GPS Cycle and Walking Routes

Ring of Brodgar and Brodgar RSPB Reserve - Stromness - Orkney Walk

2 miles (4 km)

This walk visits a section of the fascinating Heart of Neolithic Orkney World heritage Site on Mainland island. The settlements are in a beautiful spot, next to the Loch of Stenness and surrounded by heather and wildlfowers. The area is also a RSPB Reserve with lots of wildlife to see. Look out for Curlews, drumming snipe, lapwings, dunlins, redshanks and oystercatchers as you make your way around the site.
The notable ring of stones stands on a small isthmus between the Lochs of Stenness and Harray. They are the northernmost circle henge in Britain and the third largest. It is thought to have been erected between 2500 BC and 2000 BC.
After exploring the site you can head south east for just over half a mile and visit the Standing Stones of Stenness. The stones may be the oldest henge site in the British Isles.  Based on radiocarbon dating, it is thought that work on the site had begun by 3100 BC.
Just next to the stones you will find Maeshowe. The Neolithic chambered cairn and passage grave dates from around 2800 BC. It's an impressive sight and one of the largest tombs in Orkney. The mound encasing the tomb is 115 feet (35 m) in diameter and rises to a height of 24 feet (7.3 m).
You can extend your walk by heading to Skara Brae and the Bay of Skaill.
You can virtually explore the area on the google street view link below!

Postcode

KW16 3JZ - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Ring of Brodgar OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Ring of Brodgar Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby

Photos

Stones, Ditch and Heather - geograph.org.uk - 1438002

Stones, Ditch & Heather. The Standing stones at Brodgar with the Henge behind them.

Neolithic settlement at Brodgar (geograph 4125928)

Neolithic settlement at Brodgar

Ring of Brodgar and Loch of Stenness - geograph.org.uk - 488563

 Ring of Brodgar and Loch of Stenness. Impressive neolithic stone age circle at the heart of a large prehistoric population.

Ring of Brogdar - geograph.org.uk - 741641

The site in the summer of 2007

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Ring of Brodgar.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>'Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Share>Save to Files')

Memory Map Route

Ring of Brodgar.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>'Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Share>Save to Files)