Hotels near the Castlerigg Stone Circle

The most visited stone circle in Cumbria, Castlerigg is also one of the most impressive prehistoric monuments in Britain. It stands in an extraordinary location above Keswick, with Helvellyn and High Seat forming a dramatic backdrop to the south and views across to Skiddaw, Blencathra and Lonscale Fell to the north.

The monument has 38 stones tracing a circle about 30 metres in diameter and an additional ten forming a rectangle within the wider circle. Built some 5000 years ago, it is thought to be one of the earliest such structures in Britain, but its purpose remains a mystery.

The tallest stone is 2.3 metres high and, given that there seem to be some significant astronomical alignments in the construction, may have been important for megalithic astronomy and geometry, used for ceremonial or religious purposes.

The circle is now looked after by English Heritage for the National Trust.