<< Our Photo Pages >> Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) - Stone Circle in Scotland in Dumfries and Galloway

Submitted by drolaf on Saturday, 02 November 2002  Page Views: 37830

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Twelve Apostles (Dumfries)
Country: Scotland County: Dumfries and Galloway Type: Stone Circle
Nearest Town: Dumfries  Nearest Village: Newbridge
Map Ref: NX9470079400  Landranger Map Number: 84
Latitude: 55.097804N  Longitude: 3.651705W
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.
3 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 FrothNinja would like to visit

drolaf visited on 21st Jul 2020 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 4 apparently the largest circle in Scotland according to the plaque by the gate. some large gaps? so maybe originally up to 19 stones? A pleasant enough place for a picnic stop.

Greengirl visited on 3rd Feb 2020 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 4 The largest stone circle on mainland Scotland and only 5 miles from our front door, so we do probably take it for granted..It is easy to find and you can park just next to the field. There is a gate, and a signpost. Sheep in the field.

emerald visited on 19th Dec 2018 - their rating: Cond: 2 Amb: 3 Off a main road and parked by the field the stones are standing in. Weird circle, once huge

Anne T visited on 19th Sep 2014 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 5 The Twelve Apostles, Dumfries: Shortly after we moved to Irongray in 1992 and my husband was touring the county to get to know it for his work with Dumfries and Galloway Enterprise, he came home one lunchtime and said we needed to go and see a stone circle. Being then only 6 miles from our house, we went off to look. I can still remember this visit really clearly. “It’s just in a farmer’s field, with a hedge running through it.” And it was. The hedge has now been grubbed up, but the scar of where it was still remains in the field. My memory must be playing me slightly false, as we both remember the stones being smaller and the circle more compact, but this might be the result of part of the circle being cut by the hedge. Following the A75 westwards around Dumfries, turn right at the Lochside roundabout onto the A76 (Glasgow Road). (Did anyone else spot the rhino on the right hand side next to the housing estate? This used to be on top of the bus shelter, but has been moved onto a plinth of its own now). Just past a garage on the left hand side, there is a left hand turn onto Irongray Road, and follow this until you go over a quaint little bridge over Cluden Water. Then take the next right hand turn. The stone circle is on your right, and there is now a stile over the fence, although I’m guessing that most people park further up at the road junction with the B729 and use the gate into the field (which is the next turn left along the A76 if you miss the first). Sited in a gentle bowl, we wondered if the circle had been built where Cluden Water and the larger River Nith meet - the course of the rivers may have changed since the circle was built - this feels like a special place. We counted only 11 stones, but then one stone looked as if there were two next to each other. The stones are also not of the local Locharbriggs sandstone, being largely whinstone and course granite, and where they were brought from, I’ve not yet been able to identify. The RCAHMS notes say the circle is 260 feet in diameter, more in keeping with the size of a henge. One of the stones had what I took to be cup marks in an odd pattern, but the RCAHMS notes say they are caused by natural weathering. In walking up to the gate to take a few pictures to try and make into a panorama, I spotted another boulder by the roadside, next to the gate (grid reference: NX 94533 79488 – it can be seen on aerial photographs) and wondered if at one point this had been associated with the circle, and moved by the farmer in the past.

Richard13 visited on 1st Mar 2007 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 4

BolshieBoris visited on 1st Jul 1996 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 3 Access: 5

jeniferj visited - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 2 Access: 5

Runemage visited - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 4 Access from the road that runs beside it is over a stile, signposted at that point with a wooden marker.

Gongoozler have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 3.25 Ambience: 3.5 Access: 4.43

Twelve Apostles (Dumfries)
Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) submitted by Greengirl : The complete circle taken from the east end of the field. It's such a large circle that it is difficult to fit it all in one photo! (Vote or comment on this photo)
The Twelve Apostles stone circle just outside Dumfries is the largest circle in Scotland according to the plaque by the gate and the seventh biggest in the whole of Britain. There are some large gaps so possibly there were originally up to 19 stones. It is a Cumbrian style circle which is just across the water from here of course.

It is easy to find and you can park just next to the field. There is a gate, and a signpost. There are often sheep or even cows in the field.

For more information see Canmore ID. 65647.

Additional information by Greengirl.
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Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) Stone
Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) Stone submitted by vicky : A close up of another of the large stones at The Twelve Apostles near Dumfries. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Twelve Apostles (Dumfries)
Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) submitted by Greengirl : The tallest upright (Vote or comment on this photo)

Twelve Apostles (Dumfries)
Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) submitted by Runemage : Some good examples of double cupmarks on this stone. (7 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Twelve Apostles (Dumfries)
Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) submitted by kelpie : Some of the Twelve Apostles, the circle is too big to include them all NX947794 (Vote or comment on this photo)

Twelve Apostles (Dumfries)
Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) submitted by Greengirl : cup marks ( I have read that these are most likely due to natural weathering of the stone) (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Twelve Apostles (Dumfries)
Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) submitted by Bladup : Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) stone circle.

Twelve Apostles (Dumfries)
Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) submitted by Bladup

Twelve Apostles (Dumfries)
Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) submitted by postman : From the road side standing on the roof of my car.

Twelve Apostles (Dumfries)
Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) submitted by postman : November 2007

Twelve Apostles (Dumfries)
Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) submitted by postman : An old wall or something bisects the circle

Twelve Apostles (Dumfries)
Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) submitted by Runemage : Detail of quartz in one of the stones, quite a few at this site have easily visible lines of white quartz.

Twelve Apostles (Dumfries)
Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) submitted by Runemage : There are white quartz and other striations here, this stone is about 6 feet tall. (1 comment)

Twelve Apostles (Dumfries)
Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) submitted by Runemage :

Twelve Apostles (Dumfries)
Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) submitted by drolaf : western stone

Twelve Apostles (Dumfries)
Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) submitted by drolaf : Dumfries stone circle from west

Twelve Apostles (Dumfries)
Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) submitted by Antonine : 2008

Twelve Apostles (Dumfries)
Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) submitted by Antonine

Twelve Apostles (Dumfries)
Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) submitted by Antonine

Twelve Apostles (Dumfries)
Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) submitted by Antonine

Twelve Apostles (Dumfries)
Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) submitted by Antonine

Twelve Apostles (Dumfries)
Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) submitted by Greengirl : stones at southern edge of the circle

Twelve Apostles (Dumfries)
Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) submitted by Greengirl : One of the larger upright stones

Twelve Apostles (Dumfries)
Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) submitted by Greengirl : Information plaque

Twelve Apostles (Dumfries)
Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) submitted by Greengirl : The information plaque by the road next to the field.

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"Twelve Apostles (Dumfries)" | Login/Create an Account | 8 News and Comments
  
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Re: Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) by markj99 on Thursday, 09 September 2021
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Directions: From the A75 at Dumfries take the A76 Kilmarnock road off the Cuckoo Bridge Roundabout. Stay on the A76 for c. 2 miles. Take the L turn onto the B729 Dunscore/Moniaive opposite Holywood Village. After c. 0.25 miles there is a lay-by on the L side. There is an information panel on a rock. The Twelve Apostles of Hollywood are accessed via a gate at the end of the lay-by.
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Re: Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) by drolaf on Wednesday, 22 July 2020
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the plaque by the gate says it is the largest stone circle in Scotland.
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Re: Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) by Runemage on Sunday, 11 April 2010
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Street View

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Re: Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) by Anonymous on Thursday, 02 April 2009
I went from New Cumnock to Dumfries today along the A76, no signs telling people about the circle. Is it a secret for some reason? I thought we wanted tourists in this region.

I'll visit it during the summer if I can find it.

Cheers, Aulyin
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) by Anonymous on Friday, 15 May 2009
    Just surfing around and found your comment. I live in Dumfries and know where this stone circle is situated. Just a mile or so from Dumfries there is a right hand junction marked Dunscore/Moniaive (if you are travelling south, that is!). If you are to travel along this road about 600 yards, there is a left hand turning off this road just as it bends round to the right. Take this left hand turning and park your car about 200 yards along this straight. The stones will be in the field to your left. Hope this helps.
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) by Corrah on Friday, 23 May 2003
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I lived near to this site for 18 years and only just recently found out it was there. Anyway, I have since visited several times, and I really like the feel of the place.
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    Re: Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) by Anonymous on Monday, 02 June 2003
    Stu here, I live in Dumfries and have spent many hours in the circle. I began visiting the place during the lead-up to the Iraq crisis and then all through the conflict. I still go there regularly because it gives me a connection to a past that I don't fully understand.
    I have noticed that the oval-shape of the circle is offset from true North by about 3 or more degrees to the east. It's very hard to estimate just by eye but it should be about 4 to 5 minutes not 3 or more degrees
    any comments?
    love
    stu
    [ Reply to This ]
    Re: Twelve Apostles (Dumfries) by Anonymous on Monday, 04 February 2008
    there is a tv crew coming to the site onwed pm next
    [ Reply to This ]

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