Ring of Brodgar

Really impressive site that you can walk clear around and photograph from virtually any vantage point. There are also small walking trails around the ring that allow you to photograph the ring from other slightly distant small hills. There is a recently discovered excavation site – the Ness of Brodgar – a short walk from the ring. All and all really spectacular. We took a city bus to the ring and only had 30 minutes there. Could probably have used 60 – 90 minutes to full appreciate the site and possibly to check out the ness but fully worth seeing whether your stop is short or long.

A bit like Stonehenge, but better as you can get up close and touch the stones and if you can go with a guide, they can point out the Viking runes on one of the stones. I also enjoyed seeing all the heather flowers beginning to blossom and it must be a stunning sight when everything is in full bloom. Walk around and enjoy the feeling of ritual and mystery and ancient faith.

Another neolithic site on Orkney? Yawn.
Just kidding. Coming from the relatively infantile society of the US, neolithic sites never get old.
The Ring of Brodgar is particularly impressive, one of the few stone henges with its megaliths still clearly standing in ellipse formation. Brodgar also happens to be the northernmost henge in Britain, and one of its three largest. Twenty-​seven of the original 60 stones remain, one of which was cleaved in two by lightning in recent years. A burial mound nearby provides excellent views back on the henge, which itself is prettily situated between Lochs Stenness and Harray. Although a full excavation of the site has never been conducted, archaeologists estimate the Ring of Brodgar to be between 4– and 5,000 years old. Another essential stop on the Heart of Neolithic Orkney trail.