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Heathering Days

"Ancient wisdom knew the law of circles,
Instructing the quarrymen and masons of Brodgar
In the purity and inevitability of stone-setting.

And the great white birds
Caught in a random circle of repose
Will rise again to the blood’s curve and thrust."

~ Swans at Brodgar, George Mackay Brown

A day for the gathering of heather and to indulge in some archaeological wunderlust to the Ring of Brodgar on the Isle of Orkney, close to the Neolithic village of Skara Brae. On a dark moor between the Loch of Harray and the Loch of Stenness, lies a circle of about 30 standing stones (out of an original 60 or more) believed to have been erected 4,000 years ago! This stone circle is almost four times bigger than the nearby Standing Stones of Stenness and is the largest stone circle in Scotland. It measures 103.7 m in diameter and is laid out in a perfect circle, with the remaining stones ranging in height from 2.1 metres to 4.7m. Surrounding the ring is a deep ditch carved out of sandstone bedrock and believed to have been filled with water! Legend explains the existence of the stones in a fanciful tale of a group of giants who gathered in the field between the lochs one evening when a fiddler set to playing a tune. The giants joined hands and danced in a circle. However, they did not notice how quickly night was passing, and when the sun rose, all the giants turned instantly to stone, as did the fiddler who stood outside the group (represented by the outlying "Comet" stone). This striking tartan was created to reflect the intrigue and charm of Orkney's landscape, specifically to mark the standing stones found scattered throughout the islands against a purple backdrop of heather. 💜 🖤 🪨 🪨 🪨

Designed by Morag Ewing, this tartan is a tribute to the standing stones of Orkney against a background of purple heather.


The Ring of Brodgar Stone Circle and Henge is an enormous ceremonial site dating back to the 3rd millennium BC, containing:

  • A massive stone circle, originally consisting of 60 stones – 36 survive today

  • At least 13 prehistoric burial mounds

  • A large rock-cut ditch surrounding the stone circle


The Heart of Neolithic Orkney was designed  as a World Heritage site in December 1999. In addition to the Ring of Brodgar, the site includes Maeshowe, Skara Brae, the Standing Stones of Stenness and other nearby sites. 


For more on the standing stones, click the Brodgar Ring!

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