Monument record 490 - GLACHAN CONACHAIR, ST KILDA

NF09NE 7 0996 9965.

NF 0996 9965. Situated on the pro-talus ridge at the foot of Conachair, is a boulder-formed enclosure measuring some 30.0m E-W x 9.0m at its widest point. Within this are the footings of three small rectangular structures each measuring c 2.5m x 1.0m. Outside the enclosing wall, and a few metres to the W, are two other similar structures, one partially overlain by a 'cleit', the other amid a mass of boulder scree. The walls of both enclosure and structures are not more than 0.6m high, and 0.9m thick. Entrances appear to be in the narrow S ends, but none is clear. These structures would appear to pre-date the cleits in the area, on the grounds of the one overlying example; but without further examination it cannot be said if they are contemporary with, or even pre-date, the 'beehive' dwellings of the medieval or earlier village. Similar sized structures were noted elsewhere only in Gleann Mor, and resemble shieling bothies found on the mainland of Scotland.
Visited by OS (J L D) 7 August 1967.