S2 E05/ Cairn Holy

These two stunning tombs were built as a pair and sit proud, striking and beautiful on the side of a hillside overlooking the Solway Firth. Stefan takes me on a tour while Vicki explains the latest research that is overturning thinking on how long tombs like this were actually used for.

Guests: Stefan Sagrott; Vicki Cummings

Stefan Sagrott at Cairn Holy

Here is the magnificent facade and forecourt of Cairn Holy 1. The cairn of small stones would have been as high as these and stretched backwards from it, with the gaps between these tall stone filled with smaller ones. The only gap left would have been the opening of the tomb (below).

The narrow entrance to Cairn Holy 1's antechamber and chamber. This is the space we squeezed through, and which would have been blocked by the blocking stone when the tomb was put out of use. 

Cairn Holy 2, almost like a dolmen tomb with its intact capstone, as Stefan says.

The dyke bordering the site, almost certainly built with robbed stones from the cairn.