Creag a' Chaorainn

Shielings were moorland summer grazings for cattle. Shieling huts (often also referred to as shielings) were dwellings located within the shieling. They were usually occupied from May until the “flitting” in September. In early May the men of a village would go onto the moor to check and repair the shieling huts. They would be joined by the women and children for one night before the men returned to the village to tend to crops or to travel away for summer work such as fishing. The women and children would spend the summer at the shielings tending the cattle and making cheese and butter, some of which was for immediate use but most was salted to preserve it for the winter. Peat cutting for fuel would also be done. Evenings would be spent making music and story telling. Visits were made between the shielings of different villages. The shieling huts were made from materials available in the immediate vicinity. They usually had walls made of stone or turf, turf roofs and compacted earth or clay floors. In coastal areas and on the islands rafters would be made from locally collected driftwood. Usually there would be a single doorway, facing away from the prevailing wind (although some shieling huts have two doors opposite each other), and often no windows. Furniture built into shieling huts included stone or turf beds covered with heather, turf seats and cupboards and niches built into the stone wall, often one above the door. Other furniture would be carried out onto the moor for the season. In places where the practice of using shielings continued into the 20th century, shieling huts can be found which are constructed making more extensive use of timber than in the traditional type, along with other materials such as tin and bitumen. There are also examples of buses and caravans used as shieling huts. The Clearances and ongoing changes in agricultural methods meant that the shieling tradition had generally ended by the close of the nineteenth century. In places it continued for longer and, particularly on Lewis, some shieling huts are still used today during the peat cutting season and as summer retreats. The remains of shieling huts can be seen as changes in vegetation: ND1340 : Shieling site by the Allt a' Cheracher ; shieling mounds where successive shieling huts have been built on the same site: NB5059 : Shieling mounds by the Abhainn Dhail, Isle of Lewis ; footings: NB5357 : Shieling footings beside the Feadan Mòr, Isle of Lewis ; and more substantial remains: NB3040 : Shieling above Gleann Leitir, Isle of Lewis . Examples of modern shielings are shown at: NB5458 : Shieling, Airigh A' Bhealaich, Isle of Lewis and NB5458 : Disused shieling, Airigh A' Bhealaich, Isle of Lewis .

The burn disappears briefly under the peat.

A deserted glen.

Bearnais bothy is maintained by the Mountain Bothies Association. In the background is Loch Bhearnais.

Above 2000 feet on western slopes of Corbett Sgurr na Feartaig.

View down to Abhainn Bhearnais from bothy, with startled visitor.

Deer grazing in the morning (until they saw me).

From the path over to Achnashellach.

A good spot from which to explore the remoter hills between Glen Carron and Loch Monar. The bothy was restored in the early 1970's as a memorial to Eric Beard, a well-known character in the outdoor world with many long walks, runs and climbs accomplished. He was killed in a road accident, aged 38. A plaque in the bothy reads: “Bearnais Bothy” Restored with money provided by friends of Eric Beard 1931 – 1969 Known to all as “Beardie” On my visit in 1978 there were several well-known names in the bothy visitors' book including Nat Allen (Rock & Ice Club), Chris Brasher, Hamish Brown, John Hinde. Also a French couple in July 1977 touring on horseback from Newtonmore with 3 ponies and a 6-month-old baby!

Wood burning stove in the Bearnais bothy, a fine access point for climbing Bidein a' Choire Sheasgaich and Lurg Mhor.

The Bearnais bothy, maintained by the Mountain Bothies Association, is fairly small, allowing two to sleep on the platform and a few more on the floor.

Typical south-west Ross scenery!

The path links NG9441 : Achintee and NH0243 : Bearnais

Taken during Challenge 09. Sgurr na Feartaig to the left.

The fence crosses the ridge that connects Creag a' Chaorainn to the Corbett of Sgurr na Feartaig, but has long since fallen into disrepair. Hills of the Coulin Forest around Glen Torridon peep over the crest of this ridge.

The summit area of this hill, which lies at around 680-690m, consists mainly of scattered lochans and rock exposures. It would be a confusing place in clag.