Historic Scotland: 'The Stones of Stenness are open all year round and free to visit.' No hours, closures or notices on 20 October 2026. Free ranger-led Stenness and Barnhouse walks, no booking needed, run on Wednesdays from 10am to 11am on selected dates until 31 March 2027 (Orkney Ranger Service, 07920 450 540); the route is fairly flat but can be muddy, and there is no shelter.
The stones stand in a small grass field entered through a metal gate, which must be closed because sheep graze there; no toilets on site. The Barnhouse Neolithic settlement is a short walk beyond the stones.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome on a lead: HES's free ranger walks around the stones are dog-friendly with dogs kept on leads throughout, and sheep graze the field.
Photo: Three of the tall Stones of Stenness on a sunny day, with the Loch of Stenness and Orkney hills behind. Stevekeiretsu, CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Standing_Stones_of_Stenness,_Aug_2014.jpg. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0. Resized and cropped for display; derivatives retain the source licence.
