7 Standing stones in Scotland

These standing stones in Arran are set in a dramatic moorland rich with archaeological gems including stone circles, burial cairns and more. These prehistoric standing stones date back to between 3,500 and 1,500 BC and may have had astronomical purpose. Their alignment with the head of Machrie Glen, where a midsummer sunrise can be seen, lends credence to this theory. Legend weaves a more colourful tale with one of the circles known as "Fingal's Cauldron Seat", after the mythical giant, Fionn Mac Cumhaill. See if you can spot a hole in one of the stones, where he was said to tie his loyal dog, Bran. 

Things to do nearby 

Enjoy a walk along nearby Machrie Bay, or visit Brodick Castle on the other side of the island. Explore the island’s dramatic mountains, including Goat Fell, and savour Arran’s famous food and drink, including local cheese and whisky. 

Prehistoric stone circles in Scotland don't get much more awesome than the Ring of Brodgar. Located between the lochs of Stenness and Harray, it comprises 27 stones, but it is thought to have originally been made up of around 60! It’s one of several significant Orkney stone circle sites and are examples of the most northerly stone circles in the UK. Ponder the arcane Neolithic rituals that may have once taken place here and the legends spun by the Vikings to explain their presence when they first encountered these mysterious relics 3,000 years after their erection.   

Things to do nearby 

Visit the Standing Stones of Stenness, explore the remarkable Chambered Cairn of Maeshowe, or discover the Neolithic village of Skara Brae. Together these sites form the Heart of Neolithic Orkney. 

If you’ve ever watched Outlander, you’ll immediately recognise this well-preserved Bronze Age cemetery complex of ring cairns, kerb cairns and standing stones as the fictional Craigh na Dun. Located in a beautiful woodland setting outside of Inverness, they are free to visit and open all year round. Built to house the dead over 4,000 years ago, these stone circles and associated cairns are shrouded in sacred significance and, interestingly, are unique to the Moray Firth and Inverness area of Scotland. 

Things to do nearby 

Visit the haunting and atmospheric Culloden, the site of the final Jacobite Rising battle in 1746, or explore Inverness, often described as the gateway to the Highlands. From here it’s also easy to explore the famous shores of Loch Ness. 

The area around Kilmartin Glen on the west coast spans 5,000 years of history and is one of the most important concentrations of Neolithic and Bronze Age remains in Scotland. Home to cairns, standing stones, carved rock, stone circles, forts and castles, there are more than 350 ancient monuments near the village to discover. These include the remains of the hilltop fortress of the Scots or Scoti – a Gaelic speaking tribe, at Dunadd, and the royal centre of Dál Riata. Both are located to the south of the glen, on the edge of the Moine Mhòr, or 'Great Moss'.

Things to do nearby 

Visit the atmospheric Temple Wood Stone Circle, explore the prehistoric rock carvings at Achnabreck Cup and Ring Marks, and learn more about the area’s remarkable archaeology at Kilmartin Museum, which brings the history of the glen to life. 

Travel back in time at the four remaining stones at the Standing Stones of Stenness, thought to be the earliest henge monument in the British Isles. The ancient ceremonial site lies just a short distance from the Ring of Brodgar. According to local legend, giants once gathered here for a night of dancing and celebration before being turned to stone by the rising sun. In reality, the stones were erected during the Neolithic period more than 5,000 years ago and form part of one of Europe’s most important prehistoric landscapes. 

Things to do nearby 

Stop by Ness of Brodgar, an extraordinary archaeological excavation revealing a vast Neolithic ceremonial complex.  

Nicknamed the "Stonehenge of the North", these iconic standing stones on the Isle of Lewis predate Stonehenge. According to local folklore, they were giants who refused to convert to Christianity and were turned to stone where they stood. Their purpose remains obscure, though they may have been used as a place for ritual gatherings or to observe the movement of the sun and moon. The stones have also inspired modern storytellers, including the mythical circle depicted in the Outlander book and the filmmakers behnd the Disney animated film Brave.

Please note, the visitor centre is currently closed but is expected to later reopen this year. Until then there will be no facilities or parking measures available to the public. 

Things to do nearby 

Explore the impressive Iron Age broch at Dun Carloway Broch, visit the historic Gearrannan Blackhouse Village, or discover the white-sand beaches such as Dalmore Beach. 

Located on the north-eastern edge of Forres in Moray Speyside, see one of the largest surviving examples of Pictish sculpture in Scotland. Believed to have been carved between the mid-9th and early 10th centuries, the towering monument offers a rare glimpse into the world of the Picts, a mysterious civilisation who once ruled much of northern Scotland but appear to vanish from written records by the 9th century. The intricate carvings depict what seems to be a dramatic battle scene, showing horsemen, soldiers on foot, fallen warriors and the walls of a fort or broch, possibly commemorating an important victory.

Things to do nearby 

A short drive away you can explore the remains of Burghead Fort, once the largest known early medieval promontory fort in northern Britain and an important stronghold of the Picts.