3000 BC Stone Circle at Castlerigg, Lake District, Cumbria, UK.
Mar 3, 2019 12:52:42 #
We packed a case and set off for a short break near Keswick. We left home in fog and mist that continued for two days whilst away! On the morning of our return home the sun came out.
We called at Castlerigg to see the stone circle on our way to the hotel, the first two shots show the inclement weather. Decided to call back on the way home to take more shots for you to see in the sunshine.
The Stones of Castlerigg overlook the Thirlmere Valley with the mountains of High Seat and Helvellyn as a backdrop.
It is not just its location that makes this one of the most important British stone circles. Thought to have been constructed about 3000 BC, it is potentially one of the earliest in the country. Taken into guardianship in 1883, it was also one of the first monuments in the country to be recommended for preservation by the state.
Although there are more than 300 stone circles in Britain, the great majority of them are Bronze Age burial monuments (dating from about 2000–800 BC) containing cremations in central pits or beneath small central cairns. Castlerigg does not contain formal burials.
The Neolithic stone circles also differ from those of the later Bronze Age in their generally larger size and often flattened circular shape – as is found at Castlerigg – comprising an open circle of many large stones. Castlerigg is about 97½ ft (30 metres) in diameter, and formerly comprised 42 stones. There are now only 38 stones, which vary in height from 3¼ ft (1 metre) to 7½ ft (2.3 metres).
Canon 650D, 10-18 lens
Please try the downloads.
We called at Castlerigg to see the stone circle on our way to the hotel, the first two shots show the inclement weather. Decided to call back on the way home to take more shots for you to see in the sunshine.
The Stones of Castlerigg overlook the Thirlmere Valley with the mountains of High Seat and Helvellyn as a backdrop.
It is not just its location that makes this one of the most important British stone circles. Thought to have been constructed about 3000 BC, it is potentially one of the earliest in the country. Taken into guardianship in 1883, it was also one of the first monuments in the country to be recommended for preservation by the state.
Although there are more than 300 stone circles in Britain, the great majority of them are Bronze Age burial monuments (dating from about 2000–800 BC) containing cremations in central pits or beneath small central cairns. Castlerigg does not contain formal burials.
The Neolithic stone circles also differ from those of the later Bronze Age in their generally larger size and often flattened circular shape – as is found at Castlerigg – comprising an open circle of many large stones. Castlerigg is about 97½ ft (30 metres) in diameter, and formerly comprised 42 stones. There are now only 38 stones, which vary in height from 3¼ ft (1 metre) to 7½ ft (2.3 metres).
Canon 650D, 10-18 lens
Please try the downloads.
Mar 3, 2019 12:55:27 #
Mar 3, 2019 12:57:12 #
Mar 3, 2019 13:07:33 #
Mar 3, 2019 13:08:31 #
Mar 3, 2019 13:10:13 #
Mar 3, 2019 13:12:25 #
Wonderful set, Sylvia. Your narrative always add a personal touch to your images. Well done.
Mar 3, 2019 13:26:27 #
Mar 3, 2019 14:08:13 #
James56 wrote:
Amazing sights, thanks for sharing.
My pleasure James. So pleased you stopped by and enjoyed the stones and thank you very much for commenting.
Mar 3, 2019 14:09:21 #
Longshadow wrote:
Nice set!
Thank you very much Longshadow for looking in and your comments. Happy to know you enjoyed them.
Mar 3, 2019 14:12:59 #
twowindsbear wrote:
Is this site older than Stonehenge?
Thanks
Thanks
No Stonehenge is 5000BC. Thank you very much for looking in twowindsbear.
Mar 3, 2019 14:13:57 #
Sylvias wrote:
We packed a case and set off for a short break nea... (show quote)
Nice lighting and or clouds in these images.
Mar 3, 2019 14:15:58 #
Sylvia, your inclement weather provides a very appealing mood. I love those shots as well as all the others. This is a neat series, both beautiful and educational!
Mar 3, 2019 14:17:28 #
Cany143 wrote:
Wow. Just wow!
Thank you very much Cany for the wows. Pleased you enjoyed the stones. Just for you another shot I forgot to post.
Mar 3, 2019 14:23:50 #
An interesting introduction and delightful series of images. The distant past is always a mystery trying to be explained, similar to our Native American pictographs/petroglyphs. You've documented this mystery very well, Sylvias...really enjoyed the downloads. 
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