Hill o' Many Stanes

The Hill o’ Many Stanes is one of the best-preserved examples of numerous Neolithic stone rows anywhere in prehistoric Scotland. The monument consists of roughly 200 miniature standing stones, each one standing no more than a metre tall - most barely come up to your thigh.

You won’t find any great standing stones here like you might see on Orkney or Lewis. These are smaller, subtler: generally thin slabs set upright into the soil, many wedged carefully upright with packing stones at the base. Some are barely more than small flat slabs poking through the heather.

The stone rows run downslope in an imperfect fan - deliberate, but organic. Here and there, you’ll notice a few stray slabs where the lines have faltered, or perhaps where time has nudged things off-course. Still, the geometry holds. These weren’t dumped; they were carefully placed with thought.

Some rows are more complete than others - some interrupted by the scars of more recent agricultural buildings, drainage ditches, or general wear and tear. But many remain as they likely were placed during the Bronze and Stone Ages.

What Was It For?

No one's sure what the Hill o' Many Stanes was for. Some believe it was a religious or ceremonial centre - a sacred space for rituals, burials, or seasonal gatherings. The rows immediately suggest structure, order, and meaning. Others propose the rows tracked lunar or solar alignments - an ancient calendar carved into the landscape.

In a detailed archaeological survey by Dr George F. Geddes, working with Headland Archaeology Ltd, traces of small hollows edged with cleared stone were discovered - possibly the remains of wooden posts or fire pits used in ceremonies. Some rows may have been reconstructed, while others have been partially lost.

According to Dr Fraser Hunter of National Museums Scotland, these types of sites may have served multiple purposes over time - from sacred space to social gathering site, possibly used by successive generations across centuries.

Of course, it could have been something completely mundane. A meeting place. A tribal marker. Or something we’ve long since lost the language to describe.

Our visit to the Hill o' Many Stanes

On our recent trip to one section of the North Coast 500, my wife and I decided to visit this ancient site as it was on our way north to Wick. We took a left turn off the A99 and along a short, minor road to reach the entrance of the site. There is no dedicated parking, but space for a couple of cars at the side of the road.

The site sits atop a hill surrounded by farm fields. The site is very exposed and bleak, but the field is strangely peaceful. There is a Historic Scotland information board at the site, showing artists' impressions of the site and possible uses.

Walk among the many stanes, and you’ll begin to see the patterns. Each stone is upright, modest in size but precise in placement. In some spots, the rows are crisp, evenly spaced. In others, they fade or break - either eroded by time or altered by man. You’ll spot some thin slabs cracked or slumped sideways. A few even look like they’ve been repurposed, pulled from alignment and reused in walls or dykes.

The layout doesn’t feel random. The main fan pattern spreads down from the upper edge of the slope, toward a wetter patch at the base where some rows vanish into marsh and tussock. If the stone rows once extended further, they’ve been lost to cleared stone, weather, and farming.

A Site Unlike Any Other

While there are similar sites in western Britain and Ireland, this is the only confirmed stone row complex of its kind in mainland Scotland. That makes it one of the most unique ancient and historical monuments in the country.

Other sites may feature large upright monoliths or circles, but this one - with its multiple rows, smaller stones, and Bronze Age date - is in a category all its own.

Each stone was placed by hand. Not dumped. Not tumbled. But driven into the earth, likely with stone or antler tools, and fixed with care, small hollows, wedged carefully, probably using nothing but intuition and sweat.

FAQs on the Hill o' Many Stanes

Why is it called the Hill o’ Many Stanes?

Simply because it’s a low hill covered in rows of many small standing stones — the name is wonderfully literal.

Is there a visitor centre with toilets?

No, just a small parking area and an information board. There are no toilets; the nearest are in Lybster.

Is it worth visiting?

It depends on what you like. If you're a fan of mysterious historical sites, this may appeal to you, but if you prefer large stone circles or huge ruined castles, you might be disappointed.

Can you walk among the stones?

Yes, visitors are free to walk around the site respectfully and explore the rows.

What else is nearby?

Nearby attractions include the village of Lybster, Whaligoe Steps, Dunbeath Broch and harbour and the coastal scenery of Caithness.

Key Information

• Best accessed from the A99 Wick road.

• There is an official gated entrance and a Historic Scotland information board.

• It's a very short walk from the entrance to the stone rows.

• No toilets or facilities.

• While an impressive site, it is just small stones in rows and not as visually impressive as other stone circles in Scotland.

Conclusion

The Hill o’ Many Stanes might not have the towering drama of other ancient sites, but there’s a special magic that hangs in the air here.

This is Scotland’s hidden history at its most mysterious. A field of protruding stones, some aligned, some out of place, looking out to sea, with nothing but grass and sheep for company, you’re reminded that not all stories need explaining.