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Ring of Brodgar Stone Circle and Henge

Near Stromness, Mainland Orkney
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Open all year round
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Walk among the enigmatic stones of one of the most spectacular prehistoric monuments in the British Isles. The Ring of Brodgar Stone Circle and Henge is an enormous ceremonial site dating back to the 3rd millennium BC.

The stones look like an assemblage of ancient druids, mysteriously stern and invincibly silent and shaggy.

Hugh Miller, geologist visiting in 1846
A large standing stone casts a shadow over a well-trodden grassy path.
Four large standing stones on a remote moorland. They are framing distant hills and a loch or sea.

The massive stone circle at the Ring of Brodgar originally consisted of 60 stones. 36 survive today, with some reaching 4.7 metres in height. Walking through this ancient site, you'll also encounter prehistoric burial mounds and a large rock-cut ditch surrounding the stone circle.

It's easy to see why Orkney's Neolithic inhabitants might have set up a ceremonial circle on this spot – surrounded by hills and lochs, the site has a truly spectacular setting. Standing in its centre gives the sense of being in a natural amphitheatre.

Monument Monitor

We're inviting visitors to certain monuments, including this one, to be a part of a crowdsourced conservation project. Look out for the signs as you explore! Read more about Monument Monitor.

A solitary visitor to a stone circle surveys the landscape while wearing a bright yellow anorak and a rucksack
A pair of visitors survey a large standing stone, part of a stone circle. It is easily twice their height.

Our ranger service

The Ring of Brodgar is part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site, which also includes Skara Brae, Maeshowe and the Stones of Stenness.

The World Heritage Site is looked after by the Historic Scotland Ranger Service. As well as patrolling and surveying sites, our Rangers give visitors the chance to learn about the many different aspects of the special places they protect.

At Brodgar, you can enjoy guided walks led by the Rangers, covering history, wildlife, folklore and more.

More about our ranger service

Two members of the Orkney ranger service pose outside a portable visitor centre promoting a World Heritage Site using various banners, flags and signs.
A member of the Orkney ranger service caught mid-hand gesture while delivering a talk to visitors at a stone circle site.
A group of visitors taking a guided walk around a stone circle.

Ready for an adventure?

Use a Membership or Explorer Pass to discover centuries of Scottish history and heritage, all while saving money and supporting our work.

Membership

Ideal for regular visitors and heritage supporters

Unlimited annual pass for all ticketed sites plus daytime events

Two adults, holding hands with two young children, walk through a graveyard, with historical stone ruins in the background. It is a sunny day.
  • Unlimited annual pass for all ticketed sites plus daytime events
  • Discount in our shops and cafés (on site and online)
  • Historic Scotland magazine delivered to your door
  • Free or discounted entry to sites in England, Wales and the Isle of Man
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Explorer Pass

Perfect for short-term trips and sightseeing

Valid for 14 consecutive days

A family walking across a grassy lawn with the New Abbey Corn Mill building in the background.
  • Valid for 14 consecutive days
  • Entry to all ticketed sites, including Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Urquhart Castle
  • 20% discount on audio guides at Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Glasgow Cathedral
  • Guaranteed entry when you pre-book online
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