Is this Britain's OLDEST Stone Circle? Unearthing the Mysteries of Castlerigg

Castlerigg Stone Circle may be well over 700 years older than the Pyramids of Giza. It may be... the OLDEST stone circle in Britain!

Key sources mentioned:

Clare, T., The Prehistoric Monuments of the Lake District, History Press (2007)

Oswald, A and Durgeat, C. A new survey of The Carles stone circle, Castlerigg, Cumbria. In Hey G., and Frodsham, P. New Light on the Neolithic of Northern England, 203-9. (2021).

[Jordan_Starr]

My favourite stone circle 🥰

I was in a very dark place last year and honestly, i felt like i didnt want to be around anymore.

I decided to take myself off to the lake district for some alone time and to think about if i was actually serious about wanting to end things.

I made it my mission to go back to castlerigg as it's always been a place that makes me feel at peace. And I cant drive so it took a bit of organisation - but somehow i made it.

I actually ran from the gate in the field to the stones themselves - then i walked around touching every single stone. I couldnt stop smiling. I'm sure it looked very strange, this 35yr old woman all on her own running and laughing around the stones. But for once i didn't care.

Those stones have been there for thousands of years, and im still here now. I like to think they reminded me that there was still so much beauty and mystery in the world thats worth sticking around for.

Thank you for this video, can't wait to check out the rest of your channel 💕

[Stoitism]

Great video. I live a short drive away and visit the circle quite regularly. It's a great place to spend the day with a blanket and a book. You meet some real characters up there!

As a local there's speculation about the crowns of some the stones being shaped to mirror the surrounding fells. And when you look closely some of the stones do seem to look that way. However after so many thousand years of weathering it's hard to be certain. But its a fun idea to contemplate.

[hollyharries]

Thank you. Just visited Orkney and heard about the Cloud Axe head sourced from Langdale pikes. Held it in my hand. Magical. Love Castlerigg scenery, there last year.

[IlSqueak]

Dagnabbit! A new (to me) You Tuber talking about stuff I'm interested in! This means I'm going to have to go through your back catalogue now! Fantastic!
Castlerigg is where I took my now wife on our first non-pub date, so this means a lot to me. It also means that I have to find the other 3 circles up there (went to see Long Meg and the kids on the same afternoon).

[paulcannell]

I love Castlerigg circle. I used to shoot through between Glasgow and Liverpool on my motorbike. A semi nomadic expat. Keswick was always a good spot to stop and do my laundry. The laundrette had a butty shop next to it. While my laundry was going, I’d grab a butty and head to Castlerigg and enjoy my lunch up there. Lovely spot.

[emmsue]

Thank you, have subscribed. Fascinating! This entire area has a feeling around it if its a quiet day.

[jamiebooth]

Informative clear and entertaining as always, thanks Adam

[seantuohy]

We've just visited from Australia. I found it on a Google maps search but the aerial view doesn't give any idea of its place in the landscape. The fall-away in all directions with the mountains as backdrop; what an amazing place, I can see why they built it there. A magic afternoon!

[mrradman]

I was there last week in the early evening on a beautiful sunny day.
The atmosphere and the setting were magical.

[helenamcginty]

My favourite circle. The optical illusion of its being at the centre of a circle of hills. Brilliant.

[medwayhospitalprotest]

Years ago I was on holiday with my mum in The Lakes and we stopped here at my request on the way to the nearest town. I sat down on the grass and enjoyed the absolutely spectacular setting. I could have sat there all afternoon but mother dearest wanted to move along, so it was all of ten minutes instead. Perhaps one day I will return! What an absolute knockout smashing location for a stone circle. I've been to many, both here and overseas and it is still one of my favourites.

[ENLSN]

I love Castlerigg SC. Spent many an hour just being there and enjoying the views too (when it's a nice day). I first went approx 2010 and afterwards thought of travelling to Stone Henge one day.
In 2019 i completed my wish, I was there ten minutes and had to leave. Creepy place.. and commercially ruined.. I won't be going back.
They might be both made of stone and form a circle but they're not the same thing.

[bongofury]

your picture of Professor Burl made me grin from ear to ear. he was a magical man

[eoeoibbx]

Just in time for my upcoming trip to the Lake District. I have already seen Avebury, Callanish (twice), some cup and ring markings in Aberfeldy, Perthshire and I am ready to delve deeper into the monolithic treasures of Cumbria.

[stexoneoneone]

Thanks I love this stone circle. Nobody else has noticed the W&I music "Marwood's Theme"

[PaulEcosse]

Fair play to the medieval farmers who worked around the circle, when they could just as easily have removed it to give themselves more space.

[beccabbea]

Very interesting and informative, I did enjoy your presentation. Thank you.

[davidhollingdale]

My ex-partner and I visited this magnificent place many times in the Noughties
I never got tired of going there.She and I speculated that the builders were attempting to recreate the surrounding hills and mountains.
I hope to return one day. 👍

[tonybmw]

I'm lucky enough to have Castlerigg near enough on my doorstep and the best time to visit is in winter as you stand a chance of having it to yourself. If there is ever an Aurora it's a spectacular place to see it from. (It was amazing a month or so back when we got that really powerful CME which made the aurora visible across England.)

[spindelnett]

Long Meg and the Druid's Circle are pretty-much on my doorstep, while there's also the diminuitive Little Meg group and Glassonby Stone Circle nearby if you know where to look. Castlerigg is a lovely and short motorbike ride on my way to Keswick. I'm glad this is my homeland.