Castlerigg is one of the most beautiful stone circles in Britain, set in a splendid position, in an open field crowned by the Lake District’s mountains, 213m (700ft) above sea level. It is thought to be one of the earliest circles in Britain, and it dates from around 3000 BC.
Thirty-eight stones are placed in an slightly oval shape of 30m (100ft) in diameter; a further 10 small stones are arranged as a rectangular enclosure on the south-east side of the ring: this is a feature unique to Castlerigg, nothing similar being present in other stone circles. The largest stone of the circle, not far from the enclosure, is 2.5m (8ft 3in) high and it weighs about 16 tons: most of the others, much smaller, are 1 to 1.5m (3-5ft) high. At the north of the ring is an entrance marked by two slightly bigger stones, and about 90m (295ft) to the south-west, by a stile at the edge of the field, is a single outlying stone, 0.9m (3ft) high.
We were in this part of England and at this sight in May of 2006. The Lake District was a beautiful place to walk. I’m really itching to get back to Great Britain now that I’ve learned a few things through blogging about taking photographs :0)
To see more Outdoor Wednesday posts visit Susan at A Southern Daydreamer.
Photobucket is holding all my photos I stored with them from 2007-2015 hostage unless I pay them a lot of money. I’m slowly cleaning up many posts from this time period and deleting their ugly grey and black boxes with a ransom request. Such a time consuming bother.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
I’m itching to go back there too. I didn’t know about Castlerigg. Thanks for the info. Did you ever make it to Avebury?
Happy Outdoor Wednesday Ellen!
Beautiful photo…I didn’t know about Castlerigg…learned something new today!
Thanks for sharing your photos.
Susan
Hi, Ellen …
What a beautiful place … and to have actually been there must have been wonderful.
Thank you for sharing it with us.
Sincerely,
Janie
What an interesting place! I haven’t heard of this particular spot. A 16 ton stone? This brings all kinds of questions to my mind.
Thanks for sharing Englands outdoors.
Wonderful Outdoor Wednesday post.
I think you might enjoy reading Circle of the Year. I don’t recall the link. It can be found on my blog list on the sidebar. The author is a woman, known as Rowan. She writes the most amazing posts about the vicinity of England where she resides. Beautiful photos and delightful, informative posts.
Looks so very peaceful and who wouldn’t want to go back there?
Great photo Ellen
Happy OW
Love Claudie
xo
How intrguing this is, Ellen! I’d love to visit England again, too. It’s a wonderful country! Thanks for sharing this picture. As usual, your work is wonderful!
Happy OW!
XO,
Sheila 🙂
What a beautiful scenery! I don’t blame you for wanting to go back…. Christine
I would love to visit there. Your pics are beautiful and I hope you can get back and get some more!! Cindy
Yup. Add me to line of people who wish to go back to England…or Wales, or Scotland, or Ireland…
I will need to add Castlerigg to my “Bucket List.” What a peaceful setting! Enjoyed your description of the thirty-eight stones and the picture posted for OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY.
Joyce
yes, but WHY were the stone circles made inthe first place??
What a beautiful place. I don’t blame you for wanting to go back. Thanks for the interesting info also. Kathy
I never knew about Castlerigg. It’s beautiful!
Beautiful place, and to think you got to visit it. I also hope you get to go back and take more pics.
thank you for sharing.
Blessings,
Sue
How magnificent. I love the UK, but I didn’t know about Castlerigg. Another gorgeous British landscape.
Karen
Beautiful with such a neat story there. We really enjoyed Stonehenge when we visited a few years ago. All the questions and mysteries are fasinating.
-Kim
That’s really cool! And the grass is sooo green…pretty 🙂
What a beautiful photo! I didn’t realize stone circles were that far north. I’ve seen Stonehenge and Avebury but I thought they were all contained in that area. Amazing! Did you visit Beatrix Potter’s farm?
All the best, Lana
What a beautiful place and how lucky to have seen it first hand. I need to get out more. Thanks for sharing, Maryrose
The landscape is so stark in Britain, with the bare hills and plains. It really brings out the stone circles and other landmarks.
I didn’t realize the stone circles were that far north. I’ve seen others in the general vicinity of Stonehenge, such as at Avebury. While you were in the Lake District did you see Beatrix Potter’s farm? That’s on my “to do” list.
So pretty and lush! I hadn’t heard of Castlerigg before and enjoyed all your wonderful information! You really do wander around our beautiful world:)
I have never heard of Castlerigg – but am glad I stopped to get educated about it.
Have a lovely day!
Those stones are so fascinating. I would love to visit Great Britian too. The grass is so beautiful and green. what a peaceful place to pondr what it was like back in the time those stones had a purpose.
Thanks for sharing.
Hugs…Jeanne
Hi Ellen B.,
Those Brit’s come up with the most interesting things. Do you know if there’s any history about its use? I would love to go to Britain too! Especially the Lake District.
I hope your having a wonderful day!
xoxo Cori G.
Wonderful post. Love the pics with the history of the area!
JudyBug