Walking in the Scottish Highlands, the north coast route passes through areas rich in history, such as the area of Caithness. At EasyWays, we want to ensure you make the most of your visit to the north coast, so we have put together a list of the best historical sites in Caithness.

The Grey Cairns of Camster

The Grey Cairns of Camster are two of the oldest stone monuments in Scotland. The Cairns are Neolithic tombs, built over 5000 years ago. Although the cairns have been reconstructed more recently, they are able to give us a brilliant insight into the practices carried out by Neolithic people who once lived in the area. The Grey Cairns of Camster are made up of two cairns, one is long, while the other is a round cairn. The round cairn is made up of one single chamber, with three compartments. The longer cairn, however, is made up of two internal chambers. The cairns are located in Caithness “Flow Country”, away from the practices of modern farming. This has aided the preservation of the cairns which can still be seen today.

Hill O’ Many Stanes

The Hill O’ Many Stanes is an unusual site located just south of Wick. The site is the largest and best preserved site of its kind. The Hill O’ Many Stanes is made up of several rows of small stones, none of which are higher than waist height. The stones were placed by the inhabitants of the area around 4000 years ago. The site currently consists of around 200 stones lying in 22 rows, however, it is believed that the site was once made up of as many as 600 stones. Laid out in parallel lines, the stones are believed to represent the points of moonrise and moonset. However, this doesn’t explain why so many stones were used which makes the site even more fascinating. Due to the unique, unusual nature of the site, it is certainly worth a visit while exploring the area of Caithness. Walking in the scottish highlands there is so much to do and see! A great place to visit if you have an interest in history.

The Ruins of Castle Sinclair Girnigoe

When walking in the Scottish highlands you will come across the ruins of Castle Sinclair Girnigoe. Which is located right on the east coast, just north of Wick. The castle has a rich history, dating back to the 1400’s, built by William Sinclair, the second Earl of Caithness. Although the castle is now in ruins, the Clan Sinclair Trust are working hard to preserve what is left of the castle. They aim to preserve this important archaeological and historical structure for future generations. Once the restoration work has been completed, Castle Sinclair Girnigoe will be one of very few castles which are accessible to those with handicaps.

Walking in the Scottish Highlands

Scotland is a country filled with history and beauty, and the areas located along the northern coastline are certainly rich in both history and beauty. The North Coast Trail allows you to experience this beauty in the best way possible, on foot. By exploring this unique on foot, you have the opportunity to see some of Scotland’s greatest landscapes. As you explore the surrounding areas, you are able to experience and understand Scotland’s deep history from Neolithic times to our more recent history.
Do you want to learn more about the north coast? Look at our last post to see where your trip to the north of Scotland can take you with EasyWays! Walking holidays in Scotland are always great fun.
Also, if you are interested in visiting the Scottish Highlands, then get in touch with EasyWays today.