HeritagePhoto Wikimedia CommonsCastlerigg Stone Circle
United Kingdom
Set on a hill with a wonderous panorama of magnificent mountains all around are 48 stones, set here over 5000 years ago. This is Castlerigg stone circle, the ancient haunt of Druids, so the romantic Victorians thought. Today its real purpose is still shrouded in mystery but you will see few stone circles in Britain in such a dramatic setting as that of Castlerigg. A short walk and you are in the circle itself where you can soak up the atmosphere and wonder at the breathtaking views.
Contents
9 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Castlerigg Stone Circle
Welcome to the breathtaking heights of the Cumbrian Lake District, and to a site that represents one of the most evocative, mysterious, and awe inspiring prehistoric monuments in all of the British Isles. You have arrived at the…
Listen in the app2The Entrance Gate and Historic Stewardship
Welcome to the boundary between the modern present and the deep prehistoric past. As you stand before the wooden gate leading from Castle Lonen into the field, pause for a moment to consider the profound transition you are about…
Listen in the app3The Northern Portal and Architectural Scale
As you approach the northern perimeter of the stone circle, direct your attention to the two particularly large, prominent stones that seem to stand as silent sentinels. This distinct pairing is widely recognized by…
Listen in the app4The Eastern Sanctuary and the Inner Sanctum
Moving clockwise along the perimeter of the great circle, we arrive at the eastern quadrant, which houses the most highly unusual and deeply mysterious architectural feature of the entire Castlerigg monument. Look closely at the…
Listen in the app5The Bronze Age Cairns and the Stone Axe Trade
Lingering in the eastern half of the monument, we must delve beneath the visible surface to uncover a hidden layer of Castlerigg’s complex history. While the towering stones represent the initial Neolithic vision, the site…
Listen in the app6The Western Perimeter and the Counting Legend
Let us now cross the wide, grassy interior and approach the western perimeter of the stone circle. Here, the character of the monument shifts slightly, presenting a mix of standing orthostats and fallen giants. …
Listen in the app7The Southern Gap and the Lost Roman Fort
Continuing our journey to the southern boundary of the circle, we encounter another deliberate break in the continuous ring of stones. Here, a wide, sweeping gap opens the circle outwards, presenting what is widely considered to…
Listen in the app8The Outlier Stone and Phenomenological Mysteries
For our final specific stop within the immediate vicinity of the monument, turn your gaze away from the main circle and look towards the drystone wall to the southwest. There, standing isolated in the grass, is a solitary…
Listen in the app9Closing
As our detailed exploration of the Castlerigg Stone Circle draws to a close, take a moment to stand near the center of the monument and simply absorb the profound stillness of the Cumbrian landscape. If you have the luxury of…
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What is Castlerigg Stone Circle?
Castlerigg Stone Circle is a place in United Kingdom with 9 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 9 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 54.6028, -3.0984 |
| Last updated |