scotland the best
... Prehistoric Sites
Skara Brae, Orkney
Excellent visitor and orientation centre. Can be a windy walk to this remarkable shoreline site, the 5,000-year-old subterranean remains of a compact village.
It was engulfed by a sandstorm 600 years later and lay perfectly preserved until uncovered by a laird’s dog after another storm in 1850.
Now it permits one of the most evocative glimpses of truly ancient times in the UK.
See historicenvironment.scot or call 01856 841815
East Aquhorthies Stone Circle, near Inverurie
A circle of pinkish stones with two grey sentinels flanking a huge recumbent stone set in the rolling countryside along the River Don.
Call 01667 460232 or visit the website at historicenvironment.scot
The Callanish Stones, Lewis
The best-preserved and most unusual combination of standing stones in a ring around a tomb, with radiating arms in cross shape.
Predating Stonehenge, they were unearthed from the peat in the mid-19th Century and are the Hebrides’ major historical attraction.
At dawn and dusk, hardly anyone else is there. The visitor centre has a couthie cafe.
The website at historicenvironment.scot has all the info you’ll need, or ring 01851 621422
Tomb of the Eagles, Orkney Mainland
A relatively recent discovery, the excavation of this cliff cave is on private land.
You call in at the visitor centre and they’ll tell you the whole story.
There’s a 2km walk then you go in on a skateboard – no, really!
Open Mar-oct 9.30am-5.30pm (only by appointment Nov-feb)
See tomboftheeagles.co.uk or call 01856 831339 Peter Irvine is the author of the essential travel guide Scotland the Best published by Collins, priced £15.99