Site Report

WoSAS Pin 63540
NN 5926 0615

Stirling SMR Locality Number 113

Photographed in low water conditions 27/06/84

Crannog NN 59266 06152

LM 27/06/84: The crannog is situated near the E end of Loch Venachar, close to the N shore. It is visible in low water as a low stoney mound some 20m in diameter.

A crannog in Loch Vennacher 'at the foot of the loch' at '150 yds from the N shore' marked by a small modern cairn of which one boulder projects above the normal water level. (This had been raised by damming c. 1864.) Investigated c. 1912, it was found to comprise an artificial collection of loose and irregular stones, c. 40' in length. There is no gangway of stepping stones to the mainland, but the water is somewhat shallower on its landward side. Remains of waterlogged planks, some with mortice holes, were found partly embedded in the loose stones, as well as tree stumps. Several of the larger stones bore apparent traces of fire.
J S Fleming 1915.

There is no local knowledge of this crannog. Local enquiries revealed that the only known obstruction in Loch Venachar is at NN 5925 0615, where a single, concrete-covered boulder with an iron stanchion on top marks the site of Portnellan Island; when the water level is low, some stones are visible here.
Visited by OS (R D) 14 October 1968.

NN 592 061 This submerged crannog, measuring about 12m in diameter, is reported to consist of amound of stones and timbers.
RCAHMS 1979, visited November 1977

A visit was undertaken in August 1996 to assess the site for scheduling. The loch level was significantly lower than at the time of previous reports and the crannog was clearly visible above water some 20-30m from the shore. The crannog consists of a sharply defined rubble mound some 20m in diameter, the main body of which rises to some 1.5m above water level (the precise shape could not be determined as observation had to be made from the shore). This mound is surmounted by two more recent cairns, the largest being centrally placed and c 1m high. The upper portions of this cairn had been concreted over and it was apparently the topmost stone of this cairn that was noted in previous reports. A lower cairn lay a few metres to the E. There was no trace of a stone causeway and no evidence of visible timbers, either in the shallows adjacent to the shore or, so far as could be seen, on the islet itself.
Sponsor: Historic Scotland I Armit 1996
Entered WoSAS (MOH), 24/03/11