It is situated about 2+3⁄4 miles (4.4 km) to the northeast of Inverurie at the end of a south-facing hillside just outside the hamlet of Kirkton of Bourtie.

It stands on arable land near a minor road at an altitude of 515 ft (157 m) above sea level, with the Hill of Barra prominently visible to the north.

Writing in the late 18th century, the Rev Thomas Shepherd referred to the presence in the area of "three Druidical circles here, two of them pretty entire".

Half a century later, only two of those remained, namely Kirkton of Bourtie and Sheldon stone circle, the latter of which was said to be in "a state of considerable preservation".

"[3] The circle was scheduled by the Office of Works as an ancient monument in 1925, but its interior remained under the plough until as late as 1999.