Ruined township found under 1970s tree plantation

The forestry work was done in a way to avoid disturbing the remains of the township

The ruins of a township dating from the 17th or 18th centuries have been revealed by forestry operations on Skye.

The remains of houses, byres, barns and corn-drying kilns in Glen Brittle had been obscured from view by a commercial Sitka spruce plantation planted in 1977.

Archaeologists surveyed the site before the trees were harvested on behalf of Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS).

Census records around the final years of the township show it was home to more than 2,000 people, who farmed sheep and cattle.

An aerial view taken during the forestry operations with the ruined buildings marked out on the image

Archaeologists made a map of the township, which had houses, byres and barns

AOC Archaeology studied historical records which suggested the site fell into ruin after the small farms were incorporated into one large sheep farm.

Some of the stone walls had been hidden from view by trees blown down in storms.

FLS said small tracks were laid out so forestry machinery could avoid causing damage to the ruins while the trees were clear felled.

It said the remains of some of the buildings were now visible in cleared areas, while others are still under trees.