<< Our Photo Pages >> Castlerigg - Stone Circle in England in Cumbria
Submitted by H_Fenton on Tuesday, 19 December 2023 Page Views: 78196
Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Castlerigg Alternative Name: The Carles; Druid's CircleCountry: England County: Cumbria Type: Stone Circle
Nearest Town: Keswick Nearest Village: Castlerigg
Map Ref: NY29132363 Landranger Map Number: 89
Latitude: 54.602849N Longitude: 3.098584W
Condition:
5 | Perfect |
4 | Almost Perfect |
3 | Reasonable but with some damage |
2 | Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site |
1 | Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks |
0 | No data. |
-1 | Completely destroyed |
5 | Superb |
4 | Good |
3 | Ordinary |
2 | Not Good |
1 | Awful |
0 | No data. |
5 | Can be driven to, probably with disabled access |
4 | Short walk on a footpath |
3 | Requiring a bit more of a walk |
2 | A long walk |
1 | In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find |
0 | No data. |
5 | co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates |
4 | co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map |
3 | co-ordinates scaled from a bad map |
2 | co-ordinates of the nearest village |
1 | co-ordinates of the nearest town |
0 | no data |
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External Links:
I have visited· I would like to visit
TysonM 43559959 Kamba dierkrosselle jay1971 rogergw Vandora jimstone rrmoser would like to visit
Pressure visited on 22nd Oct 2022 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 5 Absolutely chuffing marvellous. Wanted to come here for decades and it did not disappoint. Probably the most beautiful setting of any stone circle in Britain.
bishop_pam visited on 28th Sep 2020 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 4 Access: 5 Very crowded today, will have to come back when it’s quieter!
DJMace visited on 22nd Nov 2019 - their rating: Amb: 5 Access: 5
sba_dk visited on 10th Jul 2018 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 5
MicheleW visited on 1st Jan 2017 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 5
Marko visited on 4th Oct 2016 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 4 Access: 5
trystan_hughes visited on 13th Apr 2016 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 5
Aurora_skygazer visited on 13th Mar 2016 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 4 Castlerigg Stone Ring
Castle Lane, Underskiddaw, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 4RN
Castlerigg is a huge ancient ring of 38 stones (previously 42) — one of the oldest in Britain, believed to have been set up by Neolithic people around 3000 BC. It looks dramatic against a panoramic backdrop of High Seat and Helvellyn mountains, which still had a light covering of snow over the tops when we visited the stone circle before the recent Spring Equinox. Two enormous stones stand upright on the north side, marking its entrance, and there is an outlying stone slightly south-west of the ring (moved from its original position!). Inside the Castlerigg ring is a small rectangle of standing stones — an unusual feature for stone circles.
Castlerigg looks well cared for by English Heritage, and entry is free during daytimes. It overlooks the Thirlmere Valley and is about a half-hour scenic walk from Keswick in the Lake District National Park. Those unable to walk may find limited parking in Castle Lane, beside the field containing the stone ring — be aware that parking space is very limited in the narrow lane, so best to avoid bank holiday weekends and school holidays if you can!
kthdsn visited on 10th May 2014 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 5
NorthernerInLondon visited on 9th Mar 2014 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 4
Kimmy visited on 1st Jan 2014 Georgous but usually busy . Visited here many times
soulsurfer visited on 21st Sep 2013 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 4 One of the best for location.
MartinJEley visited on 10th Sep 2013 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 5 Although I had visited the Lake District many times over the years this was my first visit to this incredible stone circle. The stone circle in itself is well maintained. Once on site the special location with the surrounding circle of mountain peaks make it easy to understand why this location was chosen.
Custer visited on 3rd Apr 2013 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 5 Access: 5 very peaceful only few people around awesome position spectacular
ModernExplorers visited on 2nd Mar 2013 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 3 Access: 5 Lovely Stone Circle with some interestingly shaped mountains nearby
SueS visited on 16th May 2011 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 5 The site is on a whaleback hill with views of the Lake District hills all round. the best access is from the Keswick - Penrith road, on the signposted road from Penrith side of the hill . There is another road from the Keswick side but it is very narrow and steep - not a recommended route.
There is quite a lot of roadside parking.
I sent up my kite at about 5pm and took photos from a camera hanging on the kite line. I am pleased to have taken one of the whole circle and also some of the close-ups have come out well.
SteveC visited on 21st Sep 2010 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 5 Also visited 17/04/2009
jeffrep visited on 20th Sep 2006 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 5
ForestWalker visited on 1st Sep 2004 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 4 Access: 5 I loved my visit here, it is surrounded by a beautiful landscape. Always worth a visit when near.
megalithicmatt visited on 1st Jan 2004 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 5 Great site!
Richard13 visited on 1st Nov 2003 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 5
Chrus visited on 1st Jan 2001 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 4
bigbobswinden visited on 1st Sep 1999 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 5 In perfect conditions we parked around mid day in the lane and walked directly onto the site. I am not a very relgious person, but standing in the middle of this circle and scanning the 306deg view of mountains towering over you at some distance was humbling and I think religious.
We decided to return that night, and for the first time in my life I clearly saw the Milky Way. It was fantastic.
woodini254 visited on 12th May 1997 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 4
BolshieBoris visited on 1st Jan 1992 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 5
shawid visited on 3rd Jan 1969 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 5
Twistytwirly visited - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 5
coin visited - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 3 Access: 5
kith visited - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 4
hevveh Tonnox drolaf Humbucker ATBlackcat Bladup attlebax DrewParsons TheCaptain h_fenton PhilipT rldixon TheWhiteRider nicoladidsbury sorschaL Andy B kelpie StoneLee NickyD Alma23 mrcrow have visited here
Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 4.33 Ambience: 4.68 Access: 4.79
Under the guardianship of the National Trust, Castlerigg is one of the UK’s earliest stone circles, dating to the Neolithic around 3000BC. Of the 38 stones, most of which are glacial erratics, 33 still stand, while a further 10 form a rectangular enclosure or sanctuary inside the ring, a feature unique to this site.
Most of the stones are around 1m in height, but those closer to the entrances at the north and south are larger. The tallest stone is over 2m high, weighing around 15 tonnes. An outlying stone (not in its original position) is located 90m to the south-west close to a dry stone wall.
For more information and photographs see Pastscape Monument No. 9828. The Journal of Antiquities also features a page for this stone circle - see their entry for Castlerigg Stone Circle, Keswick, Cumbria, which includes a description of the site, an old photograph of the stone circle, and a brief debate about its use. The Journal adds: " One of the stones at the eastern side is said to be magnetic in nature, the whole site acting, perhaps, as a kind of powerpoint. A number of leylines are said to pass through the circle".
Page originally by Vicky.
Note: Top photo: The constellation of Orion and a small Geminid meteor above Castlerigg stone circle
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