If you are attracted to old monuments and atmospheric landscapes, the Ring van Brodgar in Orkney offers a powerful look at the prehistoric past of Great Britain
If you visit Orkney and enjoy old places with a touch of Spooky, the Ring van Brodgar is a must-see.
This huge stone circle is one of the best preserved and most mysterious prehistoric monuments in the United Kingdom.
It is also one of the oldest. Archaeologists believe that it was built somewhere between 2500 and 2000 BC, during the late Neolithic period.
That makes it older than Stonehenge, and it is part of a wider area of old monuments known as the heart of Neolithic Orkney, which has received UNESCO world heritage status.
A ring full of secrets
The Brodgar ring is a perfect circle of more than 100 meters wide.
Originally it may have had up to 60 standing stones. Today remain 36, with others fallen or missing.
What makes the ring even more impressive is that it is in a huge ditch, cut a maximum of three meters deep and directly into solid rock – an incredible performance for people who only use stone tools.
In contrast to some other stone circles, the Ring of Brodgar does not seem to be aligned with the sun or moon in an obvious way.
This has led to a lot of debate among experts. Was it a religious gathering place? A calendar? A site for rituals that are connected to life, death or the changing seasons? Nobody knows for sure.
What we do know is that the site is not built in itself.
Just a short distance are the stones of Stenness, Maeshowe Burial Chamber and the Ness of Brodgar, a large ceremonial complex that is still being excavated.
It is thought that these sites are all connected, which may form a kind of prehistoric ceremonial landscape.
Strange feelings and spooky stories
Many visitors say that the Brodgar ring gives a strange atmosphere.
Some report that they feel dizzy or light in the head while walking between the stones. Others feel deeply calm, or even a little emotionally for no clear reason.
Some say they had odd dreams after a visit, or had the feeling that they were being viewed.
These stories are part of the reason why the ring is often called one of the most ‘paranormal’ places of Great Britain.
The effect seems strongest during the solstice, when some say that the energy in the circle becomes more intense.
Local Folklore contributes to the mystery.
A well -known story says that the stones were once giants, caught dancing in a circle through the rising sun and turned into stone.
A lonely stone in the neighborhood, known as the Comet Stone, would be the violin that played music for them.
A powerful place in the landscape
The Ring of Brodgar is on a narrow strip of land between Loch Harray and Loch Stenness.
The surrounding view is amazing.
It is a quiet, open space with sweeping and very few modern distractions – only the wind, the water and the stones.
Some believe that the site is on important Ley lines – invisible energy paths that connect holy places throughout the country.
Others simply describe it as a “thin spot”, where the border between the daily world and slightly older, deeper or more spiritual feels more fragile.
Visit the Brodgar ring
The Brodgar ring is free to visit, open all year round and managed by the historic area of Scotland.
There is a small parking space in the neighborhood and a level path that leads to the stones.
There are no visitor facilities on the spot, so wear good shoes and clothing for the Weer-Oorkney can change quickly.
It is best to visit early in the morning or late in the evening, when the light is low and the crowd has disappeared.
That is when the place really comes to life – not with sound, but with a kind of silence that you can feel.
Whether you are signed by archeology or just curious about the stories, the Ring of Brodgar is one of those places that stay with you.
You don’t have to believe in spirits or energy lines to feel that this is a special piece of land – full of memory, mystery and meaning.
Other stone circles in Orkney
The Ring of Brodgar is perhaps the most famous stone circle in Orkney, but it’s not the only one.
The islands are the home of various other old locations that are worth a visit:
- The stones of Stenness: Located just south of Brodgar, the stones of Stenness can be older – built around 3100 BC. There are only four stones left, but they are some of the highest in Britain and reach up to six meters. The site probably had a strong ceremonial interest and is possible via a procession route linked to the Ring van Brodgar.
- The comet stone: Only standing just outside the Brodgar ring, this single stone is linked to the local legend as the petrified violin from the Tale Dancing Giants. It can be part of a broader ceremonial complex, or even acted as a marker stone.
- Bookan Circle: Located just northwest of Brodgar, this is a much smaller site that has now usually been lost for the time. It could originally have been a funeral hill with a stone circle. Little remains, but it is thought that it played a role in the wider ritual landscape of the area.
- Other sites: Spread over Orkney, especially on the mainland and some outer islands, are the remains of smaller and less well -known stone institutions and funeral circles. Many have been damaged or reused over time, but they show that the old people of Orkney were building holy spaces across the islands.
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