Kildermorie Hydro-Electric Scheme, , Cultural Heritage and Archaeological Evaluation

1.0 Background

A hydro-electric scheme is proposed at Kildermorie, Alness, Easter Ross. This evaluation has been prepared for inclusion in an Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Statement on the proposed development, and covers the potential impact of the scheme on the archaeological record and cultural heritage of the area.

This evaluation aims to

• Identify the cultural heritage baseline within and in the vicinity of the proposed area of the development • Assess the proposed development site in terms of its archaeological and historic environment • Consider the potential impacts of construction and operation of the proposed development on the cultural heritage and archaeological record. • Propose measures (where appropriate) to mitigate any predicted adverse impacts

The cultural heritage resource of an area is taken to consist of the following elements which might be adversely affected by the development:

• Scheduled Ancient Monuments • Listed Buildings • Designed Landscapes and Gardens • Other archaeological features, conservation areas, historic cemeteries and battlefield sites

The evaluation contains the following elements:

• A desk-based assessment of the archaeological sites and areas of historical or cultural interest considered likely to be affected by the development. • A field evaluation of the area of the proposed development, to locate known and recorded archaeological sites and areas of archaeological and cultural significance and to identify previously unrecorded sites

2.0 Baseline Conditions

2.1 Archaeological Background

2.1.1 Scheduled Ancient Monuments, Listed Buildings, Gardens and Designed Landscapes

There are no sites with statutory protection within the evaluation area or within a zone of potential indirect, visual impact.

2.1.2 Archaeological Sites

Other recorded archaeological sites, recorded either on the Historic Environment Record, or on the National Monuments record for (NMRS), are protected by Planning Policy Guidance 16 and managed by Highland Council Archaeology Unit. In brief, all archaeological sites are a finite, non-renewable resource, which should be preserved in situ where possible and adequately investigated and recorded where preservation is not possible. Any work affecting these sites will require to be carried out after consultation with HCAU.

Unrecorded sites or areas of archaeological potential are not so clearly protected by law. These are most often first identified in advance of development, often where a brief for archaeological investigation has been issued by HCAU. Where this is not the case, as in the present proposed work, best practice will be to treat the newly located sites in the same way as recorded features, balanced with common sense about the potential impact of the proposed development.

2.1.3 Previous fieldwork On archaeological field survey has been carried out in the general area of Kildermorie. This is a pre- afforestation survey carried out in November 2002 (C. Dagg) No archaeological features were located within the areas of proposed forestry. This survey did not cover the areas potentially affected by the present proposed development. There is therefore a possibility of unrecorded sites being located in these areas.

2.1.4 Recorded archaeological sites

The following archaeological sites are recorded on the Highland Historic Environment Record (HER) as within or adjacent to the area of this evaluation:

1. Kildermorie Lodge at NH 5191 7786 HER ref. No. MHG 25208 lodge MHG 21288 Head Stalker’s Cottage MHG 21289 Ice House MHG 21290 Stalker’s Cottage MHG 23967 Steading MHG 20651 Building: one unroofed structure recorded on 1st edition OS map MHG 8888 House

2. Tigh an Staca at NH 5060 7850 HER ref. No. MHG 7120, 43316, 43314: Township. Six unroofed buildings and an enclosure recorded on 1st edition OS map

2.2 Archaeological Field Survey

The following archaeological sites or areas of archaeological or historical interest were noted during the field evaluation, carried out on 4.8.08. The listing runs from east to west.

1. Kildermorie Lodge: Buildings at NH 5191 7786 With the exception of MHG 20651, the unroofed building marked on the 1st edition OS map, the buildings recorded on HER are all standing and in use and are unlikely to be affected directly or indirectly by the present scheme. The grouping is surrounded by mature forestry plantations, which will provide a visual barrier between any structures associated with the development and the buildings and their setting. While the setting of the older buildings should, as best practice, be protected from the visual intrusion of modern elements, this setting is already altered from its original late 19th century design by the construction of the new lodge and associated fencing.

2. Tigh an Staca: Township at NH 5060 7850. Recorded, probably erroneously, on Roy’s military survey as Achnagulan, on Thomson’s 1823 map as Teyslack and on the 1st edition OS map as Tighastac. All the township remains, as recorded on the 1st edition OS map, lie north of the modern vehicular track and between the Allt Cnoc a’ Bholla to the west and the Allt Sron Fhearchair to the east as follows, from west to east: a. Small rectangular building, possibly a byre or barn, aligned NE-SW and immediately adjacent to the bank of the Allt Cnoc a’ Bholla. It is possible that this structure has already been destroyed during construction of the present vehicular track. b. Enclosure, NE of a. and aligned NNE-SSW. Possibly an animal pen. Extant walling, visible as moss-covered boulders truncated to the south by the present vehicular track, noted during the walk-over survey (Photos 1-4) is likely to be this structure. c. Small sub-square building, aligned NW-SE and 120m east of a., immediately south of and parallel to the stalkers path, possibly a byre or barn. Not noted during the walk-over survey but probably surviving within the forestry north of the vehicular track. d. Rectangular building, aligned ENE-WSW, located 150m east of a. immediately south of the stalkers path. This is probably the main, or only, dwelling of the settlement. The 1st edition OS map places the name Tighastac adjacent to this structure. Likely to be a shed, hen house or similar associated with the dwelling. north of the vehicular track. Not noted during the walk-over survey but probably surviving within the forestry north of the vehicular track. e. Small square structure immediately south of d. Likely to be a shed, hen house or similar associated with the dwelling. It is possible that this structure has already been destroyed during construction of the present vehicular track. f. Small rectangular building immediately south of e. Likely to be a shed, hen house or similar associated with the dwelling. It is possible that this structure has already been destroyed during construction of the present vehicular track. g. Small sub-square building, probably a byre or barn, immediately east of d. but on the north side of the stalkers path. Not noted during the walk-over survey but probably surviving within the forestry

It is possible that further structures associated with the township or farmstead were not recorded by the Ordnance Survey but lie within this area, and therefore within the 20m corridor of the proposed pipeline route.

Although no structures are recorded on the 1st edition OS map to the west of the Allt Cnoc a’ Bholla, a boulder dyke is visible there (Photo no. 5) with a possible structure between this and the road. No structures or dykes were noted south of the road. Further buildings and cultivated ground are also recorded south of the river, also afforested, but were not investigated.

3. Allt Cnoc a’Bholla: stalkers path from NH 5080 7845 to NH 4885 8017 This track follows the Allt Cnoc a’Bholla to Lochan Lice then descends steeply to rejoin the Abhain na Glasa

4. Achadh nan Cuillean/na Bruanagan: Farmstead at NH 4920 7857 Recorded on Roy’s military survey and on Thomson’s 1823 map as Brumach and on the 1st edition OS map as Achadh nan Cuillean. No buildings are recorded on the 1st or 2nd edition OS maps but the area between the river and the stream is shown as improved ground, with a footbridge and path (Site 4, below) The 1988 OS 1:25000 Pathfinder map shows a roofless building and dyke. The building cluster occupies a slight knoll at the west edge of the improved ground (Photo no. 6) and consists of one long house (Photo no. 7) with a rectangular enclosure to the east, with another, sub-oval enclosure south of this (Photo no. 8). Other indistinct structures may include a corn kiln. A section of dyke runs from the building to the river and on the improved ground are three prominent conical field clearance piles. To the west, further low boundary dykes and enclosures occupy the ‘island’ where the river divides. To the south of the forestry, on the east side of the Allt a’Mhagharaidh at approximately NH 490 780 are what appear to be peat cuttings (Photo no. 9)

5. Allt a’ Mhagharaidh: Stalkers path from NH 4920 7857 to NH 4803 7743. This runs up the NW side of the stream and has been roughly constructed, proving difficult to follow in its upper stretch. (Photo no. 10)

6. Allt Loch a’ Chaorainn: Stalkers path from NH 4743 7900 to NH 4872 7895. Similar to no. 4, but better constructed on the steep higher ground and indistinct on its lower stretch.

7. Abhainn na Glasa: trackway from NH 4616 8002 to NH 4883 8015. The original stalkers path or track from Kildermorie Lodge to Bad Sgaleach as recorded on the 1st edition OS map, did not follow the river but cut across the high ground NW from Tigh an Staca and past Lochan lice. Where it did follow the river it is mostly overlaid by the recent access road but short stretches are visible between the road and the river, for example on the alluvial fan of the Allt na Cloiche-pruinne (Photos 11, 12)

8. Allt na Cloiche-pruinne: Shielings at NH 4858 8050. To the NE of the road and SE of the stream are two small shieling-type structures. The first is visible as a sub-square measuring 2m by 2m, open to the N and constructed of earth and small stones (Photo no. 13) The second is less distinct, consisting of grassy banks which appear to have been built against the face of a boulder, with a possible opening to the SW (Photo no. 14)

9. Tigh na Glaic: Shielings at NH 4780 8075 A number of probable shieling-type structures were noted on the alluvial fan of the stream above the road, but were not investigated. The building recorded on recent mapping is probably recent and is no longer standing. The place name is presumably referring to one of the shielings

10. Bad Sgalaig: Stalkers bothy, stable at NH 4606 8011 This building is recorded on the 1st edition OS map, so dates to before 1876. It consists of stabling to the right, with tiled flooring and walls, and a small bothy room to the left (Photo no.15) It was originally set back from the track up the glen, possibly to avoid seasonal flooding of the river. Named in Watson’s Placenames of as Bothan Bad-sgalaidh, ‘noted for ghosts’.

11. Bad Sgalaig: path from NH 4606 8011 to NH 4616 8002 Slightly raised, ditched connecting path between the bothy (site 9, above) and the main track up the glen (site 6), now also leading directly to the relatively modern bridge over the river. Recorded on the 1st edition OS map (Photo no. 16)

12. Abhainn na Glasa: Bridge piers at NH 4615 8000 Mortared stone piers of a former bridge over the Abhainn na Glasa. The pier on the south bank is well-preserved, standing up to 2m (Photo no. 17) but the pier on the north bank is reduced to its foundation course (Photo no. 18) possibly by robbing for the newer bridge.

13. An Conasg: Stalkers path from NH 44807920 to NH 45637978. Where the modern track takes a high route above this rocky barrier, the original stalkers path follows a lower route (Photo no. 19) with occasional constructed features such as slab culverts (Photo no. 20)

14. Abhainn na Glasa: stone cairn at NH 4333 7841 Four stones, of which three are smoothed cobbles, placed on the flat surface of a large boulder beside the river. Of unknown function, but likely to be marking either the estate boundary or a route. (Photos 21, 22)

2.3 Historical Background: Landownership, settlement and land use

At the head of Loch Morie are the ruins of a probably mediaeval chapel, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, with an attached burial ground. This would have been at the centre of settlement up to the Reformation, possibly for the neighbouring and Loch Glass as well as Kildermorie.

Roy’s Military Survey of the 1750s shows the traditional pattern of settlement and land use at Kildermorie. As well as the cluster of settlements at the head of Loch Morie, two settlements are marked up the Abhainn na Glasa: Brumach and Achinagulan, with cornlands on both sides of the river between the two. He appears to have confused the township names, as Achinagulan presumably corresponds to Achadh nan Cuillean but is shown at the location of Tigh an Staca. Nonetheless, the two townships are shown in approximately their correct locations, with no recorded land use west up the glen.

The area was a part of the property of Munro of Novar, who began to improve his estate around 1765 on his return from . At Kildermorie, the number of tenants was first reduced to six; this would have been from the entire glen and suggests that some, possibly outlying, townships were cleared entirely. Eventually all the tenants were given notice to remove, probably to Strathrusdale and in 1791 the land was leased to two brothers from Lochaber, Captain Allan Cameron and Mr Alexander Cameron, as a sheep farm. The farmhouse is likely to have been on the same site as the later Lodge and the main enclosures and fanks are down at the mouth of the river.

The following year, removal of grazing land from the Strathrusdale tenants led to conflict with the Camerons; a skirmish over the poinding of straying Strathrusdale cattle flared into an attempt by and Ross-shire tenantry to drive out all the newly imported sheep. The action was seen as an insurrection by the landowners and put down by force but remembered as Bliadhna nan Caorach, the Year of the Sheep.

Thirty years after the Kildermorie clearances, the mapmaker John Thomson recorded both Teyslack (Tigh an Staca) and Brumach (na Bruanagan/Achadh nan Cuillean) as inhabited places. This suggests that shepherds had been installed in these places, but no roofed buildings remain by the time of the first Ordnance Survey in the 1870s

2.4 Summary of Findings

The majority of the archaeological features located within the area of evaluation date either to the pre- Clearance landscape (sites 2, 4, 8, 9) or to the late 19th century sporting estate (Sites 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13) while the small stone pile, site 14, is of unknown function or date.

Within the evaluation area there are no features dating to the period of sheep farming or which may have an association with the events of 1792 and the conflict between the Strathrusdale tenants and the Cameron brothers, which would have an increased historical interest to the general public.

3.0 Potential Impacts

The following archaeological sites lie within or adjacent to elements of the development and may be adversely affected:

Site 2: Tigh an Staca: Township at NH 5060 7850. The pipeline passes through the township remains. Of the six structures recorded, three (a, e and f) are likely to have been destroyed during construction of the present vehicular track and one (g) is probably far enough north of the 20m corridor of the pipeline route to be unaffected. Three structures, (b, c, d) will lie within the 20m corridor and will probably be damaged, truncated or destroyed entirely.

Site 3. Allt Cnoc a’Bholla: stalkers path from NH 5080 7845 to NH 4885 8017. The west section of this path, as it rises from the Abhainn na Glasa, is to be upgraded to be used as an access road to the four minor intakes on the Allt na Cuinneige More, Allt na Cuinneige Bige and Allt na Cloiche-pruinne. This will affect only the westernmost 500m of the stalkers path, the majority of which will be unaffected

Site 4. Achadh nan Cuillean/na Bruanagan: Farmstead at NH 4920 7857 The pipeline and access track from the minor intake on the Allt a’Mhagharaidh pass to the west of the group of structures associated with this farmstead, on rough unimproved hill ground where there are no features of settlement or cultivation. The pipeline then crosses the dyke running from the buildings north to the river, then crosses the improved, formerly cultivated ground associated with the farmstead and containing field clearance piles. The group of structures, comprising dwelling, possible kiln barn, enclosures and other indistinct structures will not be directly affected, but a 20m long section of dyke will be destroyed and there is the slight possibility of sub-surface features within the area of cultivated ground which will be damaged or destroyed.

Site 5. Allt a’ Mhagharaidh: Stalkers path from NH 4920 7857 to NH 4803 7743. Some sections of this path will be affected by the construction of the access road to the minor intake upstream. However, this is a path formed by usage with few constructed elements and the impact on the feature as an archaeological or cultural site will be minimal

Site 7: Abhainn na Glasa: trackway from NH 4616 8002 to NH 4883 8015. There may be some minimal damage to surviving sections of the original 19th century estate track during upgrading of the present vehicular track.

Site 8: Allt na Cloiche-pruinne: Shielings at NH 4858 8050 The two shieling-type structures lie within the 20m corridor of the pipeline which runs along the north side of the road. They are both likely to be destroyed

Site 10. Bad Sgalaig: Stalkers bothy, stable at NH 4606 8011 The pipeline appears to be running north of the road at this point, which would make it pass directly through this standing building. It is unlikely that the demolition of the building is being proposed and therefore more likely that the pipeline will pass to the south

Site 14: Abhainn na Glasa: stone cairn at NH 4333 7841. This site is likely to lie within the area of inundation

4.0 Mitigation

Sites 3, 5 and 7, all paths or tracks, are minor features associated with late 19th century sporting activities. Where the scheme is likely to have an adverse impact on these features, no mitigation measures are considered necessary.

No mitigation measures are offered for sites 10, stalkers bothy, and 14, stone cairn.

Sites 2, 4, and 8 are features of a pre-Clearance landscape which may contain elements dating back to Mediaeval settlement or earlier. All three are the type of archaeological feature covered by PPG16, which should be preserved in situ where possible and adequately investigated and recorded where preservation is not possible. This is particularly pertinent for sites 2 and 8, where features lie directly within the 20m corridor of the pipeline and access track. At this stage, cost and design implications probably rule out the possibility of re-routing the pipeline, nor is that measure recommended. Detailed mitigation for each site is given below:

Site 2. This township site is already partially damaged and destroyed by a combination of planting, windblow and felling of conifers and the construction of the present vehicular track. Features such as walling were visible within the forestry but have not been visited since felling to evaluate their present condition. A site visit at the time of the marking out of the 20m pipeline corridor will allow surviving features to be identified and marked, particularly those just outside the 20m corridor to protect them from accidental damage. Standing features which will be removed by ground clearing work can, at this point, be recorded by, as a minimum, a photographic record. Further investigation may be recommended for features which are deemed not too damaged by tree roots. This investigation could take the form of trial trenching, but a watching brief during ground-breaking work is unlikely to produce useful archaeological results and is not recommended.

Site 4. This group of structures is in relatively good condition and is unlikely to be directly affected, apart from a section of an associated dyke. It is recommended that the site be visited prior to any work commencing to mark out an exclusion zone which should not be entered by plant or used as a compound for materials. A photographic record of the section of dyke which will be removed could be made during the site visit. A watching brief on ground-breaking work on the route of the pipeline and access track north and east of the archaeological features may be advisable as there is the small possibility of associated sub-surface features in this area.

Site 8. These two small shieling structures are likely to lie directly within the 20m corridor of the pipeline. As preservation in situ is therefore unlikely, it is recommended that they be investigated and recorded before any ground-breaking work commences. This investigation could take the form of a small-scale excavation such as a slot-trench or quadrant of each building, which would investigate the construction and function of the structures and possibly recover datable artefacts or ecofacts. Such an investigation would be quick and is unlikely to have a major cost implication for the scheme.

5.0 Conclusions

There are very few archaeological or historical sites within or adjacent to the area of development. With the exception of one Early Modern settlement and one shieling site, (Sites 2 and 8) the impact on the archaeological record will be small, and minor adverse impacts on historical features can be reduced by good design and work practice.

Catherine Dagg, BA, AIfA 29.9.09

Data Sources and Bibliography

The following data sources were consulted during this evaluation:

• Historic Environment Record (HER) for Highland Region, held by the Archaeology Unit at Highland Council in • National Monuments Record for Scotland (NMRS) held by the RCAHMS in • Early maps held by the Map Library within the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh

The following works provided background information for the evaluation:

• Alston, D, 1999: Ross and Cromarty A Historical Guide • Prebble J 1963: The • Richards E, 2000: The Highland Clearances • Watson WJ 1904: Placenames of Ross and Cromarty

Photographic Record

Photo no. Feature no. Description Angle of view 1 2 Tigh an Staca, township feature, enclosure From W dyke 2 2 Tigh an Staca, township feature, enclosure From NW dyke 3 2 Tigh an Staca, township feature, building From W 4 2 Tigh an Staca, township feature, building From N 5 2 Tigh an Staca, township feature, enclosure From S dyke and structure west of Allt Cnoc a’ Bholla 6 4 Achadh nan Cuilean, general view with From W buildings, dykes in foreground 7 4 Achadh nan Cuilean, building, long house From SW 8 4 Achadh nan Cuilean, enclosure From W 9 4 Achadh nan Cuilean peat cuttings, on horizon From NW 10 5 Stalkers path From SW 11 7 Old track/path From SE 12 7 Old track crossing stream From SE 13 8 Shieling structure From NW 14 8 Shieling structure From NW 15 10 Bad Sgaileach stalkers bothy and stables From E. 16 11 Bothy and path to river From SE 17 12 Bridge pier, south bank From N 18 12 Bridge pier, north bank From S 19 13 Stalkers path From SW 20 13 Stalkers path, culvert From SW 21 14 Stone cairn on boulder From NW 22 14 Stone cairn on boulder with river behind From NE