Looking west on the western slope of Wideford Hill is a chambered tomb dug into the hillside.
The tomb was excavated in 1849 by G.Petrie. The tomb was intact, but had been filled from a hole in the roof with rubble including animal bones (horse, cow, sheep, deer and pig).
The outer cairn has a diameter of about 42 feet. The inner chamber is about five feet wide and ten feet long at floor level, but much narrower at head height. There are side chambers to the north, east and south, and a long low entrance passage to the west. (This was the original entrance - present access to the tomb is through a hatch in the roof).
The tomb site is on a slope that was artificially flattened before construction.
1/6 A view of the outside of the tomb looking from the west towards the low entrance passage that can be seen at the centre
2/6 The inside of the tomb looking south. The entrance passage is through the opening to the right of the picture. Present day access is through a hatch in the roof - hence the ladder
3/6 Looking into the eastern side chamber
4/6 Looking into the southern side chamber
5/6 Looking down the entrance passage
6/6 Looking north. The wet and bedragled yardstick (it was a <I>horrible</I> midwinters day) is five feet nine inches tall
Nearby Sites
1km Rennibister Earth House Souterrain
4km Cuween Hill Chambered Cairn
4km St Magnus Cathedral Cathedral
9km Maeshowe Chambered Cairn
10km Barnhouse Neolithic Settlement Neolithic Settlement
10km Orphir Round Church Church
10km Stones of Stenness Stone Circle
10km Watch Stone Standing Stone
11km Ring of Brodgar Stone Circle
12km Ring of Bookan Chambered Cairn; Henge
12km Unstan Chambered Cairn Chambered Cairn
14km Gurness Broch
19km Skara Brae Neolithic Village Neolithic Settlement
(NB: All distances are as-the-crow-flies. Lochs, mountains and beautiful winding roads will make it further. Sometimes much further.)