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

The Fairy Knowe

Chambered Cairn

Fieldnotes

Visited 10.6.12

A bitter-sweet moment. My last site on Orkney before catching the ferry to Shetland.

We parked in the parking area and Karen and Sophie sat in the car whilst myself and Dafydd heading uphill towards the chambered cairn.
The cairn itself is prominent as a grass covered mound surrounded by heather.

Dafydd ran on ahead as I struggled behind.
I was feeling at my worst and my legs felt they were made of lead after visiting Wideford Hill chambered cairn.
We passed a couple of people coming back from the tomb so when we got there we had the place to ourselves.

It was overcast but dry and we had the added bonus of no wind.
There are splendid views from the cairn.

The crawl into the chamber was helped by the flag stone floor which helped keep mud to a minimum.
As with many sites on Orkney the stone construction of the chamber is first class.
Probably because I wasn’t feeling too good I don’t think I fully appreciated this site.
Only on Orkney can you become almost blasé about such magnificent sites.

This is yet another ‘must see’ site – one of very many on these special islands.
I know for most of us it is a long way to travel but it is most certainly worth the effort.
You couldn’t go anywhere else in the UK to have such a rang of magnificent prehistoric monuments.

Thank you Orkney.
Posted by CARL
19th July 2012ce

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