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Guidebest is a Bronze Age stone circle situated near Latheronwheel Burn in Caithness, northern Scotland. The monument stands upon bedrock of Middle Old Red Sandstone, a formation dating to the Middle Devonian period comprising conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone. This geological foundation, exposed across much of the Caithness landscape, would have been familiar to the Bronze Age communities who erected the circle, likely between 2500 and 1000 BC.
Stone circles of this type served important ceremonial, astronomical or burial functions within prehistoric communities. The Caithness landscape contains several such monuments, reflecting the area's significance during the Bronze Age. The proximity of Latheronwheel Burn would have provided essential freshwater to those gathering at the site.
Guidebest is protected as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM453, recognising its archaeological importance and national heritage value. The protection ensures that the circle and its immediate surroundings remain preserved for future study and public appreciation.
Guidebest, stone circle, Latheronwheel Burn is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM453. View the official record →
Guidebest is a Bronze Age stone circle situated near Latheronwheel Burn in Caithness, northern Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM453.
Guidebest, stone circle, Latheronwheel Burn dates from the bronze age period, and is classified as a stone circle, latheronwheel burn. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Guidebest, stone circle, Latheronwheel Burn is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM453.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Knockinnon,broch (4.1 km), Bridge of Rhemullen,broch 180m SW of (4.9 km), Ballachly,chapel and graveyard 90m SW of (5.3 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Guidebest, stone circle, Latheronwheel Burn's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Guidebest, stone circle, Latheronwheel Burn stands on Middle Old Red Sandstone (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Middle Devonian. The rock here is conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone.