Cairn Avel

Nearest town:
New Galloway (16km SE)
OS reference:
NX559924
OS sheet:
77
Latitude:
55° 12' 16.68 N
Longitude:
4° 15' 52.68 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Cairn Avel (Cairn(s)) by markj99

Modern Cairn on Summit of Cairn Avel viewed from N.

Image credit: Mark Johnstone
markj99
markj99 May 19, 2025
Image of Cairn Avel (Cairn(s)) by markj99

Cairn Avel viewed from SE, Carsphairn in the background.

Image credit: Mark Johnstone
markj99
markj99 Sep 20, 2020

Articles

Cairn Avel

markj99
markj99 Sep 20, 2020

Cairn Avel is a stone cairn, 0.3 miles SW of Carnavel Farm on the outskirts of Carsphairn.
This robbed cairn retains a significant presence on the horizon. The W half of the long cairn has been almost entirely robbed out leaving a low scatter of stones on the W end. A sheepfold and stone walls have been constructed close to Cairn Avel. The E half is almost intact reaching up to 10 feet high, with some excavations. However, the later addition of a c. 3 feet high cairn on top of the E half of Cairn Avel spoils it’s classical shape. The long cairn measures c. 110 feet E-W and c. 75 feet N-S on the E end, tapering to 30 feet on the W end.

Cairn Avel is accessed by following an old pack horse path to Carnavel Farm. Parking is now prohibited at Carnavel Farm junction. Park in a lay-by c. 500 yards NW then walk back to the start of the public path. Walk through Carnavel Farm When the public path heads S up the hill at the start of moorland head N then W round the margin of a rough pasture field to a stone mound c. 250 yards W. This detour avoids boggy ground on a direct route to Cairn Avel. My route can be viewed on Cairn Avel.

Cairn Avel

greywether
greywether Jun 8, 2004

A short long cairn (pardon?) – with good views of the surrounding area.

Open access thanks to Dumfries and Galloway’s Archaeosights scheme.

Visited 7 May 2004

Sites within 20km of Cairn Avel