Red Burn

Nearest town:
Tain (5km E)
OS reference:
NH7278583411
OS sheet:
21
Latitude:
57° 49' 20.71 N
Longitude:
4° 8' 31.33 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Red Burn (Chambered Cairn) by drewbhoy

Looking north west, fair play to the people in the caravan, they’ve restored an old farmstead building.

Image credit: drew/ED
drewbhoy
drewbhoy Apr 3, 2025
Image of Red Burn (Chambered Cairn) by drewbhoy

The view from the north east, after the climb and maze of tracks.

Image credit: drew/ED
drewbhoy
drewbhoy Apr 3, 2025
Image of Red Burn (Chambered Cairn) by drewbhoy

Looking south along the west, I’d think this tree could tell a few stories.

Image credit: drew/ED
drewbhoy
drewbhoy Apr 3, 2025
Image of Red Burn (Chambered Cairn) by drewbhoy

On top of the cairn looking over the Dornoch Firth.

Image credit: drew/ED
drewbhoy
drewbhoy Apr 3, 2025
Image of Red Burn (Chambered Cairn) by drewbhoy

From track, heading south east, looking north west.

Image credit: drew/ED
drewbhoy
drewbhoy Apr 3, 2025

Articles

Red Burn

drewbhoy
drewbhoy Jun 10, 2025

After the Morangie visit we headed west leaving the A9 at the Dornoch Firth Bridge roundabout to follow the A836 heading further west. We parked at the first available place that resembled a lay-by next to the beginnings of an old forestry track. From here we headed uphill and south west, reasonably steep and plenty of vegetation, cutting through marked and unmarked tracks to reach a track of sorts which seemed to find a way through small gorges to eventually reach a clearing. At the southern end of the clearing is the impressive Red Burn Cairn.

It’s measurements are impressive as well – 23m wide and 4m high with superb views to north over the Dornoch Firth. Canmore suggests a cist on the north side but a lot of the stones could suggest that. On the west side a stone that might possibly have stood seems to be having a rest. Elsewhere some serious houking or a possible trench has taken place. As with a lot of these places tracks have clipped the sides of the track – you’d think there would be plenty of room to get round. Much worse examples were soon to appear as we headed east.

However, this is a superb site, damage is restricted so plenty to admire. Also, fair play to the people re-building the the old ‘but and ben’. Great to see such restoration.

Visited 31/03/2025.

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