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A large capstone rests on upright stones, forming an ancient chambered cairn in a field.
Aberdeenshire

Tomnaverie Stone Circle

A recumbent stone circle on a knoll near Tarland, around a burial cairn of some 4,500 years ago, with Lochnagar rising across the Howe of Cromar.

Welcome

On a low knoll just outside the village of Tarland, a ring of grey stones stands on the grass, and beyond it the ground falls away across the wide green bowl of the Howe of Cromar to the hills, with the dark mass of Lochnagar and the Cairngorms on the skyline.

Tomnaverie is a recumbent stone circle, a kind of monument that in Scotland is found only in the north east.

On its south side lies the recumbent, a great block laid on its side, framed by two tall flanking stones, and inside the ring are the remains of a burial cairn raised about 4,500 years ago. The circle stood in a landscape full of stone circles and cairns, and people were still using it as late as the 1600s.

A short path climbs to it from the road. It is a place to linger on a clear evening, when the low sun catches the stones and the whole of Cromar lies open below.

A short drive awayTarland TearoomsA café in the village of Tarland.3 min by roadSee itRows of cupcakes topped with swirled icing and Lotus biscuits on a cooling rack
Before you go

Free, at any time.

A short path leads up from a small car park on the road south of Tarland.

Where
Near Tarland, on the road to Aboyne.
Age
A burial cairn of about 4,500 years ago.
Where it is

On a knoll near Tarland, in the Howe of Cromar.

Close byCromar.
  1. The Boat Inn, AboyneThe Boat Inn5 miles7 min by road
  2. Loch Kinord, AberdeenshireLoch Kinord5 miles9 min by road
  3. Shelves of floury sourdough loaves at Courie Courie.Courie Courie Bakery5 miles7 min by road
  4. Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve, AboyneMuir of Dinnet National Nature ReserveBirchwoods, heath, lochs and the Burn o' Vat.5 miles7 min by road
  5. Aerial view of a golf course with fairways, bunkers and a river beyondAboyne Golf ClubAn eighteen-hole course beside the Loch of Aboyne.5 miles11 min by road
Directions
Rows of cupcakes topped with swirled icing and Lotus biscuits on a cooling rackCafeTarland Tearooms1.1 miles
Espresso streams into an orange cup on a chrome machineCafeSpider on a Bicycle Cafe4.7 miles
Kinord Cross Pictish Stone, AberdeenshireAttractionsKinord Cross Pictish Stone4.8 miles
Burn O’Vat, AboyneAttractionsBurn o’ Vat5.3 miles
Two white gliders on the grass of Aboyne airfield, the Deeside hills beyond.ActivityDeeside Gliding Club6.0 miles
Cambus O'May Suspension Bridge, AberdeenshireAttractionsCambus o’ May Suspension Bridge7.1 miles
The Burn of Dess tumbling down its gorge among bare trees.WalksDess Waterfall8.1 miles
Stone tower with turret roof surrounded by pine trees at duskAboyneTower O'EssSleeps 2 · 8.6 miles
The stone front of the Old Smiddy with a red telephone box outside.ShoppingThe Old Smiddy9.1 miles
Stay nearby

Places to stay near the circle, and when each is next free.

Woodend
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Aberdeenshire
  • 4 miles from Tomnaverie
Free 1–3 NovWest Millfield
  • Sleeps 5
  • In Aberdeenshire
  • 4 miles from Tomnaverie
Free 1–3 NovA stone gate lodge with steep gables and green-framed windows sits beside a stone boundary wall, a planter of flowers by the green door.Joiners Cottage
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Aberdeenshire
  • 4 miles from Tomnaverie
Free 30 Oct – 1 NovA round metal garden table with two chairs stands on a lawn beside a bottle of wine and glasses, pink flowering shrubs and a green-framed conservatory behind.Garden Cottage
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Aberdeenshire
  • 4 miles from Tomnaverie
Free 7–9 NovPlaces to stayEvery stay in AberdeenshireAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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For further reading, before you go.