Cairn

Cairn is an archaeological site in Orkney Islands, Scotland. Cairn is situated nearby to the archaeological site Hillock Quoys, as well as near Loch of Sandside.

Places of Interest Nearby

Highlights include Shapinsay and Lairo Water.

Shapinsay

Photo: Purplebaron, Public domain.

Shapinsay is one of the smaller Orkney Islands, a short ferry ride from Mainland Orkney. It measures about 7 miles north-south by 3 miles east-west, with a population in 2011 of 307, and Balfour the only village.

Lairo Water

Lairo Water is a surface water body known as an ayre situated on the western coast of Shapinsay in the Orkney Islands. This brackish water body is separated by a narrow bar of land from Veantro Bay. Lairo Water is situated 3,200 feet southwest of Cairn.

Linton Chapel

Ruins

Photo: C Michael Hogan, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Linton Chapel is a ruined chapel on the east coast of Shapinsay, Orkney. The chapel is thought to date as early as the 12th century AD. Slightly to the south is a megalithic monument, Castle Bloody. Linton Chapel is situated 1 mile southeast of Cairn.

Places in the Area

Nearby places include Quholm and Balfour.

Quholm

Hamlet

Photo: C Michael Hogan, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Quholm is a farm in the northeast of Shapinsay, in the islands of Orkney, Scotland.

Balfour

Village

Photo: Shirley Grant, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Balfour is a village on the island of Shapinsay, Orkney. The village is situated on Elwick Bay, which was used as an anchorage by Haakon IV of Norway before sailing south to eventual defeat at the Battle of Largs in 1263. Balfour is situated 3 miles southwest of Cairn.