<< Our Photo Pages >> Goodaver - Stone Circle in England in Cornwall

Submitted by TheCaptain on Tuesday, 17 September 2002  Page Views: 17943

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Goodaver
Country: England County: Cornwall Type: Stone Circle
Nearest Town: Bodmin  Nearest Village: Bolventor
Map Ref: SX20877515  Landranger Map Number: 201
Latitude: 50.548602N  Longitude: 4.529804W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
4 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
4 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
3 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
5

Internal Links:
External Links:

I have visited· I would like to visit

Dormouse would like to visit

TheCaptain visited on 13th Jun 2025 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 3 On the way down to Penzance, I try again to visit Goodaver stone circle, this time walking up the new path from Trezibbet in the rain. I certainly wasn't going to let the wind driven rain and mist stop me! There is room to park a car carefully just opposite the new bridge by the entrance to Dozmary farm. The new bridge and path up made this visit possible, so thank you to all responsible for that. The situation of the circle is stunning, with all the conifer tree plantations removed. I never realised its prominence on its hilltop position with views all around. I didn't spend too long up there, not only all the rain, but the ground was marshy and sodden. Decided its a place to go back to on a nice day, and after all, its now easy!

Catrinm visited on 18th Jan 2025 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 3 Now accessible to the public ( with permission) and signposted , with the closest forestry gone the fantastic position of this circle can be appreciated.

TheCaptain couldn't find on 9th Jun 2023 Stop at Webbs Down near Bolventor to try to walk to the Goodaver stone circle through the forests from the north. Its very hot, and about halfway there the forest tracks are all shut off, with barbed wire and CCTV. I look at going over the rough ground to the west of the forest, but it wont be easy. I then check my route map, and realise that the 5 km walk is each way, not a full round trip. Decide this is no good, and head back to the car, but I do get to visit the stone row. Time to go to Blisland for an afternoon pint.

TheCaptain couldn't find on 11th Jun 2022 On my way down to Wadebridge today, I didn't have time for the long walk through the forest, but thought I'd try the direct ways from the Bolventor - St Cleer road down the Fowey valley. Both these ways I have seen described. Plan A. up the curvy track at Trezibbet, which is clearly seen from the raad in the valley. I asked somebody tending lambs in the barns at the bottom, and got a friendly but definite no. No way through. Private land. Plan A.2. Up either track from Goodaver, one of which shows to be a path on my OutdoorActive routeplanner. All gates and ways across the river locked. Asked a man tending a tractor. A less friendly, No. Private. So, maybe another time with half a day spare to try the forest way from the north.

markj99 visited on 20th Mar 2013 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 1 I honestly can't remember the details of approaching Goodaver Stone Circle but I retain an impression of boggy marshland and surprise to find a stone circle in such splendid isolation.

BolshieBoris visited on 1st Aug 1989 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 2

LordMureth visited - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 2

cornishstargazer celticmaiden55 cazzyjane have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 3.8 Ambience: 4.4 Access: 2.2

Goodaver
Goodaver submitted by cazzyjane : Goodaver Stone Circle, Bodmin Moor. (Vote or comment on this photo)
This 32.3m (106-foot) ring was re-erected in 1906, and close inspection suggests that several stones were either upside down or with their faces reversed. Generally, circle stones have the smooth sides facing inward and the rough sides outward.

Nevertheless, the stones appear to have been accurately located with respect to their original positions. Twenty-five stones remain out of a probable original twenty-eight, and their 3.7m (12-foot) spacing is in keeping with the Bodmin Moor group of big rings.

From Historic England "Goodaver Stone Circle, situated on a broad ridge on the south-west edge of the Goodaver Downs, bordering the east side of the upper River Fowey valley on southern Bodmin Moor. The Goodaver Stone Circle is visible as a near-circular arrangement of 23 end-set granite slabs. The plan of the stone circle is slightly flattened at the east from a true circular course and measures 31.5m east-west by 32.7m north-south. Its constituent slabs range from 0.8m to 1.3m high and are graded, with the tallest in the south-east sector opposite the smallest to the west and north-west. The slabs are fairly regularly spaced about the circle, generally 2m-3.5m apart, with larger gaps in the north, ENE, south-east and SSW sectors indicating the sites of at least seven missing slabs."

historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1007771

Access: Thankfully from 2025 access to the stone circle has been made simple and easy compared to the long and difficult access of the past. There is room to park a car carefully by the entrance to Dozmary farm. Just opposite is a new bridge across River Fowey leading to a new trackway made up the hill at Trezibbett. At the top of the hill are some new gates opening to a newly cleared bark covered trackway leading south to the circle. Just under 2km each way.
You may be viewing yesterday's version of this page. To see the most up to date information please register for a free account.


Goodaver
Goodaver submitted by TheCaptain : It is a lovely circle, but the weather was fowl and the ground all boggy, so not a day for photography! (Vote or comment on this photo)

Goodaver
Goodaver submitted by TheCaptain (Vote or comment on this photo)

Goodaver
Goodaver submitted by TheCaptain : View looking north along the ridge, with Brown Willy in the distance on the left (Vote or comment on this photo)

Goodaver
Goodaver submitted by TheCaptain : Ah, the Bodmin triangle (Vote or comment on this photo)

Goodaver
Goodaver submitted by TheCaptain : Over near the southeast corner of the field is this stone laying on the ground. Its pretty much the same as the circle stones. Is it an outlier, or one of the circle stones which has been pulled out of position? (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Goodaver
Goodaver submitted by TheCaptain : The new sign in with Goodaver stone circle

Goodaver
Goodaver submitted by TheCaptain : A new sign in the field with the circle

Goodaver
Goodaver submitted by TheCaptain : Some pictures showing the newly opened way up to Goodaver stone circle. The newly cleared bark covered trackway leading to the circle. Some of the inquisitive locals - Brown Willy in the distance. Approaching the circle, and the tops of the stones can be seen in front of the trees. At the end of the bark trackway, the gate into the field with the circle.

Goodaver
Goodaver submitted by TheCaptain : Some pictures showing the newly opened way up to Goodaver stone circle. There is room to park a car carefully just opposite the new bridge by the entrance to Dozmary Farm. The gate and new bridge across River Fowey at Trezibbett. New gates and trackway 2/3 way up the steep hill. Gates at the top of the hill leading to the newly cleared bark covered trackway.

Goodaver
Goodaver submitted by TheCaptain : I actually made it to Goodaver stone circle yesterday, something I have been trying to do for about 50 years but never succeeding. I certainly wasn't going to let the wind driven rain and mist stop me ! The new bridge and path up to the circle made this possible, and the situation of it is stunning, with all the conifer tree plantations removed. I never realised its prominence on its hilltop posit... (4 comments)

Goodaver
Goodaver submitted by Bladup : Goodaver Stone Circle from above with Brown Willy in the background, The setting summer solstice sun sets over Brown Willy when viewed from the circle (Photo courtesy of Cornwall National Landscape)

Goodaver
Goodaver submitted by Bladup : Goodaver Stone Circle with Brown Willy in the background, The midsummer solstice sunset sets over Brown Willy from the circle (Photo courtesy of Cornish Archeology)

Goodaver
Goodaver submitted by Catrinm : One arc of the circle with far reaching views to Brown Willy

Goodaver
Goodaver submitted by Bladup : Goodaver Stone Circle

Goodaver
Goodaver submitted by Bladup

Goodaver
Goodaver submitted by Bladup

Goodaver
Goodaver submitted by Bladup

Goodaver
Goodaver submitted by Bladup (2 comments)

Goodaver
Goodaver submitted by Bladup

Goodaver
Goodaver submitted by Bladup

Goodaver
Goodaver submitted by Bladup

Goodaver
Goodaver submitted by Bladup

Goodaver
Goodaver submitted by Bladup

Goodaver
Goodaver submitted by Bladup

Goodaver
Goodaver submitted by Bladup

These are just the first 25 photos of Goodaver. If you log in with a free user account you will be able to see our entire collection.

Do not use the above information on other web sites or publications without permission of the contributor.
Click here to see more info for this site

Nearby sites

Click here to view sites on an interactive OS map

Key: Red: member's photo, Blue: 3rd party photo, Yellow: other image, Green: no photo - please go there and take one, Grey: site destroyed

Download sites to:
KML (Google Earth)
GPX (GPS waypoints)
CSV (Garmin/Navman)
CSV (Excel)

To unlock full downloads you need to sign up as a Contributory Member. Otherwise downloads are limited to 50 sites.

Megalithic Mysteries by Andy Burnham


Turn off the page maps and other distractions

Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 78m SE 138° Goodaver Round Cairn* Cairn (SX20927509)
 295m WSW 244° East Dozmary Hut Circles and Field System Ancient Village or Settlement (SX20607503)
 585m NW 305° Smiths Moor Settlement Ancient Village or Settlement (SX204755)
 585m SW 231° Goodaver Settlement and Cairn Ancient Village or Settlement (SX204748)
 679m NW 310° Smiths Moor Cairn Cairn (SX20367560)
 700m NW 310° Smiths Moor Field System and Cairns Cairn (SX20357562)
 851m NW 307° Smiths Moor Hut Circles Ancient Village or Settlement (SX20217569)
 1.1km NW 308° Smiths Moor Field System Misc. Earthwork (SX20037585)
 1.5km WSW 243° Dozmary Pool* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SX195745)
 1.5km WSW 243° Dozmary Round Barrow Round Barrow(s) (SX19467450)
 1.7km SSW 203° Harrowbridge Hill Ancient Village or Settlement (SX20187364)
 1.9km NE 49° Rushyford Cairns* Barrow Cemetery (SX22357633)
 2.0km WSW 251° Pinnockshill Tumulus Round Barrow(s) (SX18957456)
 2.2km NNW 342° Carneglos Barrow* Ring Cairn (SX20287725)
 2.2km NNW 333° Carneglos settlement* Ancient Village or Settlement (SX19957715)
 2.4km WSW 252° Pinnockshill Hut Circle Ancient Village or Settlement (SX18577450)
 2.4km NE 46° Colquite Menhir* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SX22657675)
 2.4km NNW 334° Carneglos row* Stone Row / Alignment (SX19887737)
 2.4km SSW 201° Browngelly Downs* Ancient Village or Settlement (SX199729)
 2.6km NE 36° Greymare Rock* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (SX225772)
 2.7km NNE 28° East Moor menhir* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SX22227747)
 2.8km NNE 28° East Moor Stone D* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SX2230077606)
 2.9km NNE 29° East Moor stone B* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SX22357760)
 2.9km NNE 31° East Moor stone C* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SX22447757)
 2.9km NE 49° Carey Tor Settlement* Ancient Village or Settlement (SX23117698)
View more nearby sites and additional images

<< Fernacre

Wendron North >>

Please add your thoughts on this site

Cornovia: Ancient Sites of Cornwall and Scilly, Craig Weatherhill

Cornovia: Ancient Sites of Cornwall and Scilly, Craig Weatherhill

Web Links for Goodaver

Megalithic Mysteries by Andy Burnham

Sponsors

Auto-Translation (Google)

Translate from English into:

"Goodaver" | Login/Create an Account | 7 News and Comments
  
Go back to top of page    Comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content.
Re: Goodaver by TheCaptain on Thursday, 05 June 2025
(User Info | Send a Message)
Does anyone know if the new bridge and footpath are nw available to use, to get to Goodaver stone circle ?
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Goodaver by Bladup on Thursday, 05 June 2025
    (User Info | Send a Message)
    Catrinm after visiting (On i believe the opening) wrote on the 18th Jan - Now accessible to the public and signposted, with the closest forestry gone the fantastic position of this circle can be appreciated, So yes it is (Hopefully you'll finally get here, My fingers are crossed for you)
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Goodaver by TheCaptain on Tuesday, 08 October 2024
(User Info | Send a Message)
It is nice to see that this extremely difficult to get to (without trespass and fence jumping) stone circle is to get improvements and a footpath. I think I have tried and failed about 5 times to get here, now I have some hope.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg23y70xz2o
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Goodaver by Anonymous on Wednesday, 20 June 2018
visited sunday just gone really magical
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Goodaver by tombraider on Sunday, 31 July 2016
(User Info | Send a Message)
rather a hike. I approached it from further south via a little bridge over the stream at Harrowgate following a farm track going straight up most of the hill, then over one not-very formidable fence thru a belt of trees and there it was - quite a pleasant surprise.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Goodaver by rogerkread on Thursday, 30 June 2016
(User Info | Send a Message)
My route to Goodaver: easy parking on the line of the old A30 on Webbs Down beyond Cannaframe Farm. Follow the track SE towards the mast and it takes you to open access land. Tussocky (and boggy given all the rain when I was there) fields to cross, the easiest route generally being closest to the forestry. Only problem the thin wood across the way at Smith's Moor, protected by a taught barbed wire fence on each side, but not too difficult to overcome. With open access on both sides of it, it's a pity there isn't a gate! Or maybe there was and I just missed it in the mist and rain..... Proper Bodmin weather.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Goodaver by coldrum on Wednesday, 07 October 2009
(User Info | Send a Message)
Pastscape:

http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=435298
[ Reply to This ]

Your Name: Anonymous [ Register Now ]
Subject:


Add your comment or contribution to this page. Spam or offensive posts are deleted immediately, don't even bother

<<< What is five plus one as a number? (Please type the answer to this question in the little box on the left)
You can also embed videos and other things. For Youtube please copy and paste the 'embed code'.
For Google Street View please include Street View in the text.
Create a web link like this: <a href="https://www.megalithic.co.uk">This is a link</a>  

Allowed HTML is:
<p> <b> <i> <a> <img> <em> <br> <strong> <blockquote> <tt> <li> <ol> <ul> <object> <param> <embed> <iframe>

We would like to know more about this location. Please feel free to add a brief description and any relevant information in your own language.
Wir möchten mehr über diese Stätte erfahren. Bitte zögern Sie nicht, eine kurze Beschreibung und relevante Informationen in Deutsch hinzuzufügen.
Nous aimerions en savoir encore un peu sur les lieux. S'il vous plaît n'hesitez pas à ajouter une courte description et tous les renseignements pertinents dans votre propre langue.
Quisieramos informarnos un poco más de las lugares. No dude en añadir una breve descripción y otros datos relevantes en su propio idioma.