© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic Environment Scotland
Southside is a Bronze Age standing stone located in Orkney, Scotland, 130 metres south-west of the settlement from which it takes its name. The monument stands upon bedrock of Middle Old Red Sandstone, formed during the Middle Devonian period, comprising conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone. This local stone would have been readily available to the Bronze Age communities who erected the monument, though the standing stone itself may have been selected for its particular size, shape or colour to distinguish it within the landscape.
The stone forms part of Orkney's rich heritage of Bronze Age monuments. Such standing stones typically served ritual, territorial or astronomical functions within prehistoric communities, though their precise original purposes remain subject to interpretation. The exposed position on Orkney's rolling terrain would have made the stone visible across considerable distances, marking a significant location in the ancient landscape.
The monument is protected by Historic Environment Scotland under the designation SM1381, recognising its importance as an archaeological and cultural asset. Despite the weathering effects of Orkney's maritime climate and the passage of over three thousand years, the standing stone survives as a tangible connection to the Bronze Age inhabitants of these northern islands.
Southside,standing stone 130m SW of is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1381. View the official record →
Southside is a Bronze Age standing stone located in Orkney, Scotland, 130 metres south-west of the settlement from which it takes its name. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1381.
Southside,standing stone 130m SW of dates from the bronze age period, and is classified as a standing stone. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Southside,standing stone 130m SW of 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 SM1381.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Stackel Brae,castle,Maltbarn,Eday (0.5 km), Greentoft, burnt mound 350m SSW of, Eday (0.9 km), The Manse, chambered cairn and church 330m WNW of, Eday (3.2 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Southside,standing stone 130m SW of'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.
Southside,standing stone 130m SW of stands on Middle Old Red Sandstone (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Middle Devonian. The rock here is conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone.