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Ardan Breac is a shielings site located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, approximately 2780 metres west-north-west of Balgrennie. Shielings were seasonal settlements used by pastoral communities for livestock herding, particularly during summer months when animals were moved to upland pastures. The site sits on bedrock comprising an unnamed mafic igneous intrusion of Ordovician to Silurian age, formed during the Silurian period. This geology, composed of dense dark igneous rock, reflects the complex geological history of the Highlands and would have created a challenging landscape for settlement and stock management.
The structures at Ardan Breac represent the material remains of transhumance practices common throughout Highland Scotland. Shieling settlements typically comprised small, temporary stone buildings and associated enclosures used during the grazing season, leaving archaeological traces that survive in the modern landscape. The site's upland location and exposed geology would have required sturdy construction to withstand Highland weather conditions.
Ardan Breac is protected by Historic Environment Scotland as a scheduled monument under reference SM11791, recognising its significance as evidence of historic land use and pastoral economy in the Scottish Highlands.
Ardan Breac, shielings 2780m WNW of Balgrennie is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM11791. View the official record →
Ardan Breac is a shielings site located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, approximately 2780 metres west-north-west of Balgrennie. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM11791.
Ardan Breac, shielings 2780m WNW of Balgrennie 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 SM11791.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Groddie Cottage, shielings 2520m, 2630m and 2700m WNW of (0.3 km), Balgrennie, hut circle and field system 3170m WNW of (0.7 km), Clais Garbh, shieling group 1660m W of Groddie Cottage (1.2 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Ardan Breac, shielings 2780m WNW of Balgrennie's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Ardan Breac, shielings 2780m WNW of Balgrennie stands on Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician To Silurian, bedrock that formed in the Silurian. The rock here is mafic igneous-rock.