© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic Environment Scotland
Rothiemurchus palisaded enclosure is a post-medieval defensive structure situated to the north-west of Dell Farm in Inverness-shire, on bedrock of the Moine Supergroup. The underlying geology comprises gneissose psammite and gneissose semipelite, metamorphic rocks formed during the Neoproterozoic and exposed across the Highlands. This ancient bedrock provides the solid foundation for the later construction of the enclosure.
The palisaded enclosure represents a form of fortification common in post-medieval Scotland, constructed using timber rather than stone to create a perimeter defence. Such structures served domestic, agricultural or military purposes during a period of transition in Highland settlement and land management. The use of wood as the primary building material meant that only archaeological traces of the palisade positions would survive, typically identified by soil discolouration or post-holes.
The enclosure is protected as a scheduled monument under Historic Environment Scotland reference SM9337, recognising its importance to understanding settlement patterns and defensive practices in the Highlands during the post-medieval period. The site's location within Inverness-shire places it within one of Scotland's historically significant regions, though detailed historical records relating to this specific monument remain limited.
Rothiemurchus, palisaded enclosure to NW of Dell Farm is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM9337. View the official record →
Rothiemurchus palisaded enclosure is a post-medieval defensive structure situated to the north-west of Dell Farm in Inverness-shire, on bedrock of the Moine Supergroup. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM9337.
Rothiemurchus, palisaded enclosure to NW of Dell Farm dates from the post-medieval period, and is classified as a palisaded enclosure to nw of dell farm. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Rothiemurchus, palisaded enclosure to NW of Dell Farm 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 SM9337.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Aviemore, cairn 25m SW of 24 Muirton (1.8 km), Doune, motte, Rothiemurchus (2.4 km), Balvattan, settlement and field system, Rothiemurchus (3.1 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Rothiemurchus, palisaded enclosure to NW of Dell Farm'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.
Rothiemurchus, palisaded enclosure to NW of Dell Farm stands on Moine Supergroup, bedrock that formed in the Neoproterozoic. The rock here is gneissose psammite and gneissose semipelite.