Three tall standing stones rise from a grassy field, hills visible on both sides beneath a clear sky.

Isle of Arran

Machrie Moor Stone Circles

Six stone circles on an open moor on Arran's west coast, raised around 2000 BC over older timber circles, the tallest stones over five metres high.

Welcome

On an open moor above Arran's west coast, six stone circles stand in the grass with the hills of the island all around.

They were raised around 2000 BC, but people were gathering here long before: the earliest pits on the moor were dug around 3500 BC, and timber circles stood on the same spots before the stones.

The builders used whatever the land offered. One circle has an inner ring of eight granite boulders inside an outer ring of fifteen, while another keeps three slender red sandstone pillars, the tallest about five and a half metres high. The circles were set to face a notch at the head of Machrie Glen, where the sun rose at midsummer.

One circle is known as Fingal's Cauldron Seat, and a holed stone there is said to be where the giant Fingal tied his dog Bran while he ate. A farm track leads from the roadside car park across the moor to the stones, which are free to visit at any time.

Before you go

Open at all times, free.

A farm track leads out from the car park across the moor to the circles.

Where: Near Blackwaterfoot, KA27 8DX.
Circles: Six, around 2000 BC.
Cost: Free.

Did you know

A weathered standing stone streaked with lichen rises against a clear blue sky, distant hills visible at its base.

Did you know

Wood before stone.

At Machrie Moor, timber circles stood on exactly the same sites before the stone circles were raised.

A tall standing stone with deep vertical grooves rises from a grassy field, farmland stretching into the distance.

Did you know

Fingal's dog.

A holed stone at Fingal's Cauldron Seat is said to be where the giant Fingal tied his dog Bran while he ate.

Hidden Scotland

From our guide to Arran

Six stone circles stand on an open moor above Arran's west coast, with the island's hills all around. They were raised around 2000 BC, on spots where timber circles had stood before them. One is a double ring of rounded granite boulders. Another keeps three slender pillars of red sandstone, the tallest about five and a half metres high. One circle is called Fingal's Cauldron Seat, and legend says the giant tied his dog Bran to a holed stone there. A farm track leads across the moor from the roadside car park, and the stones are free to visit.

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