About
Cashtal yn Ard, or the Castle of the Heights, is a well-preserved chambered tomb situated on raised land overlooking the parish of Maughold.
The monument was originally a megalithic chambered cairn – a conical heap of stones built as a landmark – and is one of the largest and best preserved of its kind in the British Isles.
The site is shrouded in mystery and mythology as the discovery of a strange arrangement of stone slabs has never been explained, though some believe it could have been used as a communal burial place for Neolithic chieftains and their families.
Cashtal yn Ard dates back to around 2000 BC and although the stone cairn has been stripped away, the large firmly set stones create a dramatic burial site. Situated on raised land near the coast, the site also provides views overlooking most of the parish of Maughold and across the sea to the Lake District.
