Devil's Arrows

Devil's Arrows are three upright sandstone columns arranged in a line, each rising between 6 and 7 meters high in the flat landscape of northern England. They form a striking formation that stands out distinctly in the surrounding terrain.

These stones were erected during the Neolithic period and came from Plumpton Rocks quarry, located roughly 14 kilometers away. They were set up as a ritual or boundary marker and have survived thousands of years.

The stones take their name from a local legend dating to the 1700s, which says the devil threw them as arrows toward the nearby town of Aldborough. This story continues to shape how locals perceive and talk about the place today.

The stones stand about 46 meters from the A168 road, making them easy to reach without long walks from the road. A straightforward approach from the roadside makes them a convenient stop for those interested in prehistoric sites in the area.

The sandstone columns bear visible grooves and channels carved by rainwater over thousands of years, giving the stones a ridged appearance. These natural patterns tell the story of many centuries of weathering on the hard stone.

Location: Boroughbridge

Height: 7 m

Made from material: sandstone

GPS coordinates: 54.09300,-1.40347

Latest update: December 8, 2025 13:42