Nether
Largie South Cairn
Chambered Tomb
NR 828 978
The cairn was originally around 40 metres diameter but a lot of material was removed for building walls and so on. This is a Clyde type chamber in the centre of the cairn aligned NE and SW with the entrance at the NE.
The chamber has four compartments separated by large slabs and in all is just over 6 metres long and nearly 2 metres wide at the entrance narrowing down to 1 metre in the SW end. It is quite an impressive tomb and not one that is easy to climb out of after a few days walking.
Nether Largie Mid Cairn
Chambered Tomb
NR 830 983
Continue to the junction ahead and carry on over the small crossroads past the schoolhouse. Follow the lane towards the three remaining cairns. The Mid Cairn measures about 30 metres diameter and was originally 3 metres high but a lot of its stonework was used for “repairing roads” so is lower now.
Several kerbstones are visible and the north cist has a massive capstone measuring around 2.5 by 1.8 metres. The side slabs were grooved to take the end slabs. This site was excavated in 1929 and two empty cists were found as well as parts of the original kerb stones. Very faint axehead carvings can be seen in the end stone on the southern cist. The information board says that a stone with 5 cupmarks was found in the body of the cairn, but we couldn’t find it.
View towards Nether Largie North Cairn in the distance
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