Name: Castlerigg Stone Circle
Rating: 5.0

Castlerigg Stone Circle

Castle Lane, Keswick, UK

1-99 Years

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Description

Castlerigg Stone Circle is perhaps the most atmospheric and dramatically sited of all British stone circles, with panoramic views and the mountains of Helvellyn and High Seat as a backdrop. It is also among the earliest British circles, raised in about 3000 BC during the Neolithic period.

It is not just its location that makes this one of the most important British stone circles. Thought to have been constructed about 3000 BC, it is potentially one of the earliest in the country. Taken into guardianship in 1883, it was also one of the first monuments in the country to be recommended for preservation by the state.

Free Entry. If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

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Host birthday parties: No

Features

History of Castlerigg Stone Circle: There are few stone circles in Britain in such a dramatic setting as that of Castlerigg, which overlooks the Thirlmere Valley with the mountains of High Seat and Helvellyn as a backdrop.
It is not just its location that makes this one of the most important British stone circles. Thought to have been constructed about 3000 BC, it is potentially one of the earliest in the country. Taken into guardianship in 1883, it was also one of the first monuments in the country to be recommended for preservation by the state.
Although there are more than 300 stone circles in Britain, the great majority of them are Bronze Age burial monuments (dating from about 2000–800 BC) containing cremations in central pits or beneath small central cairns. By contrast, their Neolithic forebears, such as Castlerigg, Swinside in the southern part of the Lake District, and Long Meg and her Daughters in the Eden Valley, do not contain formal burials.
The Neolithic stone circles also differ from those of the later Bronze Age in their generally larger size and often flattened circular shape – as is found at Castlerigg – comprising an open circle of many large stones. Castlerigg is about 97½ ft (30 metres) in diameter, and formerly comprised 42 stones. There are now only 38 stones, which vary in height from 3¼ ft (1 metre) to 7½ ft (2.3 metres).
Neolithic stone circles typically have an entrance and at least one outlying stone. The entrance at Castlerigg, on the north side of the circle, is flanked by two massive upright stones, and the outlier is presently to the west-south-west of the stone circle, on the west side of the field adjacent to a stile; this stone has been moved from its original position. It has been suggested that such outlying stones had astronomical significance – alignments with planets or stars – although examination of those in early stone circles elsewhere in Britain has shown that there are no consistent orientations for them.
Grounds: Please take extra care when moving through and around the stones of the site as the ground is particularly muddy and can be slippery given recent weather conditions.

Facilities

Parking: Limited parking is available at the site. Walking from the centre of Keswick to the stones takes approximately 30 minutes. Please consider using public transport. See the Stagecoach website for details of services around the Lake District.
Dogs: Dogs on leads are welcome. Please be aware that the site is grazed by sheep.

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Free Entry.

Pricing URL: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/castlerigg-stone-circle/#beforeyougo

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Open any reasonable time during daylight hours.

Address: Castle Lane, Keswick, UK

Post Code: CA12 4RN

Council: Cumberland

County: Cumbria

Road Access: 1 1⁄2 miles east of Keswick.
Bus Access: Stagecoach ‘Caldbeck Rambler’ service 73A (Sat only) passes the site. Otherwise Stagecoach 555 or X8 (Sat only) to Castle Lane then a 1m walk.
Train Access: Penrith 16 miles.
Bicycle Access: Find this site on The National Cycle Network.
Parking: Limited parking is available at the site. Walking from the centre of Keswick to the stones takes approximately 30 minutes. Please consider using public transport. See the Stagecoach website for details of services around the Lake District.