Machrie Moor can be found on the west coast of the Isle of Arran, about 3 miles north of the village of Blackwaterfoot and is regarded as the best known archaeological site on the Isle of Arran. This area includes standing stones, stone circles, burial cists and cairns, all of which date back to between 3500BC and 1500BC.
There are six stone circles, some are granite boulders and others are tall pillars. Excavations have revealed earlier timber circles were on this same site and it is likely many others are still underneath.
The stone circles were erected about 2000BC, although archaeological investigations have shown that these are a later phase in a long history of human activity on Machrie Moor. The earliest is the pits and gully at Circle 2, from around 3500BC. It is the most striking, represented by three tall stones up to 5 metres high. It originally consisted of seven or eight stones.
It is believed that the stone circles were a focus for religious and ceremonial activities for about 1500 years. Burials took place within most of the circles.
The stone circles are popular with celebratory events such as the summer solstice as the Machrie Stones are in alignment to a point where Machrie Glen divides into two, with the sun rising in this spot on Midsummer’s morning.
The stone circles, and their earlier timber predecessors, show that the people of the Isle of Arran had contact with the wider world as they were engaging in ritual practices that were to be found throughout Neolithic Britain
Further Reading
The area is owned by Historic Environment Scotland and more information about the site can be found here Machrie Moor Stone Circles Statement of Significance | HES | History