1. Home
  2. Scotland
  3. North East
  4. City of Aberdeen
  5. Kincardineshire
  6. Crab's Cairn

Crab's Cairn

Heritage Site in Kincardineshire

Scotland

Crab's Cairn

Depot of oil drilling pipes
Depot of oil drilling pipes Credit: Alex McGregor

Crab's Cairn is a historic site located in Kincardineshire, Scotland. This heritage site is a well-preserved cairn, which is a man-made mound of stones, dating back to the Neolithic period, around 4000 - 2500 BC. It is situated on a small hill overlooking the North Sea, near the village of Gourdon.

The cairn at Crab's Cairn is circular in shape, measuring about 15 meters in diameter and 3 meters in height. It is constructed using large stones that have been carefully piled on top of each other without the use of any mortar or cement. The structure is remarkably intact, considering its age, and offers valuable insights into the burial practices and rituals of the Neolithic people.

Excavations conducted at Crab's Cairn have revealed the presence of human remains, pottery fragments, and various other artifacts. These findings suggest that the cairn was used as a burial site for a significant period of time. The remains discovered indicate that the site was used by a community, possibly for multiple generations.

The location of Crab's Cairn provides stunning views of the surrounding landscape, making it a popular destination for visitors interested in both history and natural beauty. The site is easily accessible by foot, and there are informative signboards that provide details about its historical significance.

Crab's Cairn serves as a valuable testament to the ancient inhabitants of Kincardineshire and provides a glimpse into their burial customs and social structure. It stands as an important heritage site, contributing to the understanding and appreciation of Scotland's rich ancient history.

Show me another place!

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

Crab's Cairn Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 57.122/-2.058 or Grid Reference NJ9603. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Depot of oil drilling pipes
Depot of oil drilling pipes
Edward VIII pillar box... ...at the junction of Gregness Gardens and Girdleness Road. One of only two to be found in Aberdeen and 136 nationwide.
Edward VIII pillar box...
...at the junction of Gregness Gardens and Girdleness Road. One of only two to be found in Aberdeen and 136 nationwide.
Tullos Primary School The classroom blinds add a nice bit of colour to this iconic 1930s art deco building, but the rusting metal and crumbling mortar are concerning... B-listed: <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/sc-49995-tullos-primary-school-girdleness-road-#.VxNisaT2amQ" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/sc-49995-tullos-primary-school-girdleness-road-#.VxNisaT2amQ">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> .
Tullos Primary School
The classroom blinds add a nice bit of colour to this iconic 1930s art deco building, but the rusting metal and crumbling mortar are concerning... B-listed: LinkExternal link .
Path... ...through Greenbank industrial estate. The fly tipping and rotting rubbish absolutely everywhere make it look like a third-world slum. In the background rather 'boxy' 1960s houses on the steep hillside of Balnagask and behind them, Victorian villas in Torry.
Path...
...through Greenbank industrial estate. The fly tipping and rotting rubbish absolutely everywhere make it look like a third-world slum. In the background rather 'boxy' 1960s houses on the steep hillside of Balnagask and behind them, Victorian villas in Torry.
Beech grove... ...on the hillside above Greenbank industrial estate.
Beech grove...
...on the hillside above Greenbank industrial estate.
Baron's Cairn... ...at the top of Tullos Hill: <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://canmore.org.uk/site/20242/barons-cairn-tullos-hill" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://canmore.org.uk/site/20242/barons-cairn-tullos-hill">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> . Girdleness Lighthouse is just visible in the distance.
Baron's Cairn...
...at the top of Tullos Hill: LinkExternal link . Girdleness Lighthouse is just visible in the distance.
Nigg Kirk Nigg Kirk was built in 1829 to the design of John Smith to replace the (now ruined) St Fittick's Kirk in Torry. Compare St Clement's Church: <a title="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3378773" href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3378773">Link</a> . As already pointed out by Peter Robinson (<a title="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3065186" href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3065186">Link</a> ), the windows are fakes, presumably on top of the boarded-up originals.
Nigg Kirk
Nigg Kirk was built in 1829 to the design of John Smith to replace the (now ruined) St Fittick's Kirk in Torry. Compare St Clement's Church: Link . As already pointed out by Peter Robinson (Link ), the windows are fakes, presumably on top of the boarded-up originals.
Amec Foster Wheeler office block An energy consultancy: <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://www.amecfw.com/aboutus/at-a-glance" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://www.amecfw.com/aboutus/at-a-glance">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> .
Amec Foster Wheeler office block
An energy consultancy: LinkExternal link .
Oil company office, Altens industrial estate
Oil company office, Altens industrial estate
Wood Group offices, Altens industrial estate
Wood Group offices, Altens industrial estate
Girdleness Lighthouse, Aberdeen, from the sea
Girdleness Lighthouse, Aberdeen, from the sea
Girdleness Lighthouse, Aberdeen Built in 1833 by Robert Stevenson, Girdleness Lighthouse is a handsome tapering tower and was considered the best lighthouse seen by the Royal Commission in their report of 1860. It is a Category A listed building. <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/200354524-aberdeen-greyhope-road-girdleness-lighthouse-aberdeen#.WW5jnjGWw5s" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/200354524-aberdeen-greyhope-road-girdleness-lighthouse-aberdeen#.WW5jnjGWw5s">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Girdleness Lighthouse, Aberdeen
Built in 1833 by Robert Stevenson, Girdleness Lighthouse is a handsome tapering tower and was considered the best lighthouse seen by the Royal Commission in their report of 1860. It is a Category A listed building. LinkExternal link
St Fittick's Church, Aberdeen The church was consecrated in 1242 and the ruins we see today probably contain elements of that earlier church as well as evidence of later 17th and 18th century rebuilding. None of the gravestones are earlier than the 17th century. St Fittick's Church was last used in 1829.
St Fittick's Church, Aberdeen
The church was consecrated in 1242 and the ruins we see today probably contain elements of that earlier church as well as evidence of later 17th and 18th century rebuilding. None of the gravestones are earlier than the 17th century. St Fittick's Church was last used in 1829.
Road Bridge at Rare Breeds Farm The bridge carries a minor road across the railway between Aberdeen and Stonehaven railway stations. Someone seems to believe this is a peace bridge!
Road Bridge at Rare Breeds Farm
The bridge carries a minor road across the railway between Aberdeen and Stonehaven railway stations. Someone seems to believe this is a peace bridge!
Aberdeen lifeboats The RNLB 'BP Forties' 54-05, a 54ft Arun Class lifeboat, with the previous lifeboat, RNLB 'Ramsey – Dyce', a 52ft Barnett Class lifeboat behind. This was the day of the inauguration of the new boat in 1976. The Category A listed Girdleness Lighthouse, dating from 1833 is in the distance.
Aberdeen lifeboats
The RNLB 'BP Forties' 54-05, a 54ft Arun Class lifeboat, with the previous lifeboat, RNLB 'Ramsey – Dyce', a 52ft Barnett Class lifeboat behind. This was the day of the inauguration of the new boat in 1976. The Category A listed Girdleness Lighthouse, dating from 1833 is in the distance.
Unnamed Inlet The narrow inlet on the south side of Souter Head is not named on the maps. It is at a curious angle, being parallel to the coast rather than in the more usual angle to the coast.
Unnamed Inlet
The narrow inlet on the south side of Souter Head is not named on the maps. It is at a curious angle, being parallel to the coast rather than in the more usual angle to the coast.
Souter Head A patch of reeds on the slope down to a pool in the headland show that the ground here is very wet.
Souter Head
A patch of reeds on the slope down to a pool in the headland show that the ground here is very wet.
Burnbanks Haven This is one of very few places along this coast where it is possible both to beach a boat and to get up the cliff. It is, however, very exposed to the east so wouldn't provide much shelter in an easterly. There is a slipway of sorts, with a system of wires for hauling boats out of the water. See <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5702240">NJ9602 : A Contraption</a>
Burnbanks Haven
This is one of very few places along this coast where it is possible both to beach a boat and to get up the cliff. It is, however, very exposed to the east so wouldn't provide much shelter in an easterly. There is a slipway of sorts, with a system of wires for hauling boats out of the water. See NJ9602 : A Contraption
Show me another place!

Crab's Cairn is located at Grid Ref: NJ9603 (Lat: 57.122, Lng: -2.058)

Unitary Authority: City of Aberdeen

Police Authority: North East

What 3 Words

///broker.tulip.tonic. Near Cove, Aberdeen

Nearby Locations

North Broad Craig Doonies Yawns Doonies Hill Needle's Eye Crab's Cairn Adam's Pots

Related Wikis

Doonies Farm
Doonies Farm

Doonies Rare Breeds Farm was a farm in Aberdeen, Scotland. Doonies Farm had one of Scotland's largest collections of rare and endangered farm animal breeds...

NESS Energy Project
NESS Energy Project

The NESS Energy Project is an incinerator currently under construction in Aberdeen, UK. It is situated in East Tullos Industrial Estate on a site formerly...

Nigg Bay, Aberdeen
Nigg Bay, Aberdeen

Nigg Bay is a cove to the east of Aberdeen, between Girdle Ness and Greg Ness, in the old parish of Nigg. In 2017, work began to develop the bay into a...

Tullos
Tullos

Tullos is an area of Aberdeen, Scotland. The area takes its name from the Vale of Tullos, which lies between Tullos Hill and Torry Hill. Tullos derived...

Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 57.122,-2.058
Mini Roundabout
Direction: clockwise
Lat/Long: 57.118399/-2.0624477
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Doonies Hill
Ele: 68
Natural: peak
Source: NPE
Lat/Long: 57.1247145/-2.0622276
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Traffic Signals
Traffic Signals: signal
Traffic Signals Direction: backward
Lat/Long: 57.125891/-2.0541407
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Traffic Signals
Traffic Signals: signal
Traffic Signals Direction: forward
Lat/Long: 57.1250318/-2.0550649
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Bus Stop
Turning Circle
Bus: yes
Naptan AtcoCode: 639009063
Naptan CommonName: Turning Circle
Naptan Indicator: at
Naptan NaptanCode: 23237589
Naptan Verified: no
Public Transport: platform
Lat/Long: 57.1183502/-2.0626842
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Crab's Cairn
Man Made: cairn
Lat/Long: 57.1246189/-2.0624857
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 57.1226015/-2.062888
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 57.1225042/-2.0622669
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 57.1223109/-2.0610397
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 57.122108/-2.0597823
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 57.1219545/-2.0584138
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 57.1219244/-2.0581587
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Give Way
Direction: backward
Lat/Long: 57.1227525/-2.0660044
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.
Coxtor Devon
Crackington Haven & Dizzard Cornwall

Have you been to Crab's Cairn?

Leave your review of Crab's Cairn below (or comments, questions and feedback).

© 2024 UK Place Database | Privacy