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<< Our Photo Pages >> Stanydale - Stone Circle in Scotland in Shetland

Submitted by LionsFan on Tuesday, 13 January 2015  Page Views: 24174

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Stanydale Alternative Name: Staneydale, Stanydale Neolithic Temple
Country: Scotland County: Shetland Type: Stone Circle

Map Ref: HU2853450242  Landranger Map Number: 3
Latitude: 60.235476N  Longitude: 1.48659W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
 5 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
 5 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
 3 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
 4

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External Links:

I have visited· I would like to visit

coin Mazlow Traumrealistin 43559959 would like to visit

SandyG visited on 8th Jun 2019 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 4 Access: 3 Limited car parking is available on the road side. The route to the site is well marked with black and white poles.

jeffrep tom_bullock davidmorgan have visited here

Stanydale
Stanydale submitted by h_fenton : Stanydale 'Temple', Vertical Kite Aerial Photograph. Scale: 1 metre. 23 September 2014 (Vote or comment on this photo)
Stanydale isn't a stone circle at all. Rather, it's described as a "neolithic temple," and it's a large, walled enclosure, with an entrance, which at one time have been roofed over with wood or thatch. It's also rather hard to get to, a good tramp across pasture and moorland from a minor road.

Oddly, too, in the Shetlands where supposedly everyplace is never more than 1.5 miles from water, no body of water is even remotely visible from the site, as if the "temple" was thus sited here very much on purpose.

Note: New kite aerial photos by Hamish Fenton
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Stanydale
Stanydale submitted by h_fenton : Stanydale 'Temple' viewed from the southwest. Kite Aerial Photograph 23 September 2014 (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Stanydale
Stanydale submitted by davidmorgan : A nice site in the middle of nowhere. (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Stanydale
Stanydale submitted by jeffrep : Entrance to Stanydale Temple, West Mainland, Shetland, Scotland (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stanydale
Stanydale submitted by jeffrep : Looking into the Stanydale Temple, West Mainland, Shetland, Scotland (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stanydale
Stanydale submitted by jeffrep : Rear of Stanydale Temple, West Mainland, Shetland, Scotland

Stanydale
Stanydale submitted by jeffrep : 13+ Foot Thick Thick Wall of Stanydale Temple, West Mainland, Shetland, Scotland

Stanydale
Stanydale submitted by Tom_Bullock : Photo used by kind permission of Tom Bullock. More details of this location are to be found on his Stone Circles and Rows CD-ROM (4 comments)

Stanydale
Stanydale submitted by karolus : Stanydale Equinox sunrise 2026

Stanydale
Stanydale submitted by SandyG : Interior. View from above and east.

Stanydale
Stanydale submitted by SandyG : View from north east.

Stanydale
Stanydale submitted by SandyG : View from west.

Stanydale
Stanydale submitted by SandyG : View from above and east (Scale 1m).

Stanydale
Stanydale submitted by howe : The best preserved of the houses of the settlement outside the 'temple'. The main living area of this house is supplemented by a subsidiary compartment and the entrance has a curved windbreak.

Stanydale
Stanydale submitted by jeffrep : One of the Six Alcoves Inside the Stanydale Temple, West Mainland, Shetland, Scotland

Stanydale
Stanydale submitted by jeffrep : One of Two Post Holes to Support Roof of Stanydale Temple, West Mainland, Shetland, Scotland

Stanydale
Stanydale submitted by Tom_Bullock : Photo used by kind permission of Tom Bullock. More details of this location are to be found on his Stone Circles and Rows CD-ROM (1 comment)

Stanydale
Stanydale submitted by karolus : Stanydale Equinox sunrise 2026

Stanydale standing stones
Stanydale standing stones submitted by SandyG : Standing stones north of Staneydale Temple. View from the north.

Stanydale standing stones
Stanydale standing stones submitted by SandyG : Standing stones south of Staneydale Temple. View from north east.

Stanydale standing stones
Stanydale standing stones submitted by SandyG : Standing stones south of Staneydale Temple. View from east (Scale 1m).

Stanydale standing stones
Stanydale standing stones submitted by SandyG : Standing stones south Staneydale Temple. View from west (Scale 1m).

Stanydale standing stones
Stanydale standing stones submitted by SandyG : Standing stones south of the Staneydale Temple. View from south east (Scale 1m).

Stanydale Neolithic house
Stanydale Neolithic house submitted by SandyG : Fragment of field wall surviving in the vicinity of the Stanydale Neolithic house.

Stanydale Neolithic house
Stanydale Neolithic house submitted by SandyG : View from the north-east.

These are just the first 25 photos of Stanydale. If you log in with a free user account you will be able to see our entire collection.

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Nearby Images from Geograph Britain and Ireland:
HU2850 : Stanydale Temple by Iain Lees
by Iain Lees
©2025(licence)
HU2850 : Staneydale Temple by Julian Paren
by Julian Paren
©2014(licence)
HU2850 : Staneydale Temple by Sandy Gerrard
by Sandy Gerrard
©2021(licence)
HU2850 : Neolithic Stanydale Temple by Iain Lees
by Iain Lees
©2025(licence)
HU2850 : The entrance to Staneydale Temple by Julian Paren
by Julian Paren
©2014(licence)

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 35m SSW 204° Stanydale standing stones* Standing Stones (HU28525021)
 251m ESE 102° Stanydale Neolithic house* Ancient Village or Settlement (HU28785019)
 2.8km WNW 282° Gallow Hill chambered cairn* Chambered Cairn (HU2581850821)
 2.8km W 279° Gallow Hill Cairn* Cairn (HU25715067)
 3.2km WNW 296° Scord of Brouster* Ancient Village or Settlement (HU25605165)
 3.9km WNW 290° Cattapund Knowe cairn* Cairn (HU2480851533)
 4.1km WNW 286° Hansie's Crooie Field System* Ancient Village or Settlement (HU24545133)
 4.2km WNW 287° Hansies Crooie* Chambered Cairn (HU24485147)
 4.3km W 265° Kirkidale Standing Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (HU24214984)
 4.6km E 84° Semblister Stone Circle* Stone Circle (HU3307450733)
 4.6km S 172° Giant's Grave (Hestinsetter Hill)* Chambered Cairn (HU2919945702)
 4.6km WNW 295° Loch Of Flatpunds* Chambered Cairn (HU24305219)
 4.7km WNW 298° Trolligarts 1* Chambered Cairn (HU24415243)
 4.8km WNW 298° Trolligarts 2* Chambered Cairn (HU24275249)
 5.5km E 90° Semblister Broch or Nuraghe (HU341503)
 6.3km NW 306° Burga Water Dun* Stone Fort or Dun (HU234539)
 6.3km SSW 211° Culswick Broch* Broch or Nuraghe (HU253448)
 6.7km NW 305° Burga Water cairn* Cairn (HU22975407)
 6.8km NE 36° Gravlaba* Standing Stones (HU325558)
 6.9km N 359° Brindister Voe Broch* Broch or Nuraghe (HU284572)
 7.1km SSE 168° Yahaarwell* Standing Stone (Menhir) (HU30054332)
 7.1km W 260° Stanesland standing stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (HU21524889)
 7.4km S 172° Hoddans Chambered Cairn (HU29684293)
 7.4km NNW 339° Giant's Stone (West Burrafirth)* Standing Stone (Menhir) (HU2583157157)
 7.5km NNW 338° West Burrafirth broch* Broch or Nuraghe (HU256572)
 7.6km S 177° Ward of Silwick Chambered Cairn (HU29004267)
 9.5km NW 320° Broch of Brousta Broch or Nuraghe (HU223575)
 9.9km NW 317° Rinns of Shurdimires* Stone Row / Alignment (HU2171057489)
 10.5km NW 319° Bay of Garth Broch or Nuraghe (HU216582)
 10.6km NE 44° East Burra Firth Broch* Broch or Nuraghe (HU358580)
 10.6km NW 320° Ness of Garth* Promontory Fort / Cliff Castle (HU216583)
 10.7km N 6° Vementry* Chambered Cairn (HU296609)
 10.8km NE 47° East Burra Firth Chambered Cairn* Chambered Cairn (HU364577)
 11.0km W 273° Broch of Ness Broch or Nuraghe (HU17545066)
 11.5km ESE 118° Easthouse* Standing Stones (HU388450)
 11.8km E 91° Loch Of Strom* Stone Circle (HU4034450203)
 11.9km NW 309° Sandness Class I Pictish Symbol Stone (HU19125765)
 12.4km NW 313° Holm of Melby NE Chambered Cairn (HU19315856)
 12.4km NW 312° Holm of Melby South Cairn (HU19225851)
 12.5km NW 312° Holm of Melby NW Cairn (HU19195856)
 12.5km ESE 108° Wormadale Hill* Standing Stone (Menhir) (HU4053046490)
 12.8km ESE 109° Westings Hill* Stone Circle (HU4068346194)
 14.1km SE 128° Loch of Houlland Ancient Village or Settlement (HU39754161)
 14.6km NW 308° Papa Stour Chambered Cairn (HU17025924)
 15.1km ESE 123° Tingwall stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (HU4123742029)
 15.1km NW 309° Doom Rings Stone Circle (HU166596)
 18.2km SSE 150° Gulver Knowe burnt mound* Artificial Mound (HU37893455)
 18.3km NNE 21° Busta Brae* Standing Stones (HU34886739)
 18.4km ENE 75° Skellister* Standing Stones (HU463552)
 18.4km E 87° Gletness Broch or Nuraghe (HU470512)
 18.8km NNE 16° Islesburgh* Chambered Cairn (HU33456845)
 19.5km SSE 155° West Burra, Mid Field* Standing Stone (Menhir) (HU37003259)
 19.5km SSE 155° West Burra, Mid Field Standing Stone (Menhir) (HU3700932591)
 19.7km SSE 152° East Burra, Yaa Field Standing Stone (Menhir) (HU3780532835)
 19.7km SE 132° Loch of Brindister* Stone Fort or Dun (HU43263701)
 20.2km ESE 118° Clickhimin* Broch or Nuraghe (HU4643040810)
 20.4km SSE 157° Papil Pictish Stone Cross Slab* Class III Pictish Cross Slab (HU368315)
 20.8km ESE 116° Shetland Museum* Museum (HU474413)
 21.1km ESE 112° Burnt Mound of Cruester* Ancient Village or Settlement (HU4816142310)
 21.3km N 11° Pund's Water* Chambered Cairn (HU32457124)
 21.3km SE 132° Broch of Burland* Broch or Nuraghe (HU44553607)
 21.7km ESE 110° Stane o'Cruester* Standing Stone (Menhir) (HU490428)
 22.2km ENE 67° Loch of Stavaness Broch or Nuraghe (HU490590)
 22.2km ENE 69° Loch of Kirkabister Burnt Mound Artificial Mound (HU49355821)
 22.8km NE 50° Lunnasting Standing Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (HU4665)
 24.8km ESE 109° Bressay Pictish Cross Slab* Class III Pictish Cross Slab (HU5210042300)
 24.8km ESE 109° Cullingsburgh* Broch or Nuraghe (HU521423)
 25.4km SE 146° Everglades North Broch or Nuraghe (HU43002930)
 25.4km ESE 115° Wadbister Souterrain* Souterrain (Fogou, Earth House) (HU5163139487)
 25.9km ESE 111° Noss Sound Broch* Broch or Nuraghe (HU528410)
 26.0km SE 144° Clodie Knowe* Broch or Nuraghe (HU441294)
 26.8km SSE 147° Broch of Mail* Broch or Nuraghe (HU43252779)
 27.4km NE 47° Chapel Knowe Broch or Nuraghe (HU48556910)
 27.8km N 2° Gateside Chambered Cairn* Chambered Cairn (HU29137811)
 28.1km N 359° Burnside Burnt Mound* Artificial Mound (HU28057842)
 28.6km NNW 346° Loch of Breckon Burnt Mound* Artificial Mound (HU21437803)
 28.7km NNE 28° Crooksetter Hill - two Chambered Cairns* Chambered Cairn (HU420756)
 28.7km NNW 345° Sae Breck* Broch or Nuraghe (HU21057803)
 29.7km NNW 347° Loch of Houlland* Broch or Nuraghe (HU2140079160)
 30.4km SSE 165° St Ninian's Isle* Ancient Village or Settlement (HU36852090)
 30.5km N 352° Giant's Stones Row (Shetland)* Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue (HU243805)
 30.6km N 353° Giant's Stones (Shetland)* Standing Stones (HU2431280555)
 30.7km N 352° Hamnavoe Broch* Broch or Nuraghe (HU2389380641)
 31.4km SSE 150° Burraland* Broch or Nuraghe (HU44682319)
 31.6km SSE 148° Mousa Broch* Broch or Nuraghe (HU457236)
 31.7km SSE 147° Mousa Burnt Mounds* Artificial Mound (HU45942370)
 31.7km SSE 157° Knowe Of Willil Burnt Mound* Artificial Mound (HU41122105)
 33.0km SSE 162° Ward Of Scousburgh* Cairn (HU38791880)
 33.1km SSE 157° Levenwick Broch* Broch or Nuraghe (HU415197)
 34.0km WSW 254° Da Heights Stone Circle (HT958407)
 34.2km SSE 160° Clumlie Broch* Broch or Nuraghe (HU404181)
 34.4km SSE 159° Knowe of Willol Burnt Mound* Artificial Mound (HU41091812)
 35.0km SSE 165° Lunabister* Broch or Nuraghe (HU37791642)
 35.3km WSW 253° The Brethren Standing Stone (Menhir) (HT94853943)
 35.7km SSE 160° Troswick* Standing Stone (Menhir) (HU40781662)
 35.9km SSE 165° Loch of Brow* Broch or Nuraghe (HU383156)
 36.0km NNE 13° Beorgs of Housetter* Standing Stones (HU36178546)
 36.0km NNE 13° Trowie Knowe* Chambered Cairn (HU36208552)
 36.6km SSE 161° Broch of Dalsetter* Broch or Nuraghe (HU40751567)
 37.2km SSE 163° Southvoe Burnt Mound* Artificial Mound (HU39821475)
 37.3km SSE 163° Southvoe Broch* Broch or Nuraghe (HU400147)

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Prehistoric houses at Sumburgh in Shetland

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"Stanydale" | Login/Create an Account | 7 News and Comments
  
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Stanydale Hall – a gathering site or just a large Neolithic House on Shetland? by Andy B on Friday, 27 April 2018
(User Info | Send a Message)
Stanydale Hall – a gathering site or just a large Neolithic House on Shetland?
Ditlev L. Mahler

https://www.academia.edu/5690324/Burnt_Mounds_Transforming_Space_and_Place_in_Bronze_Age_Shetland

from The Border of Farming – Shetland and ScandinaviaNeolithic and Bronze Age Farming. Papers from the symposium in Copenhagen September 2012
[ Reply to This ]
    The Processional, but not Processual, Approach to the Neolithic ‘Temple’ at Stanydale by Andy B on Friday, 27 April 2018
    (User Info | Send a Message)
    The Processional, but not Processual, Approach to the Neolithic ‘Temple’ at Stanydale, Shetland.

    Simon Clarke (Shetland University) and Esther Renwick (UHI Millenium Institute,)
    Stanydale ‘Temple’ in the West Mainland of Shetland is an unusually large late Neolithic or early Bronze Age building, clearly monumental in its conception and compared at the time of its discovery in the 1940s with megalithic temple sites in Malta. The original investigation was very much rooted in the culture historical tradition and focused on the monument itself and its design origins, largely divorced from its landscape setting.This paper will recount an experiment to “experience” the site as it may originally have been conceived by its builders, walking the line of the building’s monumental approach(based on doorway alignment and known standing stones). This identified a number of probable subsidiary monuments along the line of the route stretching for at least 900 m.These features had not previously been noted and their significance was unlikely to have been recognised purely by more systematic survey. The use ofp henomenology in archaeology has frequently been criticised as unverifiable and subjective beyond the point of usefulness. However this experiment suggests that such a methodology can be entirely repeatable and generate results testable by more objective approaches
    https://www.academia.edu/1567601/Abstrat_Book_TAG_2009_Durham_UK_
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Stanydale by chrispy on Monday, 12 February 2018
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canmore 387 originally described in canmore as a 'temple' as the 'Temples of Malta' appeared to be the closest parallel, it is now described as a 'ritual building' and its exact purpose is unclear.
Canmore also refers to the possible stone circle(s) on the site:
To the north of the 'temple' are 'the stumps of six standing stones apparently aligned in two sets of three on separate arcs, remain[ing] in situ at distances ranging from 40' to 115' from the temple on the north. They are probably the remains of Bronze Age circles or ovals which may have surrounded the 'temple''
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Stanydale by Arjessa on Friday, 16 January 2015
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The first thing that strikes me is that it's 'Horse-shoe Shaped'....perhaps this was the intention, the horse being often sacred to Ancient Peoples?
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Stanydale by Anonymous on Sunday, 18 January 2015
    Or perhaps horse-foot shaped. It''s unlikely that horses were shoed in the Neolithic.
    [ Reply to This ]

Stanydale Neolithic Temple Guided Walk, Sun 25 July by Andy B on Monday, 12 July 2010
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Stanydale Neolithic Temple Guided Walk

Sun 25 July 10.00–11.30

Guided walk starting from stanydale car park, exploring the Neolithic landscape surrounding the temple. An easy cross-country walk, wellies and waterproofs advised. …

Guided walk starting from stanydale car park, exploring the Neolithic landscape surrounding the temple. An easy cross-country walk, wellies and waterproofs advised. Free.

Location: Stanydale Temple Car Park, Staneydale.

O: Shetland College
N: Esther Renwick
E: [email protected]

Festival of British Archaeology 2010
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Stanydale by LionsFan on Friday, 10 September 2004
(User Info | Send a Message)
Staneydale (which I believe is the correct spelling) isn't a stone circle at all. Rather, it's described as a "neolithic temple," and it's a large, walled enclosure, with an entrance, which at one time have been roofed over with wood or thatch. It's also rather hard to get to, a good tramp across pasture and moorland from a minor road. Oddly, too, in the Shetlands where supposedly everyplace is never more than 1.5 miles from water, no body of water is even remotely visible from the site, as if the "temple" was thus sited here very much on purpose. But if you want privacy with your megalithic sites, this and the circle (if that's in fact what it is) on Fetlar are your sorts of places. Your only company here may well be a few curious, friendly Shetland ponies. I was there on a gloriously clear and cool September morning, and it honestly felt as if the sky opened to me and I could sense "why" our prehistoric ancestors built such structures, if not "who to."
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