Cairnpapple Hill

Cairnpapple Hill is an archaeological site on a 312 meter summit in West Lothian featuring concentric earthen rings with timber post holes forming a circular ritual monument. Inside lie multiple burial chambers from different periods, now protected beneath a concrete dome structure.

The hilltop began as a ritual site with small hearths around 3500 BC before becoming a major burial place during the Bronze Age. The layered graves demonstrate it remained important as a cemetery for multiple generations of people.

The location served as a sacred gathering place where people conducted burial ceremonies and left ritual offerings over thousands of years. Objects brought from distant regions indicate it held spiritual importance for different communities across generations.

The site is freely accessible atop an open hill with wide views across the surrounding landscape. Wear sturdy footwear as paths are partly uneven and weather conditions can change rapidly in this exposed location.

Axes crafted in Wales were discovered here, revealing that trade networks stretched across the island even in prehistoric times. These distant imports suggest the place held special importance for multiple peoples.

Location: West Lothian

Location: Torphichen

Elevation above the sea: 312 m

Accessibility: Wheelchair inaccessible

Website: https://historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/cairnpapple-hill

GPS coordinates: 55.92775,-3.62287

Latest update: December 10, 2025 16:04