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Lat/Long: 56.8305180, -4.2213910
OS Grid ref: NN 64551 73205
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A cold clear morning as I set off north along the M6. It was
0degC when I left and -7degC when I got to Tebay then up to -2
when I got to Wanthwaite Bridge. |
I set off up the lane via Yew Tree Farm which looked
unworked even though a car was parked by the house. further up
the lane I reached the church but it was still in the shade so
didn’t venture closer than the entrance gate. |
Blencathra. |
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Skiddaw in the distance. |
I continued through the track gate with a good view of
the valley ahead and on to the A591.I followed the path across
the flat valley bottom then up to Nest Brow on the A591. There
were some icicles by the path in the sub-zero weather. |
Nest Brow on the A591 |
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I turned right along the narrow Castle Lane and over the stile
through the wall to the main field where the Castlerigg Stone
Circle is. it was deserted when I arrived but as I was setting
my Drone up people started to arrive. I took some drone still
photos & tried a video shot. With the wind and cold it was
painful on my hands so I was relieved to get the shots done,
packed away gloves on, across the field I left by one of the two
main gates then right along the lane. |
Castlerigg Stone Circle vertical. |
Castlerigg Stone Circle in Cumbria near Keswick. I’ve
photographed it many times in the past but only at ground level.
Today's photos were from higher up via a drone to give a better
impression of its place in the landscape.
It is one of the
earliest British circles, constructed about 5,000 years ago
during the Neolithic period. It is roughly 1,000 years older
than Stonehenge in Wiltshire.
There are more than 300 stone
circles in Britain but most of them are more recent Bronze Age
monuments about 4,000–2,800 years old.
Castlerigg is 30
metres in diameter, and originally comprised 42 stones but now
down to 38, which vary in height from 1 metre to 2.3 metres.
Small scale excavations were carried out in the 19th century and
three Neolithic stone axes were found. The axes originated from
nearby Great Langdale where the stone was ideal for making axes
and these have been found far and wide. |
Castlerigg Stone Circle ground level. |
Castlerigg Stone Circle ground level. |
Castlerigg Stone Circle towards Blencathra.
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Castlerigg Stone Circle towards Skiddaw. |
Castlerigg Stone Circle. |
Logs and Blencathra. |
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It was mostly a pleasant walk but there were quite a lot of cars
going too fast for my liking. I stayed with the lane all the way
back to the car. As I left I noticed a lot of building work
going on at Wanthwaite House by the bridge. |
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