Scottish Highlands - Prehistoric Sites
- Map of Prehistoric Sites in Highlands and Islands
- Map of ALL Prehistoric Sites in Scotland
- Map of all attractions in Highlands and Islands
Taking in the Highlands, and Scottish islands including Orkney, Shetland, Skye, and the Western Isles (Harris, Lewis, North Uist, South Uist, Benbecula, Berneray, Barra, and Eriskay).
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
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Dursainean Chambered Cairn is a Neolithic burial cairn on a low hill overlooking Garrabost, in the Park region of Lewis. Though many of the stones have been robbed over the centuries, many still remain, making it easy to get a picture of this ancient site.
Garrabost, Isle of Lewis, Highlands and Islands, Scotland
Attraction Type: Prehistoric - Chambered Cairn
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Heritage Highlight: Three of the four central upright stones remain
Nearest: Hotels - Self Catering - Bed and Breakfasts
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
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Grain Earth House is not a house, but a long underground passage leading to a large chamber. It was probably used as a cold storage area, and possibly as a refuge in times of trouble.
Kirkwall, Mainland, Orkney, Highlands and Islands, Scotland
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At the very northern tip of Benbecula, immediately before you come to the causeway heading north to North Uist, stands a small stone circle in a farm field to the east of the road. To access the stone circle take the left fork of the farm driveway for a hundred yards or so until you get an opportunity to hop the fence - take care and respect the farm fencing!
A865, Gramsdale, Benbecula, Highlands and Islands, Scotland
Attraction Type: Prehistoric - Standing Stones
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Nearest: Hotels - Self Catering - Bed and Breakfasts
The Grey Cairns of Camster are a pair of Neolithic chambered cairns (circa 2000-3500 BC), one round and the other linear, in a secluded hollow near the River Wick. The Camster cairns are considered among the best preserved in Britain and have been carefully restored so that visitors can access the inner chambers.
Roster, Highlands, Highlands and Islands, Scotland
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There are at least 80 ancient settlement sites along the machair of western South Uist. Of these, Cladh Hallan is one of the most recent to be excavated. Tucked into a high bank in the encroaching machair are three complete roundhouses and a small smokehouse for curing meat. The buildings date to the Late Bronze Age and early Iron Age, about 1100-200 BCE). About 100 metres away is a second smokehouse dated to around 200 BCE.
Dalabrog, South Uist, Highlands and Islands, Scotland
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Hill O' Many Stanes consists of over 22 rows of small Bronze Age stones arranged in a fan shape along a sloping hillside. There is no clear indication of why the stones were arranged as they are, but one theory is that the stones were set up as a form of early astronomical observatory, or even a graveyard for Picts.
Wick, Highlands, Highlands and Islands, Scotland
Attraction Type: Prehistoric - Standing Stones
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Nearest: Hotels - Self Catering - Bed and Breakfasts
Three Neolithic cairns stand on the remote, uninhabited island of Holm of Papa Westray. The largest cairn has 12 inner chambers and boasts peculiar carvings on interior lintels.
Holm of Papa Westray, Orkney, Highlands and Islands, Scotland
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Heritage Highlight: The south cairn has unusual carvings including 'eyebrow' symbols
Nearest: Hotels - Self Catering - Bed and Breakfasts
Jarlshof is an extraordinary complex at the southern tip of Shetland's Mainland is not one archaeological site but several, with ruins spanning 4000 years in one location. The 3-acre site contains Neolithic houses, a Bronze Age village, an Iron Age settlement and broch, a Viking village, a medieval farm, and a 16th-century laird's hall.
Sumburgh Head, Mainland, Highlands and Islands, Scotland, ZE3 9JN
Heritage Rating: ?
Heritage Highlight: 4000 years of historic remains in one site
Nearest: Hotels - Self Catering - Bed and Breakfasts
