Clava Cairns Tourism

The Clava Cairns, also known as the Balnuaran of Clava, is a group of Bronze Age circular chamber tombs located near Inverness in the Highlands of Scotland. This prehistoric site dates back about 4,000 years and consists of burial cairns and standing stones. The site is situated in a peaceful woodland setting on the banks of the River Nairn. The Clava Cairns complex includes the well-preserved remains of three cairns, each surrounded by a ring of standing stones. The cairns demonstrate a combination of the passage grave, a ring cairn and a kerb cairn. It is believed that they were built as ceremonial monuments and used for astronomical observations, with their entrances aligned to the sunset of the winter solstice. The Clava Cairns are associated with the wider landscape of sacred sites in the region, including the Culloden Battlefield. This connection provides visitors with a deep sense of history. These cairns present an excellent glimpse into Neolithic engineering and spiritual beliefs, and they have been a source of inspiration for various myths and legends in Scottish folklore. The site is a significant part of Scotland's heritage and offers an intriguing visit for those interested in ancient history and archaeology.