The most well-known of prehistoric monuments. They are ostensibly rings of upright standing stones, generally ellipsoid in structure (Alexander Thom did the 7-category assessment), with seemingly multifunctional usage: moot sites, ritual centres and probably alignments. Generally created from the late neolithic through to Iron Age period. In this category are also included sites now defined as ‘ring cairns’ and other circular neolithic and Bronze Age monuments – but it must be stressed that the function of such sites differs from the standard megalithic rings.
STONE CIRCLES: Bibliography & References
- Ash Cabin Flat, Hallam Moor, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
- Auld Kirk o’ Tough, Corrennie Moor - see Old Kirk of Tough
- Backhill of Drachlaw, Fortrie, Aberdeenshire
- Backstone Circle, Ilkley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Baildon Moor Circle, West Yorkshire
- Balbirnie, Markinch, Fife
- Balhaggardy, Chapel of Garioch, Aberdeenshire
- Balnacraig, Lumphanan, Aberdeenshire
- Balquhain, Chapel of Garioch, Aberdeenshire
- Beckhampton Penning, Avebury, Wiltshire
- Blackheath Circle, Todmorden, West Yorkshire
- Brackenhall Circle, Baildon Moor, West Yorkshire
- Bradup, Morton Moor, West Yorkshire
- Braehead, Leslie, Aberdeenshire
- Brimham Rocks, Summerbridge, North Yorkshire
- Broad Stones, Clatford, Wiltshire
- Cairn Riv, Fortrie, Aberdeenshire
- Carse Farm (north), Dull, Aberfeldy, Perthshire
- Carse Farm (south), Dull, Aberfeldy, Perthshire
- Castlerigg, Keswick, Cumbria
- Chapel Flat, Dalston, Cumbria
- Cheetham Close, Egerton, Lancashire
- Cleatop, Giggleswick, North Yorkshire
- Corrydown, Kirkton of Auchterless, Aberdeenshire
- Croft Moraig, Kenmore, Perthshire
- Crow Hill Cairn Circle, Midgley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Cultoon, Islay, Argyll
- Cunninghar, Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire
- Druid’s Altar, Bordley, North Yorkshire
- Drumfours, Muir of Fowlis, Aberdeenshire
- Dumpit Hill A, Hebden, Grassington, North Yorkshire
- Dumpit Hill B, Hebden, Grassington, North Yorkshire
- Dunino, Fife
- Eggleston, Durham
- Frogden Circle, Linton, Roxburghshire
- Gask, Westhill, Abderdeenshire
- Girdle Stanes, Eskdalemuir, Dumfriesshire
- Glenquickan, Creetown, Kirkcudbrightshire
- Grubstones Circle, Ilkley Moor - see Roms Law, Burley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Glassonby Circle, Cumbria
- Gleneagles, Blackford, Perthshire
- Gull Stones, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
- Haer Stanes, Llanbryde, Banffshire
- Harden Moor, Bingley, West Yorkshire
- Harestanes, Ancrum, Roxburghshire
- Harestanes, Fortrie, Aberdeenshire
- Harlaw, Fairnington, Roxburghshire
- Harperstone Circle, Dunblane, Stirlingshire
- Hawk Hill, Alloa, Clackmannanshire
- Hazell Circle, Ilkley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Healey, Masham, North Yorkshire
- Hordron Edge, Moscar Moor, Derbyshire
- Horncliffe Circle, Hawksworth Moor, West Yorkshire
- Innesmill, Urquhart, Moray
- Kilmarie, Kirkibost, Strathaird, Skye
- King’s Men, Rollright Stones, Oxfordshire
- Kinnell, Killin, Perthshire
- Kirkmoor Beck Farm, Fylingthorpe, North Yorkshire
- Little Meg, Glassonby, Cumbria
- Loanend, Leslie, Aberdeenshire
- Loanhead North, Daviot, Aberdeenshire
- Loanhead South, Daviot, Aberdeenshire
- Long Meg and Her Daughters, Little Salkeld, Cumbria
- Loupin Stanes, Eskdalemuir, Dumfriesshire
- Lundin Farm, Aberfeldy, Perthshire
- Machuim, Lawers, Loch Tay, Perthshire
- Mains of Hatton, Kirkton of Auchterless, Aberdeenshire
- Marchwell, Glencorse, Midlothian
- Mudbeck Ring, Arkengarthdale Moor, North Yorkshire
- Na Clachan Bhreige, Kirkibost, Skye, Inverness-shire
- Nether Corskie, Dunecht, Aberdeenshire
- Nettlehole Ridge, Skipton, North Yorkshire
- Newchurch-in-Pendle, Lancashire
- Newcraig, Daviot, Aberdeenshire
- Nine Stones Close, Harthill, Derbyshire
- Old Kirk of Tough, Corrennie Moor, Kirkton of Tough, Aberdeenshire
- Pitglassie, Kirkton of Auchterless, Aberdeenshire
- Rawthey Bridge, Fell End, Ravenstonedale, Westmorland
- Ringstone, Cropredy, Oxfordshire
- Ringstone, Whaley Bridge, Cheshire
- Ringstone Edge, Barkisland, West Yorkshire
- Ringstone Hill, Brierley, South Yorkshire
- Ringstone Wood, Howden, East Yorkshire
- Ringstones, Lowgill, Lancashire
- Ring Stones, Worsthorne, Lancashire
- Robin Hood’s Penny Stone, Wainstalls, Halifax, West Yorkshire
- Roghadal, Harris, Outer Hebrides
- The Rollright Stones, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire
- Rombald’s Ring, Rombalds Moor, West Yorkshire (NEW FIND)
- Roms Law, Burley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Sheep Scar, Giggleswick, North Yorkshire
- Shielburn, Fortrie, Aberdeenshire
- Sithean Mor, Shian, Iona, Argyll
- Snowden Crags, Askwith Moor, North Yorkshire
- Soldier’s Trench, Baildon Moor, West Yorkshire - see Brackenhall Green
- Stannary, Halifax, West Yorkshire
- Sunhoney, Midmar, Aberdeenshire
- Sunken Kirk, Clatt, Aberdeenshire
- Sunken Kirk, Windley, Derbyshire
- Swinside, Hallthwaites, Millon, Cumbria
- Temple of Anaitis, Lusta, Waternish, Skye
- Temple Stones, Potterton, Aberdeenshire
- Temple Wood, Kilmartin, Argyll
- Tigh na Ruaich, Ballinluig, Perthshire
- Tigh Stallar, Boreray, St. Kilda, Outer Hebrides
- Tofthills, Clatt – see Sunken Kirk
- Tullibody, Clackmannanshire
- Twelve Apostles, Ilkley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Walshaw Dean, Wadsworth Moor, West Yorkshire
- Weecher, Faweather, Baildon Moor, West Yorkshire
- Wester Biggs, Dunblane, Perthshire
- The Whetstones, White Grit, Churchstoke, Montgomeryshire
- Windy Hill Circle, Baildon Moor, West Yorkshire
Unless otherwise stated, all site entries, text & images – © Paul Bennett, The Northern Antiquarian