Swinside

Stone Circle, Cumbria

Photo � Anthony Weir

OS Map: 96 Barrow-in-Furness & South Lakeland OS Map Preview amazon.co.uk bookshop.co.uk (up to 20% off) countrybookshop.co.uk (up to 20% off, free UK P&P OS Map ref: SD172882 Nearest town: Millom Nearest village: Broughton in Furness

This has to be one of the finest stone circles in Europe, if not the world. The mountains of the Lake District provide a brilliant backdrop to its siting on artificially-levelled ground. The stones are large and closely-spaced at approximately 1.5m (5-foot) intervals. Fifty-five of an original sixty remain, with thirty-two still standing.

The tallest stone in the 28.5m (93-foot 8-inch) diameter ring is a slender 2.1m (7 feet 6 inches) high pillar located almost exactly at the north point of the circle, a feature common to other circles in the Cumbrian region. In addition, there is a recognisable 2.1m (7-foot) entrance at the SE consisting of a wide gap and two portal stones just outside the perimeter of the circle. This is another feature in common with circles of the region (e.g., Long Meg and Her Daughters). Standing at the centre of the circle and looking between the two portal stones in the SE is very close to looking at the midwinter sunrise.

Access: Walk from Broad Gate. Well worth the 1km trip.
Click here for full page map: (use your browser's "Back" button to come back)

Photo � Tom Bullock (right)

Rating: General Impression 5, Ambience 5, Access 4

Access: See above for map links

Rating: General Impression 4, Ambience 4, Access 3

Do you agree with my description? Read visitors' comments on Swinside, or leave your own, and please visit our sponsors to support future development.

Megalithic Mysteries - England Navigation: [ Back ] [ Up ] [ Next ]

Megaliths in England Megaliths in Scotland The Stone Circle Shop Megaliths in Wales Megaliths in Ireland Recommended Books Audio Tours and Sound Discussion Board Guest Book: Sign / View Search this site

Price �20 ($30) Order now Stone Circles and Rows - a photographic tour on CD-ROM Over 500 entries with photographs Map based interface Windows and Mac format 270 Hi-res images and maps available for personal use

Free use of images:

The above photographs are � Andy Burnham unless otherwise stated

You are free to use up to 20 of my photographs on your web site provided that:
1 - they are not images credited to another photographer
2 - you put a link to www.megalithic.co.uk and credit Andy Burnham near every image used

For images credited to other photographers please ask permission by contacting me for their e-mail address.
Using material in any other way without the author's permission is strictly forbidden.