Stones of Stenness

A day spent exploring the Neolithic landscape of Orkney. The Stones of Stenness and The Ring of Brodgar. A third site in the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site, Maeshowe, could unfortunately only be seen from a distant as it was still closed due to the Covid restrictions. The sites are fascinating and not to be missed but very manicured.

There were once twelve standing stones in the stone circle at Stenness (actually an ellipse about 32 metres in diameter). Now there are just four, the tallest of which is six metres high. In 1814, an incomer to Orkney who owned the farmland near the stones, decided to remove them to stop locals trespassing. He toppled one and destroyed another outlying stone before the outrage caused him to stop¹Wikipedia Contributors. “Stones of Stenness.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Jan. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stones_of_Stenness. Accessed 17 May 2021. ‌.

By contrast, the The Ring of Brodgar is 104 metres in diameter, so you have to be some distance away to capture the entirety²Wikipedia Contributors. “Ring of Brodgar.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Feb. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_of_Brodgar. Accessed 17 May 2021. ‌.

• 1
  Wikipedia Contributors. “Stones of Stenness.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Jan. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stones_of_Stenness. Accessed 17 May 2021. ‌
• 2
  Wikipedia Contributors. “Ring of Brodgar.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Feb. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_of_Brodgar. Accessed 17 May 2021. ‌