Measuring roughly 86 metres east to west and 85 metres north to south, its near-square footprint gives it the dimensions of a modest field rather than anything most people would picture when they hear the word "fold". The structure is subrectangular in plan, built to contain and manage livestock, and what sets it apart is both its scale and the careful thought given to its entries: a number of low lintelled openings are set into the walls, each sized to allow sheep to pass through without permitting them to bolt or scatter.

A sheepfold of this kind is a working enclosure, typically dry-stone walled, designed to gather a flock for shearing, dosing, or sorting. The low lintelled entry points are a practical feature, the reduced height discouraging animals from attempting to jump or push through in a rush. Within the interior, a separate sheep pen subdivides the space further, allowing stock to be separated into smaller groups once inside the larger enclosure. The hilltop position would have given a shepherd clear sightlines across the surrounding land, useful both for watching approaching weather and for driving animals uphill to the fold from grazing ground below.