A Long Walk With A Quiet Stone Circle
Submitted by Andy_B on Friday, 09 October 2026 Page Views: 8
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Setting Out Across Wet Pasture
The first kilometre follows the farm track past Swinside Farm, its ruts filled with brown water and cattle prints pressed deep into the mud. At the gate just beyond the buildings, the track narrows to a grassy lane with views north to Black Combe. It is about 2.5 km from the road to the circle, with roughly 150m of gentle ascent, but the ground makes it feel longer, especially in November when the rushes hide ankle-deep hollows.What Lives In The Daypack
On this sort of walk the daypack becomes a small, moving shelf of essentials. A laminated 1:25,000 OS Explorer OL6 map is folded to show the grid square around NY 239 825, where Swinside sits on its low spur. A light waterproof is stuffed near the top, along with a wool hat, fingerless gloves, and a compact first-aid kit wedged flat against the back panel. There is a notebook as well, with a stub of pencil secured by gaffer tape.Food takes more space than expected: oatcakes in a tin, a wedge of Wensleydale, and a flask that still feels hot through the metal an hour after leaving the car. Some walkers slip smaller comforts into the hip belt pockets as well, a habitual collection that might include lip balm, a small camera, or discreet nicotine pouches from brands such as Snusfree or collections labelled fix zero nicotine free, ordered in advance from home and tucked away without fuss (snusfree.com/collections/fix-zero).
Closing In On The Stones
Beyond the last gate the circle finally comes into view, a ring of pale stones set on a slight platform above the surrounding pasture. Swinside is smaller than Castlerigg but more complete, with thirty or so upright stones still standing from an original count of around 55, enclosing a space roughly 26 m across. The tallest stones on the southwest arc reach close to 2 m, catching what little light filters through the cloud.The approach is quiet apart from wind in the rushes and the occasional call from the sheep on the lower slopes. The circle sits at about 250 m above sea level, just high enough to feel apart from the farms and lanes below. The entrance, slightly offset on the south-southeast side, lines up with a distant notch between low hills rather than any dramatic peak, and the visitor has to turn slowly to find the best alignment for photographs.
The daypack is shrugged off and becomes a makeshift table on the damp turf, its contents spread just enough to find the notebook and a second layer as the wind picks up. From here the farm track back to Crag Hall and the thin strip of A595 is just visible, a reminder that this circle, for all its age, still fits within an ordinary walking day. The stones keep their long watch, and the walker, warmed by tea and small comforts from that carefully packed bag, lingers a little longer before turning back down the slope.
