Scottish Highlands - Prehistoric Sites

A pair of ancient stones stands above the shore of Loch Eyre at Kensaleyre, on the west coast of Skye's Trotternish Peninsula. In legend, the stones were used by the warrior Fingal and his band of hunters to suspend a cooking pot so big that it could hold a whole deer.
A87, Uig, Isle of Skye, Highlands and Islands, Scotland

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Heritage Highlight: Links to the legend of Fingal

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The Kilvaxter Souterrain is a restored underground Iron Age storage tunnnel on the west coast of Skye's Trotternish peninsula. Intrepid visitors can navigate the 17m long tunnel, and an interpretive panel explains the site.
A855, Kilvaxter, Isle of Skye, Highlands and Islands, Scotland

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Heritage Highlight: The easiest souterrain to visit on Skye

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A pair of remarkable early Neolithic stone houses stands at Knap of Howar. The houses feature stone cupboards and stalls and are believed to be the oldest houses in this region of Europe.
Holland, Papa Westray, Orkney, Highlands and Islands, Scotland

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Heritage Highlight: One of the oldest houses in Europe

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The Knocknagael Boar Stone is a Pictish slab carved with the likeness of a boar, along with a traditional mirror case symbol. The stone was found at Knocknagael, south of Inverness. It was moved to the Highlands Council Offices in Inverness in an attempt to counteract the effects of weathering on the already much-worn carvings.
Highland Council Offices, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, Highlands and Islands, Scotland, IV3 5NX

Attraction Type: Prehistoric - Carved Stone
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Heritage Highlight: Unusual boar carving

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Knowe of Yarso is a Neolithic chambered cairn on the south coast of Rousay island, facing across the straits to the Broch of Gurness on Orkney Mainland. The oval cairn is made up of concentric walls around a central chamber divided into three separate compartments.
Rousay, Frotoft, Orkney, Highlands and Islands, Scotland

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The Links of Noltland is an area of sand dunes at the north end of Westray, within which are a rich array of prehistoric sites. The sand has helped to preserve the archaeological remains, which are only now being carefully excavated and catalogued.
Westray, Pierowall, Orkney, Highlands and Islands, Scotland

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Maes Howe is the finest megalithic tomb in the British Isles, consisting of a large Neolithic mound, 26ft high, 115ft in diameter, encircled by a ditch, covering a stone-built 39 ft passage leading to large burial chamber with 2 cells. The tomb contains the richest collection of Viking runes in the UK.
Stromness, Mainland, Orkney, Highlands and Islands, Scotland, KW16 3HH

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Midhowe Broch is one of the finest Iron Age brochs in Scotland, located in a superb coastal location directly beside the chambered cairn of Midhowe. The central building measures 30 feet in diameter, with walls still standing to a height of 14 feet. This is easily one of the most impressive sites in the Orkney islands, and well worth the journey to Rousay. A signposted path leads from the broch to Midhowe Chambered Cairn and past numerous other historic buildings along the shore.
Westness, Rousay, Orkney, Highlands and Islands, Scotland, KW17 2PT

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Heritage Highlight: One of the best preserved broch settlements in Scotland

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Midhowe is a huge Neolithic chambered tomb in an oval mound with 25 stalls. The monument is protected by a modern building, which has walkways over the tomb, providing excellent views down into the chambers.
Westness, Rousay, Orkney, Highlands and Islands, Scotland

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Mine Howe is a mysterious underground chamber near Tankerness, Orkney, accessed by a steep flight of 29 steps. The chamber was built around 200 BC - 500 AD, but its use is uncertain.
Tankerness, Mainland, Orkney, Highlands and Islands, Scotland

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