Machrie Moor Stone Circles

These prehistoric stone formations consist of six distinct circles arranged across the moorland, featuring towering red sandstone and granite monoliths that reach heights of nearly five meters.

Dating from approximately 3500 to 1500 BC, these stone structures replaced earlier timber circles that had served ceremonial purposes for ancient Neolithic and Bronze Age communities.

The site functioned as a sacred center for burial rituals and religious ceremonies, with archaeological evidence revealing cremation practices and burial cairns integrated within the stone arrangements.

Visitors can access the site year-round via marked moorland paths, with parking facilities available nearby and informational signs providing historical context throughout the walking route.

Circle 2 contains the tallest surviving stones in Scotland, with some monoliths exceeding 4.9 meters in height and displaying astronomical alignments with summer solstice sunrise positions.

Location: North Ayrshire

Part of: Moss Farm, Machrie Moor, stone circles, cairns, hut-circles and fields

GPS coordinates: 55.54089,-5.31326

Latest update: July 23, 2025 15:18