photo 22 of 44
the Ring of Brodgar: Stone 27

Stone 27

Interior face of stone 27 and remains of other stones on the west side of the circle, viewed from northeast. Visible in the background are hills on the island of Hoy across the Loch of Stenness. Ring of Brodgar, c. 2500 BC. Mainland, Orkney Islands, Scotland. Measuring nearly 104 m in diameter, this impressive Neolithic monument is a true circle that is thought to have originally consisted of 60 stones. Today 27 stones remain standing, ranging in height from 2.1 m to 4.7 m. The ring is positioned on a scenic strip of land between the freshwater Loch of Harray (to NE) and the saltwater Loch of Stenness (to SW).