<< Our Photo Pages >> Wideford Hill - Chambered Cairn in Scotland in Orkney

Submitted by Steveco on Thursday, 08 December 2022  Page Views: 17716

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Wideford Hill
Country: Scotland County: Orkney Type: Chambered Cairn
Nearest Town: Kirkwall  Nearest Village: Hatston
Map Ref: HY40901211  Landranger Map Number: 6
Latitude: 58.992009N  Longitude: 3.030172W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
 4 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
 5 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
 2 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
 5

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I have visited· I would like to visit

coin whese001 would like to visit

mesolithica visited on 25th Dec 2023 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 1 This is a wonderful site, set into the hillside in a stunning position looking out across Orkney. However on Christmas Day 2023 It wasn't the easiest place to get to. The trek up Wideford Hill was increasingly treacherous the further up I got due to slippery ice, and then the walk to the cairn itself was a challenging one. The path from the summit of the hill to the cairn is signposted by an info board which tells you that the ground may be uneven and boggy, and it was. On this particular Christmas there had been a storm overnight and it was also very cold, so the path was icy in parts, muddy in parts and wet/boggy in others! It's also a very up-and-down path, some of it steep, some of it on uneven stones, and I slipped on the mud and stones quite a few times. If the path was flat, even and not icy/wet/muddy it would have taken very little time to get there from the info board, but the conditions made it slow going. When you finally get there, though, it's a breathtaking vista, and the outside of the cairn is well-preserved. Due to the cold and icy conditions I didn't go inside the cairn (it can only be accessed via a trap door and ladder). However it was great seeing the monument and spending a little time there, taking in the view and the atmosphere of the cairn, while keeping warm with a cheeky swig of Christmas brandy...

drolaf visited on 8th Jun 2022 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 5 Access: 3 looking west from Wideford, you see its mirror twin at Cuween and the cairns past Finstown at Binscarth (Harper howe). From the top of Wideford hill you can see most of Orkney.

rrmoser visited on 10th Jul 2017 - their rating: Amb: 5

megalithicmatt visited on 1st Jun 2011 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 4 Access: 3 The cairn was waterlogged and the site torch's batteries were dead, so didn't go in. Hopefully will next time!

Richard13 visited on 1st Jul 1999 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 2

DrewParsons jeffrep TimPrevett HaggisAction NickyD have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 4.25 Ambience: 4.8 Access: 2.25

Wideford Hill
Wideford Hill submitted by drolaf : main chamber south end (Vote or comment on this photo)
Externally and internally this chambered cairn is very similar to Isbister, Tomb of the Eagles. The cairn is a Maes Howe type, built into the hillside of Wideford Hill. From the road to Kirkwall the whole hill appears to be a huge cairn so the site for the actual cairn is enhanced by this positioning to create a sense of domination over the surrounding countryside. Nowadays three concentric rings of tiered stonework are exposed after the site was taken into state care in the 1900's when the earthen mound was removed. The original excavation was undertaken in 1849 and produced animal bones and rubble infilling but no pottery or identifiable human remains.

Entry today is via a roof trap door and ladder into the central chamber off of which run three side chambers and the now disused 5 metre long passage which leads to the original entrance which faced west.

The site is accessed from the road to the transmitter tower. Some two thirds of the way up there is a small car park and site sign and map from where a track leads 800 metres across the hillside to the cairn. There should be a clockwork torch in a box by the site but it was missing when I visited in September 2010 so it would pay to carry a small torch with you for the visit to this excellent site.

Additional information submitted by Drew Parsons in September 2010

Orkney discovery may be the first farm in Britain, see comment below

Note: Free ebook: Neolithic house societies in Orkney, on four Neolithic settlements discovered in the vicinity of Wideford Hill between 1994 and 2014. Edited by Colin Richards and Richard Jones, details in the comments on our page
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Wideford Hill
Wideford Hill submitted by DrewParsons : View towards the original west facing entrance to the cairn. September 2010. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Wideford Hill
Wideford Hill submitted by DrewParsons : Looking towards Wide Firth from the cairn. September 2010. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Wideford Hill
Wideford Hill submitted by DrewParsons : View into one of the side chambers. September 2010. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Wideford Hill
Wideford Hill submitted by DrewParsons : View along the now closed passage. September 2010. (2 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Wideford Hill
Wideford Hill submitted by howar : Wideford Hill Chambered Cairn from hillside to one side HY409121 Orkney (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Wideford Hill
Wideford Hill submitted by DrewParsons : Detail of the walling inside the main chamber. September 2010.

Wideford Hill
Wideford Hill submitted by enkidu41 : HY 409121 A round passage grave of Maes Howe type. It was twice enlarged and comprises 3 concentric rings of stonework each having a vertical outer face. It is 40' in diameter and may have had a "ziggurat" appearance. The low narrow 17' long passage leads to the 10' x 4'6" main corbelled chamber. There are 3 side chambers.

Wideford Hill
Wideford Hill submitted by steveco : Wideford Hill Chambered Cairn HY409121. Externally and internally very like Isbister Tomb of the Eagles.

Wideford Hill burial chamber
Wideford Hill burial chamber submitted by Stokie99 : This is wideford Hill burial chamber on Orkney there is a sliding hatch on top with ladders to access the chamber also a torch it has three side Chambers and stunning views over the island its a bit of a trek but we'll worth it

Wideford Hill
Wideford Hill submitted by Izozo : Wideford’s spectacular high-ceilinged drystone chambers were raised on a platform quarried into the hillside about 5,100 years ago. They were riched by a 5.3m-long entrance passage, which is directly lit by the setting sun in late February. The Maeshowe-style passage tomb was originally capped by a grassy dome. Following excavations by Howard Kilbride-Jones in 1935, it was reconstructed to sho...

Wideford Hill
Wideford Hill submitted by karolus : September 2022

Wideford Hill
Wideford Hill submitted by drolaf : corbelling of side cell

Wideford Hill
Wideford Hill submitted by drolaf : main chamber north end

Wideford Hill
Wideford Hill submitted by TAlanJones : Welcome to Wideford Hill Cairn 😁

Wideford Hill
Wideford Hill submitted by TAlanJones : Entrance to the tomb is from the top.

Wideford Hill
Wideford Hill submitted by TAlanJones : The central chamber with the ladder for entry and exit.

Wideford Hill
Wideford Hill submitted by Bladup : Wideford Hill.

Wideford Hill
Wideford Hill submitted by durhamnature : Drawing from "Der Orient und Europa" via archive.org

Wideford Hill
Wideford Hill submitted by DrewParsons : The ladder access from the roof trap door. September 2010.

Wideford Hill
Wideford Hill submitted by DrewParsons : Map at the start of the 800 metre walk to the site from the car park on the transmitter road.

Wideford Hill
Wideford Hill submitted by DrewParsons : Detail of the site sign at the start of the track from the car park on the transmitter road. September 2010.

Wideford Hill
Wideford Hill submitted by jeffrep : Historic Scotland Plaque at the Wideford Hill Chambered Cairn, Mainland, Orkney, Scotland

Wideford Hill
Wideford Hill submitted by jeffrep : Approaching the Wideford Hill Chambered Cairn, Mainland, Orkney, Scotland

Wideford Hill
Wideford Hill submitted by jeffrep : The three concentric circular layers of the Wideford Hill Chambered Cairn, Mainland, Orkney, Scotland

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 673m ESE 116° Heathfield Chambered Cairn (HY415118)
 997m E 90° Wideford Hill Cairn* Cairn (HY419121)
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 4.2km ESE 103° Kirkwall Sculptured Stone (HY450111)
 4.2km ESE 106° Kirkwall Sculptured Stone (HY44941087)
 4.4km SE 134° Crantit* Souterrain (Fogou, Earth House) (HY440090)
 4.5km W 278° Cuween Hill* Chambered Cairn (HY36421277)
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 5.0km WNW 303° Benziaroth* Artificial Mound (HY36781488)
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"Wideford Hill" | Login/Create an Account | 11 News and Comments
  
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Wideford Hill by stonetramp on Friday, 09 December 2022
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I am so happy to see these photos of this site! I wanted to visit this site a few months ago while in Orkney, but our physical limitations made it impractical.

These photos are really great, thank you so much.

Colleen Post
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Free ebook: Neolithic house societies in Orkney ed. Colin Richards and Richard Jones by Andy B on Thursday, 08 December 2022
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A free book about Orkney archaeology. The Development of Neolithic House Societies in Orkney: Investigations in the Bay of Firth, Mainland, Orkney (1994–2014) details the Cuween-Wideford Neolithic Landscape Project, which was led by Professor Colin Richards.

The project which identified and excavated four Neolithic settlements (Stonehall, Smerquoy, Crossiecrown and Wideford Hill) in the vicinity of Wideford Hill, and three others further afield (Varmedale, Muckquoy and the Knowes of Trotty).

With chapters co-authored by numerous UHI Archaeology Institute staff, the 2016 book was edited by Colin Richards and Richard Jones, and is available as a free PDF from Oxbow books.
https://www.oxbowbooks.com/oxbow/the-development-of-neolithic-house-societies-in-orkney-67213.html

Source, with links to more details on the specific projects:
https://archaeologyorkney.com/2022/12/08/house-societies-book/
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Wideford Hill by chrispy on Monday, 19 February 2018
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According to the Historic Scotland website(Feb 2018) "Inside there are rare examples of Neolithic scratch art". Although this is a Historic Scotland site there are no admission charges at present.
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Re: Wideford Hill by DrewParsons on Friday, 15 October 2010
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The cairn is a Maes Howe type cairn built into the hillside of Wideford Hill. From the road to Kirkwall the whole hill appears to be a huge cairn and the site for the actual cairn is enhanced by this positioning to create a sense of domination over the surrounding countryside.

Nowadays three concentric rings of tiered stonework are exposed after the site was taken into State care in the 1900's when the earthen mounmd was removed. The original excavation was undertaken in 1849 and produced animal bones and rubble infilling but no pottery or identifiable human remains.

Entry today is via a roof trap door and ladder into the central chamber off of which run three side chambers and the now disused 5 metre long passage which leads to the original entrance which faced west.

The site is accessed from the road to the transmitter tower. Some two thirds of the way up there is a small car park and site sign and map from where a track leads 800 metres across the hillside to the cairn. There should be a clockwork torch in a box by the site but it was missing when I visited in September 2010 so it would pay to carry a small torch with you for the visit to this excellent site.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Wideford Hill by howar on Thursday, 12 August 2010
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Shorten climb by taking 9A bus to Sunnybank Road, new route starts between Golden Acre and Old Finstown road as seen on 1:25,000
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Re: Wideford Hill by jeffrep on Thursday, 05 August 2010
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Built around 3,000 B.C. and sitting on the northwestern slope of Wideford Hill near Kirkwall, this Maeshowe-type structure is made up of three concentric circles. Before its earthen mound covering was removed, it is most likely to have resembled a dome in shape. The original entrance to the structure is 2 x 2 feet and 17.4 feet long. Inside, three small cells lead off from the main chamber (5 x 10 feet) and a flue type structure is in place. A superb location.
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Re: Wideford Hill by jeffrep on Thursday, 05 August 2010
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Condition: 4
Ambience: 5
Access: 2
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Re: Wideford Hill may have new neighbour by AngieLake on Sunday, 14 June 2009
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I've just noticed a report of the discovery of a possible Neolithic chambered tomb by farmer John Hourie, of Heathfield, St Ola, near Kirkwall. (This was reported on the Orkneyjar website on 4th June).
Looked for 'Heathfield' near Kirkwall on 'Streetmap' (the lime-green square icon at top of page), and there is such a place-name to the SE of Wideford Hill.
John Hourie found the structure underground, while ploughing on the crest of a hill overlooking Kirkwall and Scapa.
See more here:
http://www.orkneyjar.com/archaeology/heathfield2009.htm
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Wideford Hill by howar on Wednesday, 23 July 2008
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Condition:5
Ambience:5
Access:2
Accuracy:
[ Reply to This ]

Orkney discovery may be the first farm in Britain by Anonymous on Monday, 23 June 2003
Wooden structures unearthed on an archaeological dig in Orkney could be the oldest farm settlements in Britain.

The find, off the main road from Kirkwall to Stromness, may also shed light on one of the most disputed subjects in archaeology.

For decades, archaeologists have argued about the exact timescale and nature of the so-called farming revolution - when early societies made the transition from hunting and gathering to farming - thousands of years ago.

The discovery of the Orkney structures could greatly contribute to knowledge of the Neolithic, or New Stone Age, period, adding to the evidence for a settled lifestyle in villages and farmsteads on the island dating back at least 6000 years.

Dr Colin Richards, of Manchester University, led the excavation which shatters previous thinking about society during the New Stone Age, and could produce some of the earliest dates for settlement on the islands.

He said: "The houses in Orkney are all made of stone and we just never expected that we would find wooden buildings.

"It was amazing, especially when you consider that there wasn't much in the way of wood at that time on Orkney as it was treeless.

"They must have used drift wood from the shore. The evidence shows that the people of the time were herding animals, and we have lots of barley which was probably grown around the houses in small garden patches.

"Most of the farms would have had sheep and cattle and there were red deer knocking around. Interestingly, these red deer would have to be brought over from the mainland.

"It shows the continued importance of the sea, fishing and maritime culture in these areas, which continues to this day."

A number of large post-holes at the site, at the foot of Wideford Hill, show the position of a number of circular structures, each with a central hearth dating back to about 3900 BC.

The houses were previously thought to have originated from the earlier Mesolithic period but they were dated to the Neolithic, after pottery of the period was discovered at the foot of one of the post-holes.

Dr Richards said that the finds further illuminated the picture of daily life in ancient society.

He said: "It would have been a bit warmer and a bit wetter during this period on Orkney but it would have looked pretty similar to the way it does now. It appears that life would have revolved around transport by sea."

The Herald
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