Maeshowe
Clouston, Orkney Islands
Chambered Cairn Canmore
Also known as Maes Howe

Maeshowe tomb is near the Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar on the Orkney Mainland.

This superb structure dates to somewhere around 3000BC.

The mound is 7.3 metres high and 35 metres in diameter. It is surrounded by a ditch and low bank.

The long, low entrance passage leads to the main chamber which is about 4.5 metres square and would have been about 4.5 metres in height; however the roof collapsed after being entered by Norsemen in the 12th century. These raiders left runic graffitti over much of the main chamber stones.

There are three subsidiary chambers in the walls of the main chamber.

At mid winter, the setting sun shines down the passage and shines on the back wall of the tomb.

Images ©1995, 1996, 1998 Martin McCarthy, Theasis Photography

Nearby Sites

1km Barnhouse Neolithic Settlement Neolithic Settlement
1km Stones of Stenness Stone Circle
1km Watch Stone Standing Stone
2km Ring of Brodgar Stone Circle
3km Ring of Bookan Chambered Cairn; Henge
3km Unstan Chambered Cairn Chambered Cairn
4km Cuween Hill Chambered Cairn
7km Rennibister Earth House Souterrain
8km Orphir Round Church Church
9km Wideford Hill Chambered Cairn
10km Skara Brae Neolithic Village Neolithic Settlement
13km St Magnus Cathedral Cathedral
15km Gurness Broch
(NB: All distances are as-the-crow-flies. Lochs, mountains and beautiful winding roads will make it further. Sometimes much further.)