Clava Cairns

The Clava Cairns are among the best-preserved prehistoric burial monuments in Scotland, a mysterious complex of passage graves, ring cairns, and standing stones dating back approximately 4,000 years. Set in a peaceful clearing surrounded by ancient trees, the site has an otherworldly atmosphere that hints at the spiritual significance it held for our Bronze Age ancestors.

The complex includes three large cairns surrounded by stone circles, linked by a carefully planned alignment. The passage graves are oriented so that the setting midwinter sun shines directly down the entrance passage into the burial chamber - a feat of astronomical knowledge remarkable for its time. The standing stones surrounding each cairn create an outer ring that adds to the ceremonial nature of the site.

Diana Gabaldon was inspired by Clava Cairns when writing her Outlander novels, and fans of the books and TV series will recognise the atmosphere that pervades this magical place. But even without that connection, Clava Cairns offers a profound encounter with Scotland's deep past. The combination of ancient stones, atmospheric setting, and tangible connection to our ancestors makes this one of the Highlands' most moving historic sites.