Castlerigg Stone Circle
Posted by: Hard Oiler
N 54° 36.168 W 003° 05.898
30U E 493649 N 6050597
Castlerigg is one of the most scenic stone circles in the UK, set in an open field surrounded by the Lake District's mountains.
Waymark Code: WMCVM
Location: United Kingdom
Date Posted: 05/17/2006
Views: 53
Castlerigg is thought to be one of the earliest stone circles in Britain, and dates from around 3000 BC although other sources put it somewhat later.
Thirty-eight stones are placed in a slightly oval shape 30m in diameter; with a further 10 small stones arranged as a rectangular enclosure, known as the Sanctuary, on the east side - a feature unique to Castlerigg. . The largest stone of the circle, not far from the enclosure, is 2.5m high and it weighs about 16 tons: most of the others, are 1 to 1.5m high.
Castlerigg Stone Circle was listed as an ancient monument in 1883 and given to the National Trust in 1913 who now manage the site for English Heritage.