Protecting Our Past: Our Recent Clean-Up at Clava Cairns

It has been quite a month for the Avril’s Travels team!

Over the past few weeks, we have received a huge number of messages and have even found ourselves featured in the local press following our efforts to help protect and care for one of Scotland’s most remarkable prehistoric sites — Clava Cairns.

Tucked away in the beautiful Highlands, Clava Cairns is a truly special place. The cairns and standing stones date back more than 4,000 years, meaning that when we bring our guests here, we aren't simply visiting a tourist attraction — we are stepping into a piece of Scotland's ancient history.

Because of that, we take great care to explain to our guests how to visit respectfully. We talk about what they can do, what they shouldn't do, and most importantly, why those rules are there.

Unfortunately, during a visit last month, Lorraine and I were disappointed to see that a number of shrines, offerings and other items had been left around the site, along with rubbish.



We completely understand that Clava Cairns holds deep spiritual and personal meaning for many people. However, it is important to remember that this is also a protected historic monument, and leaving objects around the cairns and standing stones can cause damage and interfere with the preservation of the site.

So, rather than simply walking away, we decided to do something about it.

Lorraine and I spent time carefully clearing the area, removing the shrines, offerings and rubbish that had been left behind. It wasn't something we did for recognition or publicity — we simply felt that if we are lucky enough to work in such an incredible part of Scotland, we have a responsibility to help look after it.

What happened afterwards was something we certainly didn't expect.

Our efforts attracted considerable attention, with people getting in touch to thank us and the story being picked up by the local press. Most importantly for us, Historic Environment Scotland, who manage Clava Cairns, also became aware of what we had been doing and contacted us to thank us for helping raise awareness.

That meant a great deal.

Respect the place, leave no trace

There is an important message behind all of this.

We want everyone to be able to experience the magic of Clava Cairns — whether you are visiting as a tourist, a local, a history enthusiast or someone who feels a personal or spiritual connection to the site.

But loving a place also means protecting it.

You can visit. You can take photographs. You can learn about its history. You can quietly appreciate the atmosphere and the incredible work of the people who built these monuments thousands of years ago.

But please don't leave offerings, attach things to the stones, climb on the monuments or remove anything from the site.

These stones have stood here for thousands of years. Our job is simply to make sure they are still standing for thousands more.

As tour guides, we feel incredibly privileged to introduce people from all over the world to the Highlands. With that privilege comes a responsibility — not just to show people these wonderful places, but to help protect them too.

So, from the whole Avril’s Travels team, thank you to everyone who supported our efforts, shared our message and helped spread awareness.

Let's enjoy Scotland's incredible heritage — and leave it exactly as we found it.

After all, we are only visitors here. The cairns were here long before us, and hopefully they will be here long after we are gone.