Bigstones

Nearest Town: Banchory, Aberdeenshire

OS Grid Reference: NO 72 39 12

Directions: Leave Banchory on the A93 towards Aberdeen. Take the right turn for the A957 to Stonehaven.Once you’ve climbed out of the valley into open countryside, look for the unclassified right turn in the hamlet of Blairdryne. Don’t worry if you miss it, as you can take the next one. This road is a loop around Garroll Wood, and includes the sites of Esslie the Lesser and the Esslie the Greater. Parking on quiet lane, opposite the closed quarry, free.

Site Notes: A quite beautiful site now tucked away in Forestry Commission managed planting. Although one flanker has fallen, and some circle stones are missing it doesn’t detract from the site one bit. Although the view has been lost, the planting has been left back far enough from the circle to lend a different atmosphere. This is reflected in the frequent evidence of fire you see in the middle of this site. I wish people weren’t so selfish – fire can inflict great damage upon these ancient stones, including breaking them. Come see these stones, and practice what you will, but do not inflict your beliefs upon them whatever they may be. We borrow these sites from their builders and they are not ours to damage or destroy.