Glengorm, Isle of Mull
Nearly 60% of the stone rows are within sight of the sea. Often the view feels contrived. Take a few steps in one direction or lower your head by a foot and it disappears. Rarely, the sea dominates the vista but even on those occasions an estuary or other feature may be at the limit of visibility. Work on Dartmoor has demonstrated that there is a relationship between the siting of stone rows and the sea and we can therefore be confident that the reason so many have a sea view is because this was of significance to their builders and they chose to incorporate it. The restricted nature of the sea view at so many rows is worth emphasising and provides an insight into what was important to the row builders. We can only speculate at why it was important, but we can be confident the row builders sought to incorporate a mixture of the elements of their world into what ever it was they did at the rows and where available the sea was welcomed into their grand design.
A series of photographs and other illustrations showing the nature of the sea views at the stone rows is presented below. There is a huge element of fortune involved in getting an image of any sort. Poor visibility, forestry or the sun being in the wrong place are the most common reasons for failing to capture a photograph and so for the moment the evidence for some sites is limited to viewshed analysis. Experience has shown that this is normally reliable, but on occasions the underlying data throws up errors which means that some of the rows may not have sea views, whilst others may have. It is hoped that further visits may resolve some of these issues. If you spot any errors please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Distribution of stone rows with a sea view.
A pair of restricted sea views at Achnancarranan.
Originally from this angle the sea views would each have been separated by the stones. Fallen stone shown in its approximate original location.
More extensive but still restricted views of the sea to the south of Achnancarranan stone row.
Restricted views of the sea exist at Airigh Na Gaoithe where a myriad of lochans create a very watery context.
A restricted view of the sea exists at Ardnacross, North stone row.
Restricted sea views at Ardnacross, South stone row.
Restricted sea view at Arthog stone row.
⊗ At Auldearn stone row dense tree cover means that the restricted sea views are not currently visible.
Restricted sea view at Baliscate stone row.
Restricted sea view at Ballinaby stone row. Elsewhere along the row it is much more restricted than this.
Sea view at Ballochroy stone row.
⊗ At Ballymeanoch stone row a hedge means that the restricted sea views are not currently visible.
Restricted view of the sea under winter light at Bancbryn stone row. Dramatic horizontal light beams such as this are found at a significant number of rows.
Restricted sea view at Battle Moss, Loch Of Yarrows stone row.
Restricted sea view at Benjamy stone row.
Restricted sea view from the top of Black Tor (Stanlake) stone row.
According to Heywhatsthat.com there are ten separate sea views at Black Tor Avon stone row.
Slivers of sea visible from Blashaval stone row.
⊗ Viewshed analysis indicates that restricted sea views were available at Borlum stone row.
Restricted views of a sea loch at Brainport Bay stone row.
⊗ Viewshed analysis indicates that restricted sea views were available at Bray Common stone row.
Restricted sea views exist at the top of Brent Fore Hill stone row.
There are restricted sea views at Brodgar Farm stone row.
There are restricted sea views at Broughwhin stone row.
Restricted sea view at Broughwhin Loch stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are restricted sea views at Brwyno-Canol stone row.
Restricted sea view at Bryn Seward stone row.
Plymouth Sound is visible from the lower part of the row at Burford Down.
A sliver of sea is visible to the south from the top of the stone row at Burford Down.
Plymouth Sound and a separate sliver of sea is visible at Butterbrook 1
Plymouth Sound and a separate sliver of sea is visible at Butterbrook 2
Slivers of sea at the limit of visibility at the western end of Butterdon, East stone.
Restricted and varied views of Plymouth Sound and the sea beyond exist at Butterdon Hill Row.
Pockets of sea surrounded by land at Callanish 5.
Restricted “closed” sea view at Callanish West.
Slivers of sea at Callanish, East and North stone rows.
Restricted sea views at Callanish, South
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are limited sea views at Cantrell stone row.
Restricted north western sea view from the lower end of the stone row at Cardinham Moor/Colvannick.
Restricted southern sea view at the upper end of the stone row at Cardinham Moor/Colvannick Tor.
Restricted view of the sea and Hartland Point from the northern end of Careg Lwyd 1 stone row.
Restricted view of the sea and Hartland Point from the southern end of Careg Lwyd 2 stone row.
Restricted sea view behind the standing stone at Carragh a’Ghlinne stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are limited sea views at Carreg Cadno stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are limited sea views at Chains Valley stone row.
Restricted sea view at Cheriton Ridge SE stone row.
Sea view separated by high ground at Cheriton Ridge, Central stone row.
Restricted sea view north of Cheriton Ridge, North stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there were limited sea views at Cholwichtown stone row.
Slivers of sea beyond the stones at Clach An Tursa.
Sea view at Clash-an-dam stone row restricted by nearby rising ground.
Restricted sea view at Clochkeil stone row.
Restricted western sea view towards St. Kilda at Cnoc na Grèine stone row. ©Meg Rodger.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are restricted sea views at Collard Tor East and West.
Restricted view of the Tay Estuary at Commonbank stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are very restricted sea views at Conies Down.
There are very restricted sea views at Corringdon Ball, North stone row.
There are very restricted sea views at Corringdon Ball, South stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are very restricted sea views at Cosdon stone row.
Restricted sea view at Creag Bhreac Mhor stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are restricted sea views at Culbone Hill stone row.
Far reaching views from Cut Hill stone row include restricted views of the sea.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are very restricted sea views at Dail Na Drochaide stone row.
There are very restricted sea views at the top of Drizzlecombe 1 stone row.
There are a pair of restricted sea views at the upper end of Drizzlecombe 2 stone row.
There are very restricted sea views at Drizzlecombe 3 stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are restricted sea views at Druim Na Ceud stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are restricted sea views at Drumtroddan stone row.
Restricted sea view at Escart stone row.
Restricted sea view at Eyre Alignment.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there is a very restricted sea view from the top of Fernworthy 1. Dense forestry makes visual assessment impossible at present.
A mixture of widespread and very restricted sea views are found along the length of Fonllech stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are restricted sea views at Furzehill Common 2 stone row.
A long narrow strip of sea topped by South Wales is visible at Furzehill Common 3.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are very restricted sea views at Furzehill Common 5 stone row.
Restricted sea view at Garrywhin stone row.
A sliver of sea surrounded by land at Garynahine, Cnoc Fillibhir Mhor stone row.
There are restricted sea views at Glasscombe Ball N stone row.
There are very restricted sea views at Glasscombe Corner stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are very restricted sea views at Glen Shiel stone row.
A pair of “closed ” sea views at Glengorm stone row.
The Severn Estuary at Gray Hill stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are restricted sea views at Groat’s Loch, North (Broughwhin III).
Restricted sea view at Groat’s Loch, South stone row.
According to viewshed analysis there are very restricted sea views from the bottom of the row at Hart Tor, North. A visit confirmed this but unfortunately it was not possible to photograph.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are very restricted sea views at High Bride Stones stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are sea views at Higher Town Bay stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are very restricted sea views at Higher White Tor stone row.
Sea view at Hill O’ Many Stanes, Clyth stone row.
Very restricted sea view from the northern end of Hingston Hill stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are restricted sea views at Holne Moor stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are very restricted sea views at Hook Lake stone row.
Restricted view of the adjacent sea loch partly obscured by trees at Inveryne stone row.
Restricted sea view at Kenidjack Common stone row.
Restricted eastern sea view from the top of of Lacra NE stone row.
Restricted western sea view from the top of Lacra SW stone row.
Restricted sea view at Lag stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are restricted sea views at Langstone Moor stone row.
There is a very restricted sea view at the top of Laughter Tor 1 stone row.
There is a very restricted sea view at Laughter Tor 2 stone row.
According to viewshed analysis there is a very restricted sea view at the bottom of the Leeden Tor stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there is a very restricted sea view at the top of the Little Links Tor stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there is a restricted sea view at Loch Buie stone row.
Sea view at Longstone Barrow stone row.
Restricted view of sea and high ground in South Wales from Madacombe stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are restricted sea views at Maol Mor stone row. Dense forestry makes visual assessment impossible at the moment.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are restricted sea views at the site of Mattocks Down stone row.
Restricted sea view from the western length of Merrivale 1 stone row.
Restricted sea view at the western end of Merrivale 2 stone row.
Restricted sea view from Merrivale 3 stone row.
Restricted sea view from Merrivale 4, 5 and 6 stone rows.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are restricted sea views at the site of Milton stone row.
Restricted sea view at Minions stone row.
Restricted sea view at Mynydd Clywedog stone row.
Restricted sea view at Nine Maidens stone row.
Restricted sea view at the top of North Ings stone row.
Restricted sea view and Hartland Point at North Regis Common stone row.
Restricted sea view at Old Castle Hill stone row.
Restricted sea view at Parc y Meirw stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there is a restricted sea view at Pen-Feidr-Coedan stone row.
Far reaching sea views exist at Penn Beacon South stone row.
A narrow sliver of sea at the limit of visbility at Penn Beacon South West stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are restricted sea views at Pig Hill stone row.
A series of ever changing restricted sea views at Piles Hill stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are restricted sea views at Porlock Allotment stone row.
Restricted view of the Bristol Channel at Porlock Common NE stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are restricted sea views at Porlock Common SW stone row.
A sliver of sea at Quinish stone row.
⊗ There is a restricted sea view at the top of the Ringmoor Down stone row.
The sea view at Rinns Of Shurdimires stone row is particularly prominent.
Sea view at S46 Scarista, Harris stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there is a sea view at Sannaig stone row. Dense forestry means that visual assessment is not currently possible.
Restricted sea view at Scallastle stone row.
Restricted sea views at Sgealtrabhal – Skeal Traval stone row.
Restricted “stacked” sea views from the top of Sharpitor NW 1 stone row.
Restricted “stacked” sea views from Sharpitor NW 2 stone row.
A glimpse of the estuary and the sea beyond at Sharpitor W stone row.
Restricted view of Plymouth Sound from the top of Shaugh Moor stone row.
Sea views of Plymouth Sound and more general sea views at Shell Top SW stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are restricted sea views at Shoveldown 1 stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are restricted sea views at Shoveldown 5 stone row.
Restricted sea view at Shoveldown 6 stone row.
Restricted view of Plymouth Sound at the lower end of Spurrell’s Cross stone row.
Sea View at Stalldown stone row.
Several restricted sea views of Stalldown SE stone row.
Restricted sea views at Stannon stone row.
Restricted sea views at Stravanan Bay stone row.
Restricted sea views at Swarth Howe stone row.
Restricted sea view at The Kirk stone row.
Restricted sea view at Thornworthy Little Common stone row.
Restricted sea views at Tolborough Tor stone row. The prominent cairn on Carburrow Tor separates the sea views.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there would have been restricted sea views at Treeland Brake stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are restricted sea views at Trehudreth Downs stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are restricted sea views at Trendlebere Down stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are restricted sea views at Troed y rhiw stone row.
There are restricted sea views at Trowlesworthy 1 stone row.
A sliver of sea at Uluvalt stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there were restricted sea views at Upper Dounreay stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are restricted sea views at Upper Erme Row.
Restricted sea view at Warcombe Water, West stone row.
Restricted sea view at Watenan Farm stone row.
Restricted sea view at Watenan, East stone row.
Restricted sea view at Watenan, West stone row.
Sea View at Waun Oer stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are restricted sea views at White Ladder stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are restricted sea views at Wilmersham Common, North stone row.
Restricted view of the sea and South Wales at Winnaway stone row.
Restricted sea view at the upper end of Yar Tor stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis there are restricted sea views at Yelland stone row.
The Stone Rows of Great Britain 