Orkney Islands - Shetland Islands
Entry Date: 09.07.2026, at 14:00:00 hrs (local)
Stone Circles on Orkney
| PRID: | 13352 |
|---|---|
| LegID: | 371 |
| LegNo: | 113 |
| Latitude: | N058°57.50' |
| Longitude: | W003°17.58' |
| Day#: | 1739 |
| Log (Leg): | 42 nm |
| Log (Total): | 88331 nm |
The Ring of Brodgar was built around 4,500 years ago and originally consisted of about 60 massive standing stones, around half of which still survive today. It has a diameter of 104 metres, is surrounded by a deep rock-cut ditch and numerous burial mounds, and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Heart of Neolithic Orkney.
Just 1.5 kilometres away are the Stones of Stenness, one of the oldest stone circles in Great Britain, dating back to around 3100 BC. Today, four monoliths remain standing, each reaching a height of up to six metres.
To this day, no one knows the exact purpose of these two remarkable monuments. They were most likely important places for religious ceremonies and gatherings during the Neolithic period. Some researchers also believe they may have been connected with the movements of the Sun and Moon or with beliefs about life and death.
(1)
