Perhaps it's the vanity of people who need to leave their mark on the landscape. Or are these things used for navigation as an alternative to map and compass?
Nowt against most cairne, but there are often wee cairns with living grass under them on Scottish Hills. these cairns never ever live long enough to kill the grass as there is consensus against them, and the stones are quickly replaced.
Cairns promote erosion, by all means build them, but can you aslo build a durable well drained path at the same time. We dont want Scotland to look like the Lakes thanks.
Can you please explain how a cairn is an alternative navigation aid? Its just a pile of stones.
