Manda

No one ever said it would be easy!
Here’s what we did. We put the circle in Google Maps and ended up at a dead end with two houses. The house on the right with the lovely old gates belongs to the landowners. The farmers wife directed us back towards Roscarberry and we turned right at the brown sign for St Fachtnas Shrine. As directed we came to a new house on the right hand side with red roofs and a bright yellow door. We knocked on the yellow door and the woman of the house told us where to park and advised us to stay clear of the electric fences, cows and bull.

We lifted the fences and put them back. We followed the cow path and went 2 fields in.

We were so disappointed at first!
The Circle was so overgrown. Stones were just peeking up through dense undergrowth. It was surrounded by an electric fence so we dropped to the ground and got in under it. There was a barely perceptible way around the inside of the circle. Wear long trousers.

An amazing circle!! The two very tall portal stones were impressive and in line with the gorgeous flat recumbent stone.

The farmer was there but he was working. Visits permitted but circle is on a working farm.

On our way back the cows went before us down the path. There were lots of them. I wouldn’t chance it if the livestock were in the field.

On our way back to the car we happened upon St Fachtna’s Well, a beautiful and peaceful gem.

Squeezed in a visit to Old Scatness before our departure on the ferry to Aberdeen. Travelled on the number 6 bus. Tours run Fridays only and are guided. Our guide did a great job explaining brochs and possible theories for their use, perhaps as trading posts and not for defensive purposes.

He showed us where the stone with the image of the bear was found, amazing.
We also heard about the Picts and the Pict 2 stone.

Reconstructed dwellings were great and very cosy. Just mind your head, those door lintels are low!!

Bought hats with the bear logo (as worn by our guide) and enjoyed a slap up lunch in The Dowry in Lerwick afterwards.

So much more to see in Shetland, lots to do for next time.

Stanydale Temple is situated in a beautiful and less visited part of Shetland, West Mainland. I travelled there from Lerwick on the number 9 bus to Walls. The bus driver let me off at the closest stop. A scenic bus journey.

It took around an hour to get there from the bus stop, perfectly doable and well signposted. Road walking most of the way on a very quiet road and then 10/15 minutes across the bog following the black and white posts.

I was there on an fabulous sunny August day and enjoyed the walk and birdlife. Met 3 tourists leaving as I arrived and then one young woman from Germany. After she left I had the place to myself.

A very well built and well kept site and I agree with the other poster, the sign on the gate did feel maybe a bit out of keeping. I did like the explanatory boards though, they were helpful. Great place for a picnic and chill out. Peaceful and beautiful.

Lots of horse flies so bring repellant or Avon Skin So Soft!

Check the return bus times as they are infrequent! Early starts work best in Shetland as timetable suits locals rather than visitors.

A wonderful visit to Stonehenge June 2026, the week after the summer solstice. Booked the Stone Circle Experience despite some misgivings about the cost. It turned out to be fantastic, would really recommend.

Decided to make our way by public transport. V little info available as the Stonehenge Tour Bus seems to be the only option and it is pricey.

You need to catch the X4 and go to the last stop Larkhill Health Centre. From there you are very close to the stones. You go down Willoughby Road and keep going straight. Fascinating to see the new age travellers lining the road. So much better to approach the circle from across the landscape rather than be bussed in. Got a sense of the plain and saw some of the many barrows.

We went at 7pm. We had to go to Visitors Centre first from where we were bussed in. Tour guide said we could take off our shoes which I did. It felt good to be barefoot. It was overwheming and yes, a little emotional to be inside the circle with stones towering overhead. We got the most beautiful sunny evening for it, it couldn’t have been nicer.

We helped a stricken tourist on the way home and met an impressive woman from the new age community who helped to advise the emergency services on the casualty’s location. She used the Three Words system and
knew what she was about. She mentioned one of their community had died there during the winter.

I really hope to return. I would love to come back for the winter solstice.

Got directions from a passerby, he was the coffee roaster from Club Oige coffee roastery nearby. You cannot visit the roastery but their coffee is sold in Enda’s grocery in Ballymore Eustace. Very nice people.
A hot sunny day.
Noticed abandoned public access gate beside locked farm gate at south entrance of field. The raised platform J thought was tilted away from us as we approached.
Maybe natural slope of field.
Wondered about small depression in the centre.Seems to line up with what we thought looked like the entrance ( to left of split holly bush from inside the circle) with fine view of fine hill. No bull TG. A national monument. Little visited.
No one there, we had the place to ourselves. Not signposted. Recumbent? rather than standing stones. Pint and a half in Mick Murphy’s pub after.