Bigstones

Nearest Town: Banchory, Aberdeenshire

OS Grid Reference: NJ 71 60 56

Directions: On the B9119 between Echt and Auchorrie. A couple of miles after leaving Echt look to the right for Corrieburn and Sunhoney Farms. Turn into the farmyard, and drive slowly uphill to park next to the hedge as indicated. Ask at the farmhouse out of courtesy, but the circle is signed, and a footpath provided if no-one is home. Remember to close the gate!

Site Notes: A glorious name for a glorious circle. Large, virtually all stones still standing and all of an intensely warm pink this site demands to be seen. The large recumbent is fallen and broken, but this doesn’t matter: the circle still feels right, and the profusion of prehistoric cupmarks is a sight to behold. Our ancestors spent many hours forming them thousands of years ago, and although their purpose may be lost, their work endures. The September day we visited was warm and still, and the stones only seemed to magnify this – a place to linger and reflect.