The Grey Cairns of Camster

Summary

Only a short walk is required to visit these two massive Neolithic tombs, amongst the oldest in Scotland having been built more than 5,000 years ago. Both cairns were excavated in 1865, and can be entered via low passageways.

Grade

Bog Factor

4.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Good boardwalks to the cairns, though entering the tombs involves a very narrow and low stone passageway requiring agility (and a torch). The extension to the walk on the other side of the road is on cut paths, often wet underfoot.

Getting there

Start

Camster Cairns layby.

Public Transport

None.

Start Grid Ref

ND261440

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 2.2km / 1.25 miles
Time: 45 minutes
Ascent: 15m (Profile)

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Explorer 450 - Wick

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Walk Description

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Stage 1

The walk begins from a layby with an information board on the west side of the minor road linking Lybster and Watten. The two cairns are in clear view from the road - take the boardwalk to reach the smaller left one, Camster Round Cairn, which is 18m in diameter and 4m tall.

Stage 2

You can crawl into the cairn via a very tight passageway (with a torch) to visit the suprisingly more spacious central chamber, separated into three compartments by upright slabs. It was excavated in the nineteenth century, and burnt human remains, flint tools and pottery were found here, and two skeletons. The concrete roof has been built to protect the cairn.

Stage 3

Leaving the cairn and facing back to the road, take the wooden boardwalk to the left to head to the Long Cairn. This is huge - around 60m long and 20m wide; it has been partly reconstructed, but dates back to the 4th millenium BC. It contains two burial chambers, both of which can be entered via passageways. It's not known why the two chambers were later combined into a single long cairn.

Stage 4

Before returning to the start, you can detour on the left side to visit a much more modern stone structure - a beautifully constructed circular sheepfold. Head back to the walkway and to the road.

Stage 5

To extend the outing, you can take the path off on the far side of the road, though this can be wet underfoot - the area is undergoing peatland restoration. Follow the path cut through the heather, soon veering to the right. When it reaches a junction, a left turn offers a short detour to view the Loch of Camster, known for its brown trout.

Stage 6

Return to the junction, and follow the path which keeps parallel to (but well apart from) the road. It eventually leads to a large stone memorial. This is not a neolithic standing stone - instead being erected by John Darmady of Little Camster in memory of his wife. From the memorial, retrace your steps back to the layby at the start of the walk.

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