A pair of standing stones, located just off the Scalasaig to Milbuie track. The stones are 10 yards apart. The largest is 3'3" in height, while the smaller of the pair stands only 2 feet high.
Colonsay,
Scalasaig,
Argyll and Bute,
Strathclyde,
Scotland
Best preserved group of Stone Age (main periods of settlement between 3100-2500BC) houses in western Europe. Long covered by sand, they were uncovered by a storm. The houses, linked by covered passageways, contain stone furniture. Exhibition, museum.
Skaill,
Mainland,
Orkney,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
There are several prehistoric monuments on the sourthern slope of South Clettraval hill. The easiest to access is a fascinating combination of an aisled house and a chambered cairn. The cairn was established first, and the aisled house was later built over the west end of the cairn. The whole site was enclosed within an enclosure wall.
Tigharry,
North Uist,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: Take the access road to the power station on South Clettraval hill. The site is easily visible downhill of the parking area at the top.
Tall cross-slab carved with Pictish symbols, figure sculpture and traditional Celtic carving symbols. The original stone is preserved inside the church, and a replica stands in the village square. The cross stands almost 3 metres high, and probably dates to the 8th or 9th century.
A holy well said to have used by 6th century Irish saint Columba when he settled briefly on Colonsay. Unlikle many such saintly legends this one has every chance of being true, as Columba is fairly certain to have visited Colonsay. The well was believed by locals to have healing properties, and they left small offerings beside the spring. For many years a silver cup hung beside the well.
Balnahard,
Isle of Colonsay,
Strathclyde,
Scotland
A small stone circle set upon a low hill overlooking a mere, with a central structure within the circle. The exact nature of the central structure is a bit of a mystery; it has been variously described as a chambered cairn and a prehistoric homestead. Most of the stones have fallen; only 5 or so remain upright.
Lewis,
Shader,
Western Isles,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: At the south end of Loch an Duin, near the hamlet of Shader, Isle of Lewis, on the A857 to Ness.
The dramatic remains of a stone circle surrounded by remains of a circular earthwork. There are several extremely tall and slender stones, with several small and squat stones. Stenness is sited in a beautiful loch-side location, a short walk from the Ring of Brodgar.
Mainland,
Orkney,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
Just outside Forres stands this amazing monument, which has been called the most remarkable sculptured monument in Britain. Sueno's Stone stands 20 ft (6.1m) high, and is covered with intricate carvings. The stone dates to the late 9th or 10th century and it may have been intended as a cenotaph, or memorial to military dead.
Forres,
Grampian,
Scotland
A large stone circle consisting of 11 standing stones and 1 recumbent stone. The circle is just under 27 metres in diameter,. Within the circle is the remains of a cairn about 0.3 metres high and 7 metres diameter. Interestingly, excavations have shown that there was a pyre (presumably a funeral pyre) in the centre of the circle, and 8 distinct deposits of burnt bones.
B9119,
Echt,
Grampian,
Scotland
The Tap O' Noth is a hill fort on the summit of the Hill of Noth, just above the village of Rhynie, in Aberdeenshire. The hill rises to 562 metres above sea level, making the Tap O' Noth fort the second highest in all of Scotland.
Rhynie,
Grampian,
Scotland
There are two stone circles at Temple Wood, dating to at least 3000 BCE. One unusual (though not unique) feature at Temple Wood is that the interior of the circles are filled with a low mound of stones. One theory is that the infill was a way of 'decommissioning' the circle, or negating its power.
Kilmartin Glen,
Kilmartin,
Strathclyde,
Scotland
More of a rectangle than a stone circle, Templewood is of a type known as a 'Four poster'. There are four stones, arranged as the corners of a rectangle measuring about 3.4 by 2.7 metres (about 11 x 9 feet).
Rafford,
Grampian,
Scotland
The Tobar Oran sculptured stone (alternately known as the Ruisg Buidhe stone) is an early Christian carved stone, or cross, found in the ruins of the deserted village of Ruisg Buidhe, on the north east coast of Colonsay. The cross is believed to be late 7th or early 8th century, though an alternative date of late 9th century has also ben put forward.
Colonsay House,
Kiloran,
Isle of Colonsay,
Strathclyde,
Scotland
Two attractions in one; the Tomb is a chambered cairn dating to approximately 3000 BCE. When excavated it was found to contain the bones of over 340 people, and the remains of sea eagles, pottery, bead, and stone tools. These artefacts can be viewed - and handled - in the modern visitor centre. The Bronze Age Burnt Mound (also known as Liddle Burnt Mound) consists of a burnt stone and refuse mound with an associated dwelling. The dwelling, which had a form of running water, may have been used as a kind of ceremonial sweat lodge. The Tomb of the Eagles is also known as Isbister Chambered Cairn.
Burwick,
South Ronaldsay,
Orkney,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
A fascinating stone circle - really a complex of circles - built around 2500 BCE. The first phase of building at Tomnaverie was the creation of a low platform of stone, with the height of the kerb increasing from one end to the other. It is possible that this platform was created to emphasize the silhouette of the site against the skyline. There was burning at the centre of the platform, so archaeologists think it may have been used as a funeral pyre.
Aboyne,
Grampian,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: Off the B9094, near Mill of Wester Coull, 3 miles north west of Aboyne. Park along the B9094 (signposted) and follow the trail 200 metres to the circle.
A Bronze Age circle of 19 boulders, most of which no longer stand upright. The stones are set to form a circle about 60' in diameter, with three aligned stones in the centre of the circle. These three central stones are traditionally known as King Gauldus's Tomb, a reference to Gauldus, or Galdus, a legendary and probably mythical early Scottish king. Another site associated with Galdus is Cairn Holy, where he is also suposed to be buried.
Wigtown,
Dumfries and Galloway,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: On the B733, 4 miles west of Wigtown. Well signposted from Wigtown. Roadside parking.
A Neolithic chambered cairn in a fabulous location looking south to the enigmatic peak of Ailsa Craig. There are four chambers at Torrylin, one of over 25 similar cairns on Arran. The cairn appears to align with Ailsa Craig. Coincidence?
Lagg,
Arran,
Ayrshire and Arran,
Strathclyde,
Scotland
The old ruined kirk at Tullich contains a worn Pictish stone carved with traditional Pictish symbols of a miror, beast, double disc, and Z-rod. The stone can be found in a railed enclosure against the north wall of the church.
Tullich,
Grampian,
Scotland
The Raven Stone is a carved Pictish symbol stone, discovered in the foundations of the church at Kirkhill, Tyrie. The stone is carved with the figure of an eagle, below which is a rectangle and traditional Z-rod symbol. The rectangle has a notch on the short side and indentations in the long side. It has been suggested that it might represent a chariot drawn by a pair of horses, seen from above.
Tyrie,
Grampian,
Scotland
A Neolithic mound beside a loch, covering a communal stone burial chamber of 5 compartments. Pottery was found in the chamber.
Stromness,
Mainland,
Orkney,
HIghlands and Islands,
Scotland
White Caterthun Fort is one of the most impressive prehistoric sites in Scotland. The fort covers an oval area of about 550 by 220 feet in circumference. The site is surrounded by a very imposing stone wall which may originally have been as thick as 40 feet in places. This has been called the most impressive ruined wall in Britain.
Edzell,
Tayside,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: 5 miles north west of Brechin, off a minor road between Balzeordie and Bridgend. Parking area between the two Caterthun hill forts.
Remains of a medium-sized cairn in a wooded plantation. The original cairn was just over 14 metres across and about 3 metres high. Many of the cairn stones have been removed, and some are in a heap to the east of the cairn.
Mintlaw,
Grampian,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: In White Cow Wood forest plantation. Forestry Commission car park on minor road to Strichen off A950, 3 miles west of Mintlaw. Signposted walk from car park 1000 metres.
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Whitehill is a good example of a recumbent stone circle. That doesn't mean the stones are all fallen down; it refers to a large stone laid on its side at the southern side of the circle. The recumbent stone is flanked on either side by a large upright flanking stone. In the case of Whitehill one of the flanking stones has fallen, as have several of the other stones arranged around a raised bank.
Tillyfourie,
Monymusk,
Grampian,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: In Pitfichie forestry plantation, off the B993 west of Monymusk
A chambered Neolithic (3500-2500BC) tomb in a cairn with 3 concentric walls and a burial chamber. There are excellent views from the hillside.
Kirkwall,
Mainland,
Orkney,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
Wormy Hillock Henge is located at the foot of a steep slope overlooking Ealachie Burn, in the Forestry Commission plantation at Clashindarroch Forest. The henge is at one end of a large mound, known as Wormy Hillock.
Clashindarroch Forest,
Rhynie,
Grampian,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: In Clashindarroch Forest plantation, a 2 mile walk on a forest track past Mytice, off the A97
An early Christian stone approximately 4.5 feet in height. The Yarrow Stone was found during ploughing work during the early 19th century, and has now been set upright, enclosed by a wooden fence. When found, it was lying flat, with the remains of human bones beneath it.
Yarrow,
Borders,
Scotland
A solitary standing stone measuring over 7 feet in height. Unusually, the stone stands at the bottom of a hill, rather than in an exposed, elevated position where it might more easily be seen. Legend tells that on New Years Day the stone walks down to the nearby loch to drink. The name of the stone derives from Old Norse 'Jotunna-steinn', meaning 'Giant Stone', and when you see Yetnasteen it is easy to see why it was so named.
Yetnasteen,
Orkney,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
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