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Ashaig is a medieval complex comprising church remains, a burial ground, a shell midden and Tobar Aiseig (St Ashaig's well) located in Inverness-shire, Scotland. The site sits upon bedrock of the Lias Group, a Jurassic formation of mudstone, siltstone, limestone and sandstone laid down during the Aalenian period some 175 million years ago. The underlying geology would have shaped patterns of settlement and land use throughout the medieval period.
The church and burial ground represent a significant ecclesiastical site, likely serving the local community from the medieval period onwards. The associated shell midden indicates intensive exploitation of coastal resources, a common feature of settlement in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, suggesting sustained occupation and subsistence practices focused on marine shellfish gathering.
Tobar Aiseig well forms an integral part of the monument complex, reflecting the importance of fresh water sources in medieval settlement patterns. Such wells often held religious significance and frequently became focal points for veneration and pilgrimage. The site is protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM13720 in recognition of its archaeological and historical importance to understanding medieval life in the region.
Ashaig, remains of church and burial ground, shell midden and Tobar Aiseig well is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM13720. View the official record →
Ashaig is a medieval complex comprising church remains, a burial ground, a shell midden and Tobar Aiseig (St Ashaig's well) located in Inverness-shire, Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM13720.
Ashaig, remains of church and burial ground, shell midden and Tobar Aiseig well dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a remains of church and burial ground, shell midden and tobar aiseig well. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Ashaig, remains of church and burial ground, shell midden and Tobar Aiseig well 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 SM13720.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Ashaig, burnt mound 125m NNW of Faskin (0.5 km), Broadford Bay, chambered cairn 35m NE of Eirigh na Greine (4.5 km), Dùn aig Rubha Guail / Dun, Rubha Guail (9.9 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Ashaig, remains of church and burial ground, shell midden and Tobar Aiseig well'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.
Ashaig, remains of church and burial ground, shell midden and Tobar Aiseig well stands on Lias Group, bedrock that formed in the Aalenian. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone, limestone and sandstone.