GW 13

Location
Highland Region - Knockbain Parish

NGR NH 59513 49242

Site type/class Hut circle

Situation and surroundings
In light birchwood on a terrace at an altitude of 69m and with a SW facing aspect.

Description
Internal diameter roughly 11m. Dished centre. Surrounding incomplete earth banks have some stones and are roughly 1 to 1.5m in width and 0.5m in height. Covered with bracken and blueberry.

Photo from ENE

On 1st Edition OS map or others

Sketches
Photographs Yes, from the ENE.

Recorder, Date and Weather M. Marshall, 05.01.04. Weather fine.

Comments, associated features, possible interpretation

Archaeological Sites Record

Site name and SMR or NMRS No.
Gallowhill Wood - GW 14

Location
Highland Region - Knockbain Parish

NGR NH 59598 49291

Site type/class Ruined building

Situation and surroundings
In beech wood at the rear of a terrace, altitude 69m and with a SW facing aspect.

Description
Square structure, recessed into slope at rear/north side. Internal dimensions 4m x 4m. Walls of rubble, to 0.8m height and generally 1.5m in width. Entrance in SW corner.

Photo from north-east

Photo from west

On 1st Edition OS map or others

Sketches
Photographs Yes

Recorder, Date and Weather M. Marshall, 05.01.04. Weather fine.

Comments, associated features, possible interpretation

Archaeological Sites Record

Site name and SMR or NMRS No.
Gallowhill Wood - GW 15

Location
Highland Region - Knockbain Parish

NGR NH 59892 49255

Site type/class Hut circle

Situation and surroundings
In light birchwood, on a sloping terrace, with a south facing aspect and at an altitude of 110m.

Description
Internal diameter roughly 8m. Surrounding earth banks are incomplete and roughly 0.2m to 0.3m in height and 1.5m to 2m in width, with a possible entrance in the south. Covered with bracken and blueberry.

Photo from NW.

On 1st Edition OS map or others

Sketches
Photographs Yes

Recorder, Date and Weather M. Marshall, 14.03.04. Weather fine.

Comments, associated features, possible interpretation