Aviemore Stone Circle is unusual, though not unique, in that it is situated in the middle of a housing estate. On the day I visited, the summer solstice, roses were blooming at the edge of the circle, adding to the magical atmosphere of the place. The houses don’t detract from that, bushes and trees lending some privacy to the ancient stones.
The sun was newly risen and bright; patches of ground seemed almost luminescent. There’s often a special light quality at stone circles, whether they’re in an open urban setting like this, or tucked away within dark forests. Maybe the mind just tends toward mysticism among these mysterious old standing stones.
People had left mementos or offerings in the Rowan tree, perhaps treating the site like a clootie well?
Clouds gathered overhead as I left the circle, on my way to an utterly amazing breakfast just round the corner at the Mountain Cafe (no longer there, sadly).
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How cool would it be to have a stone circle in your backyard?!
Cool, but maybe really intense? I love stone circles but I’m not sure I’d want to live right at the edge of one!
Actually, you’re right. The energy must be like living next to an active volcano, always pouring off the site, although this energy you would’t see with your eyes. I’m guessing they are built on the earth’s ley lines, no?
I have heard that, yes.
The stone circle sounds magical and the whole feel of it seems very calming and relaxing
Yes, it is like that 🙂
I was going to say something similar–like what would it be like to have that out your back door? I wonder if one would get used to it and stop seeing it, or if it would have a special draw on different days or times.
I imagine it depends on the individual’s feelings about the circle. I wonder whether it’s a selling point for estate agents, or something they don’t mention?
Some people might be interested, but others might think it was creepy or just not care. I was interested that the developer left it. In the U.S. it would be dug up by archeologists, documented, and then disappear unless it had been given a protected status.
Most of them are protected now. Many were destroyed before that was the case. Traditional belief about it being bad luck to harm a stone circle kept quite a few of them safe!
Or maybe you’d get so sucked in you’d be out there all the time!
That’a possibility!
I suspect I would be!
I PREFER THIS LESSER KNOWN SITE TO THE MORE WELL KNOWN SITES, MORE PERSOAL AILISH AND LESS TOURISTS, GOOD LUCK WITH THE LATEST BOOK, CHINA
It is a great place to visit. And thank you 🙂
Lovely photos.
It was a photogenic place!
What fun to have a stone circle by your gardn fence.
It would certainly be interesting!
Very nice photos. You left out any history or legends surrounding the site though.
It’s prehistoric so not much is known about its history. I’m not aware of any legends or folklore associated with this particular circle 🙁
Wow. VERY old then. I’d assumed there’d be some folklore about it being built by ancient druids or a Fairy Circle of some sort, etc…
Probably about 4000 years old. Some circles are referred to as ‘Druid Stones’ but the druids came much later.
That’s your cue to make some stories up, I reckon!
An ongoing process 🙂
Lovely photos. I can’t believe we were in Aviemore last year and missed seeing these.
There used to be a signpost to the stones on the main road; it’s no longer there which makes the site harder to find.
Just curious, are those stone circles manually arranged?
Yes, they were put there by people, probably about 4000 years ago.
It looks an interesting place !
It is. Nice and calm too.
I wonder how living around/near/beside a stone circle would change a person? For the better, I’d hope. Great photos and information. Thanks for sharing.
I really don’t know. It was very quiet on the estate when I was there… didn’t see a soul. Glad you like 🙂
Looks a beautiful, interesting area.
It is lovely.
the stone circle is amazing
It is 🙂
Would love to have a magical stone circle in MY backyard! Waiting on the book – I already looked for it, not seeing it would be out this autumn!
It would be amazing. A couple of months yet for the book, but thank you for looking 🙂
I can almost sense the fairies skipping about the stones. Beautiful pictures and descriptions.
Thank you. Maybe the fairies were hiding among the roses 😉
sounds like a nice place to visit; and thanks for letting me know about clootie wells – I’d never heard of them!
Quite an ancient tradition, the clootie wells.
Thanks for a great post and images, Ailish Certainly putting the circle on my visit list when next up there.
It is a nice place to visit.
What a beautiful place.
Agreed 🙂
What are the chances? We came across a rowan tree yesterday with a Chinese Lantern attached. We thought it must have just drifted there, but maybe it too was an offering! The photo’s in our latest post.
I’ll go have a look!
Great post and wonderful photo’s Thank you for sharing,
Glad you like 🙂
It’s interesting the light has a special quality around them. It might be that they cause us to pause and look in a special way, and therefore perceive light we don’t normally see. Hard to say, but it’s really interesting. I need to get back to Scotland…
That’s fully possible.
I never knew this existed, I will be paying a visit. xxx
I hope you enjoy it 🙂
Stunning!
It is a beautiful place 🙂
I’ve been to Aviemore but I didn’t know about the stone circle there. Interesting to see your photos.
It is hidden away from the centre of town.
Interesting….I know there are quite a few stone circles in England so I guess it’s inevitable that one would end up next to a house, but as you say, it still has the magic. It must have been nice to visit on the solstice, good idea! Thanks for the follow, I appreciate it. 🙂
You’re welcome, and yes, the most famous circle – Avebury – with a whole village in the middle of it, is in England!
Oops, I said stone circles in England, but I see you’re in the Scottish Highlands, how beautiful – my mistake. 😉
No problem 🙂
Thanks for sharing this. What a magical-looking place.
It is a lovely place 🙂
Love the pictures!! I would love to go to Scotland some day!
I hope you get the chance!
Imagine the good fortune of having a stone circle in your yard! All the better with the beauty of the landscape that you show us.
It is in a beautiful area.
I don’t think I’ver come across a stone circle amongst a housing estate before, but it certainly looks in good condition. Thanks for telling us about it
It’s a fascinating site.
So weird! I’ve been there and recently found so old photos of them. I was taken back by its setting, but you’re right. It’s still a magical place, perhaps more so by maintaining its integrity within the estate. I’m glad its maintained and wasn’t cleared away like so many other ancient stone monuments.
Thanks for the post.
I’m glad it’s still there too.
Beautiful, I’m now in Australia and the images are so appreciated. Blessings
I’m glad you like them 🙂
WOW, we have nothing like that around here (across the Atlantic in Virginia). It’d be so cool to visit a stone circle.
They are great places to visit 🙂
Thanks for the follow, Ailish 🙂
You’re welcome 🙂
I would LOVE to have stones like these in my yard. I think I’d hear the singing and feel the spiritual stirrings in the air every evening. 🙂
It would be an incredible thing!
Beautiful! I would love to go to Scotland.
I hope you get the chance 🙂
Very cool!
It is a really cool place 🙂
This scenery is really whetting my literary palate for your novel! Brilliant way to mentally prepare your readers for the story!
A stone circle does feature 🙂
What a lovely site you have and The Mermaid and the Bear sounds fascinating. I’ve recently done a DNA ancestry test, and now understand why I’ve always been drawn to Ireland and Scotland. At the risk of sounding odd, you have a very mystical and calm energy about you.
I take that as a great compliment 🙂
As it was intended. I look forward to reviewing your book on my site and on goodreads once I have it.
Thank you so much 🙂
I visited some of these stones, amazing mystical feeling places. Beautiful post.
I’m glad you like the post, and the stones 🙂
I love your photos of Scotland here and on Twitter. Since I probably won’t get back for another visit, your snaps of the vistas and glens and stones take me there again. Thank you.
I’m so glad you get something out of them 🙂
Wow could be reading to John Connolly book and adventures from Charlie Parker… a magical circle
🙂
All you ever hear about is Stonehenge, but are quite a few other stone circles. I’m fascinated with the history and mystery of them, thanks for sharing!
I’m glad you like them. We have over 150 stone circles here in the Grampian region.
That many? Amazing!
So beautiful. I would love to visit the highlands someday.
I hope you get to 🙂