Machrie Moor

The Machrie Moor standing stones, located on the Isle of Arran in Scotland, form one of the most significant prehistoric sites in the British Isles. The circles data back to the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age periods. Some circles are formed of granite boulders, while others are built of tall red sandstone pillars. The alignment of the stones with a notch on the northeastern horizon, where the sun rises during the summer solstice, hints at astronomical considerations in their placement.

The site comprises six prominent stone circles, each with unique characteristics. The stone circles were recorded in 1861 by James Bryce, and numbered 1 to 5. Machrie Moor 2 is particularly striking, featuring tall red sandstone pillars up to 4.9 meters high. Two single standing stones in the area were numbered 7 and 8.