Tomnaverie

Ordnance Survey map reference: NJ 486034.

Landranger map number: 37.

Latitude: 57.7 degrees.

Longitude: -2.51 degrees.

Architecture: Recumbent SC with internal ring cairn and possible platform..

Length of the major axis: 17.1 m.

Length of the minor axis: 17.1 m.

Height of the highest stone: 1.28 m.

Shape: Circle.

Number of stones in the circle originally: .

Number of stones in the circle now: 9.

Impression of the site (10 amazing, 1 limp): 4

Burl rating of the circle: 3 (Ruined but recognisable ).

Thom reference for the circle: B2/9.

Astronomical alignments from this circle: -.

Excavations undertaken at this circle: -.

Details of any finds at this circle: -

This circle is in state care.

Access to the circle:

The circle is sign posted from the B9094 road and a small area is available for parking. The circle lies at the top of a small rough track about 250m from the road. It can clearly be seen from the road and is surrounded by a fence and situated next to a small quarry. (Since my visit to the site in 1995 I have been informed that there is now a proper footpath to the site and there is also parking facilities).

The circle is well fenced off, it is situated at the edge of a 10m deep redundant quarry. Access to the site is via a swing gate. The circle itself is ruinous, most of the stones are dislodged or fallen, the centre is strewn with half embedded boulders sticking out of the short grass.The recumbent stone is small but obvious, being about 1m high and 3m long. The two flankers have fallen and would probably have stood about 2-2.5m high. One flanker lies a couple of meters behind the recumbent. Other stones stand around in a disorganised arc, the tallest being 1.28m high, the smallest only 0.44m.  There are good views in all directions from this circle, and although it is in a poor condition, a visit would be recommended. It is clearly recognisable as a stone circle, but in it's ruined condition, it is not as dramatic as many of the other sites in Aberdeenshire.

I have recently been informed by Jackie Scott, a student at Aberdeen University, that since my visit to the site in 1995 it has been excavated and restored. About 10 years ago a community action group decided the circle had been allowed to degrade for long enough and Reading University were invited to excavate the site. After the excavation the site was restored and the surviving stones (except two or three missing ones) have been placed upright again and the flankers put back in place along side the recumbent stone. The quarry surrounding the site has also been filled and the whole area landscaped.

The photographs below show the site as it appeared in 1995.

Tomnaverie is still recognisable as a stone circle but it is in a poor condition despite being in state care.

The recumbent stone at Tomnaverie is at the top centre of the picture.

This picture shows the two fallen flanking stones with the recumbent in the foreground.