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Clava Cairns and Culloden Viaduct Walk

3.1 miles (5 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This circular walk visits the ancient Clava Cairns near Inverness. The walk also takes you to the photogenic Culloden Viaduct which lies just the east of the site.
The cairns date back to the Bronze Age and are over 4,000 years old. You can stroll around the site and visit a series of prehistoric burial monuments and the remains of a medieval chapel.
After exploring the ancient tombs you can pick up some pleasant country lanes and follow them around the Culloden Viaduct. The impressive structure carries the Highland Main Line over the wide valley of the River Nairn. On this section you can enjoy fine views to the viaduct and the Cassie Burn around Dalroy Woods.
To continue your walking in the area head west to visit the Culloden Battlefield. The historic site includes decent footpaths, a visitor centre and a museum where you can learn all about the Jacobite Rising in 1746.

Clava Cairns and Culloden Viaduct OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Clava Cairns and Culloden Viaduct Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

A few miles to the north east there's more interesting local history at Cawdor Castle and Woods. The 15th century castle is surrounded by beautiful grounds and gardens with more trails through the adjacent Cawdor Woods.

Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby

Photos

Clava Cairns - geograph.org.uk - 2504121

Clava Cairns

The Three Clava Cairns - geograph.org.uk - 551803

The Three Clava Cairns. The nearby cairn has a north-east passageway so that the interior would be illuminated by the setting sun on the shortest day. The cairn furthest away has a south-west passage. The central cairn has no passageway.

Nairn Viaduct - geograph.org.uk - 2504196

Nairn Viaduct

South bound crossing Culloden - geograph.org.uk - 2058091

South bound crossing Culloden

Cassie Burn near Dalroy - geograph.org.uk - 2159612

Cassie Burn near Dalroy

Grazing land at Drummore of Clava - geograph.org.uk - 2650354

Grazing land at Drummore of Clava

Minor road near Easter Daltullich - geograph.org.uk - 2013113

Minor road near Easter Daltullich

Minor road crossing the River Nairn - geograph.org.uk - 2013100

Minor road crossing the River Nairn

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Clava Cairns and Culloden Viaduct.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)