The Megalithic Portal's Top 15 Stone Rows in England

Submitted by Andy B on Wednesday, 24 September 2025 Page Views: 6977

Neolithic and Bronze AgeCountry: England Type: Stone Row / Alignment

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Something we did in our book The Old Stones, was to attempt objective ratings of the best of various types of megalithic monuments to visit in Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland. We did this by analysing numbers of visits, and ratings left for the various sites by visitors to the Megalithic Portal. Here is one of the lists we worked out - a run down of the best stone rows to visit in England - featuring many wonderful Dartmoor examples, and others you may not know.

1. The Devil’s Arrows, near Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire

Three massive stones remain in this dramatic stone row 174m (570ft) long, the stones ranging between 5.5m (18ft) and 6.8m (22ft 3in), with a further 1.5m (5ft) of each stone hidden below ground. The gritstone has weathered into grooves at the top of the stones, giving them a characterful appearance. It is thought the central stone was one of a pair, and there may have been a total of five stones here originally, with one stone broken up to build a bridge c.1600. The very close proximity of the A1(M) indicates the importance of this glacial ridge as an ancient north–south transport link.

2. Merrivale, Dartmoor

In a stunning setting above the River Walkham, Merrivale lives up to its name of “pleasant valley”, and, for Dartmoor, is pretty accessible. The two main double stone rows march roughly east to west across the moor and are almost parallel, about 25m (82ft) apart. Row 1 is now 183m (600ft) long and probably once extended further to the west. There is a blocking stone at its eastern end, as well as the remains of a kerbed cairn.

Row 2 is a fine 263.5m (863ft) double row, with blocking stones at both ends; the large, triangular one to the east is particularly impressive. There is a kerbed cairn at its centre, built on top of the row. A fine cist (pictured right,with our group who recently visited) lies just south of Row 2, close to a single stone row (Row 3) that ends in a small cairn. This row extends for at least 60m (196ft). There are another three shorter stones rows close to Merrivale standing stone. If you park by the B3357 and walk up, you’ll pass through part of a Bronze Age settlement. It's such a huge area that you should definitely keep an eye on where your kids are and make sure to take a mobile phone, water if it's hot and suitable clothing if it's cold.

3. Down Tor, Dartmoor

This stone row undulates with the contours of the land, rising at both ends from
a central low point. The drama of the uphill approach to the stone circle is enhanced by an increase in the size of the stones as the row leads up to an impressive 2.7m (9ft) terminal pillar just before the circle. In all it’s 349m (1,145ft) long A compass is useful for the 2km (11⁄4 mile) walk east from the car park at the northeast end of Burrator Reservoir.

4. West Kennet Avenue, Avebury, Wiltshire

The West Kennet Avenue, runs for an incredible 2.4km (1½ miles) in a southeasterly direction from the Avebury circle and likely terminates at The Sanctuary. Burials have been found at the bottom of some of the stones. It seems likely that, as Aubrey Burl suggests, avenues such as this were built in stretches, over the years, by different generations of people. It could be there is male / female imagery in the stone shapes, and their arrangement in relation to one another is probably significant in ways we cannot fathom.

5. Hurston Ridge, Dartmoor

This fine double stone row lies approximately NE/SW on a ridge at the south end of Chagford Common. It is best reached by parking near the Warren House Inn and walking up Water Hill, then follow the reave in a North Westerly direction. The cairn end of the row comes into view first as the row runs down hill, it is cut part the way down by the wall of a Bronze Age enclosure which contains the remains of 7 huts. The double row consists of 99 stones in 49 pairs, with a blocking stone at the opposite end to the cairn, and well worth a visit.

With many thanks to Martyn Copcutt, Sandy Gerrard, Angie Lake, Mspy, StoneLee and Robin Potticary (Humbucker) for their kind assistance with this article.

Here's the rest of our Top 15 list, visit these pages for more on each site:

6. Stalldon (Devon) www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=531
7. Nine Maidens Stone Row (Cornwall) www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=2066
8. Cosdon Hill Multiple Stone Rows (Devon) www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=1858
9. Shovel Down Multiple Stone Rows (Devon) www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=10387
10. Challacombe (Devon) www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=1819
11. Stanton Drew Avenue (Somerset) www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=2145
12. Drizzlecombe (Devon) www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=1906
13. Shap Avenue (Cumbria) www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=2115
14. The Low Bridestones (Yorkshire) www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=1416
15. Kenidjack Common Holed Stones (Cornwall) www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=1987

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