Bowermadden: History and Walks

Bowermadden offers several starting points for planning a trip: a Neolithic chambered cairn, the history of a radio monitoring station and walks near Bower. If you are looking for a hotel, these topics can help you decide what to focus on during your stay. Archaeological sites, technological history and outdoor paths appeal to different interests.

Earney Hillock and its surroundings

The Neolithic chambered cairn at Earney Hillock is designated as a Scheduled Monument in Bowermadden. It survives as an irregular, oval, grass-covered mound, with four stone slabs projecting from its surface. Five metres west of the cairn is a hut circle with a stone-slab-lined interior. The cairn and hut circle are therefore two distinct archaeological features in close proximity.

The shape of the mound and the projecting slabs give the monument a distinctive appearance. The nearby hut circle adds another structural feature to the view. Check the monument’s access conditions before visiting.

The history of Bowermadden No.2 Station

The Bowermadden No.2 site was an RDF outstation of the former Admiralty Radio Station and a C.S.O.S.–GCHQ signals intelligence station. GCHQ (Cheltenham) took over operation of the station in 1967; it closed in 1978. These dates provide a specific timeframe for its technological history.

Aerial photographs also show different points in time. The mast area is visible in vertical RAF aerial photographs dated 9 May 1946. Modern aerial photographs show the outline of a building and an antenna in a field opposite the road, southwest of Hunster Farm. The known mast site had been ploughed by 2021. The dates and images illustrate different aspects of the former station: its operation, the mast area and visible outlines.

Archaeological details at the broch

The broch at Ha' of Bowermadden adds details about its internal layout to the archaeological picture. A well was located in the central area, with about a dozen steps leading down to it. Finds from the broch included a bronze pin dating from the 4th to 5th century AD, with an open, projecting head. The well is a structural detail, while the pin is a specific artefact. No visible remains of the broch itself survive.

Walks and getting around near Bower

In nearby Bower, walks along paved roads are considered accessible and have no steep inclines. This guidance applies to walks there. Within the Bowermadden settlement area, the pavement alongside the road at Bower is the only Core Path. The Highland Council’s 2014 Core Paths review records this classification. Check current path conditions locally before planning to use the pavement.

As a road reference, the B876 runs from Wick (Reiss) to Castletown through Bower in the Bowermadden settlement area. For planning purposes, the road and the footpath are different points of reference: the B876 is a road connection, while the Core Path is designated as a pavement alongside the road. The walking guidance refers to paved roads near Bower.

Discover more destinations: Scarfskerry, Balintore, Spean Bridge, Strathan, Aultbea, Croick, Shandwick, Cromarty

For the wider travel overview: Highland.