Standing Stones of Stenness: Orkney's 5,000-Year-old Giants
Five hundred years before Stonehenge, twelve stone megaliths were arranged in a circle on the island of Orkney. The stones, some up to six metres high, were surrounded by a ditch, and a large hearth was placed in the centre.
Today, just four of these enormous megaliths remain, standing at the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site called The Heart of Neolithic Orkney, one of Western Europe’s richest surviving Neolithic landscapes.
The megaliths stand shrouded in mystery, watched over by sheep, with not a gift shop in sight.
The stones were believed to have played a central role in Neolithic rituals that took place within a network of ceremonial centres. The nearest is the impressive Ring of Brodgar, which lies less than one mile away.
Visit both sites at sunrise or sunset for a magical experience.
Outlying stones in the garden of Lochview, a cottage that stands nearby.
How to Go
Ferry: Pentland Ferries and North link Ferries sail to Orkney from the Scottish mainland. You can buy tickets for both at Ferrygogo
Fly: Flights to and from Orkney are operated by Loganair. Book on Skyscanner
How to visit
The Standing Stones of Stenness are a 10-minute drive from Stromness.
In the summer, there are regular bus services from Kirkwall and Stromness.
Free to visit and accessible year-round
Worth Knowing
The Ring of Brodgar lies just 1.2km away.
There are guided tours Neolithic Orkney here
Orkney.com has great information on what else to see on the island.
SCOTLAND
