📌 Finstown, Orkney Mainland
★★★
The chambered cairn on Cuween Hill is one of the less visited sites cared for by Historic Scotland on the island, reached by a short but steep uphill climb from near the old road between Finstown and Kirkwall. The customary crawl through the original entrance tunnel leads to a well-preserved central chamber with 4 side cells. Each of Orkney’s Neolithic tombs is unique, and one of most interesting stories surrounding Cuween Hill cairn involves its excavation at the start of the 20th century. As well as revealing the remains of eight or more humans – not unusual for a human burial site – 24 dog skulls were found on the floor of the chamber. Was this the tribe’s symbol?
🌍 Location
📌 Off minor road 1 mi southeast of Finstown, Orkney Mainland
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: HY 364128
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 58.997333,-3.108108
🚌 Old Finstown Road (0.5 mi). More frequent services to Finstown (1 mi)
🚗 Car park at 🧭 HY 367129 / 🛰️ 58.998065,-3.103717
📝 Key info
⌚ Always open
🎫 Free
💬 From the car park it’s a 5-min walk steeply uphill to the cairn on a clear path. Take a torch, although one may be available at the cairn.
