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Tulach an Fhuarain is a cairn situated 310 metres north-west of the Bridge of Westerdale in Caithness, Scotland. The monument stands on bedrock of Middle Old Red Sandstone, a sequence of conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone laid down during the Middle Devonian period. The underlying geology has shaped both the landscape and the availability of stone for the cairn's construction. The site is protected as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM494.
Cairns of this type were typically constructed during the Bronze Age as burial monuments, though some are later in date. Tulach an Fhuarain would have formed a prominent marker on the landscape of Caithness, visible from considerable distances across the rolling terrain. The name itself, derived from Gaelic, suggests long-standing local recognition of the site's significance.
The monument survives as a physical record of prehistoric activity in northern Scotland and contributes to understanding patterns of settlement and ceremonial practice in the region. Its protection recognises the importance of cairns as archaeological resources, offering potential insights into Bronze Age funeral practices, social organisation and the use of the Caithness landscape by ancient communities.
Tulach an Fhuarain,cairn 310m NW of Bridge of Westerdale is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM494. View the official record →
Tulach an Fhuarain is a cairn situated 310 metres north-west of the Bridge of Westerdale in Caithness, Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM494.
Tulach an Fhuarain,cairn 310m NW of Bridge of Westerdale 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 SM494.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Tulach Lochain Bhraseil,cairn 310m WNW of Bridge of Westerdale (0.1 km), Cairn Merk,broch 800m SSE of Bridge of Westerdale (1.1 km), Dale Farm,broch 800m SE of (1.6 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Tulach an Fhuarain,cairn 310m NW of Bridge of Westerdale'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.
Tulach an Fhuarain,cairn 310m NW of Bridge of Westerdale stands on Middle Old Red Sandstone (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Middle Devonian. The rock here is conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone.