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Excavations indicated the original site extended for over 1km, now part of a rest stop to view the windmills
Wasn’t aware of this site before I left, however, couldn’t be missed right alongside the road as nearly all the sites on the island are. Originally part of a stone ship, the original broke and is preserved alongside the car park and the one in the field is a concrete copy
4m high standing stone guarding over a scattered ancient grave yard
Part of a wider megalithic landscape this pretty dolmen is the main attraction
Difficult to say what the low stone in the centre of the 4 poster is or whether the stones are sitting within a ring of outer stones or dismantled cairn
Standing stones both guarding the individual cairns and forming a row across the burial site, the theme of sails and ships and the concept of a journey very strong here
Huge site including stone circles, standing stones, cairns, stone ships, stone rows and believed to have been in near constant use through Neolithic to modern (0-500AD).
The fallen stones behind the row seem to indicate that these stones were part of some structure rather than a row, however, too many stones missing to make any guesses
Described as standing stones, however, looks more like the walls of a dismantled dolmen which in turn would be out of character with other monuments on the island so have to label it as unknown for now
May look like a picture of a windmill, however, would like you to look at its base which is in fact an iron age circular grave, they simply built the windmill on top of it to catch the wind (as Donovan would say)
Although collapsed there appeared to be two chambers within the cairn and a beautiful stone standing guard
Strandtorp is another multi site location including standing stones, stone circle and cairns scattered over a low hill and looking out to sea.
This stone ship sits alongside the road as do many of the monuments to be found on Orland perhaps older trackways now main roads
The stones used to create the cairn are of an unusually large size. Although they look grey on the photo they were a beautiful dark blue, almost black when viewed
Nestled in a clearing on the outskirts of Borgholm this huge cairn was ‘glowing’ blue in the sunlight
Described as ‘Tortoise on the march’ it is an interesting place to spend time.
Spread over a large area these mini dolmens are believed to be iron age through modern
The stone ship signifying the onward journey of life through death, a common feature of the sites on Orland
Believed to be early Viking this complex of graves, cairns, stone circles and standing stones is suitably located on the shore looking out to sea
Difficult to date these stone circles (ships) as the tradition continued through to more modern tomes (0 to 500 AD)
Even in the height of the July tourist season you get this wonderful site all to yourself
4 chamber dolmen, outer kerbstones can still be traced. Nice woodland setting (now), a retreat from the crowds at Carnac
Interesting menhir from one angle looks like a whale leaping out the water. More importantly points the way to the dolmen hidden in the gorse behind. Rich farmland, surprised it has managed to survive so long
Slowly losing this one to the gorse and bracken, however, worth the scratches with a clear view over to the Tumulus St Michel. Shorts and t shirt great for heatwave not so good for visiting this wonderful dolmen.