“…beside the lake are stones high and broad, in height equal to a spear, and in an equal circle of half a mile.”

At Stenness stands a stone circle over 4,000 years old. The stones are surrounded by a ditch cut into the bedrock.

The Ring of Brodgar was described in the 16th century by Jo Ben in his Descriptio Insularum Orchadiarum as “In height equal to a spear.” 
There are a dozen people here, all with cameras looking for a wide-angle sunset photograph with a dramatic sky with characterful clouds. There’s not going to be one tonight. However I try to frame my photograph, there’s always at least one disappointed photographer in there.

I walk away, far from the circle, and take a telephoto shot of just some of the stones. They seem to be in conversation with one another. If only we could hear what they have to say.