Cairn Riv

A Bronze Age cairn sitting quietly on Aberdeenshire moorland, Cairn Riv isn't the sort of place you stumble upon by accident. You need to want to find it, which probably means you're the type who gets excited by Neolithic pottery and standing stones.

What you get is a substantial burial mound - properly substantial - dating back several thousand years. The scale of it is striking when you're standing next to it, this engineered heap of stones built by people we know almost nothing about. No visitor centre, no interpretation boards cluttering the view. Just the cairn, the landscape, and whatever you bring to it.

It's a walk from Turriff, the nearest proper town, so come prepared. The terrain is classic Scottish moorland - open, windswept, occasionally boggy. Bring good boots and weather that doesn't cooperate. Allow a couple of hours including the walk itself, depending on where you park and how much time you want to spend just standing there thinking about it.

Historically minded walkers will get the most from this. Kids under ten will probably tire quickly unless they're already into archaeology. If you're staying at Turriff Caravan Park and want to tick off something genuinely old rather than another visitor attraction, this fits the bill. It won't take your whole day, but it's proper worth the effort for the right person.