Region : Highlands Home
District : Sutherland Map
Area : Loch Eriboll List
Grid Reference : NC 428 612 Glossary
Period : 1st millennium BC Bibliography
Portnancon
(Laid, An Leabaidh-Fholaich)

SOUTERRAIN
Portnancon image

 
An intact souterrain on the west side of Loch Eriboll, Sutherland. As visible in the photo, the site is usually flooded with water.
Twelve stone steps lead downwards into the souterrain. The curved passage is 8.2m long and ends in a small roofed chamber.
The passage once led out of a hut circle. The souterrain would originally have been a perfectly dry storage cellar for the house above.
The site was excavated in the '30s and a pipe was installed to drain the water away. No relics were found at that time.
The local name An Leabaidh-Fholaich means 'The Hiding Place'.