A natural hollow to the south-east of the structure makes it appear considerably taller from that approach than it actually is, lending it a quiet theatricality that feels unintentional but is all the more striking for that.

A cairn of this type is essentially a mound of stones, heaped by human hands, most often associated with prehistoric burial or territorial marking. This one is well-preserved, its base measuring roughly 13.2 metres north-west to south-east and 12.2 metres in the opposing direction, rising to between one and 1.7 metres in height. What makes it structurally unusual is its flat circular top, approximately 6.2 metres across, on which a smaller pyramidal cairn has been placed, sitting towards the north-east at around 1.5 by 2 metres and reaching no more than 0.6 metres high. Whether this secondary cairn is a later addition to the original monument, or part of a single design, is not recorded, but the combination of a broad flattened summit and a small raised feature at its edge gives the whole structure an almost architectural quality. The ridge position is commanding, with extensive views opening from east to north, though equally high ground roughly 100 metres to the north-east closes off the view in that particular direction, a reminder that even elevated monuments have their blind spots.