Scheduled Monument

Gateside,chambered cairn 70m N ofSM6071

Status: Designated

Documents

Where documents include maps, the use of this data is subject to terms and conditions (https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/termsandconditions).

The legal document available for download below constitutes the formal designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The additional details provided on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not form part of the designation. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within this additional information.

Summary

Date Added
10/10/1994
Type
Prehistoric ritual and funerary: chambered cairn
Local Authority
Shetland Islands
Parish
Northmaven
NGR
HU 29134 78118
Coordinates
429134, 1178118

Description

The monument consists of a chambered cairn, a prehistoric burial place. It has been called "The Giant's Grave". The cairn is of the Shetland "heel-shaped" type, with a crescentic plan, the concave portion of which is built of larger stones and forms a facade.

It is set on the side of a SE-sloping hill. The edge of the cairn is formed of large boulders, and most of the smaller material which formed the body of the cairn has been removed. In the centre of the facade, which faces SE, are some larger boulders which probably formed the entrance passage to a chamber, but this portion has been disturbed.

The cairn measures 16m across the facade by 8m from front to back. The area to be scheduled is a square of side 30m, aligned NE-SW, to include the cairn and an area around it in which evidence relating to its construction and use may survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a prehistoric burial place which, although partly disturbed, retains the potential to provide information about prehistoric ritual and funerary practices. Old ground surfaces, sealed beneath the cairn, may provide important information about contemporary environmental conditions and land-use.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as HU 27 NE 3.

About Scheduled Monuments

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Scheduling is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for monuments and archaeological sites of national importance as set out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

We schedule sites and monuments that are found to be of national importance using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Scheduled monument records provide an indication of the national importance of the scheduled monument which has been identified by the description and map. The description and map (see ‘legal documents’ above) showing the scheduled area is the designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The statement of national importance and additional information provided are supplementary and provided for general information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within the statement of national importance or additional information. These records are not definitive historical or archaeological accounts or a complete description of the monument(s).

The format of scheduled monument records has changed over time. Earlier records will usually be brief. Some information will not have been recorded and the map will not be to current standards. Even if what is described and what is mapped has changed, the monument is still scheduled.

Scheduled monument consent is required to carry out certain work, including repairs, to scheduled monuments. Applications for scheduled monument consent are made to us. We are happy to discuss your proposals with you before you apply and we do not charge for advice or consent. More information about consent and how to apply for it can be found on our website at www.historicenvironment.scot.

Find out more about scheduling and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

Images

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Printed: 05/11/2026 06:14