The Linford Barrows – County Antrim, Northern Ireland - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place

The Linford Barrows

County Antrim, Northern Ireland

These unknown Bronze Age earthworks are believed to be ancient burial mounds.  

View all photos
Linford Barrows Distant TownTactics (Atlas Obscura User)
Linford Barrows Distant TownTactics (Atlas Obscura User)
18
98
Top Places in County Antrim
Giant's Causeway
Giant's Causeway
County Antrim, Northern Ireland
The Dark Hedges
County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Torr Heads Ruins
County Antrim, Northern Ireland
 See All

Linford Barrows are situated above the little settlement of Cairncastle in the Knockdhu Hills in County Antrim. The site lies in the town of Linford, hence its namesake. The region features incredible views of the Irish Sea and the village of Ballygally. It was the perfect area for a Bronze Age settlement. 

The Linford Barrows consists of two large adjacent circular mounds, each surrounded by a ditch and rampart called a ring-barrow, all dating back to the Bronze Age. These structures were utilized for ancient burials and signified that an important member of the settlement, such as a clan leader, had died.

When bodies were buried, they were placed within a stone or wooden vault before large amounts of soil were used to form these exceeding mounds. One of these mounds measures 42 feet (13 meters) in diameter and the other around 19 feet (16 meters) in diameter. The mounds have left a large and pronounced impression on the surrounding landscape, as if a giant left their fingerprints. 

Know Before You Go

The Linford Barrows site is situated near the village of Cairncastle at the top of the Feystown Road. There is a free car park situated on-site, and the Linford Barrows are just behind the car park on the Knockdhu Hill trek. This area also forms part of the Antrim Hills Way and Ulster Way walking trails and is an area where Game of Thrones was filmed.

earthworks mounds bronze age burial places history & culture
Nearby
The Armada Tree
1.73 miles
Larne Standing Stone
1.83 miles
Daffodil Lane
2.72 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
The Armada Tree.
Larne, Northern Ireland

The Armada Tree

This gnarled old tree supposedly sprouted from seeds kept in the pocket of a 16th-century Spanish sailor.
The standing stone.
Larne, Northern Ireland

Larne Standing Stone

The enigmatic stone has towered over a Northern Ireland town for thousands of years.
Plenty of daffodils.
Ballygalley, Northern Ireland

Daffodil Lane

This rustic, flower-lined pathway once had very little in common with its namesake.
Always smiling.
Ballygalley, Northern Ireland

Polar Bear of Ballygalley

Every year locals give the bear a fresh coat of paint to preserve its signature goofy grin.
Related Places
Tokyo, Japan

Suribachiyama Tumulus

Unbeknownst to many, an ancient burial mound hides in plain sight in Ueno Park.
Helsinki, Finland

Pronssikautinen Hauta

One of the oldest structures in Helsinki is this burrow grave that dates back to the Bronze Age.
The entry gate and mound beyond.
Columbus, Ohio

Shrum Mound

A 2,000-year-old Adena burial mound located along a busy street in Columbus, Ohio.
Nether Largie Standing Stones
Kilmartin, Scotland

Kilmartin Glen Prehistoric Monuments

This collection of Neolithic monuments make up one of The U.K.'s richest archeological landscapes.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web