Castlerigg Stone Circle

The Lake District’s Stonehenge. Not on such a grand scale, but just as impressive and mysterious. It is known locally as the Druid’s Circle although it is believed to have Neolithic origins and to have been constructed around 3200 BC.

I was intrigued by its importance to archaeastronomers who have noted that the sunrise during the autumn equinox appears over the top of Threlkeld Knott, a hill 3.5 km to the east. Some stones in the circle have been aligned with the midwinter sunrise.

The setting, with its uninterrupted views of the fells, is superb.