Castlerigg Stone Circle

All pictures copyright © 2000 Martin McCarthy

Location Map

Long view of the circle, looking northeast Large Image (44kb 744x478) Looking southwest Large Image (52kb 752x450) The north arc, looking southeast Large Image (42kb 768x502) Looking east Large Image (36kb 752x387) The eastern arc, looking southwest Large Image (37kb 744x464) The eastern arc, looking southwest Large Image (29kb 833x352) The southern arc, looking southwest Large Image (52kb 874x473) The eastern arc, looking north Large Image (54kb 752x453) The internal setting of stones on the eastern arc, looking east Large Image (49kb 722x457) Looking across the circle to the entrance at the north Large Image (49kb 760x445) Looking north Large Image (30kb 810x359) Another northerly view Large Image (31kb 837x375) The eastern arc, looking northeast Large Image (48kb 680x423) Looking south Large Image (37kb 831x431)

This circle, generally considered to be one of the earliest British circles, stands in a magnificent setting surrounded my the mountains of the Lake District. There are 38 stones in the setting - a further four stones are now missing - which has a diameter of 95 to 108 feet, being a slightly flattened circle. The tallest of the stones is about six feet. There is a clear entrance on the north side of the circle. Within the ring is a smaller setting of low stones. A stone axe was found within the circle and several others were found in the surrounding countryside.