© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic Environment Scotland
Sunnybrae is a cairn located in Aberdeenshire, approximately 160 metres north of the settlement from which it takes its name. The monument sits on bedrock composed of an unnamed mafic igneous intrusion of Silurian age, part of the ancient geological foundation underlying this part of north-east Scotland. This dark, dense rock would have been exposed or easily accessible to prehistoric builders, potentially making it a ready source of stone for construction.
The cairn represents a form of monumental architecture widespread across the Scottish Highlands and uplands from the Neolithic period onwards. Such structures typically served as burial monuments or markers of territorial significance, and their construction required substantial communal effort. The elevated location and exposure of igneous bedrock at Sunnybrae would have offered both practical advantages for gathering material and a prominent position in the surrounding landscape.
The monument is protected by Historic Environment Scotland as a scheduled ancient monument under reference SM11736. This designation recognises its archaeological importance and ensures its preservation. The specific geological setting of the site contributes to understanding how prehistoric communities in Aberdeenshire selected and utilised their local environment for monumental construction.
Sunnybrae, cairn 160m N of is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM11736. View the official record →
Sunnybrae is a cairn located in Aberdeenshire, approximately 160 metres north of the settlement from which it takes its name. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM11736.
Sunnybrae, cairn 160m N of is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM11736.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Knock Hill, cairn 530m SE of Corblelack (5.2 km), Knock Hill, cairn 220m S of Easter Corblelack (5.3 km), Knock Hill, hut circle 315m NNE of Fernyhowe (5.5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Sunnybrae, cairn 160m N of's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Sunnybrae, cairn 160m N of stands on Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician To Silurian, bedrock that formed in the Silurian. The rock here is mafic igneous-rock.