Slieve Gullion South Cairn

At 1894 feet (577m) this is the highest surviving passage tomb in the British Isles. It is known locally as ‘Calliagh Berra’s House’. It is dramatically sited and is visible from far away. For the visitor today access is difficult but the views are spectacular. A circular cairn with a revetment of large stones encloses an octagonal chamber, reached from the south-west along a short passage with sides of drystone-walling rather than large slabs. The passage is roofed with lintels, the chamber with corbelled stones, now partly collapsed. Excavation in 1961 showed that the burial deposits were badly disturbed, but there were fragments of cremated bone and flints. The ‘bulge’ on the cairn’s north side results from the addition of a small round cairn, perhaps in the Bronze Age, but excavation produced no finds.

Other historic places you can visit:

• Love Heritage NI