Where to start with this sprawling collection of cairns, standing stones and stone circles? This is Scotlands most extensive collection of Neolithic and Bronze Age remains, and a place I’ve been to a lot over the years. Its sheer scale and scope made it tricky to tackle, but last year (2023), the Winter Solstice gave me a different angle.

The idea was to capture the monuments at the moment the sun rose and the nights began to recede . Of course, in reality, this is Scotland in midwinter. There was no sun to be found, and the darkness gave way to only a less-darkness in a somewhat drenching mizzle, but the moment still had power.

I focused mostly on the Nether Largie standing stones which run North/South (ish) and the Temple Wood stone circle which is about 100m away. These are the parts I know best, and so where I felt most at home while trying to create music.

Even so, I could revisit this site over and over again, making new work alongside any of the cairns, other standing stones or even the nearby Dunadd hill fort.

The pictures are mostly dark, but hey, midwinter!

Here’s the piece:

And the trailer film…