The name Cairnholy represents Gaelic *Càrn na h-ulaidhe ‘cairn of the stone tomb’.

[3] Both tombs lie open to the sky as most of their original covering stones have been taken in the past to build field walls.

It measures 50 by 15 metres and has a monumental curving façade, that formed the backdrop to a forecourt in front of the tomb.

The outer chamber, which was entered through the façade, contained a fragment of a jadeite ceremonial axe, together with sherds of Neolithic pottery and a leaf-shaped arrowhead.

[3] The inner chamber contained a secondary cist, with food vessel sherds and a cup-and-ring carved stone.

[5] The rear chamber had been previously robbed, and the other disturbed, but an arrowhead and a flint knife were found within the filling, along with secondary sherds of Beaker pottery.

[5] Around 160 metres to the east of Cairnholy farm is the remains of circular cairn less than 15 centimetres high (grid reference NX51975413).