Scheduled MonumentsScotlandAchratagan, hut circle and cairnfield 790m NNE of
Hut circle and cairnfield

Achratagan, hut circle and cairnfield 790m NNE of

Scotland
HES SM11456
Site type
Hut circle and cairnfield
Nation
Scotland
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic Environment Scotland

Overview

History & significance

Achratagan is a hut circle and cairnfield situated on the Glenfinnan Group psammite and pelite bedrock of Inverness-shire in the Scottish Highlands. The monument comprises the remains of prehistoric settlement and associated burial or clearance cairns, representing a domestic landscape that exploited the upland terrain. Such sites are characteristic of Bronze Age and Iron Age activity in the Highlands, where communities established seasonal or permanent settlements on the open moorland.

The underlying Neoproterozoic bedrock of psammite (metamorphosed sandstone) and pelite (metamorphosed shale) would have offered limited agricultural potential, though it shaped the local stone available for both the hut circle's construction and the formation of cairns. The site's elevation and exposure reflect adaptation to Highland conditions, where settlements were often dispersed across the landscape in response to pastoral economy and the seasonal availability of grazing land.

Achratagan is protected as a scheduled monument under the Historic Environment Scotland designation SM11456, recognising its archaeological and historical significance. The hut circle and cairnfield together provide evidence of ancient settlement patterns and land use practices across the upland regions of Inverness-shire, contributing to understanding of prehistoric Highland communities and their relationship with the local landscape.

Achratagan, hut circle and cairnfield 790m NNE of is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM11456. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Achratagan, hut circle and cairnfield 790m NNE of?

Achratagan is a hut circle and cairnfield situated on the Glenfinnan Group psammite and pelite bedrock of Inverness-shire in the Scottish Highlands. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM11456.

Who is responsible for protecting Achratagan, hut circle and cairnfield 790m NNE of?

Achratagan, hut circle and cairnfield 790m NNE of is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM11456.

What other scheduled monuments are near Achratagan, hut circle and cairnfield 790m NNE of?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Loch nam Faoileag, hut circles 730m NNW of Wester Balnagrantach (4.3 km), Loch nam Bat, still 1790m N of Wester Balnagrantach (4.7 km), Garbeg, settlement 1160m NNW of Garbeg Cottage (5.2 km).

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Achratagan, hut circle and cairnfield 790m NNE of

This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Achratagan, hut circle and cairnfield 790m NNE of's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with every monument and battle plotted, and a plain-language history built only from what the record holds.
Monuments
The legally protected scheduled monuments around the location, each with its period, type and significance.
Battlefields
The battles and sieges fought on this ground, mapped and set on a timeline of the wider conflict.
Roman Britain
The Roman roads, forts and towns near here, and the Iron Age people who held the land before Rome arrived.
Stat Accounts
The parish Statistical Accounts of the 1790s and 1830s, describing life, work and population here.
Civil War
The Civil War fighting, garrisons and recorded militaria in this area, woven into the arc of 1642 to 1651.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back hundreds of millions of years.
Local Names
What the street and field names around here actually mean, and the history buried inside them.
Historical Maps
Ordnance Survey maps from the 1800s, layered over the location as it stands today.
Literature
The books, county histories, charters and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Legal
The protected sites nearby and the metal-detecting, access and treasure laws that apply to this ground.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Target Zones
For detectorists: the most promising ground to search nearby, ranked by confidence, with what to expect.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from prehistory to the present day.
First month just £4.99, then £9.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Achratagan, hut circle and cairnfield 790m NNE of report
Or see a real report first
The ground beneath

The bedrock under Achratagan, hut circle and cairnfield 790m NNE of

Achratagan, hut circle and cairnfield 790m NNE of stands on Glenfinnan Group, bedrock that formed in the Neoproterozoic. The rock here is psammite and pelite.