This site comprises the remains of two large Clyde-Carlingford chambered cairns, situated in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. They are trapezoidal cairns with a forecourt of upright stones. Cairnholy 1 was almost 150 feet long and 35 feet wide in its complete state. Legend states that the mythical Scottish King Galdus was buried in Cairnholy 2. Both were excavated by Stuart Piggot in 1949. It has been suggested that Cairnholy is a mutation of "Carn Ulaidh", which means "the treasure cairn" - not that this means that there is any treasure in it, I hasten to add, so don't go digging it up.
| Visit date: | 09/1999 |
| Reporter: | Andy Burnham |
| Email: | aburnham@easynet.co.uk |
| Website: | http://www.prehistory.co.uk |
| Purpose: | To see it. |
| Also found: | Lots and lots of molehills. Looked to be damaging the site. |
| Action taken: | Ranted on Stones Mailing List. Thought about reporting to Historic Scotland but haven't got around to it... |
| Visit date: | 17/06/1999 |
| Reporter: | Doug. |
| Email: | doug@thecafe.co.uk |
| Purpose: | Pleasure |
| Time since last visit: | 2-3 weeks |
| Cigarette ends: | Yes |
| Comments: | Nicely tucked out of the way....a very clean and quiet site. We visited around 6pm - which seems to be a great time for avoiding tourists, although the light is sometimes poor. Nothing to take away except photographs and memories [ which is just as it should be - Sam ] |