Despite the name, Cairn Catto is not so much a cairn as an elongated barrow, about 49 metres long, 22 metres wide at the head (SE), tapering to about 7 metres wide at the end (NW). It was probably built between 1000 and 2000 BCE.
Cruden Bay,
Grampian,
Scotland
A pair of marvellous Neolithic chambered cairns stand on a sloping hill looking south over Wigtown Bay. As best we can guess, the cairns were erected sometime around 4000 BCE. The first monument you come to is Cairn Holy I. This is of a type common in the region of south-west Scotland, called 'Clyde type' tombs. The cairn measures roughly 170 x 50 feet and is fronted by a crescent shaped facade.
A75,
Creetown,
Dumfries and Galloway,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: 7 miles south east of Creetown, exit north on a minor road off the A75. Signposted.
A Neolithic burial cairn just west of Loch Watenan, composed of two chambers, accessed via a horned entrance forecourt.
Ulbster,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: 1.5 miles South West of Ulbster, to the west of the A9. Signposted trail from car park, a walk of 3/4 mile - follow the black and white poles.
The name Cairn O' Mount is given to both a prehistoric cairn and the hill it stands on. The cairn is located at the summit of the hill, on an ancient route from Banchory to Fettercairn and the Angus glens. That route is now the path taken by the B974. The cairn has been quite obviously altered over time, and now sports a pointed pile of stone on top that make it resemble a wizard's hat.
Fettercairn,
Grampian,
Scotland
At the southern end of Kilmartin Glen, in an area blessed with a fabulous range of prehistoric monuments, lie four natural rock faces carved with an array of cup and ring marks. Three rocks lie close together while the fourth is 100 metres away up a winding path.
Kilmartin Glen,
Cairnbaan,
Strathclyde,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: On a signposted path behind the Cairnbaan Hotel, at the junction of the A816 and B841.
One of the most important prehistoric monuments in Scotland. Used as burial and ceremonial site from 3000 to 1400 BC. Central part of monument under cement dome with ladder leading down to interior. Views from the hill.
Torphichen,
Lothian,
Scotland
A group of stones forming a circle-one of several in the area that date from the late Stone Age and early Bronze Age, over 4000 years old. Inside the circle is a central burial chamber of Neolithic age. Callanish is one of the most important archaeological sites in Britain.
Callanais,
Isle of Lewis and Harris,
Western Isles,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
A solitary standing stone, about 1.75 metres high, composed of a mix of quartz with mica and schist.. On the north face of the stone are well preseved cup and ring carvings. The name of the stone is traditionally said to commemorate a victory of Malcolm II over a Danish force under a leader named Camus.
Duffus,
Grampian,
Scotland
This tall standing stone is the only survivor of a recumbent stone circle about 13 metres in diameter, situated beside an old quarry. There were originally 8 stones arranged around a central cairn about 7 metres wide. One stone has disappeared, and the others have fallen, leaving only the Candle Stane upright.
Ellon,
Grampian,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: Off the B9005 2 miles north west of Ellon. Turn north by the bridge across Ebrie Burn towards Inverebrie, follow the minor road for 1.5 miles to a school. The stone is to the west of the road.
OSNJ921348 Nearest
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and Breakfasts
A very sizeable long barrow stetching 80 metres. The barrow is on an east/west axis, with the widest point at the east end, which is 28 metres across. The barrow rises to about 2.5 metres high.
Laurencekirk,
Grampian,
Scotland
Remains of an Iron Age broch overlooking the sea. The broch still stands to the level of the first floor. Nearby you can easily discern the outline of a contemporary settlement.
A9,
Golspie,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: On the south east side of the A9, 3 miles north east of Golspie. Signposted, parking available across the road (north west side).
A promontory fort on a steep-sided clifftop just west of Pennan harbour. The site was first enclosed by a pallisade in the late prehistoric period. The pallisade was then replced by a wall made of stone and timber combined, with a complex gateway entrance.
Pennan,
Grampian,
Scotland
Heritage Scotland, who look after Chesters, call it an Iron Age Fort. That may be slightly misleading, for the site is quite different from the usual sort of hill fort. For a start, the hilltop earthworks are overlooked by a nearby hill, making it a very poor location for a defensive fort. It would have been very easy for anyone occupying the higher hill to launch volleys of slingshot stone down upon the inhabitants of Chesters.
A standing stone located just north east of the ruined medieval chapel of St Catherine (Cill Chatriona). The stone is known locally as The Stone of Penance, as parishioners of St Catheriines performed penance at the stone after going to confession. One record suggests that the stone was used for flagellation of penitents.
Colonsay,
Balnahard,
Argyll and Bute,
Strathclyde,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: Follow the track past Balnahard Farm towards Balnahard Bay. The stone is 1/2 mile northwest of the farm, beside the ruined Chapel of St Catherine just by a livestock pen to the left of the path.
OSNR421998 Nearest
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and Breakfasts
An exceptional Bronze Age burial complex, one of the most archaeologically important prehistoric sites in Scotland. Clava is a group of prehistoric burial cairns dating to around 2000 BCE, comprising ring cairns, a kerb cairn, passage graves, and standing stones. Nearby is a ruined chapel of much later date.
Newlands,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Highlight: One of the best preserved prehistoric sites in Scotland. Heritage Rating:? Location: 6 miles east of Inverness, off the B9091, 300 yards east of Culloden Battlefield
A promontory fort located just east of Macduff. The defenses consist of an earthen bank and ditch. In an odd juxtaposition of the old and new, the banks form an obstacle on the approach to the 13th green of Royal Tarlair Golf Course.
Macduff,
Grampian,
Scotland
A pair of Neolithic burial cairns of the 'long horn' variety. Interestingly, the two cairns are arranged at right angles to each other.
Achreamie,
Thurso,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: 6 miles west of Thurso just east of the A836, or off the minor road just south of Achreamie
A superbly preserved Bronze Age passage grave in an idyllic rural location in Glen Urquhart. The burial mound is surrounded by a circle of 11 standing stones of varying height.
Corrimony,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
A cairn that may once have been associated with a stone circle (indeed, the site is marked on the OS map as a circle). The cairn is about 21 metres across and just over half a metre high. It may once have been more extensive but it seems to have suffered from stone-stealing over the centuries.
Portgordon,
Grampian,
Scotland
The coastal promontory of Crathie Point, west of Sandsend, shows evidence of a raised bank and ditch, effectively creating a simple enclosure, defended from landward approach. Outside the ditch are faint remnants of a palliade trench. There are no apparent interior features to the fort, so it is hard to get a clear idea of when or how it was used.
Sandend,
Grampian,
Scotland
Though it is not widely recognised, I think Cullerlie is one of the most interesting ancient sites in Grampian. The stone circle is made up of 8 boulders, enclosing 8 later burial cairns. The stone circle came first, and dates to the Bronze Age. The cairns were erected within the existing stone circle between 1800-1200 BCE.
Garlogie,
Grampian,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: South off the B9119 at Garlogie, then left at a fork in the road. After 1 km the circle is to your left.
Just east of the village of Tarland is Culsh Earth House. Despite the name, the 'earth house' is not a house meant for dwelling, but an underground storage area. In the south west of Britain these chambers are called souterrains. The site at Culsh was probably used in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD.
Culsh,
Tarland,
Grampian,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: 1 m (1.6 km) south of Tarland, off the B9119. The souterrain is between the road and farm buildings.
A Neolithic chambered tomb with four cells-once contained bones of men, dogs and oxen. Access on hands and knees.
Finstown,
Mainland,
Orkney,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
A much worn carved stone, or Pictish cross-slab, possibly of 9th century date. What we see today is only a fragment of the original stone, decorated with faded carvings. Historic Scotland, who look after Dogton Stone, describe it as a free-standing cross, but that interpretation is somewhat open to debate.
A922,
Kinglassie,
Fife,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: It can be hard to find the Dogton Stone as it is not signposted. Take the lane off the B922 to Dogton Farm, 1.5m East of Cardenden railway station. The stone stands in a field to the south of the farmhouse, enclosed by railings. An OS map is essential!
Doon Hill is a fascinating site, the location of two timber halls, the first the home of a 6th century British chief, and the second a 7th century Anglo-Saxon hall. There were two main phases of occupation; but the hilltop was in use before the first occupation. A small burial ground that predates the first human occupation was found during excavation.
Dunbar,
Lothian,
Scotland
There are two groups of prehistoric monuments at Drumtroddan, several fields apart. One group comprises three clusters of stones with cup and ring carvings. These rocks probably date to the Bronze Age.
Port William,
Dumfries and Galloway,
Scotland
Also known as Drumtroddan Standing Stone Plantation, this interesting ancient site is made up of three stones, two standing and one fallen, within a fenced enclosure. The uupright stones are 43 feet apart and are closely matched in height at just over 10 feet tall (though one stone cants over at quite an angle). The three stones are set on what seems a deliberate north-east/south-west alignment. It is possible that the alignment was meant to mark the position of the midwinter sun and trhe rising sun at midsummer.
Port William,
Dumfries and Galloway,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: On the B7085. Signposted.
On a small manmade island in Loch Horneray, on the Isle of Grimsay, stands the ruin of Dun Ban, a fortified roundhouse. Rather than thinking of the dun as a unified tower structure, it is probably more accurate to picture a cluster of beehive cells embedded in a tower. It is interesting that there was no aparent attempt to level the internal floor; it is left very rough.
Loch Horneray,
Baymore,
Grimsay,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
A wonderfully preserved Iron Age broch standing on a hillside with wonderful views out over Loch Harport and Loch Braccadale. Dun Beag was apparently in use for occupation as late as the 18th century.
A863,
Braccadale,
Isle of Skye,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
Despite the name, Dun Bharpa is not a dun, but an impressive chambered cairn, built about 3500 BCE. It is really quite an impressive monument, about 30 metres across and 5 metres high, and is the best preserved chambered cairn in the Western Isles. The edge cairn is marked by large upright kerb stones, several of which are at least 3-4 feet high.
Craigston,
Barra,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: Follow the track from the Craisgton parking area. When you reach the old Craigston blackhouse, turn up the hill, following the fenceline. You'll see the cairn on the skyline above you.
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attractions and accommodation Nearest:hotels - cottages - Bed
and Breakfasts
Dun Carloway is one of the best preserved Iron Age brochs in Scotland (perhaps sharing that honour with Mousa Broch in Shetland). The round tower stands on a rocky hill overlooking Loch Roag, on the west coast of Lewis. The galleried walls and entrance guard chamber of the broch are still visible.
Carloway,
Isle of Lewis,
Western Isles,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
A very well preserved Iron Age galleried dun looking north to the Eoligarry peninsula. Dun Cuier (Dun Chuidhir) was in use as late as the 7th century. You could even stretch a point and say that it was in use as late as the 18th century, for royalist troops occupied it during the process of putting down Bonnie Prince Charlie's 1745 Jacobite rebellion.
Cuidhir,
Barra,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
On a site beside the Strathmore River, south of the bulk of Ben Hope, stands this Iron Age circular broch, in a wonderfully scenic - and bleak - location. The broch is very well preserved, with the walls still standing to a height of almost 7 metres on the north east side.
Altnacaillich,
Highlands,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: Located on a narrow road 10 miles south of Inverhope, south from the A838 (not suitable for caravans or trailers)
An Iron Age dun, or hill fort, on the western shore of Colnosay. The dun is of the type termed a promintory fort, utilising a natural headland, defended on three sides by high, steep cliffs. The fort is approximately 35 metres by 25 metres in size.
Colonsay,
Machrins,
Argyll and Bute,
Strathclyde,
Scotland
Dun Telve is a very well preserved Iron Age broch standing beside the burn of Abhainn a Ghlnne Bhig on the narrow strip of low-lying land at the bottom of Glen Elg.
Conrary,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
A very well preserved broch in a stunning location in Glen Elg. Dun Troddan stands to about 25 feet high (about 8 metres) at its highest point. The walls are made of two thin shells with a gap between. In the gap are stone stairs rising to galleries.
Conrary,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
On a narrow spit of land jutting out into the sea just west of Bornais stands the substantial remains of Dun Vulan, an Iron Age fort. The dun was built around 150 BCE, at a time when it would have been surrounded by a freshwater loch. Since then the landscape has altered considerably, and the dun now stands on a neck of land with the sea on both sides.
Bornais,
South Uist,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
Dunadd Fort is a spectacular hill fort occupying a rocky outcrop that rises above the marsh of Mòine Mhòr, The 'Great Moss', near the southern end of Kilmartin Glen. The hill fort was first occupied in the Iron Age, and later became the centre of the Scottish kingdom of Dalraida (Dal Riata).
Kilmartin Glen,
Kilmartin,
Strathclyde,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: 2 miles south of Kilmartin, off the A816
The striking, conical hill of Dunnideer stands just west of the village of Insch. There are two fascinating historic monuments atop Dunnideer Hill. The first is a ruined 13th century castle set within the ramparts of a vitrified hillfort dating to at least 1300 BC (the information sign erected by Aberdeenshire County Council gives a possible time span of 1000 BC to 1000 AD, a rather huge span of years!)
Insch,
Grampian,
Scotland
The Dupplin Cross is one of the finest and most complete early Christian crosses in Scotland, and one of the high points of Pictish sculture. The free-standing cross dates to the 9th century and is carved from a single block of red sandstone. The carvings represent warriors, interlaced geometric patterns, knots, spirals, and a peculiar figure playing a harp, which may be a depiction of King David.
Dunning,
Perth and Kinross,
Tayside,
Scotland,
PH2 0RG
The Dwarfie Stane is a fascinating 5000 year old block of red sandstone which has been cut to create a burial chamber. The stane lies in a valley near the northern tip of Hoy, between Rackwick and Quoyness. The stane is possibly the only British example of a rock-cut tomb.
Hoy,
Quoyness,
Orkney,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: Near the north end of Hoy, between Quoyness and Rackwick
Two Pictish stones set into the church wall. One stone has an older style of Pictish carving, showing an incised patern. The second, younger stone, shows a mix of Christian and Pictish symbols.
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