Stenness

Ordnance Survey map reference: HY 306125.

Landranger map number: 6.

Latitude: 58.595 degrees.

Longitude: -3.125 degrees.

Architecture: Circle henge, outlier..

Length of the major axis: 31.1 metres.

Length of the minor axis: 31.1 metres.

Height of the highest stone: 5.6 metres.

Shape: Circle.

Number of stones in the circle originally: 12.

Number of stones in the circle now: 4.

Impression of the site (10 amazing, 1 limp): 8

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

Thom reference for the circle: -.

Astronomical alignments from this circle: -.

Excavations undertaken at this circle: 1973.

Details of any finds at this circle: Grooved ware

This circle is in state care.

Access to the circle:

The circle is well sign posted and easy to find, it lies next to the side of the road and car parking is provided. Disabled access is possible. The circle is in the care of Historic Scotland.

The tall stones of Stenness stand an incredible 5.6m high. There are only four of these stones remaining in what was once a twelve stone ring. This does not detract from it's impressiveness yet the original appearance of this ring must have been very striking indeed. Two remaining stones where reerected in 1906 during restoration, one of these stones being discovered at that time.The Ring of Brodgar, Stenness's big brother, is situated just a short distance away and is much more impressive than the Stenness site. Evidence however points towards the stones of Stenness as being slightly older.Stenness is an excellent circle and well worth visiting by anyone travelling to Orkney, it is documented in many books and to elaborate any more here would be pointless.