Clava Cairns

Ask ThatchGPT
Recommend a local expert to help plan my Inverness trip
Suggest an unique itinerary for my Inverness trip
What foods do Inverness locals eat
What are some true hidden gems in Inverness
Help me brainstorm trip ideas for Inverness
Help me plan a family-friendly trip to Inverness

What people say

"Nestled amongst a small glade of trees you will find the burial chambers and standing stones that make up the Clava Cairns. The whole site wouldn't go amiss in an episode of Outlander. In fact, author Diana Gabaldon has said that this is exactly the sort of place that would have inspired the fictitious Criag na Dun, where heroine Claire Randall goes back in time to the Jacobite era. How appropriate, as the Clava Cairns is close to Inverness where the opening scenes of the first Outlander novel are set. You walk back over 4,000 years to the Bronze Age as you meander through the archaeological remains. The burial cairns, their entrance passageways, and surrounding standing stones all seemingly align with the midwinter sunset. We can't be sure why, but it is clear this landscape was important for ritual and spiritual events. These structures would have taken a huge effort and a large number of people to construct. The experts suggest it's a site where high-ranking important individuals were laid to rest. Recommend time: 30 minutes"
"Clava Cairns, located near Inverness in the Scottish Highlands, is an ancient and mystical archaeological site steeped in history and legend. Dating back over 4,000 years, these prehistoric burial cairns are thought to have been constructed by the early Bronze Age inhabitants of the region, serving as sacred monuments and burial grounds for their ancestors. Visitors to Clava Cairns are greeted by a captivating landscape of stone circles, passage graves, and standing stones, surrounded by serene woodlands and rolling hills. The site's alignment with the movements of the sun and stars suggests a deep connection to celestial cycles and spiritual beliefs of ancient peoples. Today, Clava Cairns continues to inspire awe and fascination among archaeologists, historians, and visitors alike, offering a glimpse into Scotland's ancient past and the enduring mysteries of human civilization."
"This ancient site is a well-preserved Bronze-Age cairn and is an incredible example of the historic culture and architecture of the Scottish Highlands, dating back about 4,000 years. You'll find the three cairns that makeup Clava Cairns, or the Prehistoric Burial Cairns of Bulnuaran of Clava, which were once used to house the dead. The cemetery remained a sacred place in the area for millennia It takes 30 min to walk there from Culloden Battlefield and you'll need to make the same walk back to catch the bus 27 going to Inverness. Free entrance. "

Mentioned in these guides

This itinerary is based on the research and planning I had done for my own personal road trip in Scotland. My personal itinerary was 7 days but here I extended and adapted it based on my conversations with locals and areas of Scotland I felt I needed more time! This updated itinerary is now 12-14 days (not including travel to/from Scotland), making it perfect for a 2-week Scottish road trip! This itinerary includes: ⛰️ what to see and do for EACH day of the trip 🌳 visits to BOTH of Scotland's national parks 🥾 13 hike recommendations (some from personal experience and some extra ideas from research) + AllTrails links! ⚡️ 22 cultural activity ideas (including castles, city tours, ruins, museums and filming locations) 😋 10 memorable restaurants and food recommendations to try 🚗 drive time and distance estimations (important for car rental) ✨ travel, activity and driving tips based on first-hand experience + links to official sites for activity bookings or more information! BONUS: A Budget Breakdown where I break down my ENTIRE budget for when I completed this road trip! After this particular road trip, Scotland became my favourite country I have visited so far! I hope you enjoy this trip as much as I did and fall in love with this wonderful country! And of course, feel free to adapt this itinerary to make it your own so you can have the most memorable trip possible!
Road Trip • Nature • Mountain • Adventure • History
$45.00
5.0
(1)
13
As a teenager, I visited Scotland for a few days, and that in addition to Outlander binge watching ended up with me moving to Edinburgh next year. I spent a few years living there and falling more and more in love with the country. The only problem was that it was my university years which meant a tight budget but still the need to explore. So this guide is a summary of a few years of budget travel in Scotland and what I think it's the best compromise between budget and exploring everything this magical country has to offer. ⛰️ This guide will help you plan your perfect Scotland trip - on a budget and without a car. The base of this trip is a loop which you can start in either Glasgow or Edinburgh and which will take you 8 days. Then, at every stop, I'll give you some day trip options so that you can extend your trip depending on what you want to see and how much time you have. If you go for all-day trips this full itinerary will take 17 days. 💷 I'll give you a full breakdown of the cost. The basic loop will require around 210£ for all transport and accommodation. I'll provide you with a spreadsheet that breaks down each cost and each day trip so you can also plan and adjust your trip according to your budget. I'll also share with you accommodation recommendations and a breakdown of all the buses/trains you'd need to take.
Backpacker • Car-free • Couples • Digital Nomads • Family • Groups • LGBTQ+ • Pets • Female Solo • Plus Size • Adventure • Art • Budget • Camping • History • Outdoors • Overlanding • People & Culture • Photography • Relaxation • Road Trip • Romantic • Slow Travel • Sustainable/Eco • Wellness • Van Life
$10.00
13

About Clava Cairns

Get the inside scoop on Clava Cairns from local experts, travel creators, and tastemakers. Browse genuine trip notes, Clava Cairns reviews, photos, travel guides, and itineraries from real travelers and plan your trip with confidence.
Save this spot for later or start mapping out a new trip today
Try our AI Travel Assistant and get instant answers to any questions about your trip.
Ask ThatchGPT