As seen on 8 April 2025 CE
As seen on 8 April 2025 CE
As seen on 8 April 2025 CE
As seen on 10 April 2025 CE
Directions to Cairnholy 03
Take the signed Cairn Holy Chambered Cairn turn off the A75 at NX 51646 53037 (///bound.hotel.scrubbing) between Creetown and Gatehouse. Go past the first left turn, instead take the 2nd left for Cairn Holy Chambered Cairn then bear left at the Y junction after c. 100 yards. Continue up the lane to the carpark at Cairnholy. Walk W along the farm track for c. 150 yards to reach a gateway on the right. There is an interesting recumbent stone c. 20 feet W of the gate. Head to a gate in a stone wall c. 80 yards NNE. Follow the path NNE from the gateway for c. 130 yards then walk W for c. 50 yards to a grassy mound in the field. This is listed as Cairnholy Cairn on TMA. Walk NNW for c. 50 yards to a gate in a stone wall. Head NNE for a pair of small clearance cairns c. 100 yards from the gateway. Cairnholy 03 is a large stone on the W edge of a clearance cairn at NX 52000 54282 (///larger.fairway.subplot) c. 35 yards N of here.
It is possible to extend your walk to visit Cairnholy 6 & 7. Cairnholy 6 is located c. 140 yards ENE of Cairnholy Sheepfold in a drainage ditch running parallel to a stone wall. Cairnholy Sheepfold is located at NX 51721 54902 (///critic.jetted.nutty) in the NW corner of a grass field containing a large clearance cairn. Cairnholy 6 is located at NX 51871 54968 (///maker.blunt.downfield).
Cairnholy 7 is located in a grass field containing a large clearance cairn and Cairnholy Sheepfold in the NW corner. Cairnholy 7 is carved on a narrow rock ridge aligned ENE-SSW, c. 75 yards SSE of the sheepfold and c. 30 feet ENE of the stone wall. Cairnholy 7 is located at NX 51758 54840 (///gossiped.cook.valued). My route is viewable as Cairnholy 3,6 & 7.
The hillfort, centre, seen from Crippets to the west.
The barrow seen through the trees from the Cotswolds Way.
Looking northeast towards Crippets.
Eastern rampart, looking north.
The view from Barrow Wake, as the works to re-route the A417 carry on below.
Birdlip Camp is the wooded promontory in the centre. To the right are High Brotheridge (hillfort) and Cooper’s Hill (cross-dyke) with Robin’s Wood Hill beyond, further to the right. Seen from Barrow Wake.
Looking north west down the length of the dun towards the Paps Of Jura.
Come for the earthwork, stay for the wonderful Spring flora (woods at the western end of the dyke).
The eastern section of the dyke in its clearing.
Looking west along dyke from near the east end. The ditch can be seen on the left.
The north side, the north of Jura in the background.
Looking east along the dyke from the western end.
Robert the Bruce said try, try and try again, I took his advice, at the third attempt I made it.
The trees in the middle are in front of the dun.