[Suggestion: It might be useful if people reply to TSS's first post at the start of the thread, just to make it easy to see what's a vote.]

Mine are:

1. Nine Maidens stone circle, Boskednan, Cornwall

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/239/nine_stones_of_boskednan.html

2. Tregeseal stone circle, Cornwall

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/241/tregeseal_stone_circle_and_carn_kenidjack.html

3. Doll Tor stone circle, Derbyshire

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/469/doll_tor.html

This is really tough! Apologies to Gloucestershire too.

I was going to cheat with my first and go for the whole of Kilmartin Valley, but I suppose If I have to pick one site there, it would be the Largie Stones. Until I read the paper TMA, I'd no idea Kilmartin existed, and the place blew me away in the finest sense of the phrase.

I would be unable to sleep at night if I did not include Ketley Crag, for it is dripping with the whole genius loci thing to an extent I have never encountered elsewhere.

Thirdly, a nice obscure site, Caer Bach as my visit there led me to go looking for TMA on the internet.

No way, just three ?
No Boscawen un when it was more overgrown?
No swinside on the winter solstice?
No goosebumps at Brodgar?

It'll have to be these three classics then,
Uragh is small but the world is big,
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/2560/uragh.html

Callanish is such a fantatic journey away that quite frankly they could have left the stones still half covered in pete and I would still be
blown away,
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/198/callanish.html

La Roche au Fees on a warm summers afternoon with some kind of
summer fete on, playing children, lots of food and laughter, and right next to it all this sleeping giant that everyone took for granted but I drove
500 miles to see.
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/9946/rocheauxfees.html

But theres so many places yet to see

Erm... what are we voting for? :S♦

Leaving Avebury and its associated monuments out (too close to home) my other choices are:

First Choice: By far and away has to be the Ring of Brodgar. Last summer I made the long and tiring journey to the north of Scotland then over to Orkney. Something inexplicable happened when I walked up to the circle - perhaps a combination of the midsummer light and the crystal clear air, the experience was everything I had hoped it would be and I definitely plan to go back.
The Ring of Brodgar

Second choice: The King’s Quoit, Manorbier in Pembrokeshire.
Visited a few months ago and just loved the walk up the cliff path to a fairly small portal tomb overlooking the sea towards Ireland. An exquisite spot, even in the rain.
King's Quoit, Manorbier

Third choice: Aghnacliff in County Longford, Ireland. Home of my maternal grandparents. Haven’t visited yet but it feels as though I must.
Aghnacliff

1. Ardgroom Outward

Number one spot, just for the spectacular views.

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/1917/ardgroom_outward.html

2. White Moor/Hound Tor

Possibly the most isolated stone circle in England. Number two spot for its seclusion and inaccessibility.

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/3748/white_moor_stone_circle.html

3. Scorhill

Just because I love it, and because being there makes me happy.

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/19/scorhill.html

Sweet shite - I thought I'd have managed this by now! My choices change by the day... I'm sure we've all been there during this process!

*cough*

I'm just bumping this thread, actually, so I don't lose it! :D

G x

In no order...

The marvelous mushroom that is...Chun Quoit.
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/233/chun_quoit_and_boswens_menhir.html

The finest kist on the moor..and still No 1 for biggest surprise, Buttern Hill
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/10341/buttern_hill.html

Small but perfect...Trewortha Cairn
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/11123/trewortha_cairn_and_cist.html

Mr H

Machrie Moor - because it has everything you could need - trek to get to, nice walk, and an example of pretty much most types of circle.

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/161/machrie_moor.html

Stenness - a site that I literally had to be dragged away from, just so beautiful, and it's neighbouring monuments aren't bad either.

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/389/standing_stones_of_stenness.html

Drizzlecombe - other half is from Dartmoor, but had never heard of it. Just so much there to see, from when Dartmoor was civilised.

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/1371/drizzlecombe_megalithic_complex.html

Can I add an honourable mention for Scorhill (in the snow), Lligwy and in fact all the Anglesey monuments, Rousay sites (double-decker burial chamber, and the biggest chambered cairn you'll ever see). Generally. most sites on islands. And hunebedden.

God I wish I'd never bought this book, and found the website. Might have gone on normal holidays like normal people. To Ibiza, rather than a tent in Mull in the rain.

Sam

Did think about choosing non Scottish sites but I'll think I'll stay at home with Aberdeenshire.

1) Thorax. For it's scenic location, cup marked stone, being complete and I have a pal that stays in the next farm. Handy for hikes round the Knock Hill area

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/2655/thorax.html

2) Mill Of Kelly. In the centre of one of North East prehistoric collection. Bellmuir, Yhtsie, Shetin, Shivas, Fedderate along with hut circles, barrows and ancient settlements are all near by. But the main reason is Patrick Will, elderly now, but in his younger day along with his late brother saved the stones of the circle as the estate owners wanted to use them in walls and building. More importantly he made details of the stones original locations and notified the proper authorities. They are still safe in the walls surrounding his birth place. He still loves history and every now and then I give him a hurl about on some easy adventures. He is the font of all knowledge and folklore in this area. Lovely man.

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/11855/mill_of_kelly.html

3) Forvie Kerb Cairns. I found these and have loved the place ever since. They are difficult to find in an ever changing landscape. Early churches and a burgh are nearby and the whole area is a nature research well looked after. It is also up the road from the Menie Dunes, Balmedie scene of a battle between some pals and Mr Trump.

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/11959/forvie_kerb_cairns.html

But to be fair I love all of them. The one's seen and one's to come plus all of yours!

I'd better get my list in before I change it yet again:

No.1 /

Hal Saflieni Hypogeum

A wonderful subterranean complex which remained sealed and undiscovered for nigh on 4,500 years. Trilithons sculpted out of the rock; painted rooms.

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/10617/hal_saflieni_hypogeum.html

No.2 /

Church Hole Cave at Creswell Crags.

No cave art was known in Britain until 2003 when a team of European archaeologists examined Church Hole Cave. I went as soon as I could and saw images of a deer, bird and bison from 13,000 years ago, in unfashionable Nottinghamshire.

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/3067/creswell_crags.html

No.3 /

Stonehenge

It took me a few days to realise that I must nominate Stonehenge. The first ancient monument I saw, in the early '60s. Then there was a long gap until the mid 70's and the Summer Solstice festival years. Oh, happy days, which ended in tears and exclusion. The noughties brought us Open Access and, latterly, the Stonehenge Riverside Project, both of which I have enjoyed muchly.

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/458/stonehenge.html

This is really hard! I asked my "stone friends" and they couldnt help me with a decision either (mostly because everytime someone mentions one we all like we get ready to get in the car and drive too it!)

So after 2 more road trips, I finally came to a decision... *drum roll*

1. Nine Stones Close for the setting (and the cows)

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/331/nine_stones_close.html

2. Cothiemuir Wood, I guess this one took my breath away because I had to trek through the snow to get to it and the woodland setting was simply beautiful. Everyone likes getting to a place and finding untouched snow :)

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/185/cothiemuir_wood.html

3. Castlerigg has the most beautiful rolling hills as a backdrop and its ALWAYS sunny there

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/70/castlerigg.html

Back-up options; Stonehead is AMAZING at sunset, Avebury always takes my breath away, West Kennet Avenue has a magical feeling about it, Devils Ring and Finger should get a mention simply because its the only thing anywhere NEAR my part of the country and Mein Hirion is well worth the drive to Anglesey (catch it at sunset!)

See, I told you I needed 8 votes

x

Nine Ladies of Stanton Moor
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/85/nine_ladies_of_stanton_moor.html
Because it looks just right, a perfect combination of Art and Nature and reverence. And because loads and loads of people fought for many years to stop it being ruined – and totally won for once. So it’s a kind of totem for all the rest.

Mitchell’s Fold
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/139/mitchells_fold.html
Wide and wild, amazing views, all the things I love – curlews, buzzards, larks and Emperor moths – and my childhood birthday picnic spot of choice.

Silbury
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/30/silbury_hill.html
Because I’m obsessed with it for lots of reasons. I can sit and watch it for hours. You can see the wind. And because, unlike the other sites I think it’s mine. Doesn’t everyone? And it was the first to be thought of as everyone’s thanks to Sir John Lubbock – and lately his grandson. So it’s another totem. Plus, it’s enough to make you fall off your bike.

1. Callanish

http://graveyardshiftshane.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/julian-cope-jehovahkill.jpg

2. Figsbury Ring, Wiltshire

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/38/figsbury_ring.html

3. Clach Mhic Mhios, Glen Loth

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/2872/clach_mhic_mhios_glen_loth.html

All my choices are informed by what I was doing there and who I was there with.

Isn't TMA great?

Thanks, Julian.

Stonehenge : http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/458/stonehenge.html a one off monument in Wiltshire . Due to the amount of time spent studying it ,it has managed to answer some questions and provoked even more . Chosen because of the insights provided but mainly because it is such an incredibly rich landscape and supreme megalithic eye candy . Not recommended for communing with anything .

Lurgan : http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/10893/lurgan.html discovered a couple of years ago , a wide dome of rock covered in the remains from tree felling and damage from the vehicles but underneath the brash was some of the most interesting and varied rock art motifs in Britain .I spent many a long winters day clearing and digging it and every time something new would appear .Brilliant views and often in sun whilst in the strath below it was freezing fog or mist .

Innercochil : http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/8299/innercochill.html
I had ancestors (late 18th C )living within 200 m of this stone ,they must have noticed it and wondered too ,great place for communing with the recent and possibly much earlier ancestors .

If you don't mind a newbie contributing: The Hurlers circles on Bodmin - amazing in the mists; Nine Ladies on Stanton Moor - simply magical; and a tongue-in-cheek Millennium Stones at Gatton Park (let's keep the tradition going!).

< bump >

So...have we finished voting?