12 April 2017 CE
Images
12 April 2017 CE
12 April 2017 CE
12 April 2017 CE
Salt Knowe from Brodgar – May 2017
Image credit: Carol27
More Victorian Vandalism – chiselled/stamped graffiti marked 1881 below.
Image credit: Carol27
‘R. Wilson’ (1880? below) chiselled/stamped graffiti Ring of Brodgar – May 2017
Image credit: Carol27
Salt Knowe burial mound behind the Ring of Brodgar. May 2017
Image credit: Carol27
Brodgar with Hoy beyond – May 2017
Image credit: Carol27
The currently somewhat forlorn looking Ring of Brodgar, partly fenced off for ongoing ‘preservation’ work. May 2017
Image credit: Carol27
Brodgar from the ‘Comet’ Stone – May 2017
Image credit: Carol27
Two of the stranger shaped Brodgar stones – another of the peculiar Scottish ‘trapezoids’ (as seen at Stenness & the Clava Cairns) on the left. Currently inaccessible unfortunately due to ongoing ‘preservation’ work.
Image credit: Carol27
This illustration from 1820 was in Skail House near Skara Brae and though it’s titled ‘Stones of Stennis, Orkney’, it’s clearly Brodgar. Possibly there was no distinction between the two sites or maybe the title is just very literal.
Image credit: A R Cane
The first visit in splendid sunshine. The lack of other visitors is down to extreme Photoshop.
Image credit: A R Cane
Just visible is a chestnut paling fence sectioning off part of the circle where ‘work’ was being carried out, though just what that was I’m not sure.
Image credit: A R Cane
Up close and personal.
Image credit: A R Cane
Looking East from outside the ditch.
Image credit: A R Cane
Panorama taken from the top of Salt Knowe with the Loch of Harray in the background
Image credit: A R Cane
Image credit: Craigie/Jarvie
ditch with Plumcake-shaped Mound as one of the quarter mounds, taken from an entrance causeway looking in opposite direction to Salt Knowe view
Image credit: wideford
ditch with Salt Knowe as one of the quarter mounds, taken from an entrance causeway
Image credit: wideford
ditch with Fresh Knowe as one of the quarter mounds
Image credit: wideford
ditch with South Knowe as one of the quarter mounds
Image credit: wideford
Encaustic watercolor by Anne Mavor
12” x 24”
www.annemavor.com
Image credit: Sunset at Ring of Brodgar
Encaustic watercolor painting by Anne Mavor
10” x 28”
www.annemavor.com
Image credit: Yellow Sunset at Ring of Brodgar
Ring of Brodgar seen from northen edge of Barnhouse site
Image credit: wideford
21/06/2013 – Final stop on our trip. Time now to go home.
17/06/2013 – Good to be back here again after five or more years. It is as amazing as the last time.
stones and modern pygmies
Image credit: wideford
stones finger north
Image credit: wideford
runic sentence stone with foot of Black Hill of Warbuster behind
Image credit: wideford
sentence in runes on Ring of Brodgar stone honeyed by summer sun- why this stone, do the runes use earlier symbols like we graffiti wall posters etc ???
Image credit: wideford
pair of stones with The Brecks atop Black Hill of Warbuster in the distance
Image credit: wideford
huddled masses amongst the heather
Image credit: wideford
stones with fallen comrades
Image credit: wideford
when there were giants
Image credit: wideford
leaving the circle and the wilds
Image credit: wideford
Taken around 10.30pm on 31st October 2012. Samhain night at the Ring of Brodgar, where we communed with the ancestors.
Image credit: Paul Kesterton
Taken on 26th October 2012. A light dusting of snow at the circle, the dark clouds on the horizon were a huge hailstorm which swept across us about 20 minutes later!
Image credit: Paul Kesterton
Taken 11th August 2012, I had to jockey for position with a horde of photographers who suddenly descended on the stones!
Image credit: Paul Kesterton
Sunsetover Brodgar on 11th August 2012.
Image credit: Paul Kesterton
Taken 11th August 2012 as we approach the circle fot the sunset
Image credit: Paul Kesterton
henge and mounds from Kethesgeo Stone area
Image credit: wideford
henge and mounds from Ireland Road
Image credit: wideford
Image credit: Graffiti on one of the stones at Brodgar 6th Aug 2008.
Image credit: Ring of Brodgar stone at sunset 6th Aug 2011
Posting up a couple of Brodgar I painted in the field in Feb ‘11 – I resisted posting them before as they are not 100% accurate (the working conditions were a bit distracting, if exhillerating!) but I feel they capture a ‘vibe of place’ that perhaps a photo can’t always, and therefore still useful to post I hope :-)...
‘Gales and Winter Showers, Ring of Brodgar’ 16x20”, acrylic on canvas.
Image credit: Nicki MacRae
Posting up a couple of Brodgar I painted in the field in Feb ‘11 – I resisted posting them before as they are not 100% accurate (the working conditions were a bit distracting, if exhillerating!) but I feel they capture a ‘vibe of place’ that perhaps a photo can’t always, and therefore still useful to post I hope :-)...
‘An Hour in Icy Wind at Brodgar’ 12 x24”, acrylic on canvas.
Image credit: Nicki MacRae
A paiting of part of the circle from experiences and photos taken in Feb 2011 – ‘Strange Skies over Brodgar’ (16 x 20”, acrylics on canvas). The sky was created by an odd mix of Northern Lights, cloud with bright (full) moon on it, street lighting (Stromness), the effects of the camera / long expo, stars... and a little artistic licence.
Image credit: Nicki MacRae
piper at the gates of dawn
Image credit: wideford
foursome
Image credit: wideford
we are family
Image credit: wideford
couple not talking
Image credit: wideford
then were giants
Image credit: wideford
seen from Brodgar farm showing great variation in level of ring
Image credit: wideford
lit strikingly from behind this is how they looked originally I guess
Image credit: wideford
they really shone so brightly, where’s yer dark and somber monoliths now [no editing but cropping]
Image credit: wideford
stones in winter
Image credit: wideford
looking from Bookan tomb to the north
Image credit: wideford
winter version of view from Brodgar road to south, with Bookan mounds on skyline
Image credit: wideford
The circle as seen from the Comet Stone – it’s a bugger to photogragh this mind-blowing site!
The sun attempting to break through above a bearded stone....
Image credit: Chris Lodge
No, I wasn’t tipsy, the circle really is sloped at this angle....
Image credit: Chris Lodge
view from Clouston road above Kirkwall-Stromness road, the lesser mounds in shot
Image credit: wideford
entire henge from road near Stones of Stenness
Image credit: wideford
chance survival, family group, head clan.
Group hug ;-)
Image credit: wideford
entire henge from new Brodgar lochside path
Image credit: wideford
Image credit: Donny McIntyre
Winter Solstice Ring Of Brodgar 07
Image credit: Donny McIntyre
Memories of a wonderful few days in the Orkneys over the Winter Solstice 07
Image credit: Donny McIntyre
Ring of Brodgar looking northeast with the Loch of Harray in background. Image displays the perimeter ditch prominently.
Image credit: C. Michael Hogan
splitting stone
Image credit: nix stewart
Image credit: chris bickerton
Image credit: wideford
Stones of Stenness with Comet Stone and several mounds
Image credit: wideford
stones massed before Salt Knowe
Image credit: wideford
stones post sentry on Salt Knowe
Image credit: wideford
Image credit: wideford
Image credit: wideford
Image credit: wideford
Image credit: wideford
Image credit: wideford
Image credit: wideford
Image credit: wideford
Image credit: wideford
Cross and runic inscription.
Image credit: [email protected]
area of rock art – or natural
Image credit: wideford
‘cup’ and leaf-shaped fissure
Image credit: wideford
? rock art stone
Image credit: wideford
sunset at Brodgar 31/07/04.
Image credit: Stephen Buckley-Bell 31/07/04
Sunset at Brodgar 31/07/04.
Image credit: Stephen Buckley-Bell 31/07/04
The full Brodgar Ring from the Comet Stone to the west. The light looked evil. More on users.skynet.be/bert_saskia/travel/scotland/northernatlantic/index1.html
Image credit: Bert Timmermans
even the lichen go in for rock art...
Image credit: sam
Image credit: sam
Image credit: sam
Image credit: www.sacredway.co.uk / Hugh Parsons
In the right place to catch all the colours in the stone. No photoshopping, this is exactly as it was taken.
Image credit: Rune
Image credit: David Little
Taken on a very windy morning, 18/09/05
Image credit: David Little
‘Wild flower at Brodgar’, watercolour painting (c) Jane Tomlinson, 2004
Image credit: Jane Tomlinson
‘Big sky at Brodgar‘
watercolour painting
Image credit: Jane Tomlinson
Image credit: suave harv
Gaw, you don’t arf get some nice sunsets round ‘ere!
Image credit: Graham Orriss
Brogar across Loch of Harray from road up ‘behind’ Maeshowe towards Staney Hill
Image credit: Tim Clark
Brogar from viewpoint on opposite side of Loch of Harray
Image credit: Tim Clark
My fave stone – the ‘Shoulder Stone‘
Image credit: Tim Clark
We even got a rainbow on our first visit
Image credit: Tim Clark
Maeshowe across the loch, centre, just right of nearest stone
Image credit: Tim Clark
The approach from the car park
Image credit: Tim Clark
One stone, almost split in half.
Image credit: IH
Image credit: IH
The Lightning stricken stone.
Image credit: IH
It is there, honest. Bottom right corner.
Image credit: IH
Image credit: IH
What I hadn’t anticipated was the depth of the ditch, which is pretty complete all the way round. The construction of this part of the monumnet alone is astonishing.
Image credit: Jane Tomlinson
The silhouette of the circle against the big tall skies hereabouts never failed to impress. That this is a monument to the heavens was quite obvious to me.
Image credit: Jane Tomlinson
At times the sky really was this blue. And the light it cast showed up the ‘grain’ of the stones.
Image credit: Jane Tomlinson
The complete perfection of the circle.
Image credit: Jane Tomlinson
Image credit: IH
A beautiful rainbow added to even more magic to Brodgar.
Image credit: Jane Tomlinson
The tops of the stones rose above the field of yellow weeds.
Image credit: Jane Tomlinson
Before we had even set foot within the monument, I wanted to record my first view, which took my breath away.
Image credit: Jane Tomlinson
Sketch done on site
Image credit: Jane Tomlinson
Taken on a very cold, wet and windswept day in 2001, my friend and I were lucky enough to have the Ring of Brodgar to ourselves. The area around the ring is bleak and a sense of wonder fills you when you see the circle for the first time.
Image credit: notjamesbond
Taken August 1997: This is the stone that was split by lightning. The sign reads:
“This stone was struck by lightning on the 5th June 1980 causing it to shatter. Such events may also have occurred in earlier times, and might account for the damaged state of several other stones in the ring.”
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken when we visited Brodgar in August 1997, this beautiful floral offering was perched on one of the stones. It contrasted a bit with the crowds of tourists.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken August 1997: Another sunlit shot of Brodgar, this time looking across the henge (in the foreground) into the stone circle.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken August 1997: Here’s Lou looking all happy in her biker boots. It was a beautiful day, and we were just happy to have finally made it to this amazing place.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
My favourite stone in the Ring of Brodgar. Hints of Easter Island.
Image credit: JohnO'Brien
12/8/96
12/8/96
12/8/96
12/8/96
Late Evening Sept 2000
Excellent Site, but then it is on Orkney!
Brodgar in Bloom!
Image credit: Mark Vernon
The Ring of Brodgar under a blue night sky
Image credit: Mark Vernon
Articles
Temporary loos will not be installed at Orkney’s famous Ring of Brodgar stone circle, despite concerns over “undesirable toileting behaviour”.
More info :
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-67700871
comment
0 Comments
Concern has been expressed about “undesirable toileting behaviour” at Orkney’s famous Ring of Brodgar stone circle.
More info :
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-67577908
Some idiot has seen fit to engrave some graffiti on to one of the stones at Brodgar.
Report and picture of the damage in the Orcadian
Do survey results show a massive prehistoric monument under the water of the Stenness Loch?
This could be pretty exciting if anything comes of it!
“Survey work in the Loch of Stenness has revealed what could be a massive prehistoric monument lying underwater to the south of the Ring of Brodgar.
The underwater “anomaly” has come to light in a project looking at prehistoric sea level change in Orkney. The project, The Rising Tide: Submerged Landscape of Orkney, is a collaboration between the universities of St Andrews, Wales, Dundee, Bangor and Aberdeen.
But although it is tempting to speculate that the ring-shaped feature, which lies just off the loch’s shore, is the remains of a henge — a circular or oval-shaped flat area enclosed and delimited by a boundary earthwork (usually a ditch with an external bank) — or perhaps a prehistoric quarry, at this stage the project leaders are urging caution.”
Archaeological excavations have continued this summer within ‘The Heart of Neolithic Orkney’ World Heritage Site.
The Ring of Brodgar, the third largest standing stone circle in Britain and the Ness of Brodgar, its accompanying settlement site, have been the focus of an investigation funded by Historic Scotland and Orkney Island Council under the direction of Dr Jane Downes (Orkney College UHI) and Dr Colin Richards (Manchester University).
This season saw the anticipated re-opening of Professor Colin Renfrew’s 1973 trenches at the Ring of Brodgar, the impressive monument which is thought to be 4 to 4,500 years old although the date has never been scientifically confirmed.
“Although the excavations 35 years ago were undertaken to obtain dating material and establish chronology, they failed due to the limitations of available dating techniques at the time,” explained archaeologist Dr Jane Downes.
“The advanced new techniques now at our disposal mean that this time our investigations should establish when the Ring of Brodgar was built and help us learn a great deal more about it.”
Trenches were dug to the original ditch cut from bedrock by the builders of the stone circle. No artefacts were expected but a time capsule from the 1970s excavation was a surprise discovery. It is now held at Orkney Museum.
Construction of the ditch surrounding the stone circle was also under investigation. A tomography survey was undertaken to determine if the original circle contained more than the 27 megaliths standing today. The survey revealed empty sockets suggesting the original was made up of at least 60 stones.
However, archaeologists continue to seek an answer for one big question – what was this monument for?
Within viewing distance of the Ring is the Ness of Brodgar, and another excavation funded by, OIC, Orkney College, Friends of Orkney Archaeology Trust, Robert Kiln Trust completed a third season of digging.
This site offers the opportunity to learn more about daily life in Neolithic Orkney and the ties people had to the stone circles. Naturally archaeologists are keen to explore its role and significance.
“The excavation this year again emphasises the importance of this site and its pivotal role in our understanding of the use and development of Brodgar/Stenness/WHS in the Neolithic,” said site director Nick Card of the Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology. “Even the dominance of the Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar in the landscape seem challenged.”
This season also saw a number of exciting discoveries, including two additional non-domestic buildings within the settlement area.
Under further investigation was the massive wall extending across the Ness known as the Great Wall of Brodgar. It divides the ring from the settlement and archaeologists believe it might represent the separation of the land of the living from the land of the dead.
Artefacts numbering in the 1000s were found. These include sensational finds such as a stone polished axe and mace head and everyday objects like pottery and flint tools.
An exceptional discovery of Neolithic Art was also made. The previously rare find of purposefully decorated stone was discovered on structure walls and individual stone slabs.
The Ness of Brodgar will continue to provide insight into how these monument builders of Neolithic Orkney lived. However, archaeologists now wait for summer 2009 to see what new exciting discoveries can be made made. In the meantime results for the date of Ring of Brodgar are eagerly awaited.
For for more information about the heritage of Orkney see www.orkneyjar.com.
posting this as finally some photos (and short vid) that show something, including a peeled stone orkneyjar.com/archaeology/ringofbrodgar/index.html
ONE OF Western Europe’s most impressive prehistoric sites and the third largest stone circle in the British Isles—Orkney’s Ring of Brodgar—is the subject of a major archaeological project to start next week.
A month-long programme will be undertaken by a 15-strong team of archaeologists and scientists from Orkney College, the University of The Highlands and Islands, Manchester University, Stirling University and The Scottish Universities Environment Reactor Centre.
Their aim will be to gather information which will enable a much better understanding of the nature of this iconic site.
A Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Property in the Care of the Scottish Government through Historic Scotland, the stone circle is part of ‘The Heart of Neolithic Orkney’ World Heritage Site, inscribed by UNESCO in 1999.
Very little is actually known about this amazing ancient site, including its exact age and purpose.
The last important archaeological studies undertaken on it were in the early 1970s by Professor Lord Colin Renfrew.
Since then, significant developments have taken place in analytical techniques such as dating.
It is therefore hoped the new investigations to retrieve datable material and examine archaeological and palaeo-environmental material, will reveal facts about the Ring of Brodgar and help its mysteries to be unravelled.
The project will involve the re-excavation and extension of trenches dug in 1973.
Geophysical surveys will also be undertaken to investigate the location of standing stones and other features within the circle. Dr Jane Downes of the archaeology department, Orkney College, UHI, and Dr Colin Richards of Manchester University are the project directors who will lead the programme of fieldwork and subsequent analysis of its findings.
Dr Downes said, “Because so little is known about the Ring of Brodgar, a series of assumptions have taken the place of archaeological data.
“The interpretation of what is arguably the most spectacular stone circle in Scotland is therefore incomplete and unclear.”
He added, “The advanced new techniques now at our disposal mean that this time our investigations should establish when the Ring of Brodgar was built and help us learn a great deal more about it.”
Dr Richards said, “At present, even the number of stones in the original circle is uncertain.
“The position of at least 40 can be identified, but there are spaces for 20 more.
“Our investigations will therefore also focus on the architecture of this fascinating ancient site.”
I’d definitely advise walking up there from the Stones of Stennes, passing the Watch Stone and other smaller standing stones on your left. You’ll also pass the Comet Stone.
If you drive up to the car park you’re going to miss the details as it’s a narrow and busy road. And it’s actually a nice walk.
Currently the inner is off limits which was disappointing. But I followed the rules, for once.
Visited 31st October 2012
There’s not much more I can add to what has already been written about what to me is the finest stone circle in Britain. Large enough to be awe inspiring, small enough to still feel intimate, remote enough to feel like you stand amidst the cyclopean remains of an ancient civilisation in the furthest flung corner of these islands, but accessible enough that you can drive right up to it (or roll up in a tour bus!). For me only Callanish comes close to giving this place a run for it’s money.
I’ve seen Brodgar in all weathers, only a few days ago it was snowing, I’ve also been here when it was so misty you could barely see the stones, and for a fantastic sunset, when in a Pythonesque moment a horde of photographers suddenly appeared from nowhere and proceeded to run around the circle with tripods, jostling for position, all of them in their quest for the best angle of the sunset through the stones. It’s no wonder as Brodgar is one of the most photogenic of ancient sites, and tonight, a clear Samhain evening we’ve come up to the circle to try some long exposure shots.
It’s cold, and a low mist clings to the henge ditch around the stones, amplifying the already otherworldly atmosphere. There is no sign of anyone else around, indeed this week on Orkney has been much quieter now we are out of season than our last trip in August, when regular visitors on the tour bus circuit could be guaranteed. We get our photos and as we walk away I look back at the circle, and marvel that something built so long ago can have such an effect on me today.
This is a place everyone who loves megalithic sites should visit, If I could only ever visit one ancient site again this would be it, my ‘Desert Island stone circle’! Brodgar is one of my special places, a truly sublime circle.
Visited 4.6.12
My initial impression was one of being surprised at how large the circle is.
I knew this was the 3rd largest in Britain but it still surprised me.
I visited the circle several times over the week in sunshine and rain; afternoon and evening.
Sometimes there were coach loads of people present, other times just a couple of people.
Another surprise is how difficult it is to photograph the circle due to its size and the fact it is built on a slope.
A footpath runs around the circle while the rest of the site is covered in heather.
Several small signs request you stay on the path to protect the site.
The standing stones are impressive although (in my opinion) not as impressive as the ones at Stenness. I wasn’t expecting to see the large cracks in most of the stones or the way the cracks had been filled with cement to help protect them.
A sign next to one stone states that it was struck by lightening in 1980. The lump of stone broken off lies next to the still standing section and it is blackened by the lightening strike.
As impressive as the stones is the surrounding ditch. This must have been a massive undertaking in its own right.
I enjoyed my visits to Brodgar and it is an obvious ‘must see’ site but somehow it didn’t have the ‘wow’ factor for me. I think I was still influenced by the stones at Stenness.
Weather on Orkney is fickle, yes that’s the word. This video taken in April 2010 during a field trip to the Brodgar henge was a precursor for a dash back to the bus.
Approach to the Ring of Brodgar, 2009.
So, what to say about the Ring of Brodgar? It completely and utterly blew me away. I know, I know, I have said that sooooooo many time before but I could happily have stayed at this site all day. Other sites, that I have longed to see and then made the pilgrimage to, have sometimes had an anti-climatic feeling about them, but not here. As I approached the circle, I decided to take a slight detour and instead of heading straight to the stones, I turned away and walked towards the striking mound of Salt Knowe. I think I was just too overcome by the enormity of Brodgar and felt like I needed to get a different perspective of the stones and I am so glad I did. The view from here was just fabulous; looking towards the circle, you could really see the lie of the land and how the stones sit in the landscape. I finally headed towards the stones, skirting around them and then decided I still needed a different view, so headed straight towards the Comet Stone so see how the site looked from here. Again, a completely different perspective and from here you can see the whole circle against the horizon whereas from Salt Knowe you see the site within the landscape. The stones themselves are mighty beasts and almost too numerous to comprehend. Bloody hell, it is just awe-inspiring – this is a site that I need to return to and (hopefully) soon.
I visited Caithness, the Orkneys and the Shetlands last week. It was a tiring journey to the north of Scotland, made by coach over two days (a night in Stirling) but so very worth the effort. The highlight for me was without question the Ring Of Brodgar on the Orkneys; just now I did a search for it on TMA and found that other people felt the same way.
The light was the sort I have never experienced before; a crystal clear midsummer day and the whole island looked the brightest green-blue. I was out around Avebury today and struck by the fact that it has its own unique flora, wild grasses etc, today the scent of camomile was in the air. At the Ring of Brodgar it was heather – I was not prepared for the elation I experienced when walking up to the site, I did not want to leave. Sadly I had to, as was travelling with a group of people and at 11.00pm that night we boarded an overnight ferry to the Shetlands.
I am determined to go back and stay for at least a week – we also visited Scara Brae but it was the Ring of Brodgar, Stenness and Maes Howe that blew me away – astonishingly they mirror Avebury is many ways. Brodgar has the blue sea/loch; today, Avebury had a green sea of wild grasses and ripening barley/wheat fields.
I did not get to go inside Maes Howe this time as you have book in advance with Historic Scotland and they do not allow large groups in – so that will be a must when I go back (next year maybe). I noticed that buses run to these sites which is very helpful for people like myself who don’t run a car.
This is it – the number one most awe-inspiring ancient site I have had the pleasure to visit. The photographs really don’t do it justice. We visited in early September, and went there twice – the second time at midnight, under a completely clear sky, with beautiful twinkling northern lights, the solitary light of the Flotta Flare, and the huge expanse of the Milky Way directly above us. The lack of light pollution in this area (and I’m from Aberdeenshire, where it’s not a major problem) means the night sky here is absolutely stunning.
The correct pronunciation is, according to a local tour-guide friend, ‘brodjer’ (with a slight nordic ‘y’ on the j). It’s easily accessible, with an unobtrusive car park nearby. There are 28 stones remaining out of an original 60 (!), and stones 3, 4, 8 and 9, numbered clockwise from the NW entrance, have runic carving, a cross, an anvil, and an Ogham inscription (source for these last two facts: Janet and Colin Bord, ‘A Guide to Ancient Sites in Britain’, 1978).
I’ve been struggling for ages now to know how to convey what I felt about Brodgar.
I have deep emotional attachments to two sites which have built up over years of repeated visits: Uffington White Horse and the Rollright stones. I am moved everytime I see them.
And though I am frequently ‘wowed’ by new places, rarely do I feel ‘love at first sight’ for a place. But Brodgar... whatever I say will not be enough. It is wild, carefree, astonishingly beautiful, rugged and -in the truest sense of the word- awesome.
The effort to get here is immediately rewarded and the length of the journey 100% worth it. It’s situation on a ribbon of land between two lochs is a master stroke of dramatic genius from whoever decided to build it here. Each stone is gnarled, weather beaten and beautiful like the face of a beloved grandfather. And the angle of tilt of the henge reminded me of the angle of the tilt of the Earth itself.
In a matter of a few minutes we saw Brodgar in all weather conditions, the most stunning good fortune, however, was the appearance of rainbow, which turned this most magical of places into The Sublime.
We returned to Brodgar every day of our week on Orkney.
If you walk up to from the Stones of Stenness, careful not to end up in the middle of the rare lowland bog. It’s full of special plants, and not well signposted if you go through the first gate by the comet stone.
The second gate is far better, as you can be sure of seeing the permissive path to the stones.
To the SW side, look out for the recumbent shattered stone, apparently hit by lightning.
I have a slight suspicion that the stone towards the NW, with a ‘v’shaped notch in the top may be there to mark some sun-setting related event or other. It’s nearly right for the sunset of the night before the summer solstice, but not quite.
Can’t vouch for the claims that the stones have acoustic properties. I didn’t want to make a racket.
Ring of Brodgar,
Monday 12/8/96
This was the next stop after the Stones of Stenness and before Skara Brae. The setting of these stones is truly awe-inspiring. The site is between two lochs and has an amazing banked ditch all round the circle. Okay- so the stones weren’t as massive as Stenness, but the actual ring itself is huge. Not that many folk around which was cool- so went a bit trigger happy with the camera! Many of the stones have the same great sloping tops to ‘em- like the Stenness stones.
If those stones could speak – ‘Do not wish too loud.
They can, they do, they will. No voice is lost.
(Edwin Morgan, Ring of Brodgar – Sonnets from Scotland 1984)
Low ~1774 “[Stones of Stenness] not ditched about like ... [Ring of Brodgar]..but surrounded with a raised mound partly raised on the live earth, as the other was cut from it”
Wilson 1842 ” the completer... circle of the... Stones of Stennis... as you approach them you pass here and there a solitary stone or broken remnant, as if there had been... a connecting range or approach, all the way from the bridge to the great circle. The latter is encompassed by a still entire mound, surrounded by a foss [sic], and there is a filling up of the foss and a lowering of the mound, just at two entrance places, opposite each other, north and south.”
There were once two mounds by the ring, excavated away by James Farrar in 1861 [or the remains flattened later]. Though he placed these at the west and east sides he more specifically locates them at the NW and NE extremities. An indication of their height is that his men dug 22’ deep vertical trenches into the subsoil, the former nine feet square and the latter thereabouts. The only finds from the mounds themselves were animal bones, mostly in the upper parts, but deeply embedded stones were found around the bases.
source : July 27th 1861 “The Orcadian”
The modern theory that most of the stones were floated across has had doubt cast upon it by the discovery that at that time the Loch of Stenness (at least to the north) rather than being an open body of water was marsh with a few lochans (much smaller bodies of water).
Source : Radio Orkney for April 21st[bbc.co.uk/scotland/radioscotland/programmes/orkney/ online for the day shortly]
Carved into the broken standing stone third clockwise from the north-west causeway entrance are some Norse ‘twig’ runes. Interesting reuse of the site or just ‘I was ere’ tourist graffiti? They haven’t been satisfactorily translated, so who knows.
Canmore gives a photo of which stone to look out for:
rcahms.gov.uk/pls/portal/newcanmore.p_coll_details?p_arcnumlink=345588
Excellent site maintained by local enthusiast. Check out the whole site!
really really really beautiful web-site. Check it all out ;)
Sites within 20km of Ring of Brodgar
-
Plumcake Mound
photo 5 description 4 -
Salt Knowe
photo 7 description 7 -
Fresh Knowe
photo 9 description 4 -
Ness of Brodgar Cairns
description 1 -
Comet Stone
photo 27 description 7 link 2 -
Wasbister Disc Barrow
photo 16 description 1 -
Bookan Cairns
photo 21 description 4 -
Wasbister Cairn
photo 9 description 1 -
Ness of Brodgar
photo 3 forum 3 description 43 link 5 -
Bookan
photo 15 description 3 link 2 -
Lochview
photo 18 forum 1 description 13 -
The Brecks
photo 49 description 7 -
The Watchstone
photo 18 description 8 link 1 -
Ring of Bookan
photo 9 description 14 link 1 -
Stone of Odin
photo 2 forum 2 description 11 link 1 -
Skae Frue
photo 9 description 6 -
Barnhouse Settlement
photo 58 description 4 link 2 -
The Standing Stones of Stenness
photo 104 forum 2 description 18 link 3 -
Harray Viewpoint
photo 6 description 2 -
Nether Bigging
description 2 -
Grimston
photo 9 description 1 -
Standing Stones Hotel
photo 2 description 4 -
Unstan
photo 67 description 10 link 1 -
Burrian Broch
photo 1 description 1 -
Point of Onston
photo 1 description 3 -
Vola
photo 14 description 4 -
Barnhouse Stone
photo 7 forum 1 description 5 -
Maeshowe
photo 50 ondemand_video 1 forum 16 description 30 link 7 -
Deepdale
photo 15 forum 1 description 6 -
Stackrue-Lyking Mound
photo 4 description 2 -
Pickaquoy
photo 4 description 2 -
Stackrue Broch
photo 15 description 6 link 1 -
The Howe
photo 2 description 2 -
The Howe
photo 10 description 2 -
The Howe
photo 4 description 1 -
Feolquoy
photo 1 description 3 -
Knowe of Gullow
photo 2 description 2 -
Cummi Howe
photo 13 description 4 -
Staney Hill
photo 17 description 5 -
Corn Hillock
photo 5 description 3 -
Shennar Howe
description 2 -
Staney Hill
photo 13 forum 1 description 7 -
Henge
description 3 -
Maesquoy
photo 1 description 1 -
Linga Fold
description 1 -
Voy
photo 25 description 3 link 1 -
Knowe of Burrian (Garth Farm)
photo 2 description 2 -
Lower Hobbister
photo 5 description 3 -
Rosemount and Easthouse
description 1 -
Dale
photo 4 description 3 -
Via Mound
photo 6 description 2 -
Via Mound
photo 3 description 3 -
Voy
photo 4 description 1 -
Appiehouse
photo 7 description 5 -
Stones of Via
photo 3 forum 1 description 3 -
Via Barrow
forum 1 description 3 -
Burn of Cruland
photo 2 description 1 -
Quholm, Burn of Una
photo 12 description 2 -
Burrian (Russland)
photo 2 description 3 -
Nettletar
photo 6 description 2 -
Wasdale
photo 32 description 10 -
Hill of Heddle
photo 1 description 1 -
Loch of Clumly
photo 4 description 2 -
Howe Harper
photo 11 description 4 link 1 -
Stockan
description 1 -
Quoyelsh
photo 9 description 2 -
Vetquoy
description 1 -
Hurkisgarth
forum 1 description 3 -
Snaba Hill
photo 4 description 2 -
Lyde Road
description 1 -
Rowamo Cottage
photo 3 description 1 -
Hourston
photo 3 description 2 -
Knowes of Trotty
photo 6 description 7 link 1 -
South Seatter
photo 1 description 2 -
Burrian (Corrigall)
photo 5 description 3 -
The Hillock
photo 15 description 3 -
North Biggin
photo 9 description 3 -
Ward Hill
photo 3 description 1 -
Loch of Skaill Niche
photo 2 forum 1 description 2 -
Knowe of Angerow
photo 11 description 2 -
The Fairy Knowe
photo 57 forum 1 description 12 link 2 -
Sower
photo 5 description 2 -
Brockan
photo 10 forum 1 description 2 -
East House
description 1 -
Broch of Borwick
photo 18 description 6 link 1 -
Dounby House
description 1 -
Knowe of Nebigarth
description 3 -
Leafea
photo 16 description 6 -
Grind
description 1 -
Knowe of Makerhouse
description 2 -
Brough of Bigging
photo 6 description 3 -
Quinni Moan
description 1 -
Millhouse
description 1 -
Knowe of Geoso
photo 8 description 4 -
Breckness
photo 12 description 2 -
Skaill road
photo 1 description 2 -
Russel Howe
photo 10 description 3 -
Skara Brae
photo 65 forum 6 description 21 link 5 -
Skaill Church
photo 1 description 2 -
Knowes of Howana
description 1 -
Knowe of Verron
photo 21 forum 2 description 3 -
Linnahowe
photo 7 description 5 -
Upper Garson
photo 1 description 1 -
Graystane
photo 4 description 4 -
Ingshowe Broch
photo 19 description 2 -
Chapel Knowe
photo 1 description 2 -
Konger’s Knowe
photo 12 description 6 -
Nabban
photo 6 description 1 -
Gyre
photo 2 description 2 -
Harproo
photo 4 forum 1 description 4 -
Harraymen’s Graves
description 1 -
Vestrafiold
description 1 -
Hillock of Breakna
photo 10 description 4 -
Knowes of Yonbell
description 1 -
Rennibister
photo 33 description 5 link 4 -
Oyce of Isbister
photo 1 description 3 -
Toy Ness
photo 11 description 1 -
Knowe of Skorn
description 1 -
Wideford Hill
photo 8 description 2 -
Green Hill of Quoyness
photo 7 description 2 -
Brough of Braebister
photo 15 description 2 -
Wideford Hill
photo 43 description 8 link 1 -
Spurdagrove
photo 3 description 3 -
Berrydale
description 1 -
St Mary’s Kirk (Isbister)
photo 7 description 1 -
Ravie Hill
photo 1 description 3 -
Loch of Boardhouse
photo 4 description 5 -
Queena Fjold
photo 15 description 4 -
Sandyhall
photo 4 description 2 -
Seven Knowes
photo 8 description 2 -
Quanterness
photo 5 description 4 -
Knowe of Nesthouse
description 2 -
Wideford
photo 5 description 3 -
Kirbister Hill
description 1 -
Crossiecrown
photo 2 description 1 -
Hundland Hill
description 1 -
Wheebin
photo 9 description 6 -
Dwarfie Hamars
photo 6 description 1 -
Oxtro Broch
photo 11 description 3 link 1 -
The Dwarfie Stane
photo 46 description 18 link 4 -
Saverock
photo 7 description 4 -
Patrick Stone
photo 3 description 1 -
Tingwall
photo 23 description 5 -
Saverock
photo 9 description 6 -
Redland South
photo 12 description 4 -
Quoys
description 1 -
Stanerandy
photo 11 description 7 -
Redland North
description 1 -
Newan
photo 4 description 3 -
Knowe of Midgarth
photo 10 description 2 -
St. Magnus’s Well
photo 4 description 2 -
Lingrow
photo 7 description 3 -
Knowe of Dishero
photo 13 description 2 -
Mittens
photo 1 description 3 -
Broch of Lingro
photo 17 description 8 -
Pickaquoy
photo 7 description 3 -
Grain Souterrain
photo 24 description 6 link 1 -
Knowe of Stenso
photo 11 description 2 -
Knowe of Grugar
photo 12 description 3 -
Crantit
photo 18 forum 1 description 4 -
Nether Crantit
photo 5 description 1 -
Burgar
photo 10 description 2 -
Broch of Burgar
photo 5 description 1 -
Knowe of Buckquoy
photo 6 description 6 -
Knowes of Lingro
photo 7 forum 1 description 5 -
Knowes of Lingro
photo 2 description 1 -
Ness of Woodwick
photo 10 description 2 -
Lower Arsdale
description 2 -
Point of Buckquoy
photo 7 description 4 -
Point of Buckquoy
photo 4 description 1 -
Knowe of Crustan
photo 8 description 5 -
Crustan
photo 2 description 3 -
Peterkirk
photo 5 description 2 -
Scapa
photo 2 description 3 -
Hillhead Well
photo 4 -
Broch of Gurness
photo 37 description 8 link 2 -
Hillhead Enclosure
photo 16 description 5 -
Costa Hill
photo 2 description 3 -
Twi Ness
photo 3 description 2 -
Knowe of Burrian
photo 5 description 1 -
Knowe of Lairo
photo 12 description 6 link 2 -
Long Stone
photo 8 forum 1 description 3 -
Westness
description 1 -
Setter Noost
photo 11 description 1 link 1 -
Knowe of Rowiegar
photo 4 description 1 link 1 -
Knowe of Ramsay
photo 3 description 1 -
Knowe Of Swandro
description 1 link 2 -
Knowe of Yarso
photo 28 description 5 -
Knowe of Hunclett
photo 6 description 1 -
Berstane Broch
photo 9 description 1 -
The Five Hillocks
photo 5 description 3 -
Blackhammer
photo 23 description 3 link 1 -
South Howe
photo 1 description 3 link 1 -
Midhowe
photo 12 description 4 link 1 -
Long Cairn
photo 49 description 13 -
Broch of Midhowe
photo 14 description 2 -
North Howe
description 1 -
Whoom
description 1 -
Taversoe Tuick
photo 45 description 4 link 2 -
Howe of Staneloof
description 1 -
Quendal
description 1 -
Staneloof
photo 3 description 1 -
Ston Loe
photo 1 description 2