Sun
29th July
A
very windy and damp start to the day but when we reached Stenness it
brightened up.
Stones
of Stenness
Stone Circle and henge
HY 306 126
On the B9055, 5 miles NE of Stromness. This is an impressive site.
Only 4 of the original 12 stones remain of this 104 ft (31.7m) diameter circle. A ditch, once 2m deep, surrounds the circle that was crossed by one causeway on the north side. The site was excavated in the 1970s and a stone setting was found in the centre. Some fallen stones were re-erected in 1906 and the tallest stands to the south at 5.7 metres, two to the west are 5.3 and 4.8 metres and a tall stump remains in the north at 2 metres. About 700 metres to the SE is the tall Barnhouse Stone but you cannot see it from the site and 119 metres to the NW is the 5.6 metre Watch Stone.
There are good views to the NW with the Ring of Brodgar and the Watch Stone in sight. Concrete slabs have been positioned to indicate where the missing stones had been placed. In the centre is a stone lined rectangular hearth and a cove to the north.
We arrived quite early to avoid the coaches and returned in early evening to see the effect of the light at different times of day. For most of these times we had the place to ourselves and it was quite serene.
A path leads from the site to the newly excavated Neolithic village called the Barnhouse Settlement. Here there are several buildings including a ceremonial site and several domestic structures.
Views of Barnhouse Settlement near Stenness
From here the Watch Stone is just up the road over a bridge and a short distance further there are two standing stones in the front garden of a house. There is space to park beside the Watch Stone. Within a mile further on is the carpark for the Ring of Brodgar. Avoid the middle of the day as it will fill with coaches.
The Watch Stone and standing stones on the way to Brodgar
Our last night on the island was spent at Brodgar and Stenness before getting the early morning ferry. The photos of the sun going down and the moon rising are on separate pages. Click on the small images to go there.
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