Inverness to Clava Cairns: a practical visit guide

Clava Cairns lies near Inverness, on a terrace above the River Nairn. The site address is Bulnuaran of Clava, Near Inverness, IV2 5EU, making it a rural stop outside the city rather than a city-centre attraction.

The main site is signposted from the B9091, east of Culloden Battlefield. That proximity makes it practical to plan the two places together; you can read more about getting to Culloden Battlefield from Inverness.

At the main Clava Cairns site, you’ll find three prominent cairns surrounded by standing stones and stone circles. The wider cemetery also includes prehistoric burial monuments and the remains of a medieval chapel.

Historic Environment Scotland describes the cairns as about 4,000 years old, built to house the dead. Two parts of the wider complex are open to the public: Balnuaran of Clava and Milton of Clava. Keep an eye out for signs about the organisation’s Monument Monitor crowdsourced conservation project.

The B9091 provides the signed approach to Clava Cairns, and the site has car parking as well as coach parking. The access road has a vehicle weight restriction of 17 tonnes, so check that your vehicle is within the limit before using it.

If you’re planning a public-transport journey, Historic Environment Scotland directs visitors to Traveline Scotland for journey planning. The site’s National Grid reference is NH 752 439.

Clava Cairns is free to visit and open all year round. The public can access Balnuaran of Clava and Milton of Clava, two sections of the wider complex.

For current practical guidance before setting out, check the official site before you go. Historic Environment Scotland manages information about the site.

Clava Cairns is signposted just east of Culloden Battlefield, so the two sites can fit into the same outing. You can visit Culloden first or begin at the cairns; the nearby location makes either sequence workable.

For a different Inverness outing, Ness Walk follows the river through the city.