The Modern Antiquarian. Stone Circles, Ancient Sites, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic MysteriesThe Modern Antiquarian

Blue Cairn (Califer)

Cairn(s)

Fieldnotes

The Blue Cairn near Califer is surrounded on its north side by a semi circular dry stane dyke and to the south by vegetation of any kind especially ferns. It was good fun clambering over the dyke and having a fight with the jabby stuff. Rowan trees mark the middle of this much tampered with cairn. The centre of the cairn has been houked and kerbs can be found at the bottom of the wall. canmore say its 16 meters wide and 1 meter tall. That is optimistic as all that is left is a small remnant. No trace of cist can be seen. Still like any other any other ancient monument it was built for a reason and the Bronze Age peoples chose a lovely place. Views over to the Black Isle, Moray Firth, hills to the south and to the west are wonderful. I tried looking for the possible cup marked stone but didn't see anything. Round the corner is Blervie Castle and just down from that is the stone circle at Templestones.

Take the third minor road south, west after the village of Alves on the A96 heading towards Inverness. Follow the road until it veers suddenly west and at the corner pull in. Walk down the field in front and the semi circular dyke soon comes into view. Just along the road is the superb viewpoint at Califer.

Visited 28/7/2016.
drewbhoy Posted by drewbhoy
2nd September 2016ce

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