Castlerigg stone circle
Castlerigg stone circle, Stone circle in Lake District, England.
The circle consists of 38 stones arranged in an elliptical pattern, with a diameter ranging from 29.5 to 32.6 meters on a hill plateau.
Built around 3200 BCE during the Late Neolithic period, this monument served as a gathering place for Stone Age communities in northern England.
The rectangular formation of ten stones inside the eastern section of the circle suggests ceremonial or astronomical observation purposes for ancient inhabitants.
Located near Keswick, the site remains open throughout the year and allows visitors to observe prominent peaks including Helvellyn, Skiddaw, and Blencathra.
The heaviest stone weighs 16 tonnes, while local slate material was used to construct this astronomical alignment pointing to Threlkeld Knott.
Location: St John's Castlerigg and Wythburn
Website: https://english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/castlerigg-stone-circle
GPS coordinates: 54.60280,-3.09843
Latest update: May 27, 2025 08:55
Stone circles stand among humanity's earliest architectural accomplishments, constructed by prehistoric communities across Europe and beyond over thousands of years. These circular arrangements of standing stones served multiple purposes, functioning as astronomical observatories where ancient peoples tracked celestial movements, seasonal changes, and solar events. The monuments also acted as communal gathering spaces for ceremonies, trade, and social activities. The engineering skills required to transport, raise, and position these massive stones—some weighing several tons—reveal the sophisticated organizational capabilities and technical knowledge of Neolithic and Bronze Age societies. This collection spans numerous locations throughout Europe. In England, Stonehenge features precisely arranged upright stones forming a 98-foot (30-meter) circle built between 3000 and 2000 BC, while the Avebury complex measures 1,086 feet (331 meters) across and dates to 2850 BC. Scotland hosts several significant sites, including the Callanish Stones with a central monolith standing 16 feet (4.8 meters) tall, and the Ring of Brodgar, which originally contained 60 stones encircled by a 30-foot (9-meter) wide ditch. The Castlerigg Stone Circle sits surrounded by Lake District peaks, constructed around 3000 BC. Beyond the British Isles, Germany's Goseck Circle demonstrates astronomical alignment dating to 4900 BC, making it one of the oldest known structures of its kind. Ireland's Drombeg Stone Circle uses 17 stones to mark solstice positions. Each site provides insight into how prehistoric communities observed the heavens, marked time, and organized their societies around these enduring monuments.
The Moot Hall
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High Rigg
2.4 km
Castlerigg Manor
1.9 km
St John's Church, St John's in the Vale
1.9 km
Keswick Museum and Art Gallery
2.2 km
Keswick Museum
2.2 km
Church of St John
2.4 km
The Dog And Gun Public House
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Police Station And Magistrates Court
2.5 km
Oddfellows Arms Public House
2.5 km
The Bank Tavern
2.6 km
Castlerigg Manor
1.9 km
Keswick War Memorial
2.3 km
Central Hotel
2.5 km
King's Arms Hotel
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Brigham Forge Cottages
1.2 km
Stone Cottage
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George Hotel
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Royal Oak Hotel
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County Hotel
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Forge Bridge
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Packhorse Inn Including Attached Former Stables
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Milestone, Shundraw T jct
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Milepost, Castlerigg
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Milepost, Nest Brow
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Milestone, Briery
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Milestone, Storms Farm
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Replacement Milestone, Storms Farm
879 mReviews
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