Top 3 Natural Monuments around Halkirk

Carefully arranged in a horseshoe pattern, the 4000 year old standing stones are thought to be unique in the North of Scotland. This is because normally the broad face of each stone faces the centre of the setting. Not so at Achavanich - here the edge faces the centre. Each stone was painstakingly cut from the bedrock of Caithness Flagstone using simple tools.

This really is a beautiful place to visit and well worth a detour if you are passing close by. You can walk out to the viewing tower via the boardwalk but keep in mind that there is not a lot of space to pass visitors if you do take your bike with you.

Holborn Head features some amazing coastal scenery. The path passes an impressive sea stack known as the Clett, with an arch on the west side. Be aware that the path is on the outside of the fence passing along some high cliffs, at one point quite close to the edge. If vertigo isn't a problem for you, when looking down at times you can spot sea caves at the bottom.

Holborn Head features some amazing coastal scenery. The path passes an impressive sea stack known as the Clett, with an arch on the west side. Be aware that the path is on the outside of the fence passing along some high cliffs, at one point quite close to the edge. If vertigo isn't a problem, when looking down at times you can spot sea caves at the bottom.

The Grey Cairns of Camster are two large Neolithic chambered cairns that are among the oldest structures in Scotland, dating to about 5,000 years ago. The cairns demonstrate complex neolithic architecture, with central burial chambers accessed through narrow passages. They were excavated and restored by Historic Environment Scotland in the late 20th century. The cairns were constructed in the third of fourth millennium BC in an empty, boggy and peat-covered moorland. Although the surrounding countryside is now inhospitable with little population, it was a fertile farming land in the Stone Age, only becoming covered in peat during the Bronze Age.

The Grey Cairns of Camster are two Neolithic chambered cairns (a small round one and a large long one). They are among the oldest structures in Scotland, dating to about 5,000 years ago. The cairns demonstrate the complexity of Neolithic architecture, with central burial chambers accessed through narrow passages from the outside. They were excavated and restored by Historic Environment Scotland in the late 20th century and are open to the public. In 2017 I was able to crawl into every grave. The iron gates were open. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_Cairns_of_Camster

A small freshwater loch on the west of the road, almost paired with Loch Stemster which is on the eastern side of the road. Loch Rangag is the site of castle Greysteil, the earth works, and some rubble is all that remains of this but it's a atmospheric site and a scheduled ancient monument.

Two well preserved Neolithic chambered cairns. Excavations in 1865 found pottery, flint tools, bones and skeletons. It's now managed by Historic Scotland and open to the public (a short walk from the road). Bring a torch or bike light so that you can crawl in and explore the cairns properly.