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<< Our Photo Pages >> Gamelands - Stone Circle in England in Cumbria

Submitted by Anne T on Saturday, 23 October 2021  Page Views: 17836

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Gamelands Alternative Name: Orton
Country: England County: Cumbria Type: Stone Circle
Nearest Town: Kendal  Nearest Village: Orton
Map Ref: NY64010816  Landranger Map Number: 91
Latitude: 54.467525N  Longitude: 2.556787W
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
3 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
5 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.
4 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

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I have visited· I would like to visit

SumDoood KeeleyJane would like to visit

bishop_pam visited on 29th Sep 2020 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 4

drolaf visited on 5th Aug 2020 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 4

NorthernerInLondon visited on 9th Dec 2014 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 4 Great circle to visit. Almost better than Long Meg and her daughters. Circle itself is not in the greatest of conditions but on a quiet evening nothing is better. Great views of the surrounding mountains and a real peacefulness.

Anne T visited on 7th Sep 2014 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 4 Gamelands Stone Circle, near Orton, Cumbria: By now, it was late afternoon, with the evening rapidly approaching, and almost time to head off home. From the Oddendale Cairns and Stone Circle we headed off in search of something to eat and drink before finding Gamelands. In Orton, we found the Chocolate Factory still open and busy, so stopped off for very welcome refreshments. I found navigating to this stone circle tricky, as it’s on the edge of two map sheets, so we took the wrong road out of Orton before identifying the right minor road, signposted to Raisbeck. Following the B6261 past a minor crossroads just out of Orton village (the left hand side being Street Lane), the B road shortly afterwards turns to the right; the minor road needed to get to Gamelands Stone Circle carrying straight on to Knott Lane, signposted as ‘Public Byway leading over Knott Green to Public Bridleway’. Knott Lane is about 1 mile east of Orton. When we visited, there was a large pile of stones, being used to repair the bridleway blocking part of the entrance, but the minor road was wide enough (just) to bump up onto the grass verge and leave the car to walk up Knott Lane. As we walked up the bridleway, we didn’t see the stone circle until we were almost upon it. The farmer has put in what looks like a relatively new wooden kissing gate to let people access the field, which was refreshingly nice. Thank you, Mr. Farmer! This is one of the largest stone circles we’ve seen in this area; the Visit Cumbria website tells me that this circle is some 100 yards in circumference. All the stones have fallen, and it must have been impressive when they stood upright. This stone circle (oval) is certainly in a lovely location and very tranquil. It is situated on a plateau immediately below the impressive Knott Scar which rises up to the North, with spectacular views over the Eden Valley and the North Pennines. I got to see at close hand how the Shap Red Granite is made up – with large ‘tabular’ feldspar crystals glinting out from the whole. My husband has seen this type of granite polished and used in construction projects/buildings, and if our ancestors did polish these stones, then this circle must have been fantastic when it was created. After spending some time here, just soaking in the atmosphere, we left to go home, with one final stop, at Raise Howe Tumulus, which was on our way home. A glorious afternoon, very well spent.

markj99 visited on 1st Mar 2014 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 4 This ruined stone circle has a presence greater than its physical footprint. It has no typical standing stones but the N half is well delineated as is the S Arc. The location reminded me of Drummore Stone Circle near Kirkudbright however the remains of Gamelands Stone Circle are more impressive.

WindC visited on 9th Oct 2011 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 3 This circle is, and feels, so very incomplete. The stone wall that passes close by, is too near, invading their already robbed space There where 6 boulders of Shap granite, who may well have come from that site, around an area I wandered. brilliant if they could be moved back/ or too the site, and if someone/s could figure out how they, and where they should be. There's sure to be more around.. Many stone walls with older stone posts.

BolshieBoris visited on 1st Jan 1995 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 3 Access: 4

Runemage visited - their rating: Amb: 5 Access: 4 Not very well known locally, none of the staff in our hotel had heard of it.

MAIGO nicoladidsbury kelpie have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 3.29 Ambience: 4.13 Access: 3.88

Gamelands
Gamelands submitted by drolaf : View of Gamelands from just up the hill. From here you can also still see the cairns at Raisbeck. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Gamelands embanked stone circle in Cumbria has an oval enclosure of 40 large stones, all fallen, and three additional smaller stones. This view is from just up the hill, where you can also see the cairns at Raisbeck (see nearby site list). All of the Gamelands stones are shap pink granite apart from one which is limestone. None exceed 0.9m in height and their circumferences at ground level vary between 1.9m and 3.8m. The stones are set into a slight bank approximately 2.5m wide and up to 0.2m high.

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Gamelands
Gamelands submitted by rich32 : Gamelands at 8am-ish on 2nd Jan (4 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Gamelands
Gamelands submitted by rich32 : Gamelands about 3pm on New Years day. (3 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Gamelands
Gamelands submitted by Anne T : Looking north over the western edge of the circle to Knott Scar which dominates the northern horizon. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Gamelands
Gamelands submitted by Runemage : X marks the spot in a lovely stone of Shap granite. This circle is also known as Orton. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Gamelands
Gamelands submitted by nicoladidsbury : Sunset at Gamelands Aug 2002 Rich32's New Years Day 06 images reminded me of a fantastic sunset I saw a few years ago at Gamelands. Unfortunately I was unable capture the stones and the sunset sky effectively, but the sunset was certainly very beautiful. (3 comments)

Gamelands
Gamelands submitted by stonesy : The monument is Gamelands embanked stone circle. It is located on gently sloping land immediately south of the foot of limestone upland known as Knott. The monument includes an oval enclosure of 40 large stones, all of which have fallen, and three smaller stones. All of the stones are Shap pink granite with the exception of one which is limestone. None exceed 0.9m in height and their circumference...

Gamelands
Gamelands submitted by WindC : Looking towards Castle Folds settlement , from Gamelands.

Gamelands
Gamelands submitted by WindC : Less than 1/2 mile from this incomplete circle is a barn, the boulder supporting it's bottom left looks very much like those of the circle. 9 October, 2011.

Gamelands
Gamelands submitted by Antonine : Visited 2014

Gamelands
Gamelands submitted by stonesy : The stone circle is oval shaped, 44.5 by 37.5 metres, built on a low bank. It used to have 40 stones but farming over 100 years ago has either damaged or reduced them, so there are now only 33 stones left and it is classed as a flattened and embanked stone circle as they stand no more than 1 metre high.

Gamelands
Gamelands submitted by drolaf : did I forget to say-this is a great location

Gamelands
Gamelands submitted by drolaf : Shame the farmer uses the field for cows, but the stones seem ok.

Gamelands
Gamelands submitted by SumDoood : This seems to be the only obvious carving-type marking on any of the stones of the circle. It's on the top of a stone in the NW segment. It doesn't exactly match the circle's irregular oval shape, 42.1m x 35.1m, but it is 40cm x 30cm, and similarly aligned. Burl makes no mention of the marking, nor does anyone else, as far as I know, so it's probably of no consequence!

Gamelands
Gamelands submitted by Bladup : Gamelands stone circle.

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Gamelands submitted by Bladup

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Gamelands submitted by Bladup

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Gamelands submitted by Bladup

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Gamelands submitted by Bladup

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Gamelands submitted by Bladup

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Gamelands submitted by Bladup

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Gamelands submitted by Bladup

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Gamelands submitted by Anne T : One of the stones, furthest from the gate and almost against the stone wall, shows signs of greater weathering than any of the others.

Gamelands
Gamelands submitted by Anne T : Standing on higher ground at the northern end of the field, looking over Gamelands Stone Circle to what I think is the Eden Valley and the foothills of the northern pennines.

Gamelands
Gamelands submitted by Charles_Paxton : Gamelands circle at night with lights of Penrith to the north

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 1.5km ENE 57° Raisbeck Wood* Round Cairn (NY65260896)
 1.5km NE 39° Castle Folds* Ancient Village or Settlement (NY64990936)
 2.5km NNW 333° Penhurrock* Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue (NY62881043)
 2.7km ENE 71° Little Kinmond Cairn* Cairn (NY66540899)
 2.8km NNW 327° Howe Robin Ancient Village or Settlement (NY625105)
 3.1km NNE 12° Gaythorn Plain* Ring Cairn (NY647112)
 3.4km ENE 62° Muddygill Plain, Great Asby Scar* Cairn (NY6704309747)
 3.5km NE 38° Ling Bank North Settlement/Enclosures* Ancient Village or Settlement (NY6616310906)
 3.5km NE 42° Ling Bank South Prehistoric Settlement/Enclosures* Ancient Village or Settlement (NY6639910793)
 3.7km NNE 18° Hollin Stump Cairn* Cairn (NY652117)
 3.8km NW 313° Kings Well spring* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NY612108)
 3.9km NNE 12° Gaythorne Plain Round Cairns* Cairn (NY64811193)
 4.0km NW 313° Hazel Moor Enclosure* Ancient Village or Settlement (NY611109)
 4.0km E 87° Howes Well ring cairn* Ring Cairn (NY6804908373)
 4.3km NE 50° Asby Common Ancient Village or Settlement (NY673109)
 4.5km ESE 101° Raiset Pike* Long Barrow (NY68400725)
 4.5km NNW 336° Burwens Ancient Village or Settlement (NY622123)
 4.5km NW 318° White Hag Round cairn* Round Cairn (NY61011158)
 4.6km NNW 327° Cow Green Long Barrow* Long Barrow (NY61541199)
 4.8km NW 316° White Hag* Stone Circle (NY60721160)
 4.9km N 356° Raise Howe Cairn* Cairn (NY63711303)
 5.1km NW 314° Wicker Street* Cairn (NY60411173)
 5.2km E 86° Little Asby Scar Round Cairn* Round Cairn (NY6920808493)
 5.2km NNW 345° Howarcles Ancient Village or Settlement (NY627132)
 5.4km WNW 300° Long Scar Pike* Cairn (NY5933810862)
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"Gamelands" | Login/Create an Account | 4 News and Comments
  
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Re: gamelands by drolaf on Sunday, 09 August 2020
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I counted 31 main stones, 21 in the northern arc and 10 in the southern arc. I don’t think any are missing in the large NW SE gaps as there are no obvious hollows so the large gaps may be deliberate. They follow the line of the valley to the large double cairns at Sunbiggin.

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Re: Gamelands by SumDoood on Sunday, 05 January 2020
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(Sooner or later I'll go back for another look and get an accurate location but), normally concealed by herbaceous plant growth, within the boundaries of the trackway, close to 54.469855, -2.556354 is a big enough boulder of Shap granite as used in the circle's construction. It's close to due N of the circle's centre. Although we never will find out, it would be good to know which way it was travelling on its last journey.
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Howes Well by Andy B on Monday, 13 June 2011
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Site called Howes Well was listed at NY640081, assuming this was a duplicate I have removed that entry
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Howes Well by HeronEye on Sunday, 02 March 2014
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    Gamelands is not identical with Howes Well.

    Howes Well is the ring cairn at 681083 (SMR 40601), which is named as Sunbiggin Tarn ring cairn here on this site.

    I was searching for any mention of Howes Well on the web and was surprised to see it listed as an alternate name for Gamelands. I don't believe Gamelands has any alternative names - I live just down the road from it and think I would know if it did :)



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