Aikey Brae is also the site of a stone circle and was until the last century the site of the largest horse fair in the North of Scotland. The fair was held on the third Wednesday of July when legend has it that the sacred remains of St Drostan, founder of Deer Abbey were laid to rest.

You can walk round Aikey Brae and try to imagine the atmosphere of the fair, the sounds of the bloody battle and the stone circle rituals.

Aberdeenshire has the highest concentration of stone circles in mainland Britain. Many of which have survived for thousands of years relatively unscathed. The central Buchan area can offer a unique window to the past, with stunning stone circles in breathtaking unspoilt settings.

These historic sites have not been turned into brash tourist attractions - they are open, year-round to visitors. Why not soak up the tranquillity of these sites and enjoy a connection with our ancestors. Please use the map references on this page to plan your visit.

 

Above: Aikey (or Parkhouse) stone circle.

Below: Louden Wood stone circle.

Aikey Brae (near Old Deer NJ959471)

Berrybrae (near Crimond NK028572)

Loudon wood (near Pitfour estates NJ962497)

Netherton (near Crimond NK043578)

Strichen (NJ937545)

Auchmachar (near Old Deer NJ948503)

Gaval (near Fetterangus NJ981585)

Auchmachar Bronze Age Long Cairn (NJ945504)

Memsie Bronze Age Burial Cairn (NJ976620)

White Cow Wood Cairn Circle (near Loudon NJ947519)

Cairncatto (near Longside NK074421)

Den of Boddam (NK113414)

Skelmuir (near Stuartfield NJ986414)

Auchmachar Clump remains of a Beaker Settlement. (NJ948506)