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<< Our Photo Pages >> Stenness - Stone Circle in Scotland in Orkney

Submitted by Andy B on Wednesday, 23 June 2010  Page Views: 28259

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Stenness Alternative Name: Stones of Stenness
Country: Scotland County: Orkney Type: Stone Circle
Nearest Town: Stromness  Nearest Village: Finstown
Map Ref: HY30671252  Landranger Map Number: 6
Latitude: 58.994152N  Longitude: 3.208278W
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.
 5 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
 5

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I have visited· I would like to visit

steph lichen whese001 would like to visit

drolaf visited on 14th Jun 2022 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 5 Access: 4

brianlavelle visited on 4th Apr 2022 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 5

Suzipam1 visited on 1st Jan 2019 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 5 Very spiritual place

sba_dk visited on 19th Jul 2018 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 5

bishop_pam visited on 18th Apr 2018 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 5

RedKite1985 visited on 14th Sep 2016 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 5

SandyG visited on 2nd Jun 2015 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 5 Access: 5 A must visit site.

TwinFlamesKiss visited on 1st Apr 2014 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 5 Flat. Right next to road.

Jansold visited on 3rd Jun 2013 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 4

ModernExplorers visited on 4th Mar 2013 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 4 Huge stones not far from the Brodgar Ring

43559959 visited on 27th Oct 2011 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 5

crystalskull84 visited on 13th Aug 2011 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 5

megalithicmatt visited on 22nd Jun 2011 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 5 Want to go back.

jeffrep visited on 16th Jun 2010 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 5 Also visited: August 14, 2007.

Runemage visited on 15th Jul 2005 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 5 Access: 4

quietsunshine visited on 1st Sep 2003 On an Elderhostel trip this was the 3d stop in a marvelous day that started with Maes Howe in the rain and ended up visiting an Iron Age Broch. As soon as we entered the bus to return to Kirkwall the heavens opened and it poured but the rest of the day was magnificent as we visited a number of sites including this one. We had a presentation about it but also a lot of free time to wander around the circle and really get the feel of the place

Andy B visited on 3rd May 2002 Across the land bridge from Brodgar and framing Maeshowe - Episode Three of BBC's History of Ancient Britain

Richard13 visited on 1st Jul 1999 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 5

ladydi45 visited on 3rd Jun 1998 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 5

FrothNinja visited on 1st Nov 1986 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 5

PAB Tonnox Catrinm rrmoser NickyD Bladup DrewParsons TimPrevett rldixon tom_bullock AngieLake davidmorgan MegalithJunkie smparry123 Andy B Redfun have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 4 Ambience: 4.83 Access: 4.78

Stenness
Stenness submitted by Runemage : Ethereal and numinous. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Three impressive uprights, two pictured above, one below. Originally a stone circle of twelve stones 30m diameter, in a rock-cut ditch like the nearby Ring of Brodgar.

Excavations in 1973 revealed a central setting of stones, no longer visible, with cremated bone, charcoal, and grooved ware pottery. This style of pottery and the radiocarbon dating suggests a date of 3000BC. This is the same period as the Skara Brae coastal settlement. Nearby is the Watch Stone, and once the Stone of Odin stood nearby as well. The latter was toppled in 1814 by the locals. Apparently the stone had a small hole, through which bargains were sealed, and love plighted formally by grasping hands through the hole.

Access: Immediately east of B9055, and well signposted. A Historic Scotland site. Free entry

The enormous height and narrowness of the huge slab (pictured on end in the top photograph) must be seen. How it has stood for five millenia without cracking is beyond me.

Note: Standing Stones of Stenness Guided Walk, 26th Nov, 3rd, 10th, 17th Dec 2014. See latest comment.
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Stenness
Stenness submitted by DJMace : Standing Stones of Stenness (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stenness
Stenness submitted by EmmaDespres : Heaven on earth (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stenness
Stenness submitted by EmmaDespres : Another stunning spot on this planet, can't help but be blown away by the these stones (and the relentless October wind!) (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stenness
Stenness submitted by karolus : September 2022 (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stenness
Stenness submitted by Tegfantrio : Summer Photo Competition Sunset at Standing Stones of Stenness on 23rd May 2022. A beautiful calm evening, and we had the stones all to ourselves - magical! (2 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Stenness
Stenness submitted by Bladup : The Standing Stones of Stenness Henge (1 comment)

Stenness
Stenness submitted by Bladup

Stenness
Stenness submitted by Energyman : This is a still from the 3D SketchFab model available at https://skfb.ly/ouIFW and in comments below. The entrance is actually between these two stones, because this is the direction you would have approached from the nearby village of Barnhouse.

Stenness
Stenness submitted by Energyman : A wide angle view showing the much ploughed out henge around the stones

Stenness
Stenness submitted by TAlanJones : An August evening in 2017.

Stenness
Stenness submitted by TAlanJones : Time for a glass of wine. (2 comments)

Stenness
Stenness submitted by TAlanJones : Sheepish Stones of Stenness

Stenness
Stenness submitted by PAB : When we visited in June 2016, I hadn't 'done my homework', so wasn't sure what to make of the low group of stones. I was therefore great to compare the current grouping with the old photograph posted by durhamnature - it is definitely worth looking at them both to see how the site has changed. June 2016

Stenness
Stenness submitted by PAB : Simply splendid. This site has a lovely atmosphere, the sheer size and proportions of the stones make them really majestic. Photo: June 2016

Stenness
Stenness submitted by PAB : Stenness, June 2016

Stenness
Stenness submitted by PAB : 5000 years and counting.... as others have commented, for something so tall and slender to have remained in situ for this long is wonderful. To save people climbing up, this shows what the top looks like! Photo: June 2016

Stenness
Stenness submitted by TwinFlamesKiss : Standing Stones of Stenness

Stenness
Stenness submitted by Catrinm : How thin are these Steness stones

Stenness
Stenness submitted by Tonnox : Stenness

Stenness
Stenness submitted by Tonnox

Stenness
Stenness submitted by Tonnox

Stenness
Stenness submitted by Tonnox

Stenness
Stenness submitted by Tonnox

Stenness
Stenness submitted by Tonnox

Stenness
Stenness submitted by Tonnox

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Megalithic Mysteries by Andy Burnham
Stone Pages (Still Images) by Arosio and Meozzi
Stone Pages Tour by Arosio and Meozzi

Charles Tait Photographic by Charles Tait
Ancient Sites Directory by Chris Tweed
STILE by Clive Ruggles
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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 169m NW 314° Watch Stone (Orkney)* Standing Stone (Menhir) (HY30551264)
 201m NNE 25° Barnhouse Settlement* Ancient Village or Settlement (HY30761270)
 388m NW 315° Lochview Mound* Cairn (HY304128)
 463m NW 306° Brodgar Farm Standing Stones* Standing Stones (HY303128)
 598m NW 314° Ness of Brodgar* Ancient Village or Settlement (HY3024312941)
 603m NW 308° Brodgar Farm Chambered Tomb Chambered Tomb (HY302129)
 693m ESE 119° Barnhouse Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (HY31271217)
 964m SSW 205° Standing Stones Hotel* Chambered Cairn (HY30251165)
 1.2km ENE 77° Maes Howe* Chambered Cairn (HY31821277)
 1.3km NW 307° Comet Stone (Orkney)* Standing Stone (Menhir) (HY2963413318)
 1.3km WNW 289° Fairy Well (Stenness)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (HY2943212982)
 1.4km NW 308° Fresh Knowe* Long Barrow (HY29601339)
 1.4km WNW 286° Possible large stone circle in Loch of Stenness Stone Circle (HY2933112934)
 1.5km WNW 300° South Knowe* Artificial Mound (HY29411328)
 1.5km WNW 303° Ring of Brodgar* Stone Circle (HY29451335)
 1.5km NW 309° Plumcake Mound* Round Barrow(s) (HY295135)
 1.6km WNW 299° Salt Knowe* Round Barrow(s) (HY293133)
 1.6km NNE 28° Vola* Round Barrow(s) (HY31471395)
 1.7km N 10° Campston (Grimeston)* Broch or Nuraghe (HY310142)
 1.7km N 10° Grimston Broch* Broch or Nuraghe (HY310142)
 2.1km NW 305° Wasbister Burnt Mound* Artificial Mound (HY28961378)
 2.1km WNW 303° Wasbister Disc Barrow* Round Barrow(s) (HY289137)
 2.1km WNW 303° Dyke o'Sean* Ancient Village or Settlement (HY289137)
 2.2km NW 307° Bookan Cairns* Cairn (HY289139)
 2.3km NW 310° Bookan Stones* Standing Stones (HY28921406)
View more nearby sites and additional images

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The Imagined Sound of Sun on Stone - Sally Beamish

The Imagined Sound of Sun on Stone - Sally Beamish

Web Links for Stenness

Megalithic Mysteries by Andy Burnham
Stone Pages (Still Images) by Arosio and Meozzi
Stone Pages Tour by Arosio and Meozzi

Archived Web links for Stenness

Charles Tait Photographic by Charles Tait
Ancient Sites Directory by Chris Tweed
STILE by Clive Ruggles
Paul Kenyon`s Database by Paul Kenyon

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"Stenness" | Login/Create an Account | 14 News and Comments
  
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Re: Entrance to the Stones of Stenness by Energyman on Wednesday, 25 May 2022
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A 3D SketchFab model of the entrance stones is available at https://skfb.ly/ouIFW The entrance is actually between these two stones, because this is the direction you would have approached from the nearby village of Barnhouse, according to the official guide.
[ Reply to This ]

The Strange Origins of Scotland's Stone Circles by Andy B on Sunday, 01 April 2018
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By Melissa Hogenboom, 13 October 2016
The purpose of Scotland's ancient stone circles is one of archaeology's most enduring mysteries. A new theory claims to hold the answer

Across Scotland there are patterns of various-shaped stones, often dotted together in rings.

Two of these stone circles – Stenness and Callanish, on the isles of Orkney and Lewis respectively – are believed to be among the UK's oldest, dating back some 5,000 years. There are many more scattered around the Scottish countryside.

As some of the stones weigh 10 or more tonnes, transporting them was a considerable undertaking. But the real reason for their creation, and why they were placed in the locations where they are found, has long been a mystery.

One group of researchers led by Gail Higginbottom from the University of Adelaide claim to have the answer. They have found evidence that these stone circles were erected with cosmic influences: that is, they were placed specifically to better see the Sun, the Moon and the stars.

But this may not be the whole story.
http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20161012-the-strange-origin-of-scotlands-stone-circles
[ Reply to This ]

Odin Stone destroyed by foreign landowner by Anonymous on Sunday, 13 August 2017
In the Stenness entry you have that the Odin Stone was destroyed by locals in the 19th century. It most certainly was not, it was a foreign landowner that did the deed. He objected to Orcadians trespassing on his land to perform the folk rituals that were practiced at the stones until almost living memory. After destroying the Odin Stone, he destroyed another within the Stenness circle proper, and tumbled a second, before an angry mob made it clear to him that, if he didn't stop he would be burned out. This put a stop to his nonsense with rapidity.

Thanks
Gavin Parnaby
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Standing Stones of Stenness Guided Walk, 26th Nov, 3rd, 10th, 17th Dec 2014 by bat400 on Monday, 24 November 2014
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Standing Stones of Stenness Guided Walk



Stones Of Stenness Circle And Henge, , 26 November 2014, 3 December 2014, 10 December 2014, 17 December 2014

Join us for an easy guided tour of our oldest stone circle and explore the fascinating links with the nearby Neolithic village of Barnhouse. Discover valuable wildlife and the significant role the area plays in the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site.

Time: 10am

Cost: Free

Meet: Standing Stones of Stenness



For further information, contact

Historic Scotland Ranger Service

orkneyrangers@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or telephone +44 (0)1856 841 732

Thanks to coldrum for the link: http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/places/events
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Approaching the Stones of Stenness...April...breezy by tyrianterror on Saturday, 17 July 2010
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Re: Stenness by howar on Tuesday, 11 May 2010
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Twice I have opted to go from the Stenness parish kirk through the fields to the Stones of Stenness but instead had to follow the fence running NE-SW south of it. And each time I have looked at the stump of the old field wall that this follows. Apart from this both times I have cause to note several large stone fragments near the line that aren't from a wall and each time have mistakenly looked for a gate or other entrance. Now I have the explanation because Pococke's location for a holed stone, 124 yards west of a stone 18 yards south-east of the circle. Further I identify this with the stone depicted by Lady Stafford : tall and shaggy, cleft from the top to ground level, having an angled top (not slanted) and with a central hole near to the base. It is even possible that Dr.R.Henry's description of the stone having a hole 3' up is a reference to this rather than a lapsus pennae.I believe it to have been possibly the size and even age of the Watch Stone So there were two holed stones near the Stones of Stenness. Of the sentinel stones in Pococke's drawing along the shore the one (?'stone of sacrifice') that isn't the Watch Stone ('stone of power') is described as having a stone in the middle of it. It is roughly diamond shaped and matches well with the stone doublet of Stanley's 1789 drawing (admittedly the latter is a shade more rectangular). Walden's map of 1772 shows a single stone, but this is shown as having just been cleaved in two and the other half of the doublet could be the stone lying flat under the breaking instrument but is more likely from this Stone of Odin. If the former was this heaved out of the shallow hole shown or is that the result of an excavation having taken place ? A hundred and fify yards N of the stones brings it close to the shore as Pococke shows [~HY30671275]
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Re: Stenness by howar on Saturday, 01 May 2010
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Pococke 1760
"another circle of stones [Stones of Stenness] which are 15 feet high, 6 feet broad, the circle is about 30 yards in diameter, and the stones are about 8 yards apart. There are two standing to the South, one is wanting, and there are two stones standing, a third lying down, then three are wanting, there being a space of 27 yards so that there were eight in all : Eighteen yards South East from the circle is a single stone, and 124 yards to the East of that is another [Odin Stone] with a hole in one side towards the bottom, from which going to the circle is another [stone] 73 yards from the fossee [sic], the outer part of which fossee is 16 yards from the circle : there are several small barrows chiefly to the East [Clovy Knowes]." His map shows a large squat stone close to the shore E of the S end of the bridge - this and the possible causeway perhaps a reminder of when the main road went along the driveway to Stenness Kirk.
It appears someone did an Odin Stone thing on them in the next few decades -
Low ~1774 unpublished ms "History of the Orkneys" quoted in 1879 edition published by William Peace [referring to a lost drawing, that published being one by William Aberdeen from the1760's]
Wilson 1842 "[Stones of Stenness] The drawing shows the stones in their present state, which is four entire and one broken [??recumbent]. It is not ditched about like ... [Ring of Brodgar]..but surrounded with a raised mound partly raised on the live earth, as the other was cut from it... near the circle are several stones set on end without any regular order, or several of them so much broken, hinder us as to the design of them." Wilson 1842 "Stones of Stennis... in one case in a vast circle surrounded by a mount, in the other in insulated groups of two or three together, either forming parts of an approach to the circle, or themselves the sole remnants of other corresponding circles... none of them is very thick in proportion to its height and breadth... The summits are generally diagonal... and they seem also in many cases to be imbedded in the earth by a corresponding sloping corner. Their original position was no doubt perpendicular although others are leaning to their fall, and not a few are lying flat upon the ground... Although the gigantic remnants near the Kirkwall road are too few in number to indicate the circular form, yet that... is sufficiently manifested by the distinct traces of a large green mound in which they are enclosed... almost continuous semicircle... the other segment having been ploughrd up... One of the largest of these stones now lies flat... having been loosened it is said... by the plough, and soon after blown over by a gale... A... boy... said they were brought there from a distance long ago by the mytes... he... rather thought "a kind of speerits" Close to either side of the southern end of the bridge... stands a great sentinel stone."
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Re: Stenness by coldrum on Sunday, 04 April 2010
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Street View


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Re: Stenness by AngieLake on Tuesday, 01 September 2009
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I've just come across this interesting information on Stenness:

http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/standingstones/altar.htm

and this:

http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/standingstones/stenstone2.htm
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Re: Stenness by howar on Friday, 31 July 2009
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Circling the surviving individual components with my camcorder yesterday and many have an orientation to the Bigswell area, where they used to have a Johnsmas fire on the hillside
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Stenness by coldrum on Wednesday, 20 February 2008
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Historic scotland Links:

http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/properties/properties_sites_detail.htm?propertyID=PL_280

http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/rangerservice/parks/skarabrae.htm
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Vote for the Stones of Stenness by Andy B on Sunday, 02 December 2007
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Vote for the Stones of Stenness in the RCAHMS 'Treasured Place' competition.
http://www.treasuredplaces.org.uk/gallery/detail.php?id=93

* Voting for the winning image will stop at
12 noon on Monday, 10 December, 2007
* The winner will be announced on
Wednesday, 12 December, 2007
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Vote for the Stones of Stenness by glen on Saturday, 15 December 2007
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    fyi: top 10 winners are going into an exhibition of treasured places.
    stones of stenness came 7th with about 700 votes
    skara brae came 8th, rosslyn chapel 9th.
    a colliery won with 3,000+ votes
    [ Reply to This ]

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