At more than 5.5 metres tall, the Watchstone is one of Orkney’s most imposing standing stones.

It’s found at the Brig o’ Brodgar with the Standing Stones of Stenness just before it, and the Ring of Brodgar beyond. Given its location and connection to these other sites, it’s clear it was an important part of what became the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site.

Archaeologists believe the Watchstone was put in place more than five thousand years ago, but aside from that very little is known about the stone. It could have originally been one of a pair – a similar-sized stump was found nearby during roadworks in the 1930s – or perhaps part of a stone circle long since lost under the waters of the Stenness Loch.

Whatever its history, these days it’s an eye-catching sight, looming large over the thin bridge between the lochs that leads towards some of Orkney’s richest archaeology.