Machrie Moor Standing Stones

Ancient stone circles and monuments scattered across a mystical moorland, where 4,500 years of history whisper in the wind.

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Machrie Moor Standing Stones

Machrie Moor is home to six ancient stone circles and numerous prehistoric monuments scattered across windswept moorland on the Isle of Arran. Dating back 4,500 years to the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods, these enigmatic structures—some reaching 5.5 metres high—were built atop earlier timber circles and served ceremonial, astronomical, and gathering purposes. The site encompasses standing stones, burial cairns, cists, and hut circles, offering a tangible connection to Scotland's ancient past. Free to visit year-round with minimal infrastructure, the moor remains largely undisturbed, allowing visitors to experience these monuments in their raw, atmospheric setting.

A brief summary to Machrie Moor Standing Stones

Isle of Arran, GB
Duration: 1.5 to 3.5 hours
Free
Outdoor
Mobile reception: 2 out of 5

Monday 12 am-12 am
Tuesday 12 am-12 am
Wednesday 12 am-12 am
Thursday 12 am-12 am
Friday 12 am-12 am
Saturday 12 am-12 am
Sunday 12 am-12 am

Local tips

Visit early morning or late afternoon to experience the site in softer light and avoid midday crowds. The low northern sun casts dramatic shadows that enhance the atmosphere and create excellent photography opportunities.
Wear waterproof footwear and clothing suitable for moorland weather. The terrain is boggy and exposed; conditions can change rapidly, and the moor remains wet even after rain.
Allow time to explore beyond the main circles. The site encompasses numerous smaller monuments including burial cairns, cists, and hut circles that reward careful observation and wandering.
Bring binoculars or a camera with zoom capability to observe details of the stones from a distance, including the hole in one standing stone and the notch aligned with Machrie Glen.
Combine your visit with other Neolithic sites on Arran such as Lamlash Stone Circle, Giants' Grave, and Drumadoon to gain a fuller understanding of the island's prehistoric heritage.

Getting There

Car from Brodick

From Brodick, drive approximately 25 kilometres west and south on the A841 towards Blackwaterfoot. The journey takes roughly 45 minutes to 1 hour. Follow signs for Machrie or Moss Farm. There is informal parking near Moss Farm Road; parking is free but limited and can be muddy in wet weather. From the parking area, walk approximately 1.5 to 2 kilometres across moorland to reach the main stone circles.
Bus from Brodick

Stagecoach operates bus services (route 301) from Brodick to Blackwaterfoot, with the journey taking approximately 1.5 to 2 hours depending on stops. Buses run several times daily but with reduced frequency in winter months. Request the driver to stop near Machrie or Moss Farm. From the bus stop, follow the moorland path approximately 1.5 to 2 kilometres to the stone circles. Fares are approximately £5 to £8 per journey.
Walking from Blackwaterfoot

If staying in Blackwaterfoot village, Machrie Moor is accessible via a moorland walk of approximately 4 to 5 kilometres (1.5 to 2 hours) heading northeast from the village. The terrain is open moorland with indistinct paths; navigation can be challenging in mist or poor visibility. Wear waterproof footwear as the ground is often boggy. This option is suitable only for experienced walkers comfortable with exposed terrain.
Bicycle from Blackwaterfoot

Mountain bikes or sturdy hybrid bikes can be used to reach the site from Blackwaterfoot, approximately 4 to 5 kilometres away. The terrain is rough moorland with no formal cycle path; the journey takes 30 to 45 minutes depending on fitness and ground conditions. Bikes can be hired in Brodick or Blackwaterfoot for approximately £15 to £25 per day.

Machrie Moor Standing Stones location weather suitability

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Discover more about Machrie Moor Standing Stones

A Landscape Frozen in Deep Time

Machrie Moor stands as one of Scotland's most significant archaeological landscapes, a sprawling collection of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments scattered across the windswept moorland of the Isle of Arran's western coast. Six distinct stone circles dominate the site, some constructed from towering red sandstone pillars reaching up to 5.5 metres in height, others formed from granite boulders. These monuments are surrounded by standing stones, burial cairns, cists (stone burial chambers), and the low, turf-covered rings of ancient hut circles—the foundations of dwellings occupied thousands of years ago. The entire complex dates to between 3500 and 1500 BC, with radiocarbon evidence placing some timber circle activity around 2030 BC. What makes Machrie Moor extraordinary is not merely the age of individual monuments, but the density and variety of prehistoric structures within a relatively compact area, suggesting this moorland was a major centre of ritual, habitation, and communal activity for millennia.

The Layered Story of Stone and Timber

Archaeological investigation has revealed a fascinating narrative of cultural continuity and transformation at Machrie Moor. The stone circles were not built in isolation but were constructed directly atop the sites of earlier timber circles, which have long since rotted away into the peat. This deliberate placement suggests that the builders of the stone monuments were consciously choosing to occupy the same sacred or significant spaces as their predecessors, perhaps maintaining spiritual or ceremonial continuity across generations. The transition from timber to stone likely reflects not a sudden change in purpose but rather an evolution in construction technique and permanence. Some circles were built over several centuries, indicating that Machrie Moor remained a focus of communal effort and investment across extended periods. Excavations conducted in the 19th century uncovered cremated remains, inhumation burials, food vessels, bronze implements, and flint tools within the circles, evidence that these monuments served as burial grounds and repositories for the dead long after their initial construction.

Celestial Alignments and Astronomical Knowledge

The positioning of the stones at Machrie Moor reveals a sophisticated understanding of astronomy among the Neolithic inhabitants of Arran. Many of the circles and standing stones are aligned with celestial events, particularly the rising sun at midsummer and other significant astronomical moments. One of the most striking alignments involves a prominent notch cut into a standing stone that frames the summit of Machrie Glen, creating a natural sight-line for observing the sunrise. This precision suggests that the builders possessed detailed knowledge of solar and lunar cycles, information essential for agricultural societies dependent on seasonal timing for planting and harvest. Whether these alignments served practical, ceremonial, or both purposes remains debated among archaeologists, but they demonstrate that the people who erected these monuments were keen observers of the heavens and possessed the mathematical and engineering knowledge to translate those observations into stone.

Legends Woven into Stone

Machrie Moor is enveloped in layers of myth and folklore that have accumulated over millennia. Local tradition associates the stones with Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn McCool), the legendary Gaelic warrior-giant, and one circle is known as 'Fingal's Cauldron Seat.' According to one tale, the giant tied his enormous hound to one of the standing stones using a hole that remains visible in the rock to this day. Another legend speaks of a wizard who once dwelt on Arran, drawing magical power from the stones to foresee the future and protect the island from harm. The Gaelic name for the site, Sliabh nan Carragh, translates as 'The Moor of the Standing Stones,' though some scholars suggest it may derive from an older root meaning 'The Moor of the Stone-Ghosts,' evoking the eerie, watchful presence that many visitors report experiencing on the windswept moor. These stories, passed down through generations, reflect the profound impression these ancient monuments have made on the human imagination and the sense that Machrie Moor holds secrets beyond our full understanding.

The Atmosphere of Mystery and Solitude

Unlike many famous prehistoric sites, Machrie Moor remains relatively undeveloped and unmediated by modern tourism infrastructure. There are no entrance fees, no visitor centres, no barriers or extensive signage. The approach involves walking through sheep pastures, crossing fences, and following a path across open moorland, creating an intimate and unfiltered encounter with the monuments. The landscape itself—windswept, often shrouded in mist, dotted with heather and peat bog—contributes to the site's powerful atmosphere. The tall sandstone pillars cast long shadows in the low northern sun, and the only sounds are often the wind and the cries of curlews. This austere, almost haunting quality allows visitors to experience the stones much as ancient peoples might have encountered them: as imposing, enigmatic presences in a wild landscape. The peat that surrounds and partially swallows some of the circles adds to the sense of time's passage and the slow reclamation of human works by nature.

Conservation and Enduring Significance

Machrie Moor has been cared for by Historic Environment Scotland and local conservation efforts to ensure that this irreplaceable archaeological landscape is preserved for future generations. The site's significance extends beyond its historical and archaeological value; it represents a tangible connection to the deep human past and to the ancestors of many Scottish people. For visitors, standing before these ancient stones—some of which may have been raised by their own forebears—can evoke a profound sense of continuity and connection across thousands of years. The moor endures as a silent testament to the ingenuity, spiritual beliefs, and communal efforts of people who lived in a world vastly different from our own, yet who left behind monuments of such scale and precision that they continue to inspire wonder and speculation today.

Iconic landmarks you can’t miss

Lamlash Stone Circle

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Wee Al's Bench

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Kingscross Viking Fort

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Lochranza Youth Hostel

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Robert Burns Birthplace Museum

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Rozelle Estate

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Unmissable attractions to see

King's Caves

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Bellevue Farm Tours and Holiday Cottages

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Peacock Farm

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Blue Pools - Glen Rosa

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Arran Heritage Museum

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Arran Chocolate Factory

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Brodick Squirrel Hide

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Co-op Food - Arran Lamlash - Main Street

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COAST Discovery Centre

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VisitScotland Brodick iCentre

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The Arran Wishing Well

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Brodick Castle, Garden and Country Park

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Torrylin Cairn

12.1 km

Explore Torrylin Cairn, a Neolithic chambered tomb on the Isle of Arran, revealing ancient burial rites and prehistoric connections to the landscape.

Saddell ABBEY

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North Goatfell

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Dramatic 818m ridge-bound peak offering scrambling, exposure, and panoramic Highland views on Arran's iconic mountain range.

Essential places to dine

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Brambles Seafood + Grill

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Eighteen69

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The French Fox

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La Truffe Noire

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Little Rock Cafe & Wee Deli

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The Wineport Restaurant

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Duncans on the Green

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Drift Inn

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The Lighthouse

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Coast Arran

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The Shore

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The Stags Pavilion

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Skipness Seafood Cabin

25.3 km

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The Orangery Restaurant

32.4 km

Coastal dining excellence with panoramic Ayrshire views and creative British-Scottish cuisine at Seamill Hydro’s Orangery Restaurant.

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Essential bars & hidden hideouts

Cruize Bar Brasserie

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Ormidale Hotel

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Edgewater

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Arran Botanical Drinks @Cladach Beach House

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Duncan's On The Green

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The Lagg Inn 1791

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Pierhead Tavern

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Mara Fish Bar & Deli

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Lochranza Country Inn

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The Box Night Club

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The Corner House

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The Islander Bar

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Mac's Bar

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Grapes Bar

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Palace Bar

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Nightclubs & after hour spots

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Vienna's Nightclub

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DUFFIE'S BAR

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Machrie Moor Standing Stones

A brief summary to Machrie Moor Standing Stones

Local tips

For the on-the-go comforts that matter to you

Getting There

Car from Brodick

Bus from Brodick

Walking from Blackwaterfoot

Bicycle from Blackwaterfoot

Machrie Moor Standing Stones location weather suitability

Unlock the Best of Machrie Moor Standing Stones

Buy tickets

Book tours with entry

Book tours without entry

Discover more about Machrie Moor Standing Stones

A Landscape Frozen in Deep Time

The Layered Story of Stone and Timber

Celestial Alignments and Astronomical Knowledge

Legends Woven into Stone

The Atmosphere of Mystery and Solitude

Conservation and Enduring Significance

Iconic landmarks you can’t miss

Lamlash Stone Circle

Wee Al's Bench

Kingscross Viking Fort

Lochranza Youth Hostel

Trinity Church (Former)

Ayr Citadel

The Wallace Tower

Baltersan Castle(Caisteal Baltersan)

Auld Kirk Of Ayr

Alloway Auld Kirk

Burns Monument

Craigie Park

Burns Cottage

Robert Burns Birthplace Museum

Rozelle Estate

Unmissable attractions to see

King's Caves

Bellevue Farm Tours and Holiday Cottages

Peacock Farm

Blue Pools - Glen Rosa

Arran Heritage Museum

Arran Chocolate Factory

Brodick Squirrel Hide

Co-op Food - Arran Lamlash - Main Street

COAST Discovery Centre

VisitScotland Brodick iCentre

The Arran Wishing Well

Brodick Castle, Garden and Country Park

Torrylin Cairn

Saddell ABBEY

North Goatfell

Essential places to dine

Café Thyme

Brambles Seafood + Grill

Eighteen69

The French Fox

La Truffe Noire

Little Rock Cafe & Wee Deli

The Wineport Restaurant

Duncans on the Green

Drift Inn

The Lighthouse

Coast Arran

The Shore

The Stags Pavilion

Skipness Seafood Cabin

The Orangery Restaurant

Markets, malls and hidden boutiques

The Harbour Shop

A&C Cameron Post Office & Licensed Grocer

The Old Byre Visitor Centre

Ardgarvie Active

Spirit Within Mystical Shop - Isle of Arran

Summit Jewellery

Red Door

The Boat House

Inspirations Of Arran

Arran Fine Foods