Heights of Brae

Also known as:
Clachan Gorach and The Foolish Stones
Nearest town:
Dingwall (4km ESE)
OS reference:
NH514615
OS sheet:
20
Latitude:
57° 37' 8.48 N
Longitude:
4° 29' 17.53 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Heights of Brae (Chambered Cairn) by markj99

S Chamber of Heights of Brae Cairn viewed from S. The solitary Standing Stone of the N Chamber is visible on left centre of frame.

Image credit: Mark Johnstone
markj99
markj99 Jul 24, 2022
Image of Heights of Brae (Chambered Cairn) by markj99

S Chamber of Heights of Brae Cairn viewed from N.

Image credit: Mark Johnstone
markj99
markj99 Jul 24, 2022
Image of Heights of Brae (Chambered Cairn) by markj99

NW Stone of S Chamber of Heights of Brae Cairn.

Image credit: Mark Johnstone
markj99
markj99 Jul 24, 2022
Image of Heights of Brae (Chambered Cairn) by GLADMAN

Looking across Greywether’s ‘second, rectangular chamber’ to the main chamber. The Cromarty Firth can be seen top left of image.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jun 21, 2014
Image of Heights of Brae (Chambered Cairn) by GLADMAN

The chambered cairn occupies an excellent position looking across to the wondrous Knock Farril

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jun 21, 2014
Image of Heights of Brae (Chambered Cairn) by GLADMAN

Didn’t make the best of the available light here.... think I was too absorbed in the moment. Which is never a bad thing.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jun 21, 2014

Articles

Heights of Brae

greywether
greywether Nov 18, 2004

Another Orkney-Cromarty cairn in an elevated position – 240m. The most visible remains are four stones from a polygonal chamber standing 1 to 1.5m high. Look around and you can see some low surviving stones from a second, rectangular, chamber which adds to the interest.

Nice site with great views and reasonably accessible.

You are supposed to be able to see Balnacrae from here (4 km NNE) but we forgot to look!

Access. Easy. From the Dingwall/Strathpeffer road (A834) take the turning for the memorial to writer Neil Gunn and park at the memorial car park. Follow the farm track immediately E of the car park to the site. Several gates but all easily opened.

Visited 31 October 2004

Folklore

Heights of Brae
Chambered Cairn
Rhiannon
Rhiannon May 14, 2013

Druidical Temples in Scotland.
Severeal of the Druids’ places of worship are still to be seen in the Highlands. [..] In our own neighbourhood, above Dochmaluag, there is a pretty large one, the stones of which, it is maintained by many of the peasants in the district, are said to have been, at one time, human beings, which were overtaken with judgment for dancing on the Sabbath day, and that the position of the stones exactly corresponds with the different attitudes of the dancers. Hence the name Clachan Gorach, or foolish stones. -- Rossshire Advertiser.

Quoted in The Scottish Journal, 1847.

Sites within 20km of Heights of Brae

Like all websites everywhere, we use cookies.