Neolithic Burial Cairn, Crarae Gardens

Neolithic Burial Cairn, Crarae Gardens, Argyll, Scotland

Visited September 2016

Crarae Gardens are a National Trust for Scotland property in Argyll, western Scotland. The Himalayan gardens are wonderful to visit, albeit a bit remote on the banks of Loch Fyne. In spring the rhododendrons must be spectacular!

Not far inside the gardens are the remains of a Neolithic chambered cairn, dating to circa 3500BCE. Nowadays only the stones which formed the entrance and burial chamber remain, along with an interpretation board. They're not fenced off, so you can walk right up to them.

For lots of archaeological information on the site, and some photographs taken when the tomb was excavated, go to the Canmore website: https://canmore.org.uk/site/40024/crarae-garden

Cullerlie Stone Circle, Aberdeenshire

Cullerlie Stone Circle, Aberdeenshire

Visited August 2015

Cullerlie Stone Circle, on a side road heading from Aberdeen to Banchory, was originally a ritual site (oh, how I hate that phrase, but needs must!), a small stone circle of 8 uprights built in the Neolithic period, about 4000 years ago.  Unlike most stone circles in Aberdeenshire, this one isn't in the 'recumbent' style.

Eight burial cairns were constructed in the centre of it at a later, but still prehistoric, date, probably about 3,500 years ago, at least 5 of which contained a cremation. At about this time, most stone circles in this area were also being used for cremations.

This is pretty much impossible to reach if you don't have access to a car, and is situated right beside a working farm. But if you're in the area, maybe doing a tour of the stone circles of Aberdeenshire then make sure you include this one!

Arran, Scotland

Various sites on the island of Arran, Scotland.

Visited September 2013

In September 2013 I spent a week on Arran, and was able to visit four  burial sites - the remains of a Bronze Age cairn on Machrie Moor (along with some amazing standing stones), the churchyard at Lochranza, the village cemetery at Brodick and a private cemetery for the Hamilton family of Brodick Castle

Bronze Age cairn, Machrie Moor

Hamilton family cemetery, Brodick

Brodick Cemetery

Brodick Cemetery

Lochranza Church of Scotland graveyard