We all know about Stonehenge and England’s famous stone circles. But I didn’t realize Scotland had its fancy-pants knuckle-draggers, too. (That’s your cue, caveman sympathizers.)
At Clava Cairns, set in a peaceful grove of trees just a few minutes’ drive from Inverness, are the remains of three thought-provoking stone igloos, each cleverly constructed 4,000 years ago with a passageway that the sun illuminates, as if by magic, with each winter solstice. Wandering through these, knowing they’re as old as the pyramids, was a trip highlight (one of many).
One thing I love about our tours is that each day, our hardworking guides have several of these little treats to spring on us. They set the historic context, then turn us loose. It’s as if we hiked there ourselves, but still had a professor on call. This is one of the reasons why so many of the people who sign up for our tours start their request for our sales material by saying, “I’m not the tour-taking type, but…” and find our tours just right for their independent style.
If you can’t see the video below, watch it on YouTube.
I really enjoyed the Clava Cairns. I walked there on one of my visits to Inverness after taking the bus to Culloden. It’s nice walk on a country road with few other visitors.
I really like these little trip clips.
Having toured England and Scotland in May of 2011 with my son driving, I like to see Maps. I was returning to Great Britain after beginning exploration of the North Sea Basin for Oil and Gas for my company. We outfitted two ships in Newcastle on Tyne in 1964. Believe me the Hotels were Cold even in the Hyde Park Hilton !. That evil oil and gas took this country from a third world equality to beautiful land of the pre-historic past. I enjoy your blog immensely.
It looks like Rick is enjoying his Rick Steves tour. I assumed they used wood to make the roofs.
Keep on travelin’
doppelganger
WEDU Tampa