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All 41 Orkney Islands Attractions »

Ring of Brodgar

Scotland
5.0 of 5 stars 24 Reviews
Type: Historic Sites, Ancient Ruins, Mysterious Sites
Activities: Walking
Owner description: This is the largest Neolithic standing stone circle in Scotland, which is more than 340 feet in diameter consisting of 25 stones, the largest of which...... more » Owner description: This is the largest Neolithic standing stone circle in Scotland, which is more than 340 feet in diameter consisting of 25 stones, the largest of which is 15 feet in height. « less
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24 reviews from our community

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Cirencester, United Kingdom
Senior Contributor
29 reviews 29 reviews
Reviews in 14 cities Reviews in 14 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 24 May 2012 NEW

The Ness of Brodgar is a magical place that I find myself returning to again and again. Of course, there are the standing stones constituting the Ring; mysterious, weather-sculptured forms of ageing fragility (more on that in a tick). But also the place itself: an isthmus between the Loch of Stenness and the Loch of Harray. This really is a... More

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Top Contributor
51 reviews 51 reviews
Reviews in 31 cities Reviews in 31 cities
155 helpful votes 155 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 13 May 2012

Amazing site. Expansive, full of interest and free. Great views. Copes with crowds but try to get there early for good pictures without too many people about the stones. More

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Orkney
Senior Contributor
21 reviews 21 reviews
Reviews in 10 cities Reviews in 10 cities
14 helpful votes 14 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 11 May 2012

It's difficult to capture in words the sense of awa and wonder that this place generates. Why was so much time invested by ancient people in it's construction? Why was this location picked? What was it's effect on the local population when it was finally completed? Sadly we'll never know. "Experts" may conjecture and pontificate but the real majesty of... More

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Scotland
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
6 helpful votes 6 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 26 April 2012

My friend and I visited this magic spot. There is a car park a short walk away and the site is reached by way of a well maintained wooden path over marshy ground. The approach to the Ring is clearly marked and there are two disabled parking bays by the entrance gate. We spent a while walking around the stones... More

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Aberdeen
Contributor
17 reviews 17 reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
6 helpful votes 6 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 21 April 2012

Such a fantastic , magical place. If you are in the Island you must visit here , easily accessible and with panoramic views surrounding the site . Good parking and well managed site. More

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Melbourne, Australia
Top Contributor
59 reviews 59 reviews
Reviews in 22 cities Reviews in 22 cities
24 helpful votes 24 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 12 January 2012

We spent some time at the Ring of Brodgar, having joined the free ranger tour. Our guide Elaine, was incredibly knowledgeable but focused a great deal of her discussion on the flora and fauna of the area. My notes from our visit relate more to the crowberries and skylarks rather than the ring itself. It is truly wonderful to be... More

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Moscow, Russia
2 reviews
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 8 December 2011
1
person found this review helpful

Fairy place, mistical and far from ordinary world. You touch the stone and feels it's power, you can imaging how old it is and see druids inside the ring. It's easy to go by car or in group tours from Kirkwall or even from Edinburgh. More

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Toronto
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
9 helpful votes 9 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 29 November 2011
1
person found this review helpful

This is every bit as exciting as Stonehenge, if not more. When taking in with the entire historical environment in which it is located, one gets a whole new level of understanding. Wonderful to see at sunset also. More

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Singapore
Top Contributor
61 reviews 61 reviews
Reviews in 29 cities Reviews in 29 cities
40 helpful votes 40 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 27 August 2011

Nothing can quite prepare u for the sheer size , age and condition of this formation . What did they use it for? How did they build it ? Who used it? We visited the rings some 6 times in the course of 3 days . Even with many visitors ( day trippers via tour buses ), it still doesn't... More

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Farmington, Connecticut
Top Contributor
57 reviews 57 reviews
Reviews in 32 cities Reviews in 32 cities
40 helpful votes 40 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 30 July 2011
2
people found this review helpful

This ancient stone circle is large and widely spaced and may take 45 minutes to completely stroll around. Now planted in heather, the site is eerie and uplifting for its traces of humanity that reaches back millenniums. This site is so popular that it offers a large car park and it requires a ten minute walk to reach. The views... More

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