Skelpick

Nearest town:
Thurso (41km ENE)
OS reference:
NC72175635
OS sheet:
10
Latitude:
58° 28' 36.41 N
Longitude:
4° 11' 32.18 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Skelpick (Chambered Cairn) by GLADMAN

There would appear to be some disagreement amongst ‘the professionals’ – yeah Bodie and Doyle... always arguing – as to whether this arrangement of stones set a little below the remains of the ‘Skelpick Lodge’ monument (assumed to be centre right) at NC72175635 is natural... or part of another former chambered cairn? For what it’s worth I thought it looked artificial, but not conclusively so.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jul 9, 2016
Image of Skelpick (Chambered Cairn) by GLADMAN

NC72495605... “Skelpick Lodge”. The magnificent – I truly mean that – Skelpick Burn long cairn can be seen extreme far right.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jul 9, 2016
Image of Skelpick (Chambered Cairn) by GLADMAN

Canmore also cites a further chambered cairn at NC72495605... “Skelpick Lodge”. I’m pretty sure this image is at the right co-ordinates implying there is not a great deal to see nowadays? Happy to be corrected.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jul 9, 2016
Image of Skelpick (Chambered Cairn) by GLADMAN

No, that’s not a wall seen beyond.... but the Skelpick long cairn. The intervisibility is stunningly precise, surely no accident?

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jun 13, 2016
Image of Skelpick (Chambered Cairn) by GLADMAN

The still significant remains of a chambered cairn across the burn from the fabulous long cairn... this would be an inspiring spot if it wasn’t for the unsavoury habits of those (presumably locals, assuming tourists aren’t in possession of tins of emulsion) who come to deposit household rubbish here. It truly beggars belief. Seems a cherished tradition, too, the Ordnance Survey (J L D) commenting on 2 May 1960 “... It has been used as a rubbish tip..“. Scum are as scum behave.

Beyond contempt.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jun 13, 2016

Sites within 20km of Skelpick

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