A genuine wonder. The Ring of Brodgar is a Neolithic stone circle 104 metres across — the third largest in the British Isles — with 27 of its original 60 stones still standing. It sits on a narrow strip of land between the lochs of Stenness and Harray, a setting so striking that the place feels charged before you have read a word about it.
Entry is free and the site is open at all hours. Go at dawn or dusk for the best light and the fewest people. Combine with the nearby Stones of Stenness and Maeshowe — all part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site. Wear waterproofs; the wind is rarely off.