Swinside stone circle - Cumbria

[swinside]

Swinside is my favourite Stone Circle.
A beautiful solitary stone circle, the stones are said to be uncountable, there is also a legend which suggests a church buried beneath the stones. It is sometimes referred to as the Sunkenkirk for this very reason. The circle is also referred to as the 'grey cobbles'.

Swinside had fifty five stones of which only thirty two remain standing. A stone once stood in the centre of the circle, but it is now also missing. The circle is 28.5 M in diameter and is slightly flatter on the South-Southeast face.

In accordance with many stone circles it may have had some kind of astronomical function. Two stones to the Southwest are slightly outside the circle and stand next to an opening in the stones. From the centre of the circle they point to the midwinter sunrise, the missing central stone may have been used as a sight marker.

Map ref: SD 171 882
Directions: The circle is reached along a track about a quarter of a mile from Broadgate. The circle is about five miles North of Millom.






I really love this place. Very pagan. Still feels magical.
Swinside stone circle is a real gem. With the glorious rolling hills surrounding the site like the rim of a great bowl, Swinside is a marvellous place to visit. Highly recommended.

Love to you all.

Swinside.

[vegmandan]

I've never been and I live near to Kirkby Lonsdale,so It would only take me 40 mins or so,I must go visit it.

I love the ones on the isle of Arran,especially the massive standing stones.

[Admin]

This is lovely i havnt been either it still looks in excellent condition .I was just admiring it and my husband said you like anything barren and bare It would be great just travelling round all the magical places in the uk ..
wonder if their is a church underneath ??
One place i must visit before i die is the giants causeway in belfast/antrim that looks a awesome place too..
Love these magical places..

[char]

I would love to visit there!! i will have to try and go to these places this year, i keep saying it every year bit i must go this year!!

[holysmokes7]

wow just amazing pictures thankyou so much we have never been to England.

[Deleted]

One of my goals ... to see all the lovely mystical sites of the U.K. once I retire.

Just reading about such places gets me excited.

[tamarine]

Jeannerenne, This is amazing stone circles have always been of a great interest to me. I went with my hubby to stonehenge when you were able to walk round the stones about 3 decades ago. Now they dont like you going near them. I have also been to see some stones in Wales.

This subject really facinates me. Thank you for the interesting pic.

[shiney]

Cumbria is blessed with numerous stone circlesbut I've always liked this Swinside and Long Meg and her daughters best. The views from Castlerigg stone circle are quite impressive too.