The watch stone standing between Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar Orkney. SCO 5702

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The Watchstone and the Midwinter solstice. At this time, the sun sets in its most southerly position. From the Watchstone, viewing the winter solstice sunset, the sun disappears behind Ward Hill on Hoy for a few minutes, before being "reborn" briefly at the bottom of the hill's northern slope. A few days after the solstice, the sun sets behind Ward Hill, but this time reappears in a horizon "notch" formed by the island's hills. This phenomenon prompted the idea that the stone was perhaps a marker for watching the sun's progress as it sets further and further south. The various marker points afforded by the Hoy hills would allow the watcher to gauge the approach of the solstice.

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Size: 3763px × 5571px
Location: Standing Stones, Stenness, Mainland Orkney, Highland Region Scotland
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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