Torhouse Stone Circle

Wigtownshire, United Kingdom

The Standing Stones of Torhouse are a stone circle of nineteen granite boulders on the land of Torhouse, three miles west of Wigtown. The stone circle consist of nineteen granite boulders set on a slightly raised platform. The stones have a height ranging from about 0.6 metres to 1.5 metres and are arranged in a circle with a diameter of about 22 metres. The larger stones, over 1 metre high, are on the southeast side.

Two stones stand 40 metres to the south-southeast of the stone circle, one large and the other small, and there is a stone row of three stones 130 metres to the east. There are also surviving remains of several burial cairns, and history records others long removed to build field dykes.

The stone circle has not yet been archaeologically excavated. It probably dates to the Neolithic period or the Bronze Age.

In folklore

Local tradition maintains that the three large stones in the center of the circle contained the tomb of Galdus, a mythical Scottish king. A similar story is told about one of the tombs at Cairnholy, also in Galloway.

In the dyke on the south side of the road is a stone with a deep cavity which according to tradition, 'the knowing never pass without depositing therein some pebble or gift to pass in peace'.

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Details

Founded: 4000-3000 BCE
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in United Kingdom

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Mark Johnstone (2 months ago)
Torhouse Stone Circle is like a tiger in a zoo: It is always good to see a tiger but you would prefer to see it in the wild. Torhouse Stone Circle has been hemmed in by an enclosure that detracts from its original dominating position in the landscape. I prefer my ancient sites free from information plaques and fences.
Janya Yat (4 months ago)
A beautiful place. Very relaxing just to sit and soak up the atmosphere.
Huma Claudiu (4 months ago)
A nice place, too bad it's not so much promoted.
Jules Bondy (6 months ago)
Amazing. Mysterious. If you’re interested in Neolithic history and think stone henge has been spoiled by too many visitors then this is the place for you.
Colin Harris (6 months ago)
Small but elegant stone circle. Easy parking yards from the monument. People from all over the world had left offerings.
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