16/06/2013 – If you go to Orkney to visit Chambered Cairns be prepared to spend a lot of time on your hands and knees (at least Tomb of the Eagles has a trolley ride). The Fairy Knowe is as good as it gets for me. Amazing atmosphere.
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I suppose the fairies of the knowe were small and didn't need a tall entranceway :) But the chambers are really tall? More room than a person'd need for shuffling round a few dead bodies every now and again. I wonder what prompted the design. It must relate to particular beliefs, do you think? Did you get a sense of a 'standard' from going in a number of tombs? It looks amazing. You're lucky and I hope to get there one day.
We need to stop agreeing on stuff Mr L. It's not healthy for debate. However the only other big chambered cairn which, for me, rivals Cuween for vibe - that I've seen, of course - is Barpa Langass. And Cuween has by far the better masonry.
Hi Rhiannon
I was on the look out for fairies all week but no luck. Orkney folklore seems to use the words fairy and trow (troll) interchangeably in stories which I found interesting.
This cairn and Wideford seemed to be in Maeshowe style. On the 'dreaded' guided tour of Maeshowe it was suggested that the low corridor was so everyone entered bowed and at the same height. Not too sure myself.
Lots of room to stand up inside. Not unlike the houses at Skara Brae with their low doors and tall insides in a way.
If you can make the trip one day I'm sure you would love it. It's folklore Central!
Don't mention Barpa Langass Gladman! Still bugs me a little that I could not go inside the day I went. I just had a wrong feeling about entering. Mrs T went in and loved it. Next time hopefully!
Forget to mention that we had all the cairns to ourselves (excluding Maeshowe) which was great and added to the atmosphere. Thought it would be busier.
Oops. Mind you Cope had a bit of a funny turn there as well, as I recall, so you are in good company.