Beginning in Penrith and ending in Keswick, this one day journey visits two of the most striking stone sircles in Cumbria.
Sites to be Visited
Long Meg and Her Daughters Stone Circle
Castlerigg Stone Circle
Journey to Two Stone Circle Sites in Cumbria
The two sites listed here may be visited in one day as the entire route is only 32 miles (51.5 km).
Our journey departs from the Cumbrian town of Penrith, located at (NY515305)
Our first stone circle to visit is Long Meg and Her Daughters, 7.5 miles (12.1 km) from Penrith and located at (NGR NY571372). This Bronze Age stone circle is the third largest in England. The 59 existing stones (the Daughters) - there were originally 70 or so - form an oval of approximately 328 feet by 305 feet. Twenty-seven of the 59 existing stones are still standing. Long Meg is a 12 foot high block south-west from the center of the circle. There are some ring and spiral carvings on Long Meg. Detailed Driving Directions Map
Our next stone circle to visit is Castlerigg, 22.9 miles (36.8 km) away at (NGR NY291236). Considered by many as the most beautifully sited stone circle in the UK, it sits atop an open field in Cumbria surrounded by several Lake District mountains and is 700 feet above sea level. One of the earliest stone circles in the U.K., it is thought to be from the beginning of the later Neolithic Period or about 3,000 B.C.
Almost 100 feet in diameter, the stone circle consists of 38 stones. Within the circle is an inner ring of 10 standing stones. Detailed Driving Directions Map.
To end our journey, we venture to the Cumbrian town of Keswick, located a short 1.6 miles (2.6 km) away at (NGR NY270233). Detailed Driving Directions Map
1.7 miles (2.7km)
Visitors Information
Information on the many stone circles in Cumbria may be found at
Historic UK Guide website, which also contains information on the Swinside Stone Circle, located not too far from Keswick. General tourist information may be found at the Cumbria Tourism website.
Disclaimer
As of the date of this posting, road directions and conditions are correct. Please check local road conditions, however, for possible changes prior to venturing forth on this journey. A helpful resource for road changes and possible trip interruptions if you are travelling in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland is the AA-UK Route Planner. Another map source that this website uses and that may be useful to you on your journeys is Streemap UK.
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