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Balnacarn is a township located in Inverness-shire, approximately 550 metres west-southwest of a neighbouring settlement. The site occupies ground underlain by psammite bedrock of the Loch Eil Group, a Neoproterozoic formation that characterises much of the geology of the central Highlands. This sandy metamorphic rock would have presented both challenges and opportunities to the settlement's inhabitants, offering relatively workable ground for construction whilst demanding careful management of water drainage across the site.
The township represents a form of settlement organisation typical of the Scottish Highlands, where communities clustered multiple dwelling sites and associated outbuildings in favourable locations. The proximity of two townships suggests the strategic importance of this locality, possibly determined by access to water, grazing land, or established route-ways through the glens of Inverness-shire.
Balnacarn is protected as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM11482, acknowledging its archaeological significance and contribution to understanding settlement patterns and land use in the Highlands. The monument's status ensures that its physical remains are preserved for future research and interpretation.
Balnacarn, township 550m WSW of is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM11482. View the official record →
Balnacarn is a township located in Inverness-shire, approximately 550 metres west-southwest of a neighbouring settlement. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM11482.
Balnacarn, township 550m WSW 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 SM11482.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Fort Augustus-Bernera military road, 570m SE of Achlain (1.6 km), Tir nan Og, cairn 445m SSW of (1.8 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Balnacarn, township 550m WSW of'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.
Balnacarn, township 550m WSW of stands on Loch Eil Group, bedrock that formed in the Neoproterozoic. The rock here is psammite.